What Kind Of Foam Absorbs Sound? - Home Music Producer

Sound absorption is a very effective way to dampen sounds in a room or recording studio or space.

The best foam for absorbing sounds is Acoustic Foam because it is designed for that exact purpose.

This post will walk you through some recommendations that I have had personal experience with, and ones that did the best work for me.

Types of Acoustic foam

Wedge acoustic foam

These have a cool spiked look and give an edgy feel to any space.

Thanks to the spiked design, wedge acoustic foam is able to successfully absorb sound, the only limitation being that it is limited to the direction of the sound.

This makes it not convenient for sound absorption if the space is particularly big.

Remember that choosing acoustic foam with huge wedges will be better for sound absorption overall,

but the fact that they are limited to direction makes them not so desirable by everyone.

Eggcrate acoustic foam

Eggcrate is a super cheap option designed with a rounded end instead of a sharp point of wedges or pyramids.

For even better results most soundproof experts usually pair this type of acoustic foam with acoustic cloth.

This particular type of acoustic foam is advisable as a DIY route and for those generally operating on a limited budget.

Spade Acoustic Foam

This type of acoustic foam has a less pronounced design and layout that is generally flat.

The visual aesthetic of spade acoustic foam is an added benefit given that they also absorb sound quiet effectively.

If you have a space that is subject to a various of frequencies, spade acoustic foam is the way to go,

But it is not as good at absorbing sound compared to wedge acoustic foam.

Spade shape acoustic foam has a variation called wave shape and usually the combination of the variation and the spade can be a great way to achieve greater sound absorption while maintaining a great look.

Pyramid Acoustic Foam

This type of acoustic foam is similar to wedge acoustic foam but with a much pointed tip.

In comparison to the other sound absorption foam discussed here, pyramid acoustic foam tends to not work very effectively,

but keep in mind that it is still useful and it having lower rate of absorption doesn’t deem it completely useless.

you can try a work around to make its overall sound absorption better by using corner block absorbers to address and pick up any low frequencies left over from the acoustic foam.

Grid Acoustic Foam

This is typically another less pronounced type of acoustic foam which tends to use raised lines that are within the surface,

to absorb soundwaves, vibrations and diffuse feedback.

This type of acoustic foam is chosen for its appearance and not necessarily its capabilities,

but this doesn’t mean it doesn’t have the necessary capabilities to absorb sounds.

Grid acoustic foam are best applied to small areas with multi directional frequencies as opposed to straight frequencies that aim directly for the foam.

With these various types of acoustic foams discussed ,

it would be almost impossible to pick out which one is most effective.

because effectiveness comes down to the situation and how much of a solution you apply to manage any absorption issues.

Therefore it is best to have a thorough assessment of your room and maybe calling in a soundproof expert to help you out.

in any case that you’re not able to find a soundproof expert or get an expert opinion,

combining different types of acoustic foam can be a great way to approach different frequencies all at once.

Conclusion

Acoustic foam is a great way to carry out effective sound absorption in a room.

Absorption material is generally soft and not rigid so as not to bounce or reflect sound but to absorb it.

Therefore the different types of acoustic foam are all great for a variety of applications.

Ultimately you’ll notice that combining them after thorough analysis of your space is the best way to go.

This will ensure that you at-least account for all types of frequencies.

Therefore acoustic foam is the go to foam for sound absorption.

Sources

Why Does Foam Absorb Sound? – Soundproof Cow

Acoustic Foam – Acoustic Foam – Soundproof Cow

Different Types of Acoustic Foam | Foam Factory, Inc.

Soundproofing vs Sound Absorbing – the difference – ASI

What Kind Of Foam Absorbs Sound?