Quick answer: First reflection points are the spots on the walls, ceiling and desk where sound from your speakers bounces once before reaching your ears. Those first bounces of sound blur detail and stereo image. Find them with the mirror trick (sit at your spot; wherever you can see a speaker in a mirror on the wall is a reflection point) and treat them first.

Key takeaways

  • First echoes arrive just after the direct sound and blur it.
  • Mirror trick: sit, have someone slide a mirror along the wall, mark where you see a speaker.
  • Treat side walls first, then ceiling, then the wall behind the speakers.

Why do first reflections matter?

They arrive a few milliseconds after the direct sound, close enough for your brain to merge them. The result: a smeared stereo image, less clarity and a "roomy" sound. In studios and home cinemas this is the first thing to fix.

How do I find them?

  1. Sit at your listening position.
  2. Have someone slide a mirror along the side wall at ear height.
  3. Wherever you can see a speaker in the mirror, mark it.
  4. Repeat for the other wall and the ceiling (a mirror on a stick works).

Not sure what your room needs? Send us a photo on WhatsApp or request a free quote. We'll tell you how many panels, where they go and the price. See our acoustic panels for homes and recent projects.

Find your first reflection points infographic

Where do panels go?

On those marks, sized generously. Then the ceiling above the desk, then the wall behind the speakers. A 1200 × 600 mm panel at each mark is a good start. See where to place panels first.

Do offices care about first reflections?

Less. In offices the goal is overall echo. But at a desk used for calls, panels at the side wall help similarly. See room too echoey for calls?.

What we see on real jobs

The mirror trick takes about ten minutes. It shows exactly where the first panels should go, so they work from day one.

Get a straight answer for your room

WhatsApp a photo of the room (+65 8930 1905) and tell us what you use it for: calls, TV, music or mixing. We'll suggest a layout, a colour and a price, including no-drill options where your walls allow.

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