I'm thinking I'd like to reduce the interior noise on my XB, and am wondering what is the best approach/product(s) to use.
I'm more interested in reducing road/exhaust/wind noise, and less so in creating the perfect accoustical environment.
Unless one can achieve both at the same time...?

Thanks all.

 

Check out Raammat. That stuff is great and competitively priced.

www.raamaudio.com

 

There are two threads on how-to deaden in the interior section:

https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=65529
https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=149357

These will get you the basics of what to do, and where to go.


I Started deadening my vehicle a while back to reduce the road noise (louder than my liking, especially on concrete). The areas that made the most difference in my box are:

1. Rear wheel wells/quarter panels - Covering this area reduced a lot of noise coming from the rear wheels. I used both butyl based sheets and closed cell foam.

2. Hatch - This helped reduce exhaust note and wind noise. Made a significant difference using both butyl based sheets and closed cell foam.

3. Floor - This is quite a bit of real estate to cover. I currently only used butyl sheets, but just received my liquid deadener and my closed cell foam for the floor.

4. Front wheel wells - These are hard to get to and the dash needs to be removed to get to every bit, but it does help. Your hard work will be rewarded.


To figure out what to put where; pull out the entire interior. Everything back seat, carpet, passenger seat, trim panels, except for the drivers seat. (should take no more than a dedicated hour). Get a friend to drive you down a section of highway that you know you get a lot of road noise and move around to find the noisiest spots. You can do this again after you have installed some deadening, the spots will change.

I used the products from Second Skin Audio http://www.secondskinaudio.com/
I started off with 80 sq/ft of Damplifier Pro and 36sq/ft of Overkill Pro, worked wonders!

Also in creating the perfect acoustical environment, every bit of road noise you reduce, the less your stereo has to compete with. You are doing one in the same procedure here. Typical stereo applications also add a lot of deadening to the doors as well.

Be sure to read up on the deadening products thmselves before you get started. There are a number of manufacturers and various products. There is a lot to learn.

 

BoxyButGood has some great tips there.
I use Damplifier Pro on all my old Mustangs, and it does wonders just used inside the doors on an xB. Think about how tinny they sound when you slam them shut - there's just nothing there for insulation or anything else. Deadener there makes a world of difference all by itself.

 

I used raamat from raamaudio.com Rick was great to work with. I did doors and hatch. A lot quieter and great sound when the doors close it is a solid sound.
So, I recommend him and he will give good advice.

 

Realistically, how many square feet of material is needed to do all 4 doors and hatch?
Also would using high dense 1/2 inch foam (like exercise mat mterial) work or only the stick on deadener sheets?

 

Element Designs. Great products

http://www.edesignaudio.com

 

40sq ft should give you enough material to do all 4 doors and the hatch.

The stick on aluminum backed butyl sheets and closed cell foams do two different jobs. The butyl sheets add mass to the panel reducing it's resonant frequency as well as acting as a dampner(by being elastic, it absorbs the vibrational energy). The closed cell foam, will not add mass or or reduce vibration, it will however absorb sounds transmitted through it. For best results people often combine the two, butyl on the the panel, foam over the butyl.

Be sure to read up on both the butyl and the foam. Exercise mat material might not absorb sound the way a mat designed specifically for that purpose will.