How to Use Egg Trays for Soundproofing (SOLVED!!!)

You may have stumbled across egg cartons/ trays soundproofing theory as a DIY soundproofing enthusiast. Some claim that egg cartons resemble acoustic foam panels so that they could help in sound absorption. But how far from the truth is this statement? Do egg trays soundproof?

The Science

When talking about sound absorption, the idea is that the material must have millions of “small things” that will literary move around in 3D space when sound waves hit them, hence converting the wave energy to kinetic energy, which then breaks down to heat energy.

An example is the acoustic foam containing millions of small bubbles that move and flex when the sound waves pressure hits it. In reality, you can see this happen because it occurs on the microscopic scale, but that’s precisely what happens with acoustic foam.

The problem with egg cartons is that they are very thin compared to acoustic foam. Acoustic foam panels use a principle known as diaphragmatic absorption. This is where a thin material is used such that the sound waves pass through once and hit the wall, but the sound waves won’t have much energy to pass back through the diaphragm.

Egg cartons would make great sound-absorbing materials since they have a diaphragm and air cavity behind them, but the problem is that they are just too thin to absorb sound from reflecting into the room.

But this doesn’t mean that egg cartons lack sound-absorbing qualities. At a certain point, any material in the world will absorb some sound. Even concrete floors are going to absorb some sound. But compared to acoustic foam, egg cartons are rendered useless and should only be used as a temporary solution.

Can You Use Egg Trays for Soundproofing?

The short answer is no. While egg cartons will absorb some sounds, they are as useless as they come. Egg trays are designed for one single purpose- to protect eggs. And while egg crates can reduce echoes and reverberations in space, their effectiveness is not enough to notice a difference.

Egg cartons are made of thin materials like cardboard and recycled paper, which are very poor sound absorbers. I would highly recommend egg cartons for soundproofing as only a temporary solution for anyone who is very tight on budget or has many of these cartons at disposal.

You may notice a slight improvement in the room acoustics, but the results aren’t close to what you’d get with true sound-absorbing materials such as acoustic foam. Don’t expect egg cartons to magically block noise from the room next door or prevent noise in your room from leaking to the next door.

This is because materials such as egg cartons or even acoustic foam panels are only designed to absorb high-frequency sound waves and hence won’t block low-frequency sound waves from transmitting to the next room.

If you are wondering why egg trays absorb some sound waves, it’s because they form a barrier between the source of the noise and the nearby surface. Using a cardboard box will give the same effect.

• The shape of egg crates can significantly help with sound deflection. This occurs when sound waves are scattered, reflected, refracted, or diffracted by an object. When sound waves hit the egg cartons, they are deflected and scattered because of the shape of the egg box.
• Even though egg boxes cannot fully absorb sound waves, they can serve as a sound guard. They can move sound hence reducing echo in a room.
• To some extent, egg boxes can help in diaphragmatic absorption. This occurs when sound waves strike the surface of the absorber (egg carton) and get slowed down upon getting reflected, reducing the echo. But unfortunately, egg boxes are too thin to act as an effective diaphragmatic absorber.

How to Make Egg Cartons/Boxes More Effective in Soundproofing

If you’re on a budget or have egg cartons, you can implement several methods to improve the effectiveness. They are as follows:

• Fill one side of the egg boxes with pieces of fabric or paper. You can use glue or wallpaper paste to ensure these scraps stick to the egg cartons. This will increase the mass, and as well all know, the more the mass, the more a material is good at absorbing noise.
• You can add soft materials between the walls and the cartons or simply over the egg cartons. You can use old blankets or rags and attach them to the wall before hanging the egg cartons over them.
• You can combine egg carton soundproofing with other more effective solutions. For instance, if you want to keep noise inside the room, you could try to lower the volume of your stereo.

What are the best Egg Cartons Soundproofing Alternatives

They say cheap is expensive, and that’s precisely the truth regarding egg carton soundproofing. Why invest in egg boxes that won’t make any significant difference when you could get fantastic sound-absorbing results with these alternatives?

Soundproof Blanket

Soundproof blankets absorb sound and minimize noise transmission by forming a barrier against sound. They are also known as sound barrier curtains and may be draped from portable frames, floor-mounted frames, or fastened to your ceiling to create a wall between machine noise and personnel.

Sound blankets can be compared to sandbags’ ability to block flood water. The blankets are thick and heavy to prevent sound waves from penetrating the material. In addition to obstructing energy, the core cushioning fiberglass absorbs the energy that the core density prevents. This renders the soundproof blanket a hybrid material capable of “blocking” directed noise and “absorbing” reflected sound waves.

Soundproof Curtains

Depending on the company you buy from and the degree of soundproofing you want, soundproof curtains can also be referred to as sound-absorbing, acoustic, sound-deadening, and sound dampening.

Regardless of their name, these curtains are constructed of heavy, thick fabrics such as polyester, velvet, or suede and hung over the window frame. Typically, they feature a porous surface that helps them to absorb sound, making a space quieter.

A high-quality and effective soundproof curtain will be hefty, densely woven, extend from ceiling to floor, and extend several inches past either side of the window. The curtains must cover as much area as a possible all-around window so that the curtain folds may establish a seal around the sides.

Anti- Vibration Pads

You might consider getting vibration pads to dampen speaker vibrations when constructing a home studio. Position your speakers directly on the pads. They can be quite useful if you live in a terraced or semi-detached home and don’t want to disturb your neighbors.

These pads can also be applied to walls to minimize outgoing and incoming low-frequency noise.

• Soundproof a Room Using Sound Blankets
• Soundproof Blankets for Sound Blocking and Sound Absorption
• Soundproof Curtains: Do They Really Work?
• How to Hang Acoustic Foam Without Damaging Walls?

Acoustic Foam

Acoustic foam is a type of open-celled foam that is utilized for acoustic treatment. It reduces the amplitude of airborne sound waves with the aim of noise control or reduction. The energy is converted to heat and dissipated.

The purpose of acoustic foam is to enhance or alter the acoustic properties of a room by reducing unwanted sound thru absorption.  This objective necessitates installing acoustic foam on ceilings, walls, floors, and other surfaces. Ideal placement may assist in efficiently regulating room resonance and provide the space with the required sound qualities.

References:

• https://www.acousticfields.com/diaphragmatic-absorption-rediscovered/
• https://www.controlnoise.com/products/sound-blankets/
• https://indowwindows.com/resources/blog/soundproof-curtains/