What is the difference between expensive Auralex eggcrate foam and generic stuff like this?
http://www.foamdistributing.com/products/acousticeggcrate.html
Auralex vs. Cheap Eggcrate Foam
Originally posted at johnlsayers.com, topic 9586.
you should do a search here...
I did search but the inability to title search is a major handicap. The key word in question might appear tangentially in dozens of posts having nothing to do with the querry. Frustrating, but I asked John and his PHP software doesn't provide for it.
I find it easier on forums lacking title searches to post directly, even if it's redundant and get a direct answer. It's not for laziness.
Aloha,
One thought might be to check the manufacturer's performance data (if available) to see if either product will accomplish your absorption requirements.
http://www.auralex.com/testdata/
http://www.foamdistributing.com/product ... teNRC.html
Hope this helps,
Aloha 8)
I should admit that after comparing numbers I still don't have an idea of why anyone would pay for Auralex over the cheap stuff, (in the eggrate panel department anyway). The numbers seem comparable but I also admit that they don't mean anything to me in practical terms.
I'm less concerned with NR properties than whether the cheap stuff will somehow impart a "bad" sound to my signal... like if it would somehow suck the life out of it.
It's going on the inside of a "lite" 4'x6' booth I'm giong to build using a 2"x2" frame and soundboard, HDF and Owens type insulation from Home Depot. The eggcrate foam is just to deaden the inside.
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Aloha,
One of the reasons to check out the properties is to verify what frequencies will be affected. In this case, either product will absorb mostly high mids to high frequencies, leaving you with whatever low/low mids your booth & vocal/instruments generate. This may or may not be a sound to your liking.I'm less concerned with NR properties than whether the cheap stuff will somehow impart a "bad" sound to my signal... like if it would somehow suck the life out of it.
Here are a few excerpts and quotes I've collected along the way in regard to vocal booth dimensions and treatments. Perhaps you may find them useful.It's going on the inside of a "lite" 4'x6' booth I'm going to build using a 2"x2" frame and soundboard, HDF and Owens type insulation from Home Depot. The egg crate foam is just to deaden the inside
Steve (Knightfly) mentioned that "4' x 5' x 7' inside dim's is about the best modal compromise for a small booth." Modally, with a 6'4" ceiling you'd do well with wall dimensions (inside) of 5 and 7 feet. That combination shows no modal problems at all. This means that vocals in such a room shouldn't be "colored" by the room. You would want to keep the upper half, including the ceiling, absorbed with such as rigid fiberglass insulation boards, covered with a light plastic film (they shed) and fire proofed cloth (they're ugly) - you'd likely get better vocal sounds with the singer seated rather than standing, since otherwise they will be nearly at the ceiling. Being that close to a boundary (especially if it isn't absorbed) will cause comb filtering due to early reflections.
And finally, a vocal booth design by John. Notice the use of both cloth covered insulation to provide absorption as well as slats to help retain some of the high frequencies. Hope this helps, Aloha 8)Mode-wise, a 5 x 6 x 7 (inside) booth looks very good. It will also fit into an 8 foot ceiling area if necessary, and is big enough for 3 (very) friendly vocalists or 1-2 with a guitar, so that's what I'm going to start with. Once I finish (don't stop breathing while you wait, I have 'way too many projects still open) you could change dimensions to suit, just do NOT make any two dimensions the same, or more than one dimension in even # of feet.