Well today, for my second post, I am side tracking from words like 'delicious', 'zesty', 'finger licking good' and etc. Instead, the words related to this post are 'sound proofing', 'sound dampening', 'sound deadening', 'auto-foaming', 'quieter ride', 'more comfort ride' and etc.
The photos shown below was taken when I did some sound sound proofing and auto-foaming on my humble ride. It was done @ Eco Asia Global, despite its name, a humble workshop in Cheras that specialized in sound proofing and auto-foaming, apart from some other auto enhancement accessories. Reason of doing is to achieve quieter and more comfort ride, at least to my ears as I am travelling about 140km back and forth from my workplace on every week day. Another reason as an experiment, before doing the same thing to my other or future rides :-P
Well, the following are my '+' personal views and findings after sound proofing and auto-foaming my ride. The % is only indicative as I did not perform any noise measurement 'before' and 'after', not to mention each of us has different level of expectation, perception and tolerance to noise:
- + Overall satisfaction = with a smile
- + Road / tyre noise below 80 km/h = 50% less
- + Road / tyre noise @ 90 to 100 km/h (my normal highway cruising) = 35% less
- + Road / tyre noise @ 110 to 120 km/h (my max speed so far) = 25% less
- + Engine noise (when accelerating) = 50% less
- + Aircond compressor noise (when idling) = 50% less
- + External / ambient noise (when idling / red traffic light @ busy city) = 50% less
- + External / ambient noise (when highway cruising) = 35% less
- + Rain noise (from roof) = 50% less
- + Noise from cruising on wet road / cutting trough water = 50% less
- + Noise from small stones (driving over newly tarred road) hitting on the fender / body = 50% less
- + Can maintain same volume (on the stock audio system) when idling and @ highway cruising speed
- + Easier to communicate with passsengers at the back, no need to 'shout' when @ highway cruising speed
- + Sturdier sound when closing the doors, from "thum" to "thud"
- + Less 'membuang' when entering corners (well I dare not use word 'tackling' here)
From the above, even with only 'entry' level of products mainly from Stealth and STP, but with correct application and installation, I am 'more than quite' satisfied with the results!
One thing I fully understood, despite the word 'sound-proofing', the intention is basically to reduce the noise instead on 'killing' it, not only because the car still surrounded by front, side and rear windows, but I still need to hear especially external noise so I can be aware, alert and react to it, like ambulance or VIP with police escorts coming from my rear! The one noise I could aim to 'kill' could be road and tyre noise, but perhaps I need to go for 'another level' of sound proofing and auto-foaming hehehe.
Well, if you really interested in especially sound proofing or auto-foaming, what I learnt from the net and forums, as well as from the shop owner, the noise protruding into the car cabin is a combination of multiple types and frequencies of noise as such, doing sound proofing and auto-foaming may lessen certain noise but you will begin to hear other noise you are not aware before, like:
- - Wind noise from front side like wind screen is more obvious especially @ highway cruising speed
- - Road / tyre noise only obvious on rough / 'old tarred' road @ highway cruising speed
- - Rain noise more obvious on the wind screen / front window
- - Any squeaking or rattling sounds from inside the cabin are more obvious
Lastly, happy sound proofing and auto-foaming!
