2018 Sportback Essence Soundproofing Project

[abizzle]

My Sportback sound proofing project is planned for next weekend and I wanted to create the discussion now because I won’t be reading or commenting much until after I’m done. This project will have me all up and throughout the vehicle, so I also wanted to give forum members a chance to post requests for information, pics, or video and I’ll do my best to oblige. Requests don’t have to be related to sound proofing, so if you’re curious about something else feel free to ask.

This will be my second sound proofing project and it will be much more thorough this time around. The materials used and how they will be applied are based upon many hours of my own research and the small amount of hands-on experience from the first project. I do not claim to be an authority on sound proofing or the properties of sound. I am a total amateur just trying to make my car quieter and to create a professional grade sound stage for my upcoming sound system upgrade. I am excited to apply what I’ve learned and I hope to provide forum members with some good information they can use for their own sound proofing projects. Thankfully, my dad has an air-conditioned shop just four hours north, so I won’t have to do this project in the oppressive South Louisiana heat and humidity. Otherwise, this project would be on hold until November.

I don‘t recall seeing any stickys on this forum, so I’ll just update this post with any new information, so it will always be at the top. Now... on to some details about the project, including the various locations to be targeted, the materials to be used, and the results I hope to achieve.

More to come…

 

[LLninja]

If you are doing any soundproofing around the shifter, I’d be curious how easy the silver shifter bezel comes off and where to pry without damaging it. Alas, you are probably doing the majority of your soundproofing in the doors and hatchback area where the speakers are.

 

[abizzle]

If you are doing any soundproofing around the shifter, I’d be curious how easy the silver shifter bezel comes off and where to pry without damaging it. Alas, you are probably doing the majority of your soundproofing in the doors and hatchback area where the speakers are.

Pretty much doing everything but the roof and engine compartment, so I can look at the shifter. Recalling my first project, anything that was removed received a piece of liner backing before it was reinstalled. I’m splitting the project into 3 days; Day 1 - Wheel wells, Day 2 - Doors, Day 3 - Floor and Hatch.

 

[RegalMN]

Will you be pulling apart the pillar with the driver's seat belt? I have a rattle in there and am curious how hard it would be to fix.

 

[abizzle]

Will you be pulling apart the pillar with the driver's seat belt? I have a rattle in there and am curious how hard it would be to fix.

Yeah. Sometimes you have to because it’s molded to the adjacent trim pieces. In order to remove the carpet you have to at least get it to where you can pull back on it and lift it up. I’m going to treat as many of the panels as possible because if it’s not rattling now, it will after the subwoofer goes in.

Ill be sure to get pics and video of the area. I can tell you what I’ll be doing. I’ll apply a layer of CLD, which is the butyl rubber liner with an aluminum backing on one side. CLD is designed to reduce vibrations. If I apply a second layer it will be either Neoprene or a Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV).

 

[FavaBean]

I’ll apply a layer of CLD, which is the butyl rubber liner with an aluminum backing on one side.

Just curious...What benefits are gained by the inclusion of aluminum backing on the product?

 

[abizzle]

Just curious...What benefits are gained by the inclusion of aluminum backing on the product?

I believe it’s simply to add some structure since it’s used to cover holes and span openings.

 

[LLninja]

I believe it’s simply to add some structure since it’s used to cover holes and span openings.

It also adds rigidity to stop the sound waves. If the absorbing material vibrates, then it can act like a speaker cone, ever so slightly.

 

[abizzle]

Will be uploading additional project details soon.

Just wanted to pass this along... If you're considering doing some soundproofing in your vehicle, now is a good time to buy Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV). MLV is generally used as part of a combination of products, but can be used by itself. It has excellent sound deadening properties. SoundproofingMLV.com is running a 25% off special with free shipping on their Noise Grabber MLV products. They are available in 1/2 LB, 3/4 LB, 1 LB, 1-1/2 LB, and 2 LB variations. These prices are about as low as you will find for such a good product.

 

[abizzle]

Oops... this was a duplicate post.

 

[abizzle]

Sorry I haven’t posted any details yet, but I’ve been slammed this week. I’ll have some time later this evening. Aside from project info, this will be one of my last posts until Monday, after the soundproofing is done.

I bought a one month subscription to an iPhone app that measures noise level and analyzes sound data. I’ll be able to take some readings before and after soundproofing. It’s one thing to say, “wow it’s much quieter”, but I want to have some real numbers to compare. I figure readings at 35, 55, and 75 mph should be sufficient. I’ll also capture some data while playing music at a specific volume and we’ll see if the readings go up afterwards.

Talk to y’all later.

 

[Jack GS]

For those of us that are more interested in further insulating the cabin from exterior noise vs. enhancing interior sound quality... Any chance you have a dB meter to obtain cabin measurements before/after the install on a predetermined route?

I enjoy some good quantitative data. I know there are some apps out there but I seriously doubt their accuracy. As long as everything else is held constant, the delta results should still be fairly reliable even with a smartphone app.

 

[bollox74]

For those of us that are more interested in further insulating the cabin from exterior noise vs. enhancing interior sound quality... Any chance you have a dB meter to obtain cabin measurements before/after the install on a predetermined route?

I enjoy some good quantitative data. I know there are some apps out there but I seriously doubt their accuracy. As long as everything else is held constant, the delta results should still be fairly reliable even with a smartphone app.

Ive got a box of soundproofing that I'm waiting for a cooler day to install. My plan was to cover most of the floor behind the rear seats below the floor. There's a pretty sizeable gap between the trunk floor and the metal floorpan.

I've got a db meter on my phone that I'll use and do some before and after to see what I find out. might also be worth noting in the data what tires each of us run as that will certainly play a role.

 

[LLninja]

I’m wondering if just adding a thin layer of foam might be useful in some places In the car. I have boxes of anti static foam that I picked up from a number of GPU boxes that are all the same size and shape. I know one of my coworkers used it in some home-made speakers he was building.

 

[Jack GS]

Might also be worth noting in the data what tires each of us run as that will certainly play a role.

Yeah we won't all have the same meters/mics either so the only real useful data will be the delta. "Adding soundproofing in X location reduced the sound level near the driver seat by Y amount" sort of thing.

 

[abizzle]

For those of us that are more interested in further insulating the cabin from exterior noise vs. enhancing interior sound quality... Any chance you have a dB meter to obtain cabin measurements before/after the install on a predetermined route?

I enjoy some good quantitative data. I know there are some apps out there but I seriously doubt their accuracy. As long as everything else is held constant, the delta results should still be fairly reliable even with a smartphone app.

This app is supposed to be the real deal. I paid for a subscription.

Decibel X: Pro dBA Noise Meter

"Decibel X" is one of very few noise meter apps on the market that has highly reliable, pre-calibrated measurements and supports dBA, dBC. It turns your iOS device into a professional sound level meter, precisely measures the sound pressure level (SPL) all around you. This extremely useful and...

skypaw.com

I took readings at 55 mph, 65 mph, and 75 mph. The recordings can be exported as various types of data. I’ll post the PDF analysis for each one sometime today.

They say the app is tuned for the iPhone microphone and the accuracy is very comparable to a legit dB meter.

 

[nizerims]

Just wanted to pass this along... If you're considering doing some soundproofing in your vehicle, now is a good time to buy Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV). MLV is generally used as part of a combination of products, but can be used by itself. It has excellent sound deadening properties.

👍
Years of trial and error trying to dampen and absorb sound from inside and outside of the cabin led me to the benefits of MLV.

Best product I've found--> Luxury Liner Pro

 

[abizzle]

I downloaded what appears to be a nice app for analyzing the noise levels in the car. It’s one thing to say the car is much quieter, but I want some numbers to compare. I made several recordings at different speeds and with the phone either on the center console or the dash. The app will export each recording in pdf, html, csv, and wav format. I've attached a pdf file for each of the seven recordings listed below. The files are named according to how fast I was going, the type of roadway, and the location of the phone. I can't send the audio files right now because they exceed my upload limit. I'll figure something out.

• 45mph-CityStreet-Dash
• 55mph-Interstate-Console
• 65mph-Interstate-Console
• 65mph-Interstate-Smooth-Dash
• 75mph-Interstate-Console
• 75mph-Interstate-Dash
• 75mph-Interstate-Smooth-Dash

I know there’s some scientific information out there, which can be used to determine how much the noise level was reduced. Feel free to help me out here. For example, lets say at 75mph the dB level was measured at 72dB before and 65dB after. How do you determine how effective it was.

 

[abizzle]

So, I need to upload the audio files that go with the pdf's in the previous post. I have some videos and pics also. I guess I'll just put them on my Google Drive and y'all can download them from there. I'm worn out and need to get some sleep, so I'll do it sometime tomorrow.

On another note... the fender liners and wheel wells are taking longer then I expected. I'm hoping to finish them tomorrow, but I was definitely right about the wheel wells being the hardest part.

 

[2007LucerneCXL]

Unless all things are identical the variables to compare one vehicle to the next on sound levels the value may be to that owner only. Type of measure tool, placement, ambient noise HVAC, road conditions, state where tested, tires, sunroof, sound proofing material used, how it's attached, etc.

Consider moving, with a assistance, the sound meter being used to locate the root cause(s) which may be the first area to focus on and depending on how much difference is noticed after applying material the need to do the entire vehicle may not be required for some individuals.