Absorption panels can be very helpful if used judiciously and appropriately.
Many listeners overdamped their rooms. The entire room doesn't need to be treated, areas of reflections can help to keep music lively and realistic.
The problem with absorption panels- it kills the fine details
If you’ve ever removed your absorption panels, you’ll find that you’ll hear a lot more detail and there is more openness. Truth is all those fine pressure amplitudes that add so much to enjoyable listening are considerably extinguished with absorption panels. The room seems quieter with absorption panels because all the fine detail is diminished.
It sounds different, so people think it sounds better. Absorption panels can kill good sounding music. I removed most of the absorption panels, and things actually sounded better. All the furniture in the room and the bookshelves were doing their thing in a great way. So I’ve concluded I really don’t need all that crap on the walls.