The challenge: when the room interferes with the test

KM Audio is a specialized hearing care practice focused on hearing protection, professional in-ear monitors, and providing suitable hearing solutions for people with hearing loss. In addition, Karolien also conducts speech intelligibility tests in her practice. However, she noticed that the excessive reverberation in her office was not only tiring for herself, but also for her clients.

"In my profession, communication and good acoustics are essential. Previously, I struggled a lot with echo, reverberation, and a hollow feeling in my office. It was extremely distracting during conversations with clients. I could even hear my own voice twice. For people who already have hearing difficulties, such an environment requires extra effort", explains the audiologist.

The combination of several factors convinced Karolien that professional assistance was necessary to address the acoustic challenges in her practice in a structural way:

• Poor speech intelligibility: Due to a lack of sound-absorbing surfaces and elements, sound continuously reflected throughout the space.
• Subjective uncertainty: Patients found it difficult to determine whether their hearing aids were properly adjusted because of the existing echo.
• Insufficient do-it-yourself solutions: Previous attempts using foam insulation and decorative panels did not provide any noticeable improvement.

"In this hearing care practice, the acoustics posed a challenge because the audiologist’s clients are especially sensitive to sound. Due to a lack of sound-absorbing materials and the presence of many reflective surfaces, sound lingered in the room, resulting in excessive reverberation. This poor speech intelligibility made it more difficult for clients to accurately assess whether their hearing aids were properly adjusted" says KLANK Bouwakoestiek.

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The approach of KLANK Bouwakoestiek: measuring is knowing

Tim Augustynen of KLANK Bouwakoestiek distinguishes himself through a scientific approach. Rather than placing panels at random, he begins every new project with a thorough acoustic measurement of the space. He analyzed Karolien’s needs as well as the characteristics of the room. The acoustic study revealed that the main issue was situated in the low frequencies. Tim provides these measurements — including the study, report, and advice — free of charge as part of his sales process. Based on the calculations, it was then determined exactly which panels were needed and where they should be placed to achieve the best possible result.

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"KLANK Bouwakoestiek truly made a difference by first mapping the situation objectively through professional measurements. Instead of offering a standard solution, they carried out detailed analyses and prepared a report with several targeted options to address the problem effectively. The opportunity to immediately experience the difference using test panels was an enormous added value,” Karolien reflects on the process.

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The solution: Primacoustic for maximum performance

For this project, a deliberate choice was made for the Primacoustic product range, more specifically the Broadway Linen and Altos panels. While standard solutions often only address high frequencies, these panels are designed to absorb the more persistent low frequencies as well.

• Performance: Just five panels resulted in an improvement of nearly 40% in the room.
• Aesthetics: Although black demo panels were initially used for testing, the final choice was made for white linen panels. These blend seamlessly into Karolien’s interior.
• Strategic placement: To preserve the room’s sense of “liveliness,” panels were installed only on the ceiling and selected walls (never directly opposite each other).

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"The collaboration with Karolien went exceptionally well because we share the same vision: only the very best is good enough for the client. The biggest challenge in this project was finding the perfect balance between technical performance and aesthetics. The result not only had to deliver top acoustic performance, but also blend beautifully into the interior,” Tim explains.

The result: an investment in peace and comfort

After a smooth installation that took only two hours, the transformation was complete. The reverberation was significantly reduced, and Karolien can now conduct her tests with complete confidence.

“The reverberation and echo are completely gone, which makes everything much more pleasant. It creates a far calmer atmosphere, especially when fitting hearing aids. I can only highly recommend it,” says a relieved Karolien.

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To guarantee the quality of the intervention, KLANK Bouwakoestiek always carries out a post-installation measurement as standard practice. This allows the client to see the achieved results in black and white and objectively compare them with the initial baseline measurement.

The acoustic optimization of the practice in Aartselaar delivered impressive results. Before the installation, the reverberation time measured 0.93 seconds. The target was to reduce this to 0.60 seconds. The final measurement after the installation of the Primacoustic solution showed a result of 0.52 seconds. This exceeded the intended improvement target by 122%, creating an unprecedented sense of calm and clarity within the space.

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The role of FACE: support that goes beyond

As a proud partner of KLANK Bouwakoestiek and distributor of Primacoustic, FACE looks back on this project with great satisfaction. While FACE does not carry out installations itself, our mission is to optimally support installers wherever needed. By providing demo panels, the audiologist was able to personally experience the acoustic comfort beforehand. This practical “test drive” made the immediate impact of a professional acoustic solution tangible and reinforced confidence in the quality of Primacoustic.

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