Steven R. Rochlin: DIY Resonance Dampening

August 1999

A Dead Ringer:
Inexpensive DIY Resonance
Dampening Devices

Article By Steven R. Rochlin
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Dynamat Premium Box
Dynamat Premium

Have ya' ever spent $400 on those wooden Shim Mick hockey pucks? No?!?!? Me either. There is possibly a better, much cheaper way to do it in my humble opinion. Yes, the resonant frequencies of your room, your equipment and what-have-you can make a subtle, or not so subtle change to the music your system reproduces. In fact, some components are designed with certain resonant frequencies to enhance their performance! Snell speakers come to mind. So what if i told you there is a way to possibly enhance you enjoyment for under $100? Please read on and you'll partake in the yummies.

In the mobile audio field they have been dealing with resonant frequencies for many years. You see, when you put large subwoofers in your trunk, the trunk is effectively another "box" and can become a big resonant device itself! Have you ever heard a "boom" car's trunk rattle? Well then you too have heard this hypothesis in action! Now what if we took this information given to us from the mobile audio field and applied it to our home systems?

Now comes the easy part. It is inexpensive, easy to apply, relatively simple to take off (in the event it subjectively degrades your reproduction system). Please seek out your local "high-end" mobile audio store and buy a product along the lines of Dynamat or Road Kill? Road Kill is made by a company called Stinger. Popular car audio manufacturer Rockford Fosgate also offers a product called "Punch Mat" that is along these same lines. In fact many of the manufacturers of these products offer various densities and types of dampening materials. They are cheap enough to experiment with until you get the best results.

So what does this stuff look like you ask. Well, it's looks basically like that totally flat black stuff used for roofing! No, please do not ignore the rest of this article!!! (Phew) Felt like i almost lost ya there. Anyway, seek and ye shall find. And you may just find more that one version of this humble suggested tweak too. This stuff is so inexpensive that you and your home-brew friends can cash in on all those empty beer cans to buy some. Now go out to your pick-'em-up truck and find those cans!

Road Kill

One of these products are specifically designed for the basket of your speakers. Another is designer for high temperature applications. Still another is for "normal" applications. The good news is that the average costs is about $50 for enough Road Kill for this project. The most expensive is the Road Kill for high temperature applications which retails for $88 for nine square feet. The basic one retails for $8 for a 1/2 x 48 x 1/8 inch piece for your speaker baskets.

Road Kill The really good news is that you can apply most of these with a simple peel-and-apply or a high wattage hair dryer. Odds are you have that tool in your humble abode. Also it's fairly easy to take off as well if that "love vibe" aint happenin' after applying it to the device in question. Life is good. So what are you doing still here? Go, leave, run, do not walk to your local "high-end" mobile audio store and please get some of this good stuff. And while your there, why not give your mobile audio system a little upgrade too? Those stock speakers could possibly use a little upgrading don't cha feel?

Please remember that some devices are made with their inherent resonant frequencies in mind. Therefore not everything in every application will benefit from this tweak. As always... There are no "hard and fast" rules here. This is just another stupid tweak i use. Your mileage may vary. See store for details. While supplies last. Please remember to tip your waitresses and bartenders. As always, if you have any questions please feel free to e-mail them to me before you do anything. Thanks! Remember, you heard it here first on Roller Derby.