I’m a music lover. I really enjoy listening to music while I drive. However, one of the worst feelings is driving along while hearing a lot of loud noise that’s preventing you from enjoying your favorite music, radio show, etc.
The best solution to solve this problem involves using a material that works as a sound deadener. There are lots of different brands on the market today, and one of the best is definitely Dynamat.
Dynamat is one of the most effective and popular sound-deadening mats for soundproofing a car. While it’s a great product, it can be very expensive, and I’ve found that there are cheaper alternatives that can get the job done just as well.
The Best Dynamat Alternative Available on the Market
There are some effective sound-reducing mats on the market that do a great job of cutting down unwanted noise—for a far cheaper price than Dynamat.
With that being said, based on my knowledge and own opinions, I strongly believe that Hushmat is the best alternative. Hushmat is very similar to Dynamat in terms of sound‐deadening, thermal insulation and bonding.
I’ve taken an in-depth look at all the sound‐dampening materials on the market, and have listed the most affordable ones below. Let’s take a look at all the alternatives, one by one.
1. Hushmat
When it comes to sound‐deadening, Hushmat is one of the most popular brands, and is said to be Dynamat’s biggest competitor. You can certainly rely on this product to dampen any road noise and successfully enhance the acoustics of your car.
Hushmat is very heat‐resistant, since it’s butyl‐based. It has the ability to withstand extreme temperatures: as low as 30 degrees below zero (Fahrenheit) and up to 400 degrees.
Compared to Dynamat, it’s a little bit thinner and lighter, which makes it a lot easier to install. Just like Dynamat, it comes in kits. One thing I really like is that you’re able to order a custom kit for your car. This means you won’t buy too much or too little, and your application will go a lot more smoothly.
When it comes to the price range, we consider Hushmat to be far cheaper than Dynamat. When we do the math, we get around $2 per square foot for audio and automotive applications. Door and floor kits are sold at up to $4 per square foot.
Highlights
- Reduces road noise
- Extremely easy to install and remove
- Affordable price point
- Great overall performance
- Adheres to any surface
2. FatMat
FatMat is another well-known sound-deadening material. It’s largely known for its thickness and its ability to remain cool under extremely hot temperatures.
If you’re on a tight budget, this product might be the right solution for you. It comes in a variety of sizes at different price points, allowing you to choose the one that works best for your car and budget.
If the installation is one of your biggest concerns, then you don’t have to worry anymore. FatMat comes with an installation kit that will make the work much easier for you. Even if you’re not a handy person, with the help of the roller and knife, you should have it installed within a matter of minutes.
FatMat is asphalt-based and smells quite like a freshly-paved road. It may not be ideal for use at hot temperatures, so it’s not the best idea to use it if you live in a warm place.
If you live in a cold area and want to save money, then purchasing FatMat sound-deadening material is the right choice.
Highlights
- Very affordable
- Well-established brand
- Self-adhesive
- Very reliable and easy to cut
- Helps minimize vibration and exposure to road noise
3. Noico 80 mil
These sound-deadening materials are so effective that they can be used to block out noise pretty much anywhere. However, they work best for automobiles.
When it comes to soundproofing materials, the thicker it is, the better. Noico is very thick, so you can expect great insulation from it. Noico may not be the best sound-deadening material on the list, but it offers competitive pricing, which will eventually save you some money if you’re on a tight budget.
Noico also has an automatic self-adhesive coating, so you can easily install it in your car, and it has an indicator that lets you know if it’s properly installed. All you’ll have to do is roll the embossing on the foil until it becomes plain and smooth.
The sizes of the sheets are pretty small, so you can use this material to soundproof almost any part of your car. You can install Noico on the hood, the roof, the floor and the doors, and even under the seats, without any problems.
In comparison to other mats on the market, the Noico 80 mil sound-deadening mats are quite affordable. There are two different colors to choose from, including silver and black. The only downside of this product is that some people reported that it melts in high temperatures.
Highlights
- Extremely affordable
- Very thick material
- Beginner-friendly
- Odorless
- Various colors
4. Kilmat Sound Deadener
Although Kilmat isn’t the most talked-about product on the market, it’s definitely one of the highest-quality sound-deadening materials you can use in your vehicle. It’s quite affordable, while still performing better than some more expensive alternatives.
Kilmat’s sound deadener is designed for use indoors as well outdoors. You can use it within your car, to deaden sound coming from outside, or you could even use it externally on the wheel and hood. Kilmat is known to drastically reduce a driver’s exposure to rattling, vibrations and engine noise.
The only downside is that unlike Noico, the installation process is a bit more time-consuming and requires more effort. However, this sound deadener comes in multiple small sheets, totaling 34 in number. Because of their size, they’re more manageable to work with during installation, and the fact that there are multiples will make it possible to cover more areas.
Even though it takes a bit more time to install, I highly recommend this product, as the sheets are ideal for insulating any automotive surface. Much appreciation to its butyl components and strong adhesive.
Highlights
- Strong and long-lasting adhesive
- Can be used internally and externally
- Extremely affordable
- Sheets are relatively small in size
5. GTMat
Last on our list is the GTMat. It’s relatively unknown in the sound-deadening market, so there isn’t much information on it. However, based on my research, I must say it has some impressive sound-damping properties that will give you the opportunity to have a peaceful ride without worrying about outdoor noise.
GTMat is packaged in two sets of rolls, each measuring about 25 square ft (about 2.3 square meters). So, in total, you get 50 square feet of it. The mat comes with a high-performance adhesive that sticks almost immediately after use, so your waiting time for the mat to stick will be short.
It has an aluminum top layer, a rubberized compound and a final liner layer—the ultimate materials you need to keep unwanted noise out of your car. I’m really impressed with this product, and I personally feel it hasn’t gotten the attention it deserves.
Highlights
- Sticks on surfaces almost instantly
- User-friendly instruction manual
- Budget-friendly
- Comes with a roller
Why is Hushmat the Best?
After testing and gathering the opinions of others, we consider Hushmat to be the best alternative to Dynamat. With Hushmat, you’ll get a roller, a knife and a control decal, so you won’t need to get those on your own. Hushmat is a reliable, cost-effective sound deadener that can insulate a vehicle from noise significantly.
Things to Consider When Purchasing Sound‐Deadening Materials
There are a number of things you should take into consideration when it comes to automotive sound‐deadening. Below, I’ve outlined the top three things.
Thickness
The thickness is one of the most important factors when it comes to sound-deadening materials. Most sound‐deadening mats are 80 mil thick, which is enough to dampen most sounds and vibrations.
Stickiness
Another important factor is the stickiness of the sound deadener. If it’s not sticky enough, it will eventually fall off. A good sound deadener has the ability to stick and hold firmly to a surface for many years.
Size
The size of the material is very important, although it might not be as important as the thickness. By choosing the right size, you’ll be able to save a lot of money, instead of overspending on the material you don’t need.
Heat Resistance
You should always make sure that you purchase a sound‐deadening material that can withstand heat. Not all of them have the ability to take the heat, and in most cases, this will actually cause the material to fall off over time.
User Reviews
Before buying any product, you should pay close attention to what others are saying about it. If you’re worried about trusting fake reviews, it’s best to shop on credible websites like Amazon.
Price
If you’re on a tight budget, the product price is also something you should pay close attention to. The price, in comparison to the quality, is what usually defines the value of the product.
Conclusion
There are various types of sound‐deadening mats on the market that make a good alternative to Dynamat. Even though Dynamat may be the biggest name in the business, the five automotive sound‐deadening materials on our list are very effective as well, and are surely worth every penny.
If you’re interested in learning more, check out my other articles on this site. If you have any questions, please let us know by leaving a comment down below and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
Here’s another article you might like: Best Sound Deadening for the Money.
image: Pixabay