Dynamat vs FatMat – what are the differences between them and which is the best sound deadening material for your car? Both products reduce outside noise so that you can have better acoustics, they can both be cut up into the desired shapes you need, and both can be used in different places. They, however, have some differences and your choice of a product would largely depend on your budget and the temperature of your environment.
Read on to find out how Dynamat and FatMat compare in materials they are made of, effectiveness, ease of installation, mass per area, dimensions, thickness, and price.
We recommend you have a look at the best car sound deadening material article as well.
Dynamat vs FatMat: Quick Comparison
WINNER  |
Dynamat
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CHEAPER OPTION  |
FatMat
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Dynamat vs FatMat: Differences and Similarities
What Are They Made Of?
Both products have different makeups that give them their distinct characteristics. Dynamat is made of butyl rubber, coated with aluminum which allows the product to stretch easily. Being heat resistant and odorless, you can safely use it even in hot weather.
FatMat, on the other hand, is made using asphalt and prides itself as one of the best sound deadeners you can find. Due to its asphalt based composition, it’s not fit for use in areas where the weather gets hot. In high temperatures, the FatMat can melt and cause a mess, with the emission of an obnoxious smell.
Effectiveness
DynaMat is very effective and valuable at keeping the noise outside mainly because of the thickness that makes it act as a sound barrier. The thickness allows it to reduce noise by up to 10 decibels which is great.
It‘s heat resistant due to the butyl based composition, so you can make use of it in both hot and cold weather conditions (it can stay odorless at temperatures up to 2400F; 115.60C).
Its density and thick nature make it more durable as it’s not easily torn apart so what you get is a soundproof product that is also durable. You can be sure of great noise cancellation as you use this product.
Fatmat is also great at keeping noise out thereby improving the quality of sound indoors due to its asphalt based composition. The thinner structure of this product makes it easier to install when compared to Dynamat but that also reduces the noise cancellation property.
A huge drawback to the use of Fatmat is its odor production when used in hot weather. So it’s restricted to use in cold environments.
When it comes to the overall effectiveness of both products, Dynamat is the preferred choice as it more efficiently cancels noise due to its thickness, and can be used in both hot and cold weather conditions.
Ease of Installation
Dynamat needs good preparation before installation which includes proper cleaning of the surface. If you’ll be using it in your car for instance, then you would need to have good knowledge of your car.
This is to help you with the location and amount of the material to put where necessary. These factors together with the fact that Dynamat is thick and more difficult to cut makes it not as easy to install as FatMat. Though it’s not too difficult still.
The thickness is to make the material durable and make the product a very good soundproof choice.
FatMat, on the other hand, is thinner and easier to install when compared to Dynamat.
Made with asphalt material, FatMat melts when exposed to high temperatures, so you have to be careful when using heat to install this sound deadener.
Being a self-adhesive product, you need to prevent the material from seeping out during installation, and also do not let the material stick to itself because it will be impossible to separate them without destroying it.
So in terms of installation, it’s a bit easier to install FatMat than it is to install Dynamat.
Mass per Area and Dimensions
Dynamat has a mass per unit area of 0.4 lbs/ft2, and dimensions of 18” x 32” x 0.067” giving it good area density and allowing it to better cancel out external noise.
This is more effective than that of FatMat with mass per unit area of 0.266 lbs/ft2 and dimensions of 18” x 40” x 0.05” implying that Dynamat does a better noise canceling job than FatMat.
Thickness
The thickness of the sound deadeners affects their effectiveness in keeping noise out. The thicker the material, the better it would be at stopping the outside noise from coming inside.
Dynamat with a thickness of 0.067” does a better job at soundproofing than FatMat with a thickness of 0.05”.
So if you are looking for a product with good enough thickness to cancel out a good amount of the outside noise, your best choice would be Dynamat.
Price
Being that Dynamat has better effectiveness, and can be used in both hot and cold temperatures without fear of melting or producing odor it’s only normal for it to cost more than FatMat.
So if you are a shopper on a budget, you may want to go for FatMat instead.
Dynamat Xtreme Review
Dynamat Xtreme is one of the best materials you can get to keep the road and traffic noise out of your car amongst other applications like soundproof home theaters, cancel vibrations, and also to soundproof homes and offices.
This way external noise is not only taken care of, but it also helps to improve the sound quality indoors.
It’s common to have noise deadeners producing odor with use and the odors are mostly unpleasant and cause discomfort.
That is not the case with Dynamat as it leaves no smell during use. It’s more expensive than most products of the same purpose, but it‘s worth it in the end as the performance you get is at its peak.
Also, it’s durable so you get to save more in the long run.
Pros
- Made of great quality
- Produces no odor
- It’s durable
- It has high effectiveness
- Has wide application
Cons
- It costs more than Fatmat
FatMat Review
FatMat sound deadener is one of the best products you can get in the market to keep the noise out while you drive and enjoy the music in your car.
Apart from its use in your car, you can also use it to soundproof your office, home, and it can be used on the floor and indoor panels.
It serves to reduce audio vibration and improve your overall music quality. It gives you all these and at a very cheap price, making it ideal for shoppers who have limited cash to spend.
Made of asphalt, it’s thinner than Dynamat Xtreme and easier to install. A downside to this product, however, is the low resistance it has for heat.
It melts under high temperatures and emits an unpleasant smell which makes it uncomfortable to use. Because of this, its use is limited to areas of cold weather only.
Pros
- It’s affordable
- It’s easier to install when compared to Dynamat
- It reduces noise effectively
- Great at audio vibration absorption
Cons
- It emits a strong odor in high temperatures
- It’s thinner
In this review of Dynamat and FatMat, the comparison was mainly of Dynamat Xtreme because you are more likely to use it as it is their most popular and best product.
This is due to the fact that the High-performance Dynamat Xtreme weighs less when compared to Dynamat Original, and it’s four times more effective too in noise cancelation.
Unlike with Dynamat Original, Xtreme has more applications and so you can use it for rear decks, floors, quarter panels, trunk floors, trunk lids, doors, roofs, and also for under-hood installations.
Other Dynamat products include
- Dynamat SuperLite: it‘s lighter than Dynamat Xtreme but also works to keep the noise out.
- Dynaliner: this is made for the roof of your car and can be applied above Dynamat Xtreme for the best results.
- Dynadeck: it‘s meant to keep the noise out, and since it comes with no adhesive, you can easily take it out.
- Dynapad: Dynapad is specifically made to take care of those low-frequency sounds, and to keep heat blocked out too.
- Hoodliner: just as the name implies, it keeps out any sound that may come from the engine.
- Dynaplate: this is another product that’s similar to Dynamat Xtreme. It is thinner and lighter but performs the same function of keeping the noise out.
Apart from FatMat Self-Adhesive Rattletrap Sound Deadener, other products of FatMat include
- FatMat MegaMat: it’s a true Butyl alternative to the Asphalt of FatMat Self-Adhesive Rattletrap Sound Deadener. It’s cost-effective and thicker so that it more effectively keeps noise out.
- FatMat Urethane Hood Liner: it’s used to line the good of your car so as to keep the engine noise out, and absorb the heat with none being reflected back to the engine.
- FatMat Aluminum Hood Liner: made using FATDAMP acoustical foam and aluminum foil, this product is heat and moisture resistant. It’s used to absorb engine sound tha comes from the hood of your car for better acoustics inside.
- FatMat Floor Liner: it’s made to help you keep external noise and vibrations out of your your car for better internal acoustics.
Conclusion
Dynamat Xtreme vs FatMat: And the winner is…
And here you have it, everything you need to know about both sound deadeners. With this review, you can now make the best choice to suit your needs from amongst both products.
Dynamat Xtreme is the winner and it’s the best option for those in hot weather areas, and it also better keeps the noise out. While FatMat is the best option for those who are on a budget and stay where the weather is cold.
Dave Pearson is a Canadian musician, sound editor, and audiophile. He is also the founder and owner of the website SoundProofGeek. On SoundProofGeek, Pearson offers advice and resources on audio equipment, including how to assess and improve audio quality, how to troubleshoot and repair audio equipment, and how to improve the music listening experience.
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