Need Help Fast -- Which rug pad absorbs the most sound?

[thephatp]

I should be getting my rug this week, and my wife keeps bugging me about which rug pad to order. For details on my room, check this thread.

I want the pad that absorbs the most sound underneath a 100% wool rug. The rug has about a 1/2" to 3/4" pile and is 10'x14'. The rug is pretty dense, and the weave is tight and coarse, not fine.

So, I'm choosing between two rug pads:

1. Rubber Anchor II (rubber sponge material)
2. Ulti-Mat (tuff material...I previous said fiber, but I don't know for sure that it's fiber)

Option 1 is made ideally for tile and hardwood floor, and option 2 is made ideally for carpet. However, I believe this from the perspective of grip, not sound absorption. Either will be fine in terms of grip.

If neither one is much better than the other, I'd rather have the sponge one, becuase it would be more comfortable. But if there would be any noticeable difference sound-wise, I would certainly want to choose that one.

Since I know nothing about sound absorption, I really need help, and I need help fast. Also, since the rug is very dense and has a tight weave, will the pad even make much of a difference, anyway? Will much sound get down to the pad? I really want to emphasize that if there is no real difference (or only a miniscule difference) in sound absorption, I'd rather go with the sponge for comfort. I just don't know if much sound will get through the rug and down to the pad anyway. And I can't really implement any other sound absorption techniques (bass traps, panels, etc., because my wife will not let me).

Finally, if there is a much better option that I should consider buying somewhere else that wouldn't cost more than around $250 for a 10x14' rug, let me know.

Thanks in advance!

Chad

 

[Savant]

Chad,

A thin pad to help an area rug stay put, right? You needn't worry about choosing based on acoustical performance. The difference between the two you've linked above will be insignificant.

FWIW, my wife and I have always bought them at Target or Walmart and they've never cost more than $50, if memory serves. ($250!!! )

 

[thephatp]

I guess I should also mention that I'm more concerned with dampening sound because of a hearing problem that I have. I've lost a little bit of hearing, and since that time, my ears have been much more sensitive to sound in that they start ringing, and it drives me crazy (and sometimes hurts). I don't listen too loud, and I've verified this with my wife. However, I'm so paranoid about this because of a past experience:

Currently, we have a rug that only covers part of the tile in our living room (probably an 8x10), but it is a really thick and fine wool rug. I don't really have a problem with my ears ringing with this rug. However, about a year ago we started looking for a new rug, and we tried out a rug my wife really liked--but it was thin and synthetic. When we brought it in, my ears almost immediately started ringing. We returned it the next day and put our old rug back, but my ears constantly rang for about 2 tweeks.

So, all of this effort is to try to make the best decision that will help my ears (for now) without any other acoustical treatment. Maybe I can convince my wife, but in case I can't, I want to make the best decision for this case right now. (FYI, there's nothing an ENT can do to help--I've seen a number of them, and they've all said this is how it will be. Bummer.)

Thank for the help!

 

[Savant]

If I'm understanding you correctly, you are looking to minimize footfall (or, more correctly, heelfall) noise. If that's the case, either solution should work more or less equally well for a given thickness. You should feel free to choose based on other factors, such as price and comfort.

BTW, a second opinion, if you haven't already gotten one (or more), might not be a bad idea for your hearing problem. In particular, I would recommend seeing an audiologist (if you haven't already), as well as the ENT specialist.

 

[thephatp]

If I'm understanding you correctly, you are looking to minimize footfall (or, more correctly, heelfall) noise. If that's the case, either solution should work more or less equally well for a given thickness. You should feel free to choose based on other factors, such as price and comfort.

Ah, what a timely response. I'm ording the pad this morning, because the rug is being delivered today!

Thanks for the info. This is the general response that I'm getting from another forum as well. I've had one person advise differently, and many others who agree with you. So thank you so much for your response!

BTW, a second opinion, if you haven't already gotten one (or more), might not be a bad idea for your hearing problem. In particular, I would recommend seeing an audiologist (if you haven't already), as well as the ENT specialist.

You know, I've seen a number of ENTs, but and I may have been to one audiologist, but I wasn't impressed with that person. I'm glad you brought this up, because I remember getting a referral from another ENT to see a different audiologist, but didn't have time to go at that point. The summer is always slower, so I'll have more time. I appreciate the nudge!

Thanks so much for your help, Jeff!!

~Chad