When Labs Say No: Why We Had to Rethink Acoustic Testing

“Why isn’t this lab-certified?”

We get this question a lot, especially about Rhythm Pro.
And the truth is: we tried.

When we approached accredited acoustic labs in Taiwan — including NTU (National Taiwan University) and NTOU (National Taiwan Ocean University) — we were told that our panels couldn’t be tested unless we removed the integrated 35mm air gap and mounted them flush to a wall.

In other words, they wanted to test our panel as if it weren’t our panel.

The Problem: A System Not Built for Panels Like Ours

That didn’t make sense to us — or to any designer or sound engineer who understands how form affects function. These labs were working within an older framework, one more suited for rigid construction materials than sculptural acoustic design.

A Broader Regional Challenge

This isn’t a complaint. It’s a reflection of where we are as a region. While Taiwan has some excellent researchers and labs (our Art Series was tested at NTU), the infrastructure still isn’t built to handle newer formats — modular panels, floating gaps, or asymmetric wall systems. Sometimes it’s a language barrier. Sometimes it’s a rigidity in standards. But either way, we hit the wall.

the infrastructure still isn’t built to handle newer formats

We didn’t take “no” lightly.
At NTU, we asked whether the panel could be tested as-is, with its original integrated air gap. The response was clear: they would only test it flush-mounted, because in their system, acoustic panels are treated like flat building materials - not sculptural, layered systems.

At NTOU, the team was kind, but communication challenges made it hard to reach a shared understanding of what our panel is, not just how it should be installed.

We explained. We offered documentation from other ASTM-certified labs abroad. But in the end, they held firm, even if the results wouldn’t reflect real-world performance.

So we stepped back.
Not because we gave up, but because accuracy mattered more than approval.

We pushed, politely. We explained. We offered references from other ASTM-certified test labs abroad. But in the end, the labs insisted on conditions that would have misrepresented the product’s performance. So we stepped back — not because we gave up, but because accuracy mattered more than approval.

So We Built Our Own Method

We built a different kind of wall — literally.

Using a calibrated UMIK-1 microphone, KEF monitors, and REW software, we created an in-room testing process. We measured from multiple mic positions in a neutral untreated space, and calibrated the results against our ASTM-certified Surge panel.

Our method is open. Repeatable. Transparent. And you’re welcome to download the REW files and examine the raw data yourself.

“It’s not that we avoided lab testing. We were told our design didn’t fit the mold. So we created a testing method that matches how the product is actually used — and proved it’s trustworthy by calibrating it against certified benchmarks.”