Reducing background noise is one of the most effective means to improve domestic audio quality, as we all know when we listen late at night. Apart from various appliances such as heating systems, the biggest problem is external noise from traffic. Current double glazing can help, and particularly if designed for optimum sound proofing, by having two glass sheets of different thickness and with a somewhat wider cavity between them. This does not really cost much, and it helps, up to a point.
The quest for better thermal insulation has recently become much more important with our concern about global warming, and now also rising heating bills. So people have increasingly begun to use triple glazing for better thermal insulation, and sometimes this is mandated for new construction. Unfortunately the resulting package is thick and heavy, usually requiring new window frames when applied to existing homes. That is expensive, and often ugly, particularly in nice old houses (or modern ones like ours where the architect was very particular about the slim design of the window frames). So the glass industry has now come with an alternative: vacuum insulated double window glass. This has an ultra thin cavity that is no longer filled with some noble gas, but is a vacuum, like a thermos bottle. This new glass has a thermal insulation that is at least as good as triple glass, or even better, is much thinner and lighter so will fit in historic houses, very hard to break for burglars, and it also, and that is why I am posting on a audio forum, has much better sound proofing properties.
There are three disadvantages, and I suspect that all three will be largely temporary. First, it is a new technology, so there may be quality problems that will only surface in the future. However, manufacturers seem willing to give a fifteen year warranty. Second, thus far really large windows are impossible, so in our case we shall have to wait. Third, the glass is still expensive, although in practice it may well be cheaper than triple glazing if that would require new window frames.
The quest for better thermal insulation has recently become much more important with our concern about global warming, and now also rising heating bills. So people have increasingly begun to use triple glazing for better thermal insulation, and sometimes this is mandated for new construction. Unfortunately the resulting package is thick and heavy, usually requiring new window frames when applied to existing homes. That is expensive, and often ugly, particularly in nice old houses (or modern ones like ours where the architect was very particular about the slim design of the window frames). So the glass industry has now come with an alternative: vacuum insulated double window glass. This has an ultra thin cavity that is no longer filled with some noble gas, but is a vacuum, like a thermos bottle. This new glass has a thermal insulation that is at least as good as triple glass, or even better, is much thinner and lighter so will fit in historic houses, very hard to break for burglars, and it also, and that is why I am posting on a audio forum, has much better sound proofing properties.
There are three disadvantages, and I suspect that all three will be largely temporary. First, it is a new technology, so there may be quality problems that will only surface in the future. However, manufacturers seem willing to give a fifteen year warranty. Second, thus far really large windows are impossible, so in our case we shall have to wait. Third, the glass is still expensive, although in practice it may well be cheaper than triple glazing if that would require new window frames.