Sound Deadening SoundShield or Dynamat

I decided to go ahead and do complete sound deadening to my Tacoma. I went to purchase some material from a local Audio Dealership from me and they were asking if I wanted Dynamat or SoundShield brand. I felt the SoundShield and it felt thicker and just nicer.

The Soundshield is slightly more expensive but great deals for both. They recommended me the Soundshield over the Dynamat even though they said I cannot go wrong either way.

I have the money and it is not much more so I think I am going with the SoundShield unless anyone here disagrees and says Dynamat is better.

…again I’m pulling the seats out everything for a complete sound deadening project…(which is easy I already have everything out except for the driver’s seat and the carpet around that area).

So is the SoundShield decent?

Thanks in advance.

 

I would trust the shop owner/expert rather than a bunch of internet goobers

 

If you were to visit the numerous places here in the country parts of Louisiana you would definitely disagree with that statement you made, lol
Only with my 3 Months of Audio knowledge I know so much more than these whacko idiots in my area.

I decided to do some google searches for reviews on Audio Dealerships in Louisiana and apparantly this one place in New Orleans had rave reviews…so I decided to made a long drive to a highly rated shop closer to New Orleans and yes these people know their stuff they were working on 2 muscle cars when I was in there all using SoundShield.

Still though I trust the members of this forum even more though.

 

Dynamat - it's proven and holds up well in testing. Soundshield is a new player and they don't give you much info about their products.

If I were doing a vehicle today though, I'd use Resonix.

 

I just did my doors with soundshield, I don’t know which one it was called but it had 4 layers. Best deadener I've used yet, much better than dynamat. I was able to do the outside skin and cover the inside skin holes with 2 rolls.

It did have a strong smell though that took weeks to go away. I would unroll it and leave it out for a while before installing.

 

Yes the one they showed me was quite a bit thicker than the Dynamat and just looked like it would do the job better.
Also I’ve watched quite a few YouTube videos on SoundShield Deadening and it is getting very positive reviews and looks like some very decent sound deadening material.
Still have time to decide.

 

Can the shop show you any data about the sound deadening performance of those products?

Or are they just recommending the more expensive of their offerings?

Thicker may or may not be a benefit. The lower sound frequencies will need a thicker material to absorb the longer wavelength.

 

Seems like the Soundshield product you're looking at is both a damper and a decoupler - a thick decoupler at that. That may be hard to get into some areas like door cards and still be able to re-assemble your doors. Might want to pick up some damper by itself for those areas (although you'd still want to decouple there). Thin neoprene is really good for this and also acts as a thermal insulator. Furthermore you won't need a decoupler for a large portion of the real estate so that will be a waste of product.

The smell is a red flag too. A good damper will not stink up your ride. That smell is either adhesive or asphalt. Adhesive smell should go away after a while. Asphalt though - good luck with that.

Curious why you're only considering these two though of all the choices on the market.

 

Because they are willing to help me with this project. I’m just bringing my truck in and they are willing to actually show me how this is all done.

Pretty sure this was the soundShield they showed me:

 

Sidenote: Hushmat > Dynamat
Hushmat sticks extremely well with minimal prep.
Dynamat is just living off its name from the lat 90's early 2000's. Stinger Roadkill is a Less expensive and probably a better product.


Soundshield is a "better" version of Soundskins. I didn't bother getting the whole story with soundskins, but its something along the
lines of 2 partners splitting up(possibly one screwing over the other). Soundskins was sold to a SoCal Distributor and they've been
pushing it for the last couple years. One of the partners went off and started Soundshield, which is supposedly a product thats uses
"higher quality" material.

I've installed at least 30 rolls/tubes of Soundshield in the last year. Adhesion isn't too bad, but you do have to clean the area extremely
well before you apply/install it.

I would use regular sound deadener(butyl and aluminum layer) on the outer skin and Soundshield on the inner skin between the door and the door panel. And add both on the door panel.

 

I agree with @rob feature, I just installed a bunch of Resonix. More effective than Dynamat, so you don't have to install as much.

 

This is very much the way I've been leaning. I've been emailing with Nick and his recommendation to me (since I don't necessarily want to do the floors) is to use CLD Squares and then a combination of Fiber Mat 25 and Fiber Mat 45. He explains that the thicker the better, as long as it is not being compressed much. Anyone have experience with what would fit best in the doors and on the rear wall?

Here's what Nick specifically says about Fiber Mat in the doors and rear deck (I'm doing the rear wall, but close enough for my application):

"Doors – Please note, Fiber Mat 45 is only for some vehicles. Most will only be able to fit Fiber Mat 25 – In between door panels and the inner door skin as a decoupler, replacing commonly used closed cell foam to eliminate pesky rattles from the doors. It also acts as an absorber here for outside wind/tire/road noise, as well as astray midbass frequencies from door-mounted speakers.

Rear Decks – In between rear deck panels and the metal underneath. This serves as an excellent decoupler here to eliminate rattles which cause muddy and distracting bass from trunk-installed subwoofers. If Fiber Mat 45 Fits here in your vehicle, use that instead."

 

Both great products like the store owner mentioned, soundshields is a great butyl and foam combo though.

 

I agree with @rob feature, I did CLD treatment with Dynamat Xtreme back in 2010. Going through some upgrades on my sound system as we speak and the Dynamat still standing strong and in perfect condition after 13 years, there was NEVER any smells in the cab. No sticky-goo messes anywhere in any surfaces where it was installed.

There are a LOT of newcomers to the game of “sound-deadening”, but IMHO, Dynamat is a PROVEN product made in the USA and you now you won’t regret it few years down the road when you start taking your Taco apart and you find a huge mess…. Not saying you will, you just don’t know with these new companies.

On another note, agree with @rob feature again, if I was starting from scratch again with a CLD installation, I would definitely use RESONIX - like I said, not available in 2010. Nick Apicella-ResoNix, has great line of products with the R&D to back it up. I already have CLD from Dynamat, but added Fibermat, Guardian, CCF Strips, and butyl rope from RESONIX and these products are awesome.

Cheers!
Rick.

 

Did you go with Fiber Mat 25 or Fiber Mat 45? Can you shed any light on whether or not 45 would fit in the door panels or on the rear wall? I plan on putting the plastic storage things back on the rear wall after putting this stuff on.

 

I did Amazon basics brand, great stuff went on easy and made the cab whisper quiet. Did all 4 doors, rear cab and in storage compartment for about $70.

 

Well I’m using SecondSkin Luxory Liner on floor, back wall, and doors - all on top of existing Dynamat Xtreme.

I’m using ResoNix Fiber Mat 25 on cab ceiling and behind B and C pillar trim covers.

Also done a blowthrough, so I use Fiber Mat 45 around the area of the “port”.

All I can say is, EVERYTHING will ALWAYS fit…. Sometimes it takes a little or a hell of a lot to make it work. It’s “trial and error” until it works

ALSO - BOTH Fiber Mat 25 and 45 compress fairly well, you might be able to fit 45 with some work. 25 will DEFINITELY will work.

EDIT: *** you can DEFINITELY use 45 on back wall without issues. Are you still keeping the “luggage bins”?

 

What's a blowthrough? And a port in this context?

This was my thinking originally too but Nick really asserts that you don't want to compress the stuff too much. (See below.) And I am planning on keeping those luggage bins there. I took some very rough measurements and kinda decided the 25 might be better back there. Why do you say the 45 will definitely fit?

Here's a tiny excerpt from his massive guide: The general rule of thumb with ResoNix Fiber Mat 25 & 45 is any application is always increasingly beneficial. Any time you add more of an absorption product, you will theoretically absorb more noise. There is one caveat, though. Stuffing it to the point of compression will alter the product’s behavior and shift and change the acoustic absorption properties, usually in a way that is negative to our requirements in the automotive environment. For larger voids such as roofs, quarter panels, etc., only fill them until they are full, but do not add extra to the point that the Fiber Mat compresses. Fiber Mat should remain “lofty” for the best performance. The only time compressing is okay and even preferred is when you are using Fiber Mat as a decoupler as well. Light compression of ResoNix Fiber Mat will drastically increase decoupling performance and panel stabilization without having enough adverse effects on absorption to be concerned. Door panels and rear decks come to mind here since these are areas that we are typically very concerned about with panel-on-panel vibration.

There's too much variety in cars for him to give recommendations for all of them. And unfortunately he hasn't done any Tacomas yet. I'm worried the 45 could be too thick for the doors so I'm leaning toward either just doing the 25 or getting a sheet of both and seeing what works better where and then just order more.

 

IT’S 80’s COOLNESS





Fiber Mat 45 will DEFINITELY be too thick for the door panels, but it will fit fine on the back wall where you get a lot of road noise. I’m using Second Skin Luxury Liner Pro, which is 3/8”, thicker than FM 45, and my luggage bins fit just fine.

I know what Nick says about compression, but some compression is acceptable.

Like you say, get one sheet of each and experiment.