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Fatmat vs Dynamat vs Hushmat vs Second Skin Audio Comparison

James Benchman
Last Updated on
by James Benchman

As much as we all love cruising to our favorite songs, road noises seem to always find a way to ruin the vibe. Fortunately, that problem is an easy fix. Sound deadening materials help your car’s sound system perform to the best of its abilities.

When driving, noises made by your car and the road can drown out the music, but sound deadening materials help your sound system produce music that’s as clear as it is when your car is parked.

Fatmat, Dynamat, Hushmat and Second Skin Audio are some of the well-known sound deadening materials on the market.  But differentiating between them and deciding which is the best for you can be a challenge.

If you’re wondering what sound deadening materials, how they’re different, and which one works best, then look no further.  Below, you’ll find everything you need to know about these three soundproofing solutions.

What is Fatmat?

This popular sound deadening material is known for its ability to boost the bass and music quality of any sound system, as well as reduce road noises by a half.  Plus, it’s one of the most affordable options.

Fatmat’s construction is asphalt based, giving it the properties it needs to provide perfect soundproofing.  However, it comes the distinct odor of a newly paved road.  Additionally, it’s 50 mil nominal thickness makes it one of the thinner sound deadening materials.

Due to its composition, Fatmat performs best in cooler temperatures.  In fact, hot temperatures can cause huge problems with the material.

As far as the installation process goes, this  material is a bit tedious to install but easier than Dynamat.

Just like it shouldn’t be used in hot temperatures, you should also avoid installing Fatmat in hot weather.

Your car isn’t the only thing you can soundproof with this material.  It can also be used on door panels and floors.  Whether you want to drown out certain noises or boost the sound of others, Fatmat works well in a variety of spaces.

Finally, it does more than just cancel outside noise — it also reduces audio vibration distortion.

Pros
  • Affordability
  • Asphalt-based construction
  • Reduces audio vibration distortion
  • Effective
Cons
  • Leaves behind an odor
  • Relatively thin
  • Doesn’t perform well in hot temperatures

What is Dynamat?

One of the absolute best sound deadening materials, Dynamat makes your sound system acoustically loud, gets rid of unwanted outside noises, and is engineered extremely well.  Simply put, quality is guaranteed.

Due to its outstanding performance, it is a bit more expensive than most options.

However, a little can go a long way.  Even with minimum coverage, Dynamat Xtreme allows you to still experience resonance control of 30%.

Not only does it improve resonance, but it also cuts road noise by 9-18 dB, which is over a half.

Additionally, this material is extremely durable, thanks to its aluminum coated boots also responsible for the great quality.

While the construction of other sound deadeners can produce strong smells, this material leaves absolutely no odor in your car.

Dynamat can also soundproof many other spaces and serves a number of purposes, such as soundproofing home theaters, canceling vibrations, reducing heat and humming from exhaust systems and big engines, and making your home office a peaceful environment free from distractions.

Since using only a little of the product yields such drastic results, buying it in bulk and using leftovers for other spaces is a smart move.

Overall, choosing this sound deadening material gets you more for your money.

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Pros
  • Odor-free
  • Quality construction
  • Effective
  • Durable
  • A little goes a long way
Cons
  • Expensive
  • Difficult Installation

What is Hushmat?

This product is ideal for both sound deadening and thermal insulation and is one of the highest quality materials.

Not only is Hushmat effective, but it’s also one of the most affordable sound deadening products.

Unlike other sound deadening products, Hushmat lacks plastic fillers and asphalt resins.  Because of this, it maintains its efficiency and remains free of odors even at high temperatures.

In fact, the temperature doesn’t affect this material at all.  Hushmat does well in a variety of climates and serves a number of purposes, such as soundproofing your office space and house as well as boosting the sound in your car’s sound system or game room.

Not only does Hushmat have a rubber build — which is what anyone would ideally want in a sound deadening material — but it’s also self-adhesive.  As a result, the installation process is a piece of cake.

The product can be applied to floors, firewalls, doors, roofs, and sleepers with ease.

Pros
  • Affordable
  • Thermal insulation
  • Effective
  • Odor-free
  • Self-adhesive
Cons
  • Falls off easier than other materials

What is Second Skin Audio?

Second Skin Audio, or Second Skin, is the creator of Damplifier Pro – arguably the best performing sound deadening mat. We say arguably, because they are the only ones we could find who published data using industry standard testing methods.

Like other high quality mats, Damplifier Pro doesn’t include any cheap fillers or asphalt. The specs show this as it has the widest temperature range of all these mats (-75 F to 450 F). The black foil coating contrasts with other deadeners by featuring a ghosted Second Skin logo. Perfect for those that don’t want to turn their car into a billboard.

With a full range of car soundproofing materials, Second Skin offers more than just sound deadening mats. They’ve got spray on deadeners, mass loaded vinyl, closed cell foam, open cell foam, heat shields… you name it. Everything you need for your car, truck, van, semi, RV, or any other soundproofing project.

Second Skin also offers free shipping. Second Skin and Damplifier Pro bring a lot to the table for anyone looking to reduce noise or make their vehicle more comfortable.

Pros
  • Quality construction
  • Effective
  • Durable
  • Odor-free
  • Guaranteed Adhesion
  • Free Shipping
Cons
  • Almost impossible to remove
  • A bit pricey

Fatmat vs Dynamat vs Hushmat – How Are They Different?

All four products have their fair share of pros and cons, but which one should you buy and how are they different?

  • Dynamat is the most expensive of the three sound deadening materials.  However, it is also the most efficient, as it gives the most for your money.
  • Damplifier Pro by Second Skin Audio is also on the high end of cost, but it’s the only one that matches Dynamat on performance. The specs are even a little better.
  • Hushmat is known for being relatively affordable without sacrificing quality, which makes it a great option in terms of price and effectiveness.
  • Fatmat is the least expensive option but as a result, has also been said to have the lowest quality

When choosing your sound deadening material, ask yourself the following questions:

  • How does it work in hot and cold temperatures?
  • Does it leave an unpleasant odor?
  • Can I use it for multiple purposes?
  • Which one will last me the longest?
  • Which one is the best price?
  • How durable is it?

Temperature

In terms of temperature, Dynamat and Second Skin perform their best regardless of how hot it is.

Fatmat, on the other hand, works well only in cool weather.  Not only does it leave behind an odor when exposed to the heat, but it can also cause huge problems for anyone living in the warm southern states.

In fact, a study was published by the U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health that found temperature even has an effect on sound production and auditory abilities.

All three can be used in a variety of situations, making them worth the price.  However, if you’re on a budget, don’t get distracted by the extras.

So, which sound deadening material should I buy?

If you’re looking for the best quality, most functional, and most efficient product, then I suggest choosing Dynamat or Damplifier Pro by Second Skin.

If you’re looking for a less expensive alternative that’s relatively similar, then Hushmat would be ideal.

Finally, if you’re on a budget and aren’t looking for a heavy-duty material, going with Fatmat would suit you perfectly.

About James Benchman
James Benchman
James is an Automotive Mechanic with over 20 years experience and 300+ car repairs. He is an expert with cars and has worked with different models from the biggest brands. James is a Mechanic , Husband , Father of 3 , and head of content at Caraudiologic. Learn more about us
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