Music City Acoustics Primitive Root Diffuser - PRD for mathematically precise acoustic diffusion - Diffuser for home or commercial studio

Primitive Root Diffusers

$425.00

★★★★★ 100+ 5-Star Reviews

Size

2' x 2'

Quantity

MCA Primitive Root Diffusers are two-dimensional acoustic diffusers designed to scatter sound in both horizontal and vertical planes. Built from Baltic Birch plywood using a true prime number sequence, they deliver even, natural diffusion from 1,228 Hz to 4,501 Hz. Perfect for tracking rooms, control rooms, and listening environments where depth, dimension, and visual impact are essential.

Shipping and Lead Time

Primitive Root Diffusers are built to order in our Nashville shop. Production typically takes 1–2 weeks, with most orders completed in 8–10 business days. Once finished, orders usually arrive within 3–5 business days.

Smaller orders ship via UPS Ground, while larger orders ship via LTL freight to keep costs reasonable. Shipping is available within the continental U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii.

Local pickup is available in Nashville.

Returns and Warranty

Eligible items may be returned within 30 days of delivery if unused and in original packaging. A 10% restocking fee applies, and return shipping is the customer's responsibility. Custom and special-order products are not eligible for return.

Diffusers that have been painted or stained cannot be returned, as they are no longer in new, unused condition.

All Primitive Root Diffusers include a 3-year limited warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship under normal indoor use.

Specs (Size and Weight)

Available Size:

2'x2' (23.75" x 23.5" x 6") - 50 lbs

Mounting: Wall or ceiling (with optional ceiling hardware kit)

Effective Frequency Range: 1,228 Hz to 4,501 Hz

Design Type: Two-dimensional quadratic residue diffuser using true prime number sequence

Detailed specifications are available in our product guides.

Materials and Construction

Primitive Root Diffusers are built using high-performance materials selected for acoustic performance, durability, and visual impact.

Frame and Construction Materials

Material: Baltic Birch plywood, precision CNC-cut
Construction: Each block positioned according to a true prime number sequence for authentic primitive root diffusion
Finish: Sanded to 220 grit, unfinished
Design: Two-dimensional diffusion (scatters sound horizontally and vertically)

Our construction approach prioritizes long-term performance and structural integrity while using premium materials.

Wood Finish and Customization

Primitive Root Diffusers come unfinished, sanded to 220 grit and ready to install as-is. The raw Baltic Birch finish is beautiful and requires no additional treatment.

Optional finishing: Customers may stain or paint their diffusers without affecting acoustic performance. Leaving the wood unfinished showcases the beauty of Baltic Birch and allows us to keep prices down while using premium materials like Baltic Birch instead of MDF or lower-grade plywood.

Indoor Use and Safety

All materials used in Primitive Root Diffusers are appropriate for indoor environments, including studios, homes, offices, schools, and houses of worship.

Baltic Birch plywood is designed for interior architectural use
Materials are stable and durable in typical indoor conditions

Installation and Placement

Primitive Root Diffusers are designed for straightforward installation and include a 4" French Cleat for standard wall mounting.

Diffusers can be installed on walls or ceilings. Wall installations use the included French Cleat. For ceiling installations, the Ceiling Panel Hardware Kit is required (sold separately).

Optimal placement distance: For best results, position diffusers at least 6 feet away from the listening position or sound source. This gives the diffused sound waves enough distance to fully scatter and create the spatial effect.

Common placements:

Back walls in control rooms or listening rooms (for soundstage depth)
Sidewalls in tracking rooms (for width and dimension)
Front walls in tracking rooms (for immersive recording environments)
Ceilings in larger rooms with adequate height

Installation guides are available as downloadable PDFs and include step-by-step instructions for both wall and ceiling mounting.

Handcrafted in Nashville, TN

Built with sustainable and high-quality materials

Shipping

Ships in 1 to 2 weeks all over the continental United States

In-Store Pickup Available

Buy online and pick up your order at our Nashville location

Turn Heads and Ears

MCA Primitive Root Diffusers bring depth, dimension, and life to recording and listening spaces. These aren't random blocks of wood arranged for aesthetics. Every piece is positioned according to a specific prime number sequence, creating true primitive root diffusion that scatters sound evenly across the critical midrange frequencies.

Tracking rooms gain size and dimension. Control rooms reveal detail and depth without fatigue. Listening rooms open up, delivering a soundstage that feels larger than the space itself.

Crafted from Baltic Birch plywood and precision-cut in Nashville, these diffusers deliver high-level performance with unmistakable visual impact.

Where do you use Primitive Root Diffusers?

The PRD is equally at home in Listening Rooms, Tracking Rooms, Control Rooms, and even Home Theaters. The ability of this 2d diffuser to add depth, detail, and warmth to an acoustic environment makes it a truly unique acoustic treatment.

Recording Studios

Tracking rooms benefit most from two-dimensional diffusion. PRDs scatter sound in all directions, creating a sense of space and depth that makes drums, piano, strings, and acoustic instruments feel alive in the recording. They control flutter echo and excessive reverb while maintaining the energy and character that makes great recordings stand out.

Man working at a music production desk with multiple screens in a home studio.

Control Rooms

Once your low end is dialed in with bass traps and early reflections are controlled, diffusion becomes the final piece. PRDs add spatial depth to your monitoring environment, making it easier to hear reverb tails, delay nuances, and subtle mix details. The room stays engaging without becoming fatiguing, so you can work longer and hear more clearly.

Listening Rooms

Two-channel listening rooms come alive with PRDs. Soundstage opens up. Imaging improves. Detail and clarity increase while maintaining the warmth and energy of your favorite recordings. Pair them with Bass Trap panels for low-frequency control, and your system will reveal layers you didn't know existed.

★★★★★ 100+ 5-Star Reviews

Handbuilt by Us, Loved By You

Aesthetically Beautiful, Mathmatically Precise.

We’ll be the first to say it: PRDs are not right for every situation. Primitive Root Diffusers excel in larger environments with enough space for the diffused sound waves to fully bloom into the room.

They're the perfect fit for:

Tracking rooms that need to sound larger than life.

Control rooms that already have the low end translating well that now need an extra bit of detail and depth.

Listening rooms where the sound stage is lacking, and you want to get the absolute best performance from your speakers and amplifiers.

For smaller rooms or spaces where you will be within 6 to 8 feet of your diffuser, we’d recommend the Space Coupling Diffuser or Scatter Face Diffuser paired with Bass Trap or Broadband Acoustic Panels.

Recommended by your favorite creators

“I’ve worked with the MCA team for a while now, and they have become an essential part of the evolution of my studio, Santa's Workshop. From designing custom gobos to overseeing complete room design, their data driven attention to detail is unmatched.”

—Dave Clauss
6-time Grammy-winning Recording Engineer/Producer/Mixer

“I’ve known and worked with the team at Music City Acoustics for years and have watched the company grow into what it is today. The quality of their service and products is top tier, and they are genuinely great people to work with. I trust Music City Acoustics with all of my studio treatment needs.”

—Chris Stevens
Grammy-winning Songwriter/Producer

“There are not many places in the music business where you can get the highest quality, the most attention to detail, the best sounding results, AND stay within your budget. Music City Acoustics is that PLACE! They helped me build the most beautiful and best sounding studio of my career!”

—David Spencer
Producer/Singer/Songwriter/Instructor

Your Questions: Answered

For best results, position PRDs at least 6 feet away from the listening position or sound source. This gives the diffused sound waves enough distance to fully scatter and create the spatial effect you're looking for. If you're working in a smaller room where 6 feet isn't practical, consider our Space Coupling Diffusers, which are designed specifically for close-proximity use.
Yes, but only if your low-frequency control is already handled. PRDs don't absorb bass, so if your back wall needs bass trapping, install Bass Trap or Broadband panels first, then mount PRDs in front of them. This gives you low-end control with the spatial benefits of diffusion.

Both are excellent diffusers. PRDs offer two-dimensional diffusion (horizontal and vertical), while Stepped QRDs are one-dimensional (horizontal only). For tracking rooms where you want full 3D spatial control, PRDs are amazing. For listening rooms where sidewall diffusion is the goal, QRDs often work beautifully and are more cost-effective. The other big difference? Aesthetics. PRDs have a distinct, sculptural look that many people prefer visually.
No. PRDs come sanded and ready to install as-is. The raw Baltic Birch finish looks great in most spaces, but you can stain or paint them if you prefer. Just avoid heavy coatings that could fill the gaps between blocks, as this may affect acoustic performance.

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