SOME MYTHS DECODED
Most companies sell you confidence in what they're offering. We start with decoding some widely held views.
Many noise problems we encounter start with someone who's already spent money on the wrong fix because it sounded right, not because it was checked against their actual problem. Here are some myth busters
Egg cartons may scatter a small amount of high-frequency sound within a room, but they do almost nothing to block noise transfering to another room. Soundproofing needs mass, airtightness, isolation, and proper construction.
In general acoustics a 10-decibel decrease is described as a 50% reduction in sound energy, but that's not the same as perceived loudness, because hearing doesn't work in a straight line. We'll always tell you what a number actually means for what you'll notice, not just what the measurement says.
Mass helps, but only up to a point, and only if the noise problem is airborne in the first place. If your issue is say an impact noise such as footsteps, dropped objects or flanking noise sneaking around the wall via the floor or ceiling, adding mass to the wall itself won't cut it.
Acoustic foam absorbs reflections inside a room, it reduces echo and reverberation. It does little to stop sound transmission through walls, floors, or ceilings. If your problem is noise getting in or out of a room, foam alone won't fix it, no matter how much you install.
Extra mass can help, but only if the wall or ceiling system is airtight and properly detailed. Flanking paths, gaps, ceiling cavities, doors, and structural connections can still let sound through.
Carpet can reduce footstep noise and some high-frequency reflections, but it will not properly control speech build-up, reverberation, or low-frequency noise in a lively room. Walls and ceilings treatments usually matter more.
A wall can look substantial but still perform poorly if there are gaps, lightweight linings, unsealed penetrations, weak doors, shared cavities, or sound leaking around the structure.
Acoustics Decoded is backed by 35 years of real world acoustic installations experience through the PEACE & QUIET GROUP