Other Car Audio Resources?

[Joe BKNY]

I’m planning a dive into a car audio topic not touched on here as far as I can tell - adding sound insulation / dampening. What forums or other resources have you found useful, possibly including specific YouT*be accounts?

Thanks for looking!

 

[Steven Holt]

Joe, welcome to ASR! This is the place to have fun and learn! To your question, there is, in General Audio Discussions, a thread called 'An objective approach to soundproofing' that you may find helpful. Please, take a look. PS I am just delighted that Amir decided to put in this category. I suggested it many months ago, very happy to see it. I know that many of our younger membership loves car audio (including my neighbor who I can hear in the parking lot at all hours). Plus, it has reached the point of respectability, I believe that Bose and McIntosh are now in the game. Good luck and Happy listening!

 

[Mark185]

Have you looked at Diymobileaudio.com? There is a considerable amount of information there some good and some not very good. There are also some fairly good YouTube videos that explain where and what to apply. In general terms, the first step is to apply Constrained Layer Damping (CLD) products on body panels that tend to flex and have resonances. Primary examples being the outer door skins and roof panels. A second step that can be very effective is covering the CLD with some form of closed cell foam (CCF). You can find this sold in rolls with a self adhesive side for fairly easy installation. Next common area to attack are the door panels and the inner door surface that most cars mount midwoofers to. CLD and CCF can both be effective here is there if enough room for both without giving problems getting the door panels back on.

Apologies if you already knew this. This just scratches the surface of the topic. There are also applications for using sound barrier products such as mass loaded vinyl.
General rules:

1. CLD is used to absorb vibrations and resonances in larger body panels such as door skins and roof.
2. CCF is used to dampen actual transmitted sound from the vehicle that is not music - tire noise, wind noise, vibrations, etc
3. Sound barriers such as mass loaded vinyl are used to actually block sound.

Layering all 3 can be very effective but not always practical.

 

[EJ3]

Joe, welcome to ASR! This is the place to have fun and learn! To your question, there is, in General Audio Discussions, a thread called 'An objective approach to soundproofing' that you may find helpful. I believe that Bose and McIntosh are now in the game. Good luck and Happy listening!

I had Bose in my 2004 Chevy Silverado extended cab. It was as good as most other better car systems. But I needed some features that included DVD, Blu-Ray & Bluetooth; sound deadening is up next.
In the 1996 Callaway Supernatural SS Impala (450HP): McIntosh came with it (no changes made [for me, a perfect car with a perfect audio system]): EDIT: I forgot to mention that this was the only one built from the Callaway factory with the 450HP engine (all of the other 50 or so, had a 400 HP engine) and it is one of only 3 built from the Callaway factory with a manual transmission (TREMEC 5 speed)

 

[Steven Holt]

Thanks for posting, very cool!

 

[MrPotatoHead]

I had the MX406 (I think it was a Clarion unit?) and a McIntosh amp in my Crossfire. I lined the doors and rear fenders with damping material and foam and the roof with damping material and cork. I don't know how much it helped but it always impressed my friends when I'd rap on the outside of the body and there would be a dull thud.

 

[EJ3]

I had the MX406 (I think it was a Clarion unit?) and a McIntosh amp in my Crossfire. I lined the doors and rear fenders with damping material and foam and the roof with damping material and cork. I don't know how much it helped but it always impressed my friends when I'd rap on the outside of the body and there would be a dull thud.

CROSSFIRE= wonderful Mercedes chassis, transmission and 320 V6 engine (a lot of performance parts are available), with an American body styling (better looking in my opinion)

 

[MrPotatoHead]

I bought it new in 2003 and sold it just a couple of years ago. From 10 ft away, it still looked new so as it became rarer and rarer, people would ask me if it was some new exotic. I'd tell them, no, it's a 20-year-old Chrysler.