What Are the Best Soundproof Panels?
Updated
The best soundproof panels for echo are fabric-wrapped fiberglass or mineral wool at least 2 in. thick, rated NRC 0.95 to 1.05; 2 in. Auralex Studiofoam (opens in a new tab) lags behind at 0.75. For noise coming through a wall, no panel you hang up works well. There, the best "panels" are heavy layers built right into the wall.
Go by the published rating, not what the label says:
- NRC 0.95 or higher at 2 in.: bare 2 in. Owens Corning 703 (opens in a new tab) board rates 1.00, and GIK's 3.5 in. FlexRange Acoustic Panel (opens in a new tab) rates 1.05.
- 4 in. for bass: 4 in. 703 absorbs 0.56 at 125 Hz against 0.15 for 2 in., and NRC hides that difference.
- A named lab test: ASTM C423 or a lab report. If a listing has no NRC, you've got nothing to compare.
- Price per square foot: see how much acoustic panels cost.
Watch out: To block noise through a wall, you need mass, decoupling and seals. Johns Manville rates its 1 lb/sq ft mass loaded vinyl (opens in a new tab) at STC 26 on its own, and resilient channel raised an insulated 2x4 wall from STC 34 to 48 in CGC's tests (opens in a new tab). No panel you hang on the wall comes close.
The soundproof panels guide puts every panel type side by side, and there are more answers in the soundproof panels FAQ.