7 Best Dynamat Alternatives To Block Automotive Noise
Some people really enjoy hearing their car engine and feel the raw power it produces. However, there are those who prefer quite the opposite.
If you are one of those people, who enjoy a relaxing and quiet drive, listening to music and uninterrupted conversations with your friends, then you’ve come to the right place.
Today, we will talk about what are the best Dynamat alternatives because it can be pretty expensive, depending on the situation.
Therefore, I will present several cheaper sound deadening alternatives which you can use to make your car completely soundproof.
At A Glance: Our Top Picks for Best Dynamat Alternatives
How to Pick the Best Dynamat Alternative?
Dynamat itself is considered to be one of the best automotive sound deadening materials which reduces noise in your car. Let’s analyze what makes it so good.
1. Choose the Right Thickness
The first thing most people check is how thick the sound deadening material is since the thickness is one of the most important things when it comes to making your car completely soundproof.
If we talk about Dynamat, it has a thickness of about 85 mil, which is more than enough to remove almost any road noise.
Now, if you decide to get an alternative to this, make sure to also check the level of thickness. Your best bet is to look for sound deadening materials that have the thickness level of over 80 mil.
Those products are usually the biggest Dynamat competitors when it comes to similar quality of car sound deadening and they will ensure that your vehicle is as silent as you want it.
2. Getting the Proper Coverage
Another very important factor to consider when deciding which Dynamat alternative to get is the amount of coverage per square foot that an alternative can give you.
When it comes to Dynamat, it can be said that it provides an excellent level of coverage, which is why Dynamat costs a lot more than other materials.
The coverage area is important, but it largely depends on your wishes and needs.
Frankly speaking, you usually don’t need to cover every part of the car, in which case, you won’t have to spend a lot of money on Dynamat.
Instead, you can isolate the critical parts of your car and get one of Dynamat alternatives, which would definitely be a cheaper, but also quite a reliable option.
3. Considering Head Resistance
Last, but not the least, apart from just being a material for noise reduction, Dynamat is also good to be used as heat resistant material.
It is not the most important thing per se, but just something you could check out in other Dynamat alternatives if you decide to be thorough.
The Best Dynamat Alternatives
Now that you know what features of Dynamat to look for in its alternatives, it is time to present some of the best and the most noticeable materials similar to Dynamat. You can find these products on the market and use them to make your car more silent and enhance the overall sound deadening properties.
1. Noico
Quick Facts
- Lightweight
- Very thick
- Butyl rubber
The first brand that popped in my head while thinking about a Dynamat alternative is Noico. Noico is a sound deadening material that is cost-effective yet high-end. It can compete with Dynamat's sound deadening mats head to head. Take the 80 mil sound deadening mat for example.
Like most sound deadening mats from Dynamat, this one too is butyl-based. In fact, Noico is even better. Why? Unlike Dynamat, it didn't just use butyl rubber; no! The material is both foil and butyl put together.
Plus, as the name says, the mat from Noico is 80 millimeters thick, so you can get better results when you'd want to reduce noise. Let's not forget, the mat is lightweight for its thickness with 0.7 lbs per square foot. This ensures maximum sound insulation from road noise using a 80 millimeter thick material.
Noico 80 sure does the trick as an exceptional sound deadening material.
You don't need to take much stress when it comes to the installation process. The package comes with handy-size sheets which you can cut within a snap.
I loved this special audio insulation indicator Noico sound deadening mat comes with. Thanks to this feature, you can be sure if it's installed correctly in most car doors.
There's one thing that might bother you a bit though. There's a rubbery odor that can be a bit annoying. I don't know if it comes with all the models out there, but I found it in mine though. But to be honest, I don't think it's going to be much of a biggy.
2. HushMat 10401
You've checked out Noico but you're still searching for the best alternative to Dynamat. Well, you can check out the HusMat 10401 which might be the perfect sound deadener to get your hands on.
The whole set shows off the necessary installation tools you'll need to set it up in no time. This made me fall in love with the package and I think it's a great plus for beginners who find it tough to install sound deadening mats.
If you test it alongside Dynamat mats, you won't find any difference in heat resistance. The reason is probably the mat being butyl-based. From -34 degrees Celsius to the maximum temperature of +204 degrees Celsius, this son of a gun can endure it quite effectively.
Therefore, by using HushMat, you might avoid having frozen and sweaty glass during the winter and keep cool enough during the summer.
As for the noise reduction, here too, I found the 10401 from Hushmat quite similar to Dynamat. You can rarely notice road noise and that's not even the best part. What amazed me is, the mat eliminates vibration like a pro. It's just peaceful and quiet.
Since it's thinner compared to Dynamat, cutting it and setting it up is super easy in the entire car. The self-adhesive is strong enough to hold on to most surfaces. And when I say 'most surfaces', I'm talking about oily metal surfaces too. Cool, right?
3. FatMat Sound Deadening Mat
Here's another 80-millimeter thick automotive sound deadening mat that can blend in with your car. If you love Dynamat products, particularly for their adhesiveness, you're going to love this sound deadening material from FatMat too.
The patented 'Super-Stick' self-adhesive is something that makes it one-of-a-kind. Things got even better when I found the tool kit the set provides. You'll have a knife, roller and an instruction guide for an easy installation process.
Now, I don't know if you're into music, but if you're planning to use this mat on your car woofer, I'll say you can go for it. You can also use it for the entire car floor for maximum efficiency.
The Vibrational Damper is something that can make you go wow. This will reduce distortion, negating all the vibration from outside. The base of your car's sound system will get the boost to work at full throttle.
Besides, the mat boasts an aluminum coating that helps it withstand high temperatures. Now, if you talk about reducing distortion, I'd say FatMat was hitting the mark. Yes, it may not be able to outstrip Dynamat, but it's not that bad either. You can hardly notice any difference.
4. Siless
Like many other alternatives on this list, Siless also features a nominal 80 mil level of thickness, which makes it a pretty good Dynamat alternative.
Also, its coverage is awesome, because it can go up to 42 square feet, but if that is too much for you, you can always get our recommended one from Amazon, which has the coverage of 36 square feet.
Siless also comes with the anti-vibrational feature, meaning that it will negate any vibrational effect from the outside, making your car’s music system more effective and better-sounding.
What makes Siless a bit different from other products is that it is extremely easy to install since all you need to do is stick it where you want.
5. Kilmat
One of the most affordable products from this list is definitely Kilmat. Its features are quite similar to Siless, but with several differences.
Kilmat also features a thickness level of 80 mil and can cover an area of up to 36 sqft, which is pretty good coverage for this price range.
Where Kilmat excels is in its anti-vibrational and heat-resistance properties, due to its super-strong adhesive and foil sound deadening material.
Another very useful feature is that it comes with a special indicator that will tell you when the material is properly installed, which is also the case for some other sound dampening mats, such as Noico.
After that, you simply need to remove and cut extra sheets. If you are interested in getting Kilmat, make sure to check Amazon for the price.
6. Second Skin Audio
If there is anything that is a close match with Dynamat it would be the Damplifier Pro from Second Skin Audio.
This thick rubber sheet has a premium feel with exceptional sound deadening properties. Made out of a butyl compound, Damplifier Pro is thicker than Dynamat.
We love the fact that Second Skin realizes the importance of thermal insulation. The reinforced foil is also heat resistant. This all creates a solid sound barrier that helps keep the speaker environment balanced.
Second Skin is one of those products you read about in car forums, where people often claim it’s the best. We’ve generally found them to be very high quality, and like them more because they have good customer service.
Second Skin offers a full suite of car sound deadening and other automotive insulation products.
7. DIY Peel & Seal
Peel and seal self-stick rolls have a bad reputation for being ineffective. That couldn't be further from the truth.
If applied correctly, Mfm Peel & Seal can prove to be a very effective and affordable alternative to Dynamat.
It comes at 45 mm thick with a strong rubber adhesive over a reflective aluminum surface.
How To Correctly Apply Peel & Seal
- First, make sure the surface you are working with is smooth, dry and free from oil, dust, solvents, grease or debris.
- Always prime weathered wood or composite materials for extra smoothness.
- Use a vacuum or compressed air for cleaning
- Measure and pre-cut pieces for fitting
- Carefully remove the protective release liner
- Press the membrane into place
- (Optional) Use a seam roller to smooth out the surface
I used the Peel & Seal in my SUV 2 years ago. I must say that this product has held up nicely with no visible wear and tear.
To my surprise the corners on the ceiling are still completely covered and I haven't noticed any considerable peeling anywhere. The edges on the floor have no noticeable tears or jagged edges.
How Does It All Work?
Now that you are aware of the best alternatives to Dynamat, let’s focus on explaining how all these car sound dampeners work.
Firstly, I have to explain how sound is produced. A car is a complex machine, consisting of many big and little parts.
Some of those parts can cause serious vibrations, and those vibrations are the main cause of sounds that are produced in the process.
In other words, the sound is just a wave, let’s say, a mechanical wave that is capable of traveling from one point to another. When it comes to cars, this sound wave transforms into heat energy.
What Dynamat and all its alternatives are supposed to do is to disperse these sound waves and make them disappear as fast as possible.
For a more in-depth guide on car soundproofing, click here.
Additional Factors to Consider when Selecting the best Dynamat Alternative
1. The Real Need for Thickness
Even though I’ve mentioned that you should look for at least 80 mil level of thickness in the best sound deadening material in an average sized car, sometimes you can simply use even lower, for example, the ones with 50 mil.
That would mean that you probably won’t isolate every single sound, but is there really a need to deaden sound completely?
Sometimes it can be pretty useful to hear certain parts of your car, to see if they behave well, for example, the engine. Many car owners still prefer to hear their car engine while simultaneously blocking external sound.
2. Critical Spots to Cover
Knowing what parts of your car you need to cover in order to minimize the external noise is also a good thing to consider.
Most of the time, you don’t really need to cover everything, so that could save you some money and time needed to make your car quieter.
3. The Reason and Place to Soundproof
Also, selecting the proper Dynamat alternative can depend on your specific needs, for instance, whether you want to get it for your car, truck or something else.
Some machines produce more noise, so you might have to get a thicker material to make it soundproof and reduce vibrations.
Why Is Noico So Popular?
So, why is Noice the most popular choice out there?
If you are a fan of Dynamat but are on a budget your best bet would probably be Noico.
Why is Noico a top sound insulation solution for many?
While Noico does not have all the top soundproofing features of Dynamat it is still an effective sound deadening mat for a very good price.
It is thicker yet lighter than Dynamat and comes with built in heat resistance.
You also won't have problems with fitting as Noico comes with a special indicator that adds to the ease of installation.
Being thicker than Dynamat you will probably have to sacrifice minimal space but that shouldn't be a major concern.
The sound reduction is well worth it and that is why many call this the perfect Dynamat alternative.
Final Thoughts
Most car enthusiasts know very well about Dynamat. But not every beginner can afford all the expensive soundproofing materials right off the bat.
Soundproofing cars is an art in itself and you can get very creative with it.
Hence it's always a good idea to look at some cheaper alternatives on the market to get you going.
If you are a die hard Dynamat fan, I would personally go for Noico as it is closest to the real deal at a much lower price tag.
You can experiment with different sound deadening materials and create your own custom combinations for the best results.
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