If you are a car owner, then I’m sure you are aware of how annoying road noise can be when doing long drives. Soundproofing your car is an effective way to get rid of annoying road noise that arises as rubber meets asphalt.
There are a variety of car soundproofing materials and among the best is Soundskins. But how does soundskins compare? Is it effective in making a vehicle cabin quieter?
Soundskins is an effective car soundproofing material. It’s easy to cut, apply, and holds well.
About SoundSkins Brand
SoundSkins is a 2015-founded Australian firm. Their first offering was SoundSkins Pro, an advanced sound-dampening material intended to enhance car radio performance and reduce exterior road noise.
Their flagship products, such as sound deadening mats and door kits, are crafted using a blend of materials that reduce vibrations, reduce road noise, and improve the clarity and depth of your audio system.
SoundSkins doesn’t stop at soundproofing. They are also innovators in the realm of car audio enhancement. With a keen understanding that every vehicle’s acoustics can vastly differ, they provide solutions that are as versatile as they are effective.
SoundSkins Products
Sound Skins global offers four main products: Sound Skins Pro, Pro Plus, Rings, and Classic.
Sound Skins Pro is aimed at reducing road noise and enhancing the performance of car stereos. It features a three-layer design of foil, acoustic foam, and rubber butyl.
SoundSkins Lite is tailored for the car’s interior parts like doors, panels, and floors. It blocks road noise, lessens vibration, and boosts the sound quality of your car stereo.
SoundSkins Classic Bulk is an upgrade from traditional sound-dampening materials, offering more efficiency.
These are sold in rolls measuring 23.6″ x 236″, with each roll covering 38.75 square feet of your car. This makes it one of the largest kits available today.
The Pro Door Kit, also known for its large size, contains three layers – foil, foam, and rubber butyl – and is waterproof.
SoundSkins Vs. Dynamat?
Research has shown that driver distraction is one of the major causes of road crashes. (Source)
The best way to deal with noise distractions in your car is through the application of sound-deadening materials.
In the below section, we compare sound skins vs. Dynamat.
Size
Every sound deadening material is available in different sizes. The bigger the product, the more the area it will cover.
Dynamat is available in a size of 36 sqft while soundskins classic bulk is available in sizes of 38.75 sqft.
Additionally, Dynamat has a dimension of 21x13x3.5 vs. soundskins 23.6″ x 236″.
Even though Dynamat products are as good as soundskins, Soundskins wins the day thanks to its large-sized products.
Thickness/Density
Thicker and denser materials are perfect for noise absorption. So when deciding the best material for automotive sound deadening, the thicker, the better.
Dynamat weighs 15 pounds, and it’s 0.069″ thick while sound skins weighs 7.7pounds and its 0.059″ thick.
Even though these two sound deadeners have varying density and thickness, you won’t notice significant differences in terms of road noise reduction and stereo performance improvement.
Effectiveness and Ease of Installation
When it comes to effectiveness, the two products get the job done. They are both heat resistant and waterproof and will do an excellent job in dampening engine and road noise.
In terms of ease of installation, SoundSkins is easy to install and highly recommended for beginners.
However, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to install Dynamat. With a few YouTube tutorials, you should be able to figure out a way to install Dynamat.
Price
Price is another big determinant in deciding on the product you should opt for.
Luckily for you, the pricing, in this case, doesn’t have to scare you away because both SoundSkins and Dynamat are available at $3 per square feet.
How to Install Sound Skins
To install the material in, you must work on the car’s metal surface. This means taking off the upholstery. If this is new to you, looking it up on YouTube can help. After removing the upholstery, ensure the surface is clean. There should be no dust, waxy oils, or rust. Clean it with denatured alcohol.
After the surface is clean and prepared, trim the sound deadening material to the correct size for the area you want to cover. For smaller areas, it’s best to measure first and then cut to ensure a perfect fit.
After cleaning the surface and cutting the pieces to the right size, start at the top and peel off the backing paper. Then, apply the material to the surface, using the holes in the car door as guides for proper alignment. To make sure there are no air bubbles and to secure the adhesion, we suggest using a hand roller.
Final thoughts
Above is my honest soundskins review. If road or engine noise becomes unbearable, there’s a simple way to fix the problem.
Automotive sound deadening materials are highly affordable and easy to install.
In comparison to Dynamat, Sound Skins is beginner-friendly and equally effective as its competitor.
Other great alternatives include Noico, Hushmat, FatMat, and Lizard Skins.
Meet Mike O’Connor, (a DIY enthusiast), living in Cincinnati, a city ranked as the noisiest in the USA.
As a work from home dad, I have a first hand experience of how noise can truly affect your well being.
Soundproofing isn’t something that should be taken as a hobby, it should be a skill that every homeowner should be equipped with.
Most of the work documented on this blog comes from purely first hand experience, and the products recommended work as indicated.