Raticosa
Member
Hi everyone,
This post is to warn you not to buy acoustic panels from GIK Acoustics, and I'll explain why.
Three years ago, I decided to make an acoustic treatment in my living room (that I use for Hi-Fi listening and Home Theater) and, as I don’t want to make them by myself (even if I could, there is no technology inside an acoustic panel), I opted for panels from GIK Acoustics and Addictive Sound, two leading companies in this field.
From GIK Acoustics I purchased six “Tri-Trap” (triangular bass traps to be placed in the corners of the room) and four “244” panels for the side walls (for the first reflections), while I opted for six PREMIUM panels from Addictive Sound for the front wall (the one behind the main speakers).
A few days ago I had the idea of opening a GIK Acoustics bass trap (I wanted to change the color of the canvas to match the new color of the walls), I opened one of their triangular Tri-Trap, and I discovered two things that made me deeply disappointed:
a) Between the external canvas and the inner rock wool they do not put any layer of "non-woven fabric" as all other manufacturers do, with the result that, when I clean the panels with the vacuum cleaner, the small rock wool fibers are attracted towards the internal surface of the covering fabric and can, sooner or later, come out. Although rock wool fibers are said to be non-carcinogenic, they are still harmful to your health and can irritate the lungs if inhaled.
b) On their website they declare that they use rock wool with “ECOSE” technology (which is brownish in colour) while instead they use the more common “Isover” (which is yellow in color). This was also confirmed to me by one of their employees, Mr. Lukas Rimback (I have the emails) who replied me via email for explanations and confirmed that they no longer use ECOSE rock wool (which should be less harmful to health as it is free of formaldehyde and other rubbish and be made with recycled materials), but they still declare on their website to be used.
Furthermore, since the beginning, GIK Acoustics panels have always smelled a lot, even if I clean them regularly with the vacuum cleaner, I can't tell you if it's the glue they use or the wood, the fact is that if I don't air the living room regularly an acrid odor is created that gives you a headache and makes you sneeze. This problem (the smell) however is not present with Addictive Sound panels.
Needless to say, I am really very disappointed, I contacted them to complain to them and they replied that there is no European regulation on how to build acoustic panels and therefore they are right and that's fine, at my side I will never buy again panels and bass traps from GIK Acoustics, they invest a lot of money in advertising, on social media, and nothing for Customer satisfaction and the health of their Customers.
In conclusion: GIK Acoustics uses a standard rock wool different from the "ecological" one declared on their website and they do not put any protective cloth to retain the rock wool particles, I attach two photos below. feel free to draw your own conclusions.
This post is to warn you not to buy acoustic panels from GIK Acoustics, and I'll explain why.
Three years ago, I decided to make an acoustic treatment in my living room (that I use for Hi-Fi listening and Home Theater) and, as I don’t want to make them by myself (even if I could, there is no technology inside an acoustic panel), I opted for panels from GIK Acoustics and Addictive Sound, two leading companies in this field.
From GIK Acoustics I purchased six “Tri-Trap” (triangular bass traps to be placed in the corners of the room) and four “244” panels for the side walls (for the first reflections), while I opted for six PREMIUM panels from Addictive Sound for the front wall (the one behind the main speakers).
A few days ago I had the idea of opening a GIK Acoustics bass trap (I wanted to change the color of the canvas to match the new color of the walls), I opened one of their triangular Tri-Trap, and I discovered two things that made me deeply disappointed:
a) Between the external canvas and the inner rock wool they do not put any layer of "non-woven fabric" as all other manufacturers do, with the result that, when I clean the panels with the vacuum cleaner, the small rock wool fibers are attracted towards the internal surface of the covering fabric and can, sooner or later, come out. Although rock wool fibers are said to be non-carcinogenic, they are still harmful to your health and can irritate the lungs if inhaled.
b) On their website they declare that they use rock wool with “ECOSE” technology (which is brownish in colour) while instead they use the more common “Isover” (which is yellow in color). This was also confirmed to me by one of their employees, Mr. Lukas Rimback (I have the emails) who replied me via email for explanations and confirmed that they no longer use ECOSE rock wool (which should be less harmful to health as it is free of formaldehyde and other rubbish and be made with recycled materials), but they still declare on their website to be used.
Furthermore, since the beginning, GIK Acoustics panels have always smelled a lot, even if I clean them regularly with the vacuum cleaner, I can't tell you if it's the glue they use or the wood, the fact is that if I don't air the living room regularly an acrid odor is created that gives you a headache and makes you sneeze. This problem (the smell) however is not present with Addictive Sound panels.
Needless to say, I am really very disappointed, I contacted them to complain to them and they replied that there is no European regulation on how to build acoustic panels and therefore they are right and that's fine, at my side I will never buy again panels and bass traps from GIK Acoustics, they invest a lot of money in advertising, on social media, and nothing for Customer satisfaction and the health of their Customers.
In conclusion: GIK Acoustics uses a standard rock wool different from the "ecological" one declared on their website and they do not put any protective cloth to retain the rock wool particles, I attach two photos below. feel free to draw your own conclusions.
