Simple and economical room design with the new MITTZON range from IKEA

Looking for acoustic treatments for your listening room that won’t break the bank? And Can you store it out of sight when not in use? IKEA’s new range of office furniture might be right for you. The new MITTZON series includes an acoustic panel that measures 8 cm deep x 70 cm wide x 157 cm high. But put that drill away, because it’s independent. Price ? €179.

Need a slightly wider one? The 8 cm x 90The cm x 157 cm version costs €199. And while these MITTZON panels won’t do anything about bass issues – they’re not thick enough – two of them on either side of the room could dampen many of the nasty early reflections that contribute to room reverb in the midrange and highs. Each panel weighs 23 kg and has a built-in plastic clamping system that allows two or more to be joined at shoulder and knee level. As a bonus, the covers are removable and washable.

Translated into English from the IKEA Germany website: “Effective sound insulation thanks to a solid wood core with expanded wood fibre padding on each side, covered with a thick wool fabric.”

But wait, there’s more.

The MITTZON range also includes another freestanding acoustic panel with a washable cover. It measures 85cm wide by 205cm high, but at 5cm deep, its frequency coverage won’t be as low. However, the four castors make the 22kg structure easier to move around. Price? €249.

The IKEA Germany website also states that the MITTZON range includes several acoustic panels for the back of desks. However, the speakers tend to mainly radiate low frequencies to the rear and I doubt that these desk backs will do much for sound quality. IKEA hopes that these models will improve intra-desk isolation in open office environments.

MITTZON is not a complete solution but it is a step (or two) in the right direction. Remember: the room in which our speakers are installed has a much greater impact on what we hear than, for example, a DAC or a phono stage.

More information: IKEA DE