The main function of an acoustic foam is to reduce the so-called airborne noise through insulation, absorption and damping.
An acoustic foam is therefore used to soundproof a place. To carry out the phonic treatment of a room, it is necessary to take into account several elements, in particular the surface of the room and the frequencies of the sounds to reduce.
Need an acoustic foam? You need to compare commercially available products. Learn about their strengths and weaknesses before you decide. Follow the guide.
What is acoustic foam?
Acoustic foam is a polyurethane insulation composed of several cells. It is light and exists in several thicknesses.
Who is it for? It is mainly designed for sound engineers, but it can also be used by individuals and other professionals.
It has several variations, the most common of which are: egg crate, smooth foam, combination foam and wedge foam.
It is available in several colors and textures. Interested in this product? You should know its main uses and how it works.
What is the purpose of acoustic foam?
As the name suggests, acoustic foam is a sound insulator. What does this mean? It protects against external noise that can disturb the comfort of a house, a studio or a workplace. In the field of music or production, it ensures another function: it guarantees the quality of sounds.
It eliminates echoes, resonances, and all other sound disturbances in the environment.
Imagine a basketball hitting a hard floor with great pressure. Then imagine it hitting a soft floor.
In the first case, it will bounce with great force, while in the second case, its bounce will be weak. The effect of acoustic foam on sound can be likened to this phenomenon.
It lowers the echoes, then the ambient sounds that circulate in the space. On contact with the jerky surface of the foam, the sound waves lose their strength.
The 6 main selection criteria for choosing a good acoustic foam
You are looking for a soundproofing foam but you don’t know which one to choose? There are criteria to guide you to the right product.
1. The price
The price is a decisive element in the choice of your soundproofing treatment. We advise you to go for a polyurethane foam produced in quantity. You can find it easily and at a low price.
2. Finishing
The aesthetics of the foam counts for a lot! This is especially true for public areas such as movie theaters or recording studios.
There are foam sheets in different colors or with a fabric finish.
There are also different shapes and profiles of foam plates, cells, pyramids, spikes … to combine performance and aesthetics.
3. Efficiency
To achieve perfect sound insulation, it is necessary to determine whether the noise frequencies are low, medium or high. The higher the frequencies, the thicker the acoustic foam should be.
There are coefficients that indicate the level of performance of a soundproofing foam.
Generally between 0 and 1, this noise reduction coefficient (NRC) is indicated by frequency range. You will find it on the product sheet. The closer the coefficient number is to 1, the more effective the foam is.
Another important coefficient is the Sound Absorption Coefficient (SRC). However, it is not often displayed on product sheets. However, this value is essential in the choice of your soundproofing treatment.
If you are unable to determine the frequency of the sounds to be absorbed, go for a classic foam and complete this phonic treatment with different elements such as bass traps or suspended panels.
4. Security
Acoustic foams made of fireproof polyurethane, melamine and polyethylene guarantee that they will not burn in case of fire.
However, it is preferable to go for top-of-the-range foams, based on melamine, which are classified M1 for establishments receiving the public.
5. Packaging
Depending on the surface to be covered, it may be wise to purchase tiles, panels or rolls.
6. The environment
If you must install foam in a damp room, be sure to choose the material accordingly.
Acoustic foam absorbs moisture. As a result, it presents a risk of mold growth and significantly reduces the life of your installation.
In this case, prefer the honeycomb profile or smooth and waterproof in humid environments.
We propose a classification with comparison to guide you in your choice of acoustic foam.
Best Acoustic Foams to Insulate Your Studio
1. Donner 50-Pack Acoustic Panels Sound Proof Foam Panels for Walls
No products found.
Advanded Acoustics introduces its new slider foam tiles with a streamlined design. The Slider tile is made without removing any foam so that each tile absorbs sound efficiently.
Each slab measures 305 x 305 mm. The maximum thickness is 70 mm and the minimum thickness is 20 mm. This batch contains 16 tiles which allows to cover a surface of 1,48 m².
This professionally made soundproofing foam has a density of 30 kg per cubic meter, efficient, safe and design. It allows you to soundproof all types of spaces.
Advanced Acoustic is a company specialized in the manufacture and the marketing of acoustic foam and in the phonic treatment.
2. 24 Pack Acoustic Panels, 12 x 12 x 2 Inches Sound Proof Foam Panels for Walls
No products found.
Advanded Acoustics presents these acoustic polyurethane foam tiles with a density of 30 kg/m³. The tiles are precisely and digitally manufactured in a triangular shape.
The maximum thickness is 40 mm and the minimum is 20 mm. Each tile measures 305 mm by 305 mm and this batch of 24 tiles covers 2.23 m².
Overall, this product offers excellent value for money. Made of polyurethane, this professional acoustic foam is efficient, standardized and safe. Advanced Acoustic specializes in the manufacture and marketing of acoustic foam.
We recommend this foam to insulate a cinema room, a studio and for domestic use. Ideal for large and small spaces.
3. Auralex Acoustics Charcoal Studiofoam Panels
No products found.
Auralex offers precision acoustic control assemblies to eliminate unwanted sound effects from a room. The panels measure 305 mm by 305 mm with a thickness of 50 mm.
The Auralex equipment is extremely qualitative. However, it requires a substantial budget, hence the third place in our ranking.
Whatever the size of the room to be soundproofed, you will find what you are looking for with Auralex acoustic foam.
4. LEIYER Upgrade 12 pack Acoustic Panels
No products found.
LEIYER offers you its acoustic foam panels for the phonic treatment of your spaces. Each panel measures 1″ X 12″ X 12″
LEIYER foam adapts to any surface. Perfect for reducing echoes, it does not provide absolute soundproofing. This acoustic foam ages very well but requires careful assembly.
Finally, the larger the room, the more the absorption of echoes will be reduced. This acoustic foam is ideal for domestic use. We do not recommend it for professional use such as in a recording studio.
5. 18 PACK Acoustic Foam,Self-adhesive Sound Proof Panels
No products found.
HEMRLY commercializes acoustic foam panels for soundproofing. Sold with adhesive, these panels measure 12 x 10.5 x 0.4 Inches.
Sold in several colors, you can easily make different combinations to soundproof and decorate your rooms.
The aesthetics of these acoustic foam panels allow you to decorate your space in addition to soundproofing it. The affordable price and ease of installation make it one of the leaders on the market.
However, we do not recommend HEMRLY foam for large spaces. Indeed, its noise reduction performance is really reduced depending on the size of the room to cover.
Ideal for domestic or professional use in small to medium-sized spaces.
6. TroyStudio Acoustic Studio Absorption Foam Panel
No products found.
TroyStudio offers high quality acoustic foam panels. This set contains 6 acoustic panels, each measuring 12 x 12 x 2 inches
This TroyStudio product does not provide absolute soundproofing, but it does reduce echoes and reverberation considerably. We recommend it for domestic and semi-professional use only.
7. Fstop Labs Acoustic Foam Panels
No products found.
Fstop commercializes foam panels for the soundproofing of your spaces.
Sold by unit, it measures 2” X 12″ X 12″. With its Mushroom Tilessurface and its density of 50/lbs per cubic yard,, the foam adsorbs and reduces noise.
Basotect melamine foam complies with the Din4102 B1 standard and has almost unlimited application possibilities. However, with its low density, this foam is recommended for soundproofing small spaces.
The European laws requiring builders to use standardized materials use it in public places.
Best acoustic foams : Honorable Mentions
Clearsonic S2466x2 (S5-2D) Sorber
This fiberglass acoustic foam has a light grey textile covering. It is presented in the form of a panel with two sections linked together with a ribbon.
Each section measures 1670 x 609 x 38 mm. It has many advantages, but also some weak points.
The Clearsonic S2466x2 (S5-2D) Sorber is a foam designed for music lovers. It can be used for studio isolation.
No products found.
EQ Acoustics Classic Wedge
The EQ Acoustics Classic Wedge foam is a sound insulator adapted to all uses. It allows to isolate rehearsal studios, offices, recording studios or home theaters.
It comes in packs of 16 panels, each measuring 300 x 300 x 50 mm. This foam is available in grey.
Are you on a budget and want to insulate your bedroom or studio? You can opt for this EQ Acoustics Classic Wedge foam. Despite its fragility, it is effective.
No products found.
The t.akustik HiLo-N25
The t.akustik HiLo-N25 is a foam with a density of 16.5 (+/- 1 kg) per m3. It has a rectangular shape, with a length of 1000 mm and a width of 500 mm.
As for its thickness, it is 25 mm. Finally, its spikes are 15 mm. This insulation equipment is available in grey.
The t.akustik HiLo-N25 is a multifunctional foam. You can use it to improve the comfort of your vehicle, to store your valuables or to insulate your home studio.
Mousse Ingeniously
This product is intended for the sound insulation of all types of rooms. Ingeniously foam is available in 50 x 50 cm square panels with a thickness of 5 cm.
It attracts many people because of the advantages it offers. However, it has some disadvantages that should be noted.
Ingeniously Foam is designed for both home and professional use. It allows you to minimize sound leakage in different areas: the office, the bedroom and, especially, the studio.
Mousse Retyly
The foam of the brand Retyly is intended for the sound insulation of studios, offices or houses.
It is available in several pieces of 30 x 30 cm. A pack of insulation includes a dozen foam panels.
This Retyly brand soundproofing is one of the most popular products among consumers due to its performance and quality. By purchasing it, they can also enjoy an excellent after-sales service. However, it is more difficult to find than the others.
Mousse Sodial
The Sodial foam is a thin insulation of 2.5 cm thickness and dimensions 30 cm x 30 cm. It exists in a unique color: black. This product is delivered in packages of 12 pieces of insulation. What can it be used for?
It allows to isolate the noises in the professional premises, the house and the studios (of recording or repetition). It also helps to keep control rooms free of outside noise disturbances.
Sodial is known for its quality products. This acoustic foam is one of its best creations. Despite its weaknesses, it attracts many users because of its resistance and long life.
Conclusion
We recommend Advanced Acoustics and Auralex Acoustics. Two companies specialized in sound treatment.
The first one will address to the musicians or video makers beginners or amateurs. Their products have a good quality/price ratio and can allow you to soundproof your rooms at a lower cost.
If you are a professional and you want high end equipment, the Auralex Acoustic brand is made for you. Auralex has designed a complete line of acoustic foam to set up your studios and reduce unwanted sounds.
However, if you are just looking to reduce echoes or reverberation, the TOOGOO or A2S foam will do the job perfectly.
As you can see, the choice of the acoustic foam is important when you want to realize the sound treatment of a room. In addition to the dimensions of the plate, the design, the color or the material can come into play!
Important note: The purchase of acoustic foam implies a shipment in parcel post.
The foam is often compressed by the seller to reduce shipping costs. Here, no need to worry, just open the package and take out the foam sheets, leaving them at room temperature. They will regain their shape within 72 hours.
Although mostly used by professionals, acoustic foam is also well suited for domestic use. Whether it is to absorb the noise of a washing machine, a VMC. or to attenuate the noises of the neighborhood!
No products found.
The Review
Best Acoustic Foams
Review Breakdown
-
Donner 50-Pack Acoustic Panels
-
HERTBER 24 Pack Acoustic Panels
-
Auralex Acoustics Panels
-
LEIYER Acoustic Panels
-
Dmsky Store Acoustic Panels
-
TroyStudio Acoustic Foam
-
Fstop Foam Panels
Comments 1