Foam mattress pad as noise dampener

[bg4533]

I just moved into a new place and it has high ceilings and hard wood floors. Acoustics are much worse in this place and a lot of sounds seem to echo. I am looking for a cheap way to cut down on the noise a bit in some areas. Has anyone tried using foad mattress pads to absorb noise? I was thinking of buying a few and placing them behind a computer, tv and a few other areas. They would be hidden so aesthetics aren't an issue. Are there any better cheap noise reduction solutions? I am graduating college soon and only plan on being in this place (and probably this area) for another year so I am not interested in spending a lot of money. Any comments?

 

[Jon L]

Those bed foams will not sound very good b/c it will basically just absorb sound at certain frequencies; it'll sound too dead.

The trick is to have more "diffusor" surface, like those deep triangle grooves. Diffusion sounds less dead and more even. You can buy a pretty large sheet of this stuff and cut it and place them in strategic areas, like ceiling corners, long strips on side walls, etc. Try this place:

http://www.foambymail.com/soundproofing.html

Another thing that helped me was putting large stuffed animals up in ceiling corners. Yup, it works to cut down the echo. Check out the upper right corner in this picture

 

[ooheadsoo]

Er, Jon, foam doesn't diffuse, it just absorbs. The pattern cut out on it is just to sell you less foam and/or look interesting. Since what you're trying to absorb is reflections, you actually do want full range absorption, especially in the bass - and no foam will give you that. Even fiberglass barely makes the cut in the sub 200hz region.

That said, since you're moving soon, why not go for foam? It's not exactly cheaper but it's less of a hassle to diy. Just realize that you're getting ripped off in the long run.

 

[Jon L]

Yeah, room treatment is a real pain. Ideally, we would have resources to properly diffuse, absorb, and basstrap, but who's got the time/money/resources? I would love to line my room with RPG diffusors like these http://www.rpginc.com/products/hemiffusor/index.htm

and use proper bass traps, etc.

The wedgy cutouts are meant to increase absorption surface area over just flat foam, and of course these things are meant as absorbers. BUT IME, the ones with deep cuts actually do mild diffusing if compared to shallow or flat foam, and one can hear the pleasant effects of diffusion, even if its mild degree..

 

[ooheadsoo]

Having the foam shaped like that maximizes volume to surface area ratio, but in terms of absorption, there's no replacement for displacement. That angle of incidence stuff they always have diagrams for to show off foam is hooey. However, if you say you can hear the foam deflecting and that is indeed what you are going for...more power to you. How about a panel of foam on top of fiberglass?

 

[tom hankins]

www.auralex.com I was in the same position as you are and have been ordering from one of the aualex dealers near me. I would suggest absorbers on the near wall (behind speakers) and diffusers on the side walls where needed. Good luck....room treatment is a pain in the butt.

 

[pne]

it is better than nothing, but really doesnt do that much in my experience. what really helped my room was hanging sleeping bags on the walls, they are heavier than most blankets and cover a lot of surface area for the price. besides that i didn't have to spend any extra money. one on the front wall helps the image better than 3 or 4 layers of the bedfoam stuff did. i now use the foam in my corners, rolled up into cylinders.

Jon L- looks like you have quite the audio setup there, lots of toys. why not spend some money on professional room treatments? imo, a $5000 amp still sounds like crap if its limited to an untreated room.