Understanding VMT (Virtual Material Technology), Texture and Acoustic Performance

What Is VMT (Virtual Material Technology)?

VMT stands for Virtual Material Technology. Developed by UniVicoustic, this technology allows colours, patterns and full images to be applied to sound-absorbing panels, combining acoustic performance with a wide range of decorative finishes.

The concept is simple: a VMT panel can reproduce the appearance of marble, concrete or wood without being made from these materials. The finish provides the desired visual effect, while the panel itself remains a lightweight acoustic absorber. This allows designers to achieve the look of materials such as natural stone or wood while managing reverberation in the space.

This guide focuses on Flat Panel VMT, a wall and ceiling panel available in solid colours, material-inspired patterns and custom designs, including images, logos and company signage.

What Are VMT Panels Made Of?

Flat Panel VMT is made from VicPET Wool, a non-woven textile produced primarily from recycled plastic bottles and optimised for sound absorption. The material consists of thermally bonded polyester (PET) fibres, the same type of plastic used in the recycled bottles.

Each box of eight 595 × 595 mm panels recycles 227 plastic bottles.

Flat Panel VMT is available in two thicknesses: 20 mm and 40 mm. The greater thickness improves sound absorption at lower frequencies, as shown in the following sections.

Texture: VMT Panels That Look Like Stone, Wood or Concrete

On a VMT panel, texture is visual. The grain of wood, the veins of marble or the surface of concrete are reproduced on a flat panel rather than carved into it.

Does the VMT Finish Change the Acoustics?

Custom designs are industrially bonded to the panel without losing its acoustic qualities, and the white papers list the same acoustic figures for every Flat Panel VMT finish, from plain colours to marble looks.

Colours, Patterns and Custom Designs

Flat Panel VMT comes in two finish families. Colors is a broad selection of solid colours, including a Chroma Key colour designed for green-screen studios. Patterns covers VMT designs, grouping into Natural Stones, Natural Woods, Concrete and Nature collections.

For something unique, VMT can also reproduce any image, logo or company signage on a custom panel; see custom design. To compare finishes in person, the Flat Panel VMT Sample Pack comes in two kits, with eight Colors or eight Patterns samples of about 132 × 102 mm.

Ideas From Public Spaces

UniVicoustic's Airports white paper suggests four ways to use this freedom of appearance:

• A stone look, without the weight: Unlike real stone, the panels are lightweight, so a marble look can go on ceilings and walls while it reduces reverberation.
• Wayfinding: Color codes and signs on the panels help people find their way, and each area can have its own atmosphere.
• Advertising: Panels can carry advertising, so part of the acoustic treatment could be supported by third parties.
• Decoration close to the noise: A lounge balcony can look like marble without sounding like it, with the panels placed close to the people making the noise.

Cleaning and Colour Consistency

VMT panels can be cleaned with water: take them down and rinse them under running water, or use a wet wipe, avoiding any cleaning method above 80 °C. A slight colour variation may occur between production batches, which is worth keeping in mind when planning a large surface.

How Well Do VMT Panels Absorb Sound?

Flat Panel VMT absorbs best in the medium and high frequencies, the range where speech sits, which is why UniVicoustic's white papers use it in restaurants and airports. The 40 mm panel absorbs more than the 20 mm panel, especially lower sounds.

The Numbers in Plain Language

Four terms make acoustic data easier to understand:

• Frequency (Hz) describes how high or low a sound is perceived. Low frequencies correspond to deep sounds, such as bass, while medium and high frequencies include much of the frequency range associated with speech.
• Sound absorption coefficient (α) indicates a material’s sound absorption performance at a particular frequency. It is commonly expressed on a scale from 0 to 1, where higher values indicate greater absorption. A coefficient of 0 indicates no sound absorption, while a value of 1 represents perfect absorption under the measurement conditions.
• NRC (Noise Reduction Coefficient) is a single-number rating calculated by averaging the sound absorption coefficients at 250, 500, 1,000 and 2,000 Hz, rounded to the nearest 0.05. An NRC of 0.70 indicates an average coefficient of approximately 0.70 across these four frequencies.
• αw (weighted sound absorption coefficient) is a rating defined by the European standard EN ISO 11654. It summarises sound absorption performance using a different assessment method and can be used to assign an absorption class, from A (highest) to E.

For other terms, see the UniVicoustic glossary. Here is how the two Flat Panel VMT thicknesses rate:

Figures from the Flat Panel VMT product pages, based on internal measurements, external reports and/or technical assessments.

What the chart shows: Between 200 and 630 Hz, the 40 mm panel achieves substantially higher absorption coefficients than the 20 mm version. At 400 Hz, for example, the coefficients are 0.54 and 0.24, respectively, meaning the thicker panel has more than twice the absorption coefficient at this frequency.

At higher frequencies, both panels achieve higher absorption coefficients, while their performance at low frequencies is more limited. These results illustrate how panel thickness influences sound absorption across the frequency range.

How to Get More From VMT Panels: Mount Them With an Air Gap

With Flat Panel VMT, adding an air gap behind the panel improves sound absorption at medium and lower frequencies.

The VicSpacer MKII holds a 20 mm panel 40 mm away from the wall or ceiling, increasing its NRC from 0.55 to 0.85.

The VicSpacer Plus MKII incorporates an additional layer of VicPET Wool, further increasing absorption and raising the NRC of the same panel to 0.95. This combination provides effective sound absorption across a broad range of frequencies. Both frames feature wood and lacquered steel and conceal the white sides of the panel. They are available in White Matte, Black Matte and Grey Matte.

Both versions are designed for 20 mm panels and can be installed on walls, ceilings or in corners, where they can contribute to low-frequency absorption. For the larger 2380 × 1190 mm panels, the VicSpacer XXL provides the corresponding mounting solution..

Which Flat Panel VMT Configuration Should You Choose?

• 20 mm Flat Panel VMT, fixed directly to the surface: A slim solution where installation depth is limited (NRC 0.55).
• 40 mm Flat Panel VMT, fixed directly to the surface: Greater sound absorption without additional mounting hardware (NRC 0.70).
• 20 mm Flat Panel VMT with VicSpacer MKII: The wooden frame and lacquered steel components hold the panel 40 mm away from the wall or ceiling, creating an air cavity that improves sound absorption and increases the NRC to 0.85.

The right configuration depends on the available installation depth and the desired level of sound absorption. 

Not sure which suits your room? UniVicoustic's project team can recommend a layout: request an acoustic project.

Where Are VMT Panels Used?

Flat Panel VMT can be used in a wide range of environments, combining sound absorption with finishes that complement the interior design.

• Restaurants: Ceiling panels provide a large area for sound absorption, helping control reverberation and reduce the build-up of noise as conversations become louder. Wall panels can provide additional absorption where needed.
• Airports: Panels installed on walls and suspended T-bar ceilings help reduce reverberation in gate areas and concourses, improving speech intelligibility and the clarity of public announcements.
• Home cinemas: Large Flat Panel VMT XXL panels cover extensive wall areas with fewer panels, creating a continuous visual finish inspired by natural stone, wood or Art Deco. They can also be combined with additional absorbing materials or suitable mounting systems to enhance acoustic performance.
• Listening rooms and control rooms: These environments require careful control of reflections and reverberation across a broad frequency range, including lower frequencies. Flat Panel VMT can be used on walls and ceilings as part of the acoustic treatment. Where greater sound absorption is required, particularly at low and mid frequencies, we recommend combining the panels with the VicSpacer Plus MKII mounting system, which incorporates a 40 mm layer of VicPET Wool behind the panel to enhance its absorption performance.

VMT in Professional Audio Products

VMT is not only for public spaces. UniVicoustic also uses it on professional audio products for recording, mixing, mastering and broadcast rooms, where VMT finishes cover high-performance absorbers and bass traps.

• Cinema Piano VMT, Cinema Forte VMT and Cinema Fortissimo VMT. Broadband absorbers that control first reflections and balance reverberation time in control rooms and listening rooms, with NRC 0.95 for Piano and Forte and 1.00 for Fortissimo. Their VMT finishes include material looks such as Calacatta Cremo, Grey Stone and Concrete 1, and the Control Rooms white paper also shows a customised Cinema Piano VMT.
• Mega Bass Trap VMT and Mega Bass Trap VMT XXL. Broadband bass traps for room corners, meaning they absorb bass as well as mid and high frequencies.
• Super Bass Extreme Ultra VMT. membrane-based corner bass trap designed to control low-frequency resonances, with effective absorption across the 75–125 Hz range and peak performance around 100 Hz.

Flat Panel VMT Specifications

Flat Panel VMT comes in three sizes and two thicknesses, and carries Euroclass B-s2, d0 and ASTM E84 Class A fire ratings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Does VMT Stand For?

VMT stands for Virtual Material Technology. VMT panels are developed exclusively by Vicoustic using a dyeing technology that puts colours, patterns or images onto sound-absorbing panels made from VicPET Wool.

Does a Custom VMT Design Reduce Sound Absorption?

Custom designs are industrially bonded to the panel without losing its acoustic qualities, and the same acoustic figures apply to every Flat Panel VMT finish.

What Does an NRC of 0.70 Mean?

The Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) is a single-number rating that summarises a panel’s sound absorption performance across four frequencies: 250, 500, 1,000 and 2,000 Hz. An NRC of 0.70 indicates an average sound absorption coefficient of approximately 0.70 across these frequencies.

The 40 mm Flat Panel VMT has an NRC of 0.70, compared with 0.55 for the 20 mm version, indicating higher overall sound absorption performance across the frequencies considered.

Can Flat Panel VMT Absorb Bass?

Not on its own, as it is designed for medium and high frequencies. Mounting it on VicSpacer improves the lower frequencies, and for deep bass UniVicoustic offers bass traps with VMT finishes, such as Mega Bass Trap VMT or Mega Bass Trap VMT XXL.

Can I Put My Own Logo or Image on a VMT Panel?

Yes. VMT allows custom designs, including images, logos and company signage; see custom design for details.

How Do You Clean VMT Panels?

With water. Take the panels down and rinse them under running water, or use a wet wipe, and avoid any cleaning method above 80 °C.

Are VMT Panels Made From Recycled Materials?

Yes. Flat Panel VMT is made from VicPET Wool, produced primarily from recycled plastic bottles, and each box of eight 595 × 595 mm panels recycles 227 bottles.

Next Steps

To see the finishes in person, order a Flat Panel VMT Sample Pack. For a logo or image, start with custom design, and for help with quantities and layout, request an acoustic project.