Cardboard bass traps?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Nick_Black
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Nick_Black

Mirthmaker
is it possible to get that thick packaging cardboard stuff. layer it so it's about 4" thick and use that as a bass trap? and/or could you use it for sound proofing?

edit: and use that cheep bed foam on top to prevent as many reflections
 
i'm sure if something cheep and avalaible like cardboard could be used for bass traping, it would be all over.
so probably not.
 
Nick_Black said:
is it possible to get that thick packaging cardboard stuff. layer it so it's about 4" thick and use that as a bass trap? and/or could you use it for sound proofing?

edit: and use that cheep bed foam on top to prevent as many reflections
Click to expand...


Sounds like you're trying to create the world's biggest fire hazard.
 
yeah, I was thinking about the fire thing. but it's only for temparary usage.
plus there's absolutly no heat source around. infact I'd be more worried about it getting wet... but thanks for the concern.

and giraffe thanks for the reply. but I rather not assume, just becouse no one uses it that I've heard of (there's alot of things that work that no one "likes" using)
 
Ask Ethan.:)

I don't think cardboard would help cause its density is too low. 703 is basically fluffy stuff packed and compressed to a certain thickness so it increases its density for absorption efficiently.
 
Hello Nick. In a nutshell, absorbers such as rigid fiberglass are called "resistance" absorbers. The fibers are compressed just enough to resist the movement of air molecules in between the "interstices" of the fibers. Too loose, and you have no resistance. Too tight and it will reflect. This resistance causess sound energy to convert to heat. But don't try to heat your coffee with it. :D
Another factor is thickness, as it is relative to 1/4 wavelengths. At 1/4 wavelength velocity of the molecular movement is maximum, but pressure zero. If a 1/4wavelength is equal to or less than the thickness of the fiberglass, absorption coefficients are higher. To give you and example, a 100hz wavelength is 11.3' long, with a 1/4 wavelength of 38.4". A 1khz wavelength is 1.13' with a 1/4 wavelength of about 3.8 inches. Thats why a 4" thick rigid fiberglass panel has a higher absorption coefficient at 1khz than at 100 hz.
Cardboard has no attributes to act as a resistance absorber. And it has very little mass, which means it is a lousy material to use for "soundproofing" applications.
One of the main things I use cardboard for is templates. Like my soffit panels. I get large sheets of 3/4" honeycomb cardboard from Sears. Some of their products such as refriderators and riding lawnmowers are packed using these panels. Sears usually just throws them away. Some are as big as 4'x6'.
fitZ :)
 
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Thanks Rick, I knew it wouldn't work (ive tried it) now I know the reason why.
 
Thanks for the very detailed discription. I knew about the diffrent wavelenghts thats why I wah planning to make it 4" tich (not even close to all the bass freqencies, but I hoped that it would do something)

but I did not know about the resistance absorbers, Thanks for explaining that too me I alway's wonderd why such, relitivaly thin matirial could absorb so much.

but, unfortunatly I can't get a hold of rigid fiberglass, but I'll look into something like rocksol or something.

Thanks again!
 
Using dead roosters stapled to the wall would be more effective than cardboard.
 
frederic said:
Using dead roosters stapled to the wall would be more effective than cardboard.
Click to expand...

will roasting them first give a warm sound? :confused: :D
 
sweet, yeah, I've got the point... Where can you buy roosters?

is there any cheep methold using house products (mostly) that you can build a decent bass trap, or sound insoltion "hanging wall"?
 
frederic said:
Using dead roosters stapled to the wall would be more effective than cardboard.
Click to expand...
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm...........how many do you think I'd need?
 
Nick_Black said:
sweet, yeah, I've got the point... Where can you buy roosters?

is there any cheep methold using house products (mostly) that you can build a decent bass trap, or sound insoltion "hanging wall"?
Click to expand...

Once you dispense all laws of acoustics, regard for personal safety and plain old common sense, there are many items you can use.
 
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