Abstract: An acoustooptic material comprising a sterically hindered polyphenyl compound is disclosed. The material is typically a chlorinated para-terphenyl compound. The material is characterized in that its sound attenuation is lower than 10 dB/cm at 40 MHz measured at about 25.degree. C. In another aspect, the polyphenyl compound is mixed with other polymers to form useful acoustooptic materials. In yet another aspect, an acoustic transducer may be associated with the polyphenyl material by molding the transducer in the material or softening a portion of the material with a solvent and attaching the transducer to the softened portion.