Challenge

This 210㎡ independent vinyl record store with a dedicated listening bar in central Brussels, Belgium, features floor-to-ceiling record shelves, leather booths and a dedicated hi-fi listening zone. Hard wood floors, plaster walls and high shelving create uneven frequency response and noticeable reverberation. Record playback sounds muddy, customer conversation bleeds between listening booths, and staff struggle to make recommendations over background music. The owner wanted acoustic treatment that would improve playback clarity while keeping the warm, intimate boutique record shop vibe — no obvious foam panels.

Solution

All listening booths and the main bar back wall are lined with high-density fiberglass core fabric wrapped acoustic panels, in a deep burgundy matte fabric finish matched to the store’s leather booths. The panels absorb internal reflections, eliminate flutter echo and reduce sound bleed between listening zones, while keeping a warm, natural sound character. The store ceiling uses smooth flat fiberglass acoustic tiles — untextured, non-plush — to control overhead reflections and balance overall room frequency response without altering the visual height of the space.

All materials meet EN 13501 Class A fire safety standards and use low-VOC adhesives suitable for enclosed retail spaces. Installation was completed overnight over 6 days so the store could stay on its regular schedule.

Result

Listening booth sound isolation improves by 42%, and record playback clarity improves dramatically — bass is tighter and midrange is more defined. Customers can comfortably preview records without raising the volume, and staff product recommendations are easily heard. The fabric panels and smooth ceiling blend invisibly into the warm boutique record shop atmosphere.