Last reviewed: 2026-07-16 · Checked against the standards it cites · Editorial policy
A flat acoustic panel presents a continuous decor-faced surface over a felt-and-MDF core, fixed directly to a wall; a slat panel presents evenly spaced timber slats over an acoustic backer, so the face reads as ribbed rather than continuous. The two differ mainly in appearance, face material and how the surface is jointed — not in a documented performance figure, since no test report exists for either construction here.
- A flat panel's face is a continuous decor surface (felt + MDF core); a slat panel's face is a series of separated timber slats over an acoustic backer.
- Flat panels butt edge-to-edge for a seamless run; slat panels rely on a repeating slat rhythm, so joins are usually designed to be less visible by matching the spacing.
- Both are fixed to a wall — flat panels typically with silicone or mounting adhesive; slat panels are more often direct-fixed or battened.
- Neither construction has a published sound-absorption or fire-classification figure here — see the honest position on this in our about page.
Face construction: continuous surface vs open slats
The flat acoustic panel we supply is a continuous decor-faced surface: a high-density acoustic felt layer bonded to an MDF core, finished in one of five decors. The whole face reads as one uninterrupted plane, with no visible gaps.
A slat panel instead presents a run of narrow timber slats, evenly spaced, mounted over an acoustic felt backer. The gaps between slats are a deliberate part of the design — visually and, in principle, functionally — but how much difference that makes to any given installation is not something we publish a figure for, because we don't hold a test report for either construction.
Installation and jointing
Flat panels in our range are fixed with silicone or mounting adhesive and butt together edge-to-edge, so a run of panels reads as a single seamless surface across a wall.
Slat panels are generally direct-fixed to a substrate or mounted on battens, with the slat rhythm designed to continue across joins so the repeating pattern, rather than the panel edge, is what the eye follows.
Appearance and where each tends to suit
A flat, continuous decor face suits interiors where a calm, uniform surface is wanted — a single block of colour or texture rather than a textured, linear rhythm. A slat face gives a more textured, directional look, often associated with a warmer, more architectural timber aesthetic.
Neither is inherently the 'better' acoustic choice on this page, because we don't publish a performance figure for either — the choice here is a construction and appearance one, not a tested-performance comparison. See our decor and size comparison for the specification we do publish on the panel we supply.
What we currently supply
We currently supply the flat felt-and-MDF Colour Series panel, in five decors and two width/length combinations — see the product page for the full specification. We do not currently sell a slat panel range; if that changes, this guide will be updated to reflect a real, specified product rather than a general category description.
Frequently asked questions
Which absorbs sound better, a flat panel or a slat panel?
We can't answer that with a figure, for either construction, because no acoustic test report exists for the flat panel we supply or for slat panels generally. Absorption depends on the specific felt, core, spacing and mounting used in a given product — a comparison is only meaningful against named test reports for each exact build-up, which we don't hold.
Do you sell slat acoustic panels?
Not currently. We supply the flat felt-and-MDF Colour Series panel in five decors. This guide compares the two constructions as general categories, for buyers weighing up which style suits a project — not as a comparison between two products we sell.
Is one style easier to install than the other?
They install differently rather than one being simpler: flat panels butt edge-to-edge with silicone or mounting adhesive for a seamless run, while slat panels are typically direct-fixed or battened with the slat spacing carried across joins. Neither requires materially different tools or skills, just a different fixing method.
Specifying acoustic panels?
Order finishes to see and hear, model the room with the reverberation calculator, or send us the spaces and targets for panel selection and a quote. We publish no performance figure we cannot evidence — what that means for your project.