Comparing Foam Bass Traps to GIK 244 Bass Traps – Test Analysis

We are frequently asked how our products compare to corner foam bass traps that you see all over the internet. So we did a comparison test in our lab at GIK Acoustics.

To present a fair comparison, we purchased (16) 18″ x 24” foam bass traps and used only (8) GIK Acoustics 244 Bass Traps that are 24″ x 48″. All products were placed to use the same linear length (32 feet) in the corners. No attempt was made to achieve a perfect frequency response. The objective was to show the effect of low end control with typical corner mounted foam vs our 244 Bass Trap. Again, the products were placed in corners around the room and both products were in the same places for the test (see sketch up drawings).

Frequency Response

Test 1 is the frequency response of the lab/room empty

Test 2 is the frequency response with the 16 foam corner bass traps vs. the empty room.

Test 3 is the frequency response with 8 GIK 244 Bass Traps vs. the empty room.

As you can see from the test results the 244 Bass Traps did a great job from the deep bass and up, while the foam wedges seem to do very little to nothing until you reach 250 Hz.   Proper bass trapping in the corner can improve frequency response, but  trapping in the corners will have a  large, if not larger,  impacted on decay times as we will show next.

Waterfall Graphs

Before we move on to the next set of tests, here is a little background on decay times and waterfall graphs and why they are so important to view (if not more important then frequency response).  As sound plays through your speakers it doesn’t just get to you and stop but continues to bounce around the room and slowly fades away over time.  This is sometimes referred to as ringing or reverb.  A waterfall graph allows you to visualize how quickly or slowly a given frequency decays over time.

Low frequencies tend to be stronger and stay more intense longer than higher frequencies.  Higher frequencies are also easier to control. Things like people, furniture, carpet, curtains, and even air tend to have a much more significant impact on the higher frequencies than lower ones.  In addition, high frequencies are much more directional where low frequencies tend to spread like a sphere in 3 dimensions.  In a bare room, there really isn’t much that has any significant impact on low frequencies which is why it is critical to have proper bass trapping .  As the low end keeps bouncing around the room there are other things that you are trying to hear but the frequencies that are ringing are masking imaging cues, harmonic textures, and even cancelling and/or reinforcing themselves.

When someone refers to a room that sounds “tight” or “clear” they are most likely in a room where the low end decay times are under control with bass traps.
Test 4 is the waterfall graph of the empty room

Test 5 is with the 16 corner foam wedge bass traps

Test 6 is with 8 GIK 244 Bass Traps

You can see that 16 of the foam wedge bass traps had virtually no effect on the decay time below 200 Hz  while the GIK 244 Bass Traps decreased the 65 Hz decay time and up by a significant amount; with even some effect at 45 Hz.  The goal of bass trapping, which the 244 Bass Traps indicate, is to have a controlled decay time throughout the low end response.  That will give you the “tightness” and “clarity” in your music.