Sound Deadening

[MP3SMART]

Originally Posted by dcrooks

Except it is illegal to wear head phones while driving. It may vary by state. I think you can wear them over 1 ear but not both ears.

I was just goofing. To me the noise will just be part of the total experiance. If I wanted a real quiet car, the smart would not have been an option. What I wanted was a real fun car.

[dancote]

... for all the links, suggestions, etc. Nice to know some of you have already tackled the job.

[2K4CE]

Originally Posted by smart-IN

OMG!
fine components like the avic and dynamat combined with such junk like pioneer- and kenwood-loudspeakers? and to top that loudspeakers in the rear?

ok - i'm shocked, because as an "highender" i would NEVER install loudspeakers in the rear of a car. ;)
most of the people, wich heard my old smart asked me, where the rearspeakers are, because the "liveness" and the "room" where so perfect.
i always said then "great sound is made in front of you! every loudspeaker that's somewhere else destroys good sound!"
ok - most of the people where also shocked, as they heard, how much only my tweeters cost...

oh and before i listen to any sound out of a bose-thing, i'd prefer to cut my ears of!

Are you for real?


anyway, viscoelastic/mass dampening with dynamat is just one step that will offer very minimal noise control... It has to be handled with constraining layers, barriers... etc... its complicated.

[Dave777]

I spent $40 on 4 square feet of Dynamat Extreme at the local car audio shop and in about an hour did a minimal install. About half of it went on the removeable engine cover, and the other half on the front side of the engine compartment, right behind the seats.

I believe it made a noticeable difference in the engine noise, particularly at low speeds. It did nothing for road or wind noise, but that wasn't my intent. The $40 seemed well spent.

The engine cover:


The front of the engine cover, looking back, over the passenger seat:

[mfoster]

I just bought Dynamat to reduce engine noise. From what I've heard it should do a good job.

[2K4CE]

Originally Posted by mfoster

I just bought Dynamat to reduce engine noise. From what I've heard it should do a good job.

Putting anything between you and sound will reduce sound. Luxury Liner, or any 1/2" open cell with heavy mass barrier backing will work significantly better.

[SeaDoc]

Lytherm MAX (Under Carpet Thermal and Acoustic Insulation) 60" X 38.5"
Sold by: ThermalSound Direct at Amazon.com... I cut it half to make 30" (L) x 38.5" (W) and removed the two screws on top of the back compartment (over the engine) and then applied carpet tape to the backside of the rug and laid the lytherm all the way down the front side (near the parking brake) to the back which is approximately 30" - with the extra, I cut it in half 30" x 19.25" and placed one of the pieces under the passenger compartment foot area atop the rubberesque platform that has the flat repair kit and tow hook... I still have an extra piece - don't see a need for the driver's side as that seems well insulated... The sound difference was noticeable and worth the $50 bucks, especially at low speeds. As mentioned before, windnoise is what it is - a character of smart... the pictures similar to dave777, but I chose to put the insulation material directly underneath the carpet and leave the engine compartment alone. I placed the screws back and replaced the plastic screw (on the driver side) with a metal one and a washer (painted black to match the carpet)

[xcrew229x]

My current "old beater truck", an '81 Dodge w/slant six, is quieter than the smart. But do I care? Nope, every time I drive past a gas station, I just smile.

[SMART]

Here are some photos of the doors with sound deadening.

[dancote]

Now we're getting somewhere. I'm more encouraged than ever to "Give it a go".