SS Spectrum

[Alpine CDA-9815 10+ year member]

For the purpose of just killing rattles I will have to say mats do work better. As far as overall sound deadening (absorbing, reflecting, rattles, etc.) liquid works better IMO. So if you just want to kill the rattles go with a mat.

 

[swimfreak26 10+ year member]

Ask ant what he would do, a very nice guy to deal with and will steer you in the right direction, just give him a call or shoot him an e-mail.

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

For the purpose of just killing rattles I will have to say mats do work better. As far as overall sound deadening (absorbing, reflecting, rattles, etc.) liquid works better IMO. So if you just want to kill the rattles go with a mat.

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/word.gif.64b12e39f936af3b4fff38a1c0bd0244.gif

Liquid does have better barrier loading (sound absorption/reflection) properties.....but for subbass like you are wanting, those are basically negligable.

 

[Harrison486 10+ year member]

Ant said:

"When you compare damplifier to spectrum at equal thickness the spectrum and

damplifier will do a similar job at kill vibrations but spectrum will do a

better job at kill noise."

But everyone is telling me that mat will be better. So spectrum wont really change things or do I just trust ant?

 

[iceteebone 5,000+ posts]

Ant said:"When you compare damplifier to spectrum at equal thickness the spectrum and

damplifier will do a similar job at kill vibrations but spectrum will do a

better job at kill noise."

But everyone is telling me that mat will be better. So spectrum wont really change things or do I just trust ant?

well i'm not as smart as everybody who posted in this thread, and don't have 10,000 + posts, and can't use big technical words, but i have used the sludge and it has worked just as well as any mat has worked.

 

[jlaine 10+ year member]

Ant said:"When you compare damplifier to spectrum at equal thickness the spectrum and

damplifier will do a similar job at kill vibrations but spectrum will do a

better job at kill noise."

But everyone is telling me that mat will be better. So spectrum wont really change things or do I just trust ant?

What are you trying to eliminate?

That's what you need to ask.

Road noise - the liquid is superior because it will get to areas you won't with mat, and will cover more uniformly.

Panel vibration - is pretty much purely based on mass loading. Sludge would work for that because it's insanely heavy and goes on like thick peanut butter.

Here is some factual data on the liquid side of things.

 

[supa_c 5,000+ posts]

Ant said:"When you compare damplifier to spectrum at equal thickness the spectrum and

damplifier will do a similar job at kill vibrations but spectrum will do a

better job at kill noise."

But everyone is telling me that mat will be better. So spectrum wont really change things or do I just trust ant?

It takes like 4-6 coats to get the thickness of damplifier with spectrum.

 

[Harrison486 10+ year member]

Could I cover my whole trunk with 1 gallon of sludge?

Woudl that be better?

 

[Alpine CDA-9815 10+ year member]

The sludge is thick heave stuff. I used 6 gallons of it in my car... with around 100sqft of mats, then like 60-80sqft of Overkill and 60sqft of Rattle pad. I'm very pleased with the results... and really the only place I used the mats were in the doors since it's less messy. One gallon of Sludge should be enough to do the trunk. Also the good thing about the Sludge is you just put one coat on, as thick as you want. Unlike the Spectrum where you have to put on 6-8 coats, and wait for it to dry some after each coat.

 

[Harrison486 10+ year member]

I think I may end up going with a gallon of spectrum (maybe two to make sure I get the right thickness).

I have a stupid question now.

What will be the audible benefits of deadening my trunk?

I know that it will stop the rattles, but will this make the sound clearer or louder?

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

Both possibly. You may not realize it, but a lot of the "bass" you hear may be partially composed of the resonances, vibration and rattling of your trunk/etc. Eliminate that, and you lower the noise floor and hear more "true" bass, which will inevitably sound "cleaner" and possibly louder (due to less noise and more actual bass). Now, amount of noticeable difference will obvious vary by vehicle/setup/etc.

You also will be deadening a portion of the rear wheel wells I presume? Which could also decrease road noise somewhat.

At the very least, you'll look less hillbilly as you drive by people because your trunk won't be rattling all to hell //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/tongue.gif.6130eb82179565f6db8d26d6001dcd24.gif

 

[Harrison486 10+ year member]

At the very least, you'll look less hillbilly as you drive by people because your trunk won't be rattling all to hell //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/tongue.gif.6130eb82179565f6db8d26d6001dcd24.gif

This is my main concern! I hate being that joke of a kid who rolls by and it sounds like the trunk is gonna fall apart.

You also will be deadening a portion of the rear wheel wells I presume? Which could also decrease road noise somewhat.

Umm. I plan on doing the whole trunk. Like take out all the carpeting, doing the whole bottom of the trunk, both sides, and the whole trunk lid. Is that right or am I missing something that adds trunk rattle?

 

[Harrison486 10+ year member]

Okay. I need your honest opinions now. I am definitely going the spectrum route, as I am going to be buying new sealed gallons relatively cheap from another user on this forum. Damplifier would just be too much for me.

Now I have been talking with Ant and I am wondering what your opinions are. I can afford to get 2 gallons, but obviously 1 gallon woudl be cheaper and I would rather do that. I measured my trunk and after adding up the bottom, sides, and lid, it has a surface area of about 26 sq feet. I emailed ant and he said:

1 gallions would do a very good job for damping your trunk, at 1mm you will get about 40 sq feet of coverage. I alsways tend to go extra though. just because Spectrum is so inexpensive. especially with a loud sound system. 1 would be fine though

What do you guys think I should do? Do I really need the second gallon? Would it help that much more?

I need help.

I can afford two, but one would be cheaper and cheaper is always better. But I dont want to only get one, if I should really be using two. Help me out.

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

I honestly would pick up the 2nd gallon. If you don't use it all, you'll atleast have some left over for future use (doors maybe...or if you get a different car, etc etc). And that way you won't be limited on how much you can use.

 

[supa_c 5,000+ posts]

The more the merrier