Are Soundproofing and Sound Absorbing the same?

We need to know the difference between soundproofing and sound-absorbing. To do that, we need to understand each of them. We will start with what is soundproofing? Soundproofing is the process of reducing or removing unwanted noise within or entering any space or room. There are many different ways of creating a soundproofed room or building, and it is just a matter of assessing the amount of sound you wish to absorb and block out.

Sound-absorbing is the process of dissipating sound energy by way of materials or objects absorbing the sound energy. An acoustic absorber absorbs sound waves instead of reflecting them, preventing them from spreading in space and passing through walls.

A rooms’ smooth surfaces such as walls, ceilings, and floors act as a reflective screen, projecting and reflecting the sounds produced inside and transmitting them to other rooms. The higher the absorption capacity of a material, the less sound is reflected.

We need to consider that sound propagates waves with a specific frequency, its measure in hertz, and some absorbers work better with high frequencies than low ones and vice versa.

Knowing this, what do we need to do?   (soundproofing, sound-absorbing, or both?)

Sound-absorbing the room or space reduces sound echo and reverberations. It will also improve the acoustics of the space. Ideally, the sound will dissipate within ½ second or less if a room has been properly treated with sound absorption materials.

Now, let me tell you about Insul-Quilts Blankets. Sound absorbing can be accomplished with our Quilted Studio Blanket, which works primarily as a sound absorber for indoor spaces.

If we decide that soundproofing is the best choice, we need to use materials that have mass (weight) to block sound from entering or leaving a space. Factories, theaters, restaurants, auditoriums, gyms, among others, must have sufficient absorption to avoid noise problems within their walls.

The Quilted Studio Blanket is an excellent solution for absorbing sound reflection and reverberant noise in a Studio, building, or open room. Our blanket features 90% sound absorption, an R Value = 9, a 50% recyclable content, is certified VOC compliant, and reflects 97% of radiant heat.

The Studio Blanket’s foil backing is excellent for installations where a semi-rigid surface is required. When the Quilted Studio Blanket is used as a ceiling baffle, it is an efficient and economical way to mitigate sound and echo problems in large spaces.

The Quilted Sound Blocker Blankets have both an NRC (absorption) and STC (blocking) rating, and these blankets can do both block and absorb sound at the same time. They have an NRC rating of 0.70 (absorb 70% of sound) and an STC 21-29 rating range (blocks between 21 to 29 decibels). The blankets are manufactured using high-quality materials resilient to the sun, chemicals, and dirty environments. The Quilted Sound Blocker Blankets have high tensile and tear strength, easy to install, and can be made to desired lengths. For soundproofing in outdoor areas or exterior type projects, we recommend the Quilted Sound Blocker Blanket.