Best Bass Traps 2023: Reviews and Buying Guide
Every musician knows that having the sound completely under control is of vital importance.
As a matter of fact, we all do have that feeling of calmness when there aren't any annoying sounds.
When it comes to a recording studio, the most common problem is dealing with low frequencies. They are the hardest one to tame.
However, a lot has been done in this field, so now you have so many ways to fix this issue. We have bass traps as a "first line of defense".
There are many different types available, with various sizes and of various materials.
| Product | Dimensions | |
|---|---|---|
| TNew Level Corner Bass Traps |   | 7 x 7 x 12 inches 2 pounds |
| Acoustic Foam XL Bass Trap Studio Soundproofing Corner Wall |   | 12 x 12 x 12 inches 2 pounds |
| ROOMSONIC Corner Bass Traps |   | 12 x 8 x 8 inches 1 pound |
| JBER Acoustic Panels Studio Foam Wedges |   | 12 x 12 x 2 inches 0.7 pound |
| Auralex Acoustics Studiofoam Wedgies |   | 12 x 12 x 2 inches 22 pounds |
| IZO All Supply Acoustic Foam Tiles |   | 12 x 12 x 1 inches 0.8 pounds |
| Pro Studio Acoustics Tiles |   | 12 x 12 x 1 inches 0.6 pounds |
| New Level Egg Crate Acoustic Panels |   | 12 x 12 x 1.5 inches 0.75 pounds |
Some Basics of Bass Traps
As the name itself says, these are the objects that "trap" lower frequencies which cause lots of problems when recording. What's even better is that they transform the absorbed energy into the heat.
Bass traps can be resonant and porous. They can be placed on the floor in the corner of the room or you can mount them on the wall.
How many traps is one going to put inside the room depends exclusively on tonal properties of the room itself.
There's no universal answer, but even if you add a trap or two extra, you won't make a mistake. You can buy them or if skillful enough, DIY them.
Here in this article, I shall focus on the best bass traps available on the market.
They can be made of acoustic foam and they are either panels or corner traps. Foam is very effective with fixing the uneven bass response in the room
Best Bass Traps 2021
The first one on my list is definitely Corner Bass Traps from New Level.
New Level is a successful company which is specialized in various foam and acoustical products. Their idea was to create a useful product at the acceptable price, and they made it!
Their products had amazing performance but were significantly less expensive than many other similar available at that time.
As for this bass trap, it is made of top quality foam, a material which is extremely successful in dealing with a low-frequency response.
This trap can be mounted in the corners between walls and ceilings, or you can mount it horizontal. They are more than easy to set up.
These traps come in packs of 4 and they're available in black and blue, so besides having excellent control over low-frequency sounds, you will have a lovely decorated room as well.
The main goal is to make the perfect environment for recording, and that's where these traps are excellent.
Having low frequencies under control is worth every single buck!
Acoustic Foam XL Bass Trap Studio Soundproofing Corner Wall is number two on our list.
Another product which is made of top quality foam specialized in dealing with low and mid frequencies. Say goodbye to annoying reverb and unwanted echo!
These traps will eliminate any unwanted sound, leaving you nothing but the desired ones!
After "cleaning up“ all the bad sounds, you have a clear and crispy bass, as people would say - music to the ears!
You get the best experience when you place eight of these in each corner, which means four on the floor and four on the ceiling. Foamily bass traps are a perfect combination of price and quality all in one.
ROOMSONIC corner bass traps are perfect traps for studios, home cinemas, living, spaces, practically anywhere you want to fix mid and low frequencies issue.
You will get rid of the muddy sound and get a clear one instead. They come in a pack of four.
When you unpack them, have no worries if they look a bit squished, they will expand in no time. This is another very affordable product that works fine for its price.
From triangles to panels, here are JBER 6 Pack- Acoustic Panels Studio Foam Wedges.
They come either as 12 or 24 pack, uncompressed. Each tile of 1 square foot is 2 inch thick.
They are the best when used in smaller to medium sized rooms, to reduce reverb and flutter echoes.
These panels come in various colors and color combination. So, not only will you have fine acoustics in your room/studio, but it will also look vivid and colorful.
Even though panels may not be as good in dealing the low frequencies as corner bass traps are, still you will feel the improvement of the acoustics.
Do not expect top quality like with some pricier brands, but expect a quite satisfying product for the money you spent.
Another product by Auralex, but these time I’ve got panels.
Auralex Acoustics Studiofoam Wedgies are 12”x12”, each panel 2 inches thick. Auralex panels are available either as 4-pack or as 24-pack, and they come in one color only.
Here’s one useful tip - if you want to get the maximum of these panels, place them so that you change direction with every block.
They are more expensive comparing to the previous ones, but they are of better quality as well. Another thing to add, these panels are not meant to be used for soundproofing, but for acoustic treatment.
The reason I point this out is that you shouldn’t expect any product to be working for something that is not specified for. They are good at “killing” echoes and vibes, but won’t “kill” the sounds from the outside.
These acoustic foam tiles by IZO All supply come in a pack of six, but each tile can be divided into two.
They are good in all places where you need to increase sound clarity, such as studios, home theaters, and similar.
Again, these panels are available as single colored or two color combination so you can create quite a colorful place with fine acoustics.
These panels are budget-friendly so you will have your problem with unwanted sounds fixed at quite an affordable price.
They are rather thin. Just so you know, these are not the top quality ones but are very satisfying.
Pro Studio Acoustics Tiles also fall into the category of products of lower price but acceptable quality.
They come in blue/charcoal combination and each tile is one inch thick. There are 12 of them in the package, which means 12 square feet covered.
No more fluttered echoes and standing waves, you’ll have them fixed with these tiles!
The great thing about this product is that it includes an instruction manual. Yeah, one may say it’s just foam panels, not a science, but still, it’s nice to have all clear, right?
It’s not only how you mount it, but you need to be aware of what does a certain product do, so to know what to expect.
Like we said in one of the previous reviews, do know the difference between soundproofing and acoustic treatment.
These egg crate foam panels are also a good choice for fixing the common problems that go with low frequencies.
They are available as four single colored and three two-color combinations variants. Each tile is 1.5 inches thick, and there are 12 of them in a package.
I’m sure you have heard people using real egg crates to deal with low frequencies, so suppose that was an inspiration for the design of this product.
These panels are really cheap, so do not expect the best deal, but expect a balance between the performance and the price.
What to consider when buying Bass Traps?
Soundproofing vs Acoustic Treatment
When deciding to buy bass traps, take some time to evaluate what it is that you actually need.
The main thing is to be familiar with the difference between soundproofing and acoustic treatment.
The above-described products cannot soundproof a room, they improve the existing acoustics in the room.
Size & Shape of Room
The size and the shape of the room/studio are important factors when deciding how many traps you actually need.
The best would be one in each corner, so eight in total. All in all, there’s no such thing as too many bass traps.
Sound
Evaluate the sound in your room, so that you know are bass traps the only thing you need, or perhaps panels would also be useful.
Actually, you get even better performance when you use both of them.
Price
Consider the price. As you could see, these products are of different prices. Sometimes the price dictates the quality, but it is possible to get a good product which doesn't cost a fortune.
Just, let your expectations be within limits of reality.
On the Best Bass Traps
I gave you a few suggestions so as to make your choice easier. As you could see, I found products of both top and average quality, with price ranging from really low to relatively high.
There are people who have more money, and naturally, they will buy the most expensive products assuming that they are of the best quality.
But, for those whose budget is limited it is nice to know that you can still find the products that do the job and don’t cost a fortune! As you could see, there are also many lovely designs and colors to choose between.
I really hope I helped you in making the right decision which bass trap to buy. If there’s some product I haven’t mentioned but worked fine for you, please let me know, I’m sure other readers will be thankful as well.