ANE007r1.

Making Product Comparison between Dynamat Xtreme and VibraTile

Apparatus
1) Sound level spectrum analyzer (PC based recommended)
2) Calibrated flat response microphone
3) Frequency generator (PC based recommended)
4) Audio amplifier
5) Door panel with 6” speaker
6) VibraTile, 4 large pairs
7) Dynamat Xtreme door kit

DAG Electrophonic uses Clio version 4, a PC based electrical and acoustical test measuring system, which comes with a
sound level spectrum analyzer, frequency generator and calibrated flat response microphone. The system actually consists of
HR-2000 PC board, 2 electret condenser microphone and Clio software. Any audio amplifier that amplifies signal from
frequency generator to the speaker can be used. The speaker is used to induce vibration on the door panel. A list of test
instrument can be viewed at www.aes.org and www.partsexpress.com

Results
Vibramat
Dynamat
Bare Door

Figure 5: Induced 50 Hz with harmonic distortion on the door panel of a Proton Wira. Higher distortion reduction is
desired as it increases bass reproduction efficiency.

50 Hz Distortion Dynamat Vibramat

dB reduction dB reduction
2nd harmonic 2.3 3.2
distortion, 100 Hz

3rd harmonic 2.2 3.6

distortion, 150 Hz

Total harmonic 4.5 6.8

reduction

Table: Getting the total harmonic reduction by summing the 2nd and 3rd harmonic distortion. Only the 2nd and 3rd
harmonic distortion is considered for simplicity.

Excerpt from test result report submitted by

DAG Electrophonic, Shah Alam, Malaysia
 Figure 6: Vibramat enhances bass reproduction as much as 2 dB per door. Higher bass enhancement is desired as it
increases bass reproduction efficiency.

By looking at the sound distortion graph (figure 5), it is evident that VibraTile reduces distortion to a much acceptable level.
VibraTile reduces harmonic distortion as much as 6.8 dB compared with Dynamat which only manage 4.5 dB. A reduction of
10 dB is perceived as a halving in volume by the average human ear.
Furthermore, the bass reproduction enhancement achieved by VibraTile is 1.8 dB compared to Dynamat which only
manage to achieve 0.4 dB (figure 6). A gain of 3 dB is usually achieved by doubling the input power (with batteries and
amplifiers). With Vibramat, the input power needn’t be increased to achieve the same effect. The 3 dB gain graph shown by
Dynamat shows an unnatural curve at 50 Hz without Dynamat. For an induced sound at 50 Hz this shouldn’t happen unless
the car is in a very bad condition.
Note that data obtained might not be consistent due to temperature, pressure and environmental variation. Due to
this fact, there is no standard noise reduction measurement technique.

Inner Skin Application

The application area for Dynamat Xtreme and VibraTile is different. The former is applied on the door panel’s inner skin while
the latter is applied on the outer skin. Both products can compliment each other. With both products installed, door panel
vibration of the inner skin and outer skin is reduced.
There is something to note about inner skin application. The Dynamat Xtreme covers the whole area of the inner
door, including the door panel holes on the inner skin. This step has some side effect. Firstly, some raindrops may seep into
the inner skin, and get trapped by Dynamat’s adhesive. Trapped raindrops can make door rust. Secondly, it would be difficult
to perform repairs on door panel (knocking), lock systems, alarm systems, speaker systems and windscreen systems, etc.
Part of Dynamat need to be removed before any repair can be made.

Butyl Deformation
VibraTile and Dynamat Xtreme works on the same principle of having a heavier constrained layer on top of a elastomeric
layer. VibraTile uses bitumen to act as a constrained layer on top of a butyl rubber while Dynamat uses aluminium to act as a
constrained layer on top of a thinner butyl rubber. The butyl rubber acts as a spring to create silent vibration. This layer must
be able to maintain its form after removing an exerted force. Do a simple test by exerting force with two fingers on top of the
constrained layer. After removing the finger, it will be observed that
VibraTile manages to maintain its butyl form while Dynamat looses its butyl VibraTile dB Reduction Chart
form. This shows that Dynamat acts as a poor spring to deal with vibration.
Optimum Number of Tiles Per Installation

Prepared by, 2 Door 4 Door

Tan Boon Leng Per Door Installation Installation
DAG Electrophonic Sdn Bhd 3 Med Tiles 3.6 dB 4.1 dB
Shah Alam, Malaysia Dynamat Xtreme 4.0 dB 4.5 dB
January 2003 (full door installation)
3 Large Tiles 4.1 dB 4.6 dB
4 Med Tiles 4.7 dB 5.2 dB
4 Large Tiles 6.5 dB 6.8 dB
Excerpt from test result report submitted by
6 Med Tiles 6.9 dB 7.4 dB
DAG Electrophonic, Shah Alam, Malaysia
03/24/03