Does your car have a lot of road noise? Is it hard to listen to your music or have a conversation with your passengers? If so, then soundproofing your car could make your driving experience better.Soundproofing your car will drastically reduce the amount of road noise your car lets in, and that can benefit both you and your passengers.
Now, before you start soundproofing your car, it is important to keep in mind that it is nearly impossible to completely soundproof your vehicle, so you should keep your expectations in check.
However, with that being said, you should still soundproof your car because the results of your work will still be worth it.
Why Can’t I Completely Soundproof My Car?
If you’re wondering why you can’t completely soundproof your car, then here’s why: To completely soundproof your car, you would have to add too much mass to it than is safe.
Soundproofing a car requires adding things to it to deaden sound. If you were to try and deaden all of the sound that can enter your car, it would require adding so much soundproofing material your car would become too heavy to drive properly which could hinder the overall performance and safety of your vehicle.
So why still soundproof your car?
Four Reasons Why You Should Soundproof Your Car
1. For Peace
You’d be surprised how much road noise affects your peace while driving even if you aren’t fully aware of it. Trust, once you soundproof your car, you’ll notice the difference.
No longer will you hear the annoying rattling of your car’s engine or the loud horns of other vehicles around you on the highway or on crowded city streets because their owners of those cars feel the need to announce their presence for every little thing.
You also won’t have to hear the sound of your tires driving on bumpy or unkept roads.
2. For Music Quality
Have you ever had to crank up your stereo because the noise entering your car from the highway was to loud for you to enjoy your favorite songs?
Yeah.
Been there. Done that.
Soundproofing your car can prevent the need to do this. Trust me. And, you’ll thank me when that day comes.
3. For Safety
Back to the music for a bit. Did you know that listening to loud music while driving can impair your performance and reaction time? In fact, at least one death has been contributed to loud music by a coroner in Wigan, Lancashire, in 1997.
And in June 2019, a truck driver crashed into a train because he was playing his music too loud. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but the results could have been catastrophic.
I brought all of this up to point out the role that road noise can play in hindering your safety on the road.
By causing you to choose to increase your music, road noise could put you into the position of driving more dangerously because your louder music could delay your reaction time and impede your safety on the road.
4. For Better Conversations
The final reason you should soundproof your car is because it can help the conversations in your car better. If your car is soundproofed, then you won’t have to talk over road noise to interact with your passengers. Without the interruption of road noise, your in-car conversations will be clearer and clutter free.
Dynamat vs FatMat
So, now that you know why you should soundproof your car, let’s review two of the best sound deadening products available for cars today.
Dynamat Sound Deadener
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Dynamat sound deadener is able to isolate your car from noise very well. And since Dynamat sound deadener is heat-resistant, you won’t have to worry about the heat from your car affecting this product.
Dynamat sound deadener is coated with aluminum, and it provides pretty much everything you need to improve the noise-resistance of your car.
Effectiveness
As discussed, Dynamat is a very effective sound deadener. The primary reason why is because it is thick, and its thickness helps it stop outside noise from entering your car.
Dynamat acts as a protective barrier that keeps your ears from hearing the noise from the road and the other vehicles around you.
Dynamat is made from a butyl-based material. This is what gives it its heat-resistant properties. This material is odorless, and it is effective up to 240 degrees Fahrenheit (115.6 degrees Celsius).
The density and thickness of Dynamat makes it difficult to tear apart. This means that Dynamat is a very durable soundproofing product. Since it is durable, buying Dynamat to soundproof your car is cost-friendly since you’ll save money over time by not having to buy it frequently.
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Because of its thickness, Dynamat can reduce the noise in your car by up to 10 decibels. That is a big difference in sound.
To put it in perspective, a decibel (dB) change of 110 dB to 120 dB is the difference between a car horn and a rock concert or jet engine!
Installation
Installing Dynamat is not easy. It requires a lot of time and effort. This can be a drawback to you if ease-of-installation is a primary concern for you.
Installing Dynamat requires knowing a decent amount of information about your car, so that you know where to put it and how much. The surface of wherever you install Dynamat must be prepped with a good cleaning. All dirt, grease, and grime must be removed.
Applying Dynamat to your car also require cutting the Dynamat sheet into the shapes and sizes you need for your car to be properly soundproofed. Unfortunately, since Dynamat is thick to make it an effective sound deadener, it is hard to cut. It’s like a double-edged sword.
On the one hand, the thickness of Dynamat makes it a great product to deaden the sound in your car, or the other hand, this thickness makes cutting and installing it a difficult task which means you have to work for its great soundproofing benefits.
If you have a larger vehicle, you should expect the Dynamat installation process to take awhile.
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Usage
Dynamat has many uses beyond just soundproofing your car. These uses include soundproofing home theaters and reducing the vibration in your car.
Price
Dynamat costs about $5 per square foot. Depending on the size of your vehicle and where you want to put the Dynamat, this price can add up to being quite expensive. However, something to keep in mind is the overall value of the product.
While Dynamat can cost quite a bit on paper. In reality, it is a great value.
Dynamat is durable so your money will go a long way. And since installing Dynamat can improve your safety on the road by decreasing your need to up the volume on your radio, Dynamat can save you a lot of money in insurance, hospital bills, lawsuits, and more.
Dynamat may be one of the more expensive sound deadening options, but its effectiveness and durability makes it well worth its price.
Pros
- Very effective at soundproofing cars and home theaters
- Reduces car vibration
- Heat-resistant
- Odorless
- Durable
Cons
- Thickness makes it hard to cut and difficult to install
- Pricey
FatMat Sound Deadener
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FatMat sound deadener is a great opponent to Dynamat. The nominal thickness of FatMat is 50 mil (.05 inches). This means that FatMat is thinner than Dynamat.
Also, unlike Dynamat, FatMat is an asphalt-based product rather than being a butyl-based product.
Since FatMat is asphalt-based, it is perfect for sound isolation.
Effectiveness
FatMat is one of the most effective sound deadeners for cars. Since it is so great at isolating sound from a car, it is a great product for improving the sound quality in a car.
Now, there is a downside to FatMat that knocks away a few points from its effectiveness score. Since this product is asphalt-based rather than being butyl-based, FatMat doesn’t have the same heat-resistant features that Dynamat has.
Now, if you live in a colder environment, then this is nothing to worry about.
What you may want to worry about, however, is the difference in sound-cancellation effectiveness between FatMat and Dynamat. To put it simply, Dynamat is a better sound deadener.
Now, before you throw your hands up at FatMat, the difference is sound-cancellation quality is minimal, but it is still worth noting.
Installation
Installing FatMat on the whole is easier than installing Dynamat, but FatMat does have its own share of challenges.
FatMat is a self-adhesive deadener, so applying it to your car is easier than applying Dynamat. You should be careful when applying the asphalt-base, however, because you have to use the perfect amount of heat.
Also when installing FatMat, you need to watch out for material seeping out when you’re applying it. You should also be certain that you don’t let the material stick to itself. You will not be able to separate it if it does.
Usage
Like Dynamat, FatMat has many uses:
- It can be used on door panels and floors to lower road noise
- It can boost the bass and sound quality in your car
- It can cut the noise in your car in half
Price
FatMat is pricier than other deadeners, but it is less expensive than Dynamat.
If you have to cover a lot of space with FatMat, it can get pricey. However, considering its quality, FatMat is definitely worth its price.
Pros
- Cuts noise in half
- More affordable than Dynamat
- Reduces audio vibration distortion
- Keeps sound in and noise out
Cons
- Not heat-resistant
- Hard to install*
- *However, it is easier to install than Dynamat.
Dynamat vs FatMat: Which is Better?
On paper, Dynamat is the obviously better sound deadener. However, which product is better for you will ultimately depend on your own individual wants and needs.
If the effectiveness of your sound deadener is most important to you then Dynamat may be the best choice for you. However, if you need your sound deadener to be easy to install then FatMat may be the better option for you.
If heat is a concern and you live in a warmer environment, then of the two choices you definitely should choose Dynamat. However, if you live in a colder environment and heat isn’t a concern then both options are great choices for you.
Of the two, Dynamat is better at deadening sound, but FatMat is great for improving the sound of music in your car. If you’re an audiophile, then FatMat may be the better choice for you, especially if you live in a colder environment.
As for price, FatMat wins hands down, however Dynamat’s value cannot be overstated.
I recommend you buy Dynamat because of its overall effectiveness and performance quality, but ultimately the choice is yours. If you’re ready for your car rides to be safer and more peaceful, then go check out Dynamat or FatMat for yourself.
You should now have a better understanding of the poor effects road noise can have on your life, and you should now have the information you need to make an informed decision on whether Dynamat or FatMat is best for you.
Use what you’ve now learned to increase your peace of mind while driving and improve the quality of conversation and music in your car. Don’t let road noise ruin your car rides anymore.