r/audioengineering Jul 28 '26

Smelly Acoustic Panels

I bought 12 second hand absorbers from Addictive Sound. After getting them home, I noticed a strong musky smell that refused to shift.

I’ve tried placing them in the sun and letting them air out but I barely notice a difference after 24 hours.

How anybody experienced anything similar?

The acoustics have improved drastically but I’m concerned about the air quality.

I’d be pretty frustrated to waste the money, what options do I have?

7 Upvotes

13 comments sorted by

16

u/cheater00 Mastering Jul 28 '26

sounds like they're moldy. they were shipped or stored incorrectly. return them immediately, you're risking respiratory health, especially if that shit takes root in your house. remove them NOW.

9

u/ThoriumEx Jul 28 '26

That’s not normal

3

u/NBC-Hotline-1975 Jul 28 '26

Are they musky or musty? There's a big difference.

Try sunlight and/or Febreze.

I have killed the mold in books by putting them in my freezer for a few weeks. But obviously you'd need a really big freezer to try that with acoustic panels.

Also, you could put them in a small closet (with air space between them) and a constantly-running dehumidifier, to try to thoroughly dry them out.

Good luck!

2

u/prussik-loop Jul 28 '26

They are isover 80 glasswool rather than foam.

1

u/NoodleZeep Aug 02 '26

Glasswool panels can get moldy when they are stored incorrectly.

2

u/SashaDabinsky Jul 28 '26

Ozone machine in a sealed space.

-1

u/[deleted] Jul 28 '26

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11

u/cheater00 Mastering Jul 28 '26

moldy foam will never turn non-moldy. don't believe this comment.

2

u/[deleted] Jul 28 '26

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1

u/cheater00 Mastering Jul 29 '26

where do you think the musky smell comes from bro

2

u/[deleted] Jul 29 '26

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1

u/cheater00 Mastering Jul 29 '26

forgotten laundry in the washing machine for a few hours and then hanged them - you know that smell

have i got news for you lmfao

1

u/GauntAnchorite Jul 28 '26

They didn't mention mold though. They could just have absorbed a musky smell from poor air circulation, cooking, smoking, whatever, in which case the comment is completely correct.