| OK, here's the deal: If you want to build a quality stereo | | | | second listening, only this time with the music turned on. |
| system, SOUND DEADENING IS NOT OPTIONAL; IT | | | | You will most definitely find rattles that weren't noticed |
| IS MANDATORY.Why is that?Let me ask you a | | | | before. You will probably also find some places where |
| question: Do you want to hear music, or road noise? | | | | you'll want to bulk up on sound deadening.When |
| Do you want your license plate to be quiet, or rattle | | | | reproducing music, noise and distortion are your biggest |
| when the bass hits? Do you want to hear your tires, | | | | enemies. Sound deadening will go a long way towards |
| or do you want to hear MUSIC?I know I want to hear | | | | fixing these problems.In addition to silencing road noise, |
| the music, and as such, I never do a real car stereo | | | | sound deadening works great for reducing rattles in |
| installation without using sound deadening material.So, | | | | your vehicle. For example: Say you just mounted |
| with all of that said, let's take a closer look at sound | | | | some high powered speakers in your doors. Because |
| deadening.Sound deadening comes in many forms, but | | | | vehicle manufacturers never intend for high powered |
| the two main types are spray on, and matting.Spray | | | | speakers in the doors, they aren't designed to handle |
| on deadening comes in either an aerosol spray paint | | | | the vibrations.To fix the vibrations (which sound |
| can or in a large bucket. The aerosol can is great for | | | | HORRIBLE), just cut out a ring of sound deadening |
| small jobs, but if you plan to go crazy with the | | | | material, and apply it to the spot where you mount the |
| deadening, you'll want to buy it in bulk. When you buy it | | | | speaker. Mount the speaker to the top of the sound |
| in bulk, you'll also need a nozzle of some sort. Usually | | | | deadening material, and be sure the speaker is bolted |
| this can be purchased with the large bucket of sound | | | | down tightly. Now, try turning up the stereo again. Did |
| deadening. This type of sound deadening material | | | | this fix the problem? If not, try applying another layer of |
| works best for tight areas, and where you want a | | | | sound damping material.Another trick: Have you ever |
| medium amount of sound deadening.The other kind of | | | | noticed that certain panels in your vehicle vibrate when |
| sound deadening comes in sheets and is applied with | | | | certain bass frequencies play? Get some of the |
| an adhesive on the back of the sheet. This deadening | | | | spray-on sound deadening material, and apply it to the |
| is more difficult to work with, but much more effective | | | | back of the panel to dramatically decrease the |
| than the spray-on type. It is usually used on larger | | | | vibrations. For larger panels, use sound deadening |
| areas, or where more deadening is needed.Because | | | | sheets.Another trick: Does your license plate rattle |
| sound deadening can get expensive, the smart installer | | | | when the bass hits? Don't look like an idiot, fix it! Take |
| installs it where it is most effective. To figure this out, | | | | some sound deadening material, and apply it to the |
| take a drive in your car with the radio off. Listen to | | | | back of the license plate and the license plate frame. |
| where the most noise comes into the vehicle. The | | | | Try the bass again, only this time you won't embarass |
| main places I look to deaden are around the wheel | | | | yourself when you drive through a parking lot!Good |
| wells, the firewall (of course), the doors, the roof of the | | | | luck and good sound! |
| trunk, under the rear seats, and under the center | | | | -Honest AEBAlan Bayer is an entrepreneur and car |
| console.SO! Check out those places, check out any | | | | audio enthusiast. He runs an eBay store selling car |
| other place where noise comes through, and start | | | | stereo install supplies: also has a GREAT website with |
| figuring out how much material you'll need.This rule | | | | car audio articles (such as the one from above). Also |
| should go without saying, but get more material than | | | | on the website, learn about car audio equipment, how |
| you think you'll need. The reason for this is because | | | | to find the best equipment, how to install it, and save |
| once you have the material installed, you'll want to do a | | | | big bucks in the process! |