A　combined　theoretical　and　experimental　study　is　carried　out　to　investigate　the　anisotropic　acoustic　properties　of　sintered　fibrous　metals.　In　the　theoretical　model,　based　on　the　transversal　and　longitudinal　dynamic　mass　densities　and　effective　bulk　modulus　of　randomly　placed　parallel　fibers,　the　dynamic　mass　densities　and　effective　dynamic　bulk　modulus　of　a　sintered　fibrous　metal　in　the　direction　normal　and　parallel　to　its　surface　are　obtained.　Sound　absorption　coefficient,　sound　speed　and　attenuation　coefficient　in　each　of　the　two　directions　are　calculated　once　the　dynamic　mass　densities　and　effective　dynamic　bulk　modulus　are　determined.　For　validation,　experimental　measurements　are　performed,　with　good　agreement　between　theoretical　prediction　and　measurement　data　achieved.　Subsequent　numerical　investigations　focus　on　the　influence　of　fiber　diameter　and　porosity　on　the　anisotropic　acoustical　properties　of　the　sintered　fibrous　metal.　The　sintered　fibrous　metal　exhibits　better　sound　absorption/attenuation　performance　in　the　parallel　direction　than　in　the　normal　direction.　The　anisotropy　in　acoustical　properties　increases　with　decreasing　fiber　diameter　and　porosity　due　mainly　to　increasing　interactions　between　adjacent　fibers.　(C)　2014　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.