Sound Deadening Archives - Perfectionist Auto Sound and Security

Anchorage Ford Transit in for Audio and Comfort Upgrades

04/27/2021 By John Schwartz

A client from here in Anchorage recently brought his 2020 Ford Transit van to Perfectionist Auto Sound and Security for an audio system and sound deadening upgrade. The big cargo van was a bit too noisy inside for the client’s liking. He also wanted the stereo system to sound better with improved clarity and better bass performance. After inspecting the vehicle, one of our Product Specialists put together a simple yet elegant upgrade solution that would deliver exactly what the client wanted.

Ford Transit Sound Deadening Improves Comfort

The first order of business was to remove the entirety of the interior on the Transit so our technicians could install 12 rolls of SoundShield SSD1 acoustic deadening material. This deadening was applied to the floor, the rear side panels, the rear doors and the outer front door skins.

SoundShield’s thick butyl, aluminum and foam material helps prevent sound energy from the tires, exhaust and drivetrain from entering the cab. The difference in comfort is instantly apparent, and it makes driving the van much more enjoyable. A secondary yet equally important benefit is that the clarity of the outgoing audio of the Bluetooth hands-free communication system is much improved.

Audio System Upgrade

We replaced the front door speakers with a set of Morel Tempo Ultra Integra 602 6.5-inch point-source coaxial drivers to improve the stereo. These speakers offer a dramatic improvement in both frequency extension and clarity. The result is that every genre of music sounds clearer and more detailed.

The next step was to install an Alpine PWE-S8 powered subwoofer to the vehicle to add some warmth and extension. This compact subwoofer system features an 8-inch woofer housed in a cast-metal enclosure. It includes a 120-watt amplifier to drive the sub and has all the connections we needed to integrate it into the factory radio. Of course, the key to making it sound good was to configure the crossover and level controls to work with the rest of the van’s speakers.

Alaska’s Vehicle Enhancement Experts

After a few days of work, we had this Ford Transit upgraded and ready to roll again. The client was amazed at how much quieter the vehicle was and loved how the audio system sounds with the new speakers and subwoofer. If you have a car, van or truck that could be more comfortable with a quieter interior, or you want to upgrade its audio system, drop by Perfectionist Auto Sound and Security in Anchorage and speak with one of our Product Specialists. We’d be happy to design a custom solution that addresses your needs. If you can’t visit the store during regular business hours, give us a call or send our team an e-mail using our contact form.

Dramatic Sound Upgrade Using SoundShield in a 2010 Volkswagen Golf

09/03/2020 By John Schwartz

A customer recently came in looking to drastically improve the overall sound quality in their vehicle, a 2010 Volkswagen Golf. After talking with the customer, we decided that the best product for their needs was sound-deadening. Sound-deadening serves to keep road noise out of the vehicle, while ensuring that all of the sound from your speakers won’t escape.

Here at the shop, we use SoundShield, our very own sound-deadening product that was created by the owner of the shop, John Schwartz. It is a triple-layer mat that consists of butyl rubber, high-quality aluminum foil and closed-cell acoustic foam. For this vehicle, we used SoundShield on the two doors and floor, as well as extending it through to the trunk where a big portion of the road noise was coming from.

The customer was extremely happy with the difference that the sound-deadening made and was happy to be able to hear their music without the added distraction of road noise. If you (or anyone you know) are looking to reduce road noise and increase the quality of your sound system, stop by our shop or contact us here.

The Advantages of Soundproofing Your Car, Truck or SUV

08/03/2020 By John Schwartz

One of the most significant upgrades you can make to your car, truck or SUV is to have it soundproofed by Perfectionist Auto Sound and Security in Anchorage. Installing sound-absorbing material not only makes your vehicle quieter, but it will also improve the performance of your car stereo, the clarity of your Bluetooth hands-free system, and can make the vehicle more comfortable. Many of our clients choose to upgrade their vehicles with soundproofing to create a more luxurious feel. Curious? Then you’re in the right place.

What Is Automotive Soundproofing?

When your car or truck rolls off the assembly line, there are often small panels or patches of butyl or vinyl attached to the floor and door skins. The added mass from these panels reduces the metal’s ability to vibrate. The result is diminished sound energy transfer from outside the vehicle into the interior.

We take sound deadening seriously. We worked with the fantastic team at Mobile Solutions in Arizona to develop our very own sound absorption solution. It’s called SoundShield.

SoundShield combines a 1.5 mm-thick layer of dense butyl rubber with a 3 mm-thick closed-cell foam topper that prevents buzzes and rattles. The materials are bonded to a flexible aluminum sheet that adds structural stability to malleable components so it can span openings in doors and trim panels.

Soundproofing Makes Your Car, Truck or SUV Quieter

If you want to reduce exhaust, wind, tire, road and mechanical noise in your vehicle, our team is here to help. You can decide how far you want to go. In most upgrades, we treat the inner and outer metal door skins, since they are the primary source of sound energy transfer into the vehicle. The floor, firewall, trunk, rear fenders and the roof are also prime candidates for noise control. You decide how quiet you want the vehicle to be, and we will deliver.

Improve the Performance of Your Car Stereo with Sound Deadening

When a speaker is installed in the door of a car or truck, the inner metal skin acts as the mounting baffle. Since automakers are primarily concerned with assembling the vehicle rather than optimizing the audio system, this part of the door is typically full of holes that let the sound coming from the rear of the speaker cancel with the sound from the front. The result is that the audio system will play louder with less power. Bass and midbass from the door speakers will be improved dramatically (often as much as a 10 dB gain). Finally, because the speakers in the door (or rear deck or rear side-panel) don’t have to work as hard, the system will be more precise, and distortion is reduced.

Improve Bluetooth Hands-Free Clarity

When you’re talking to someone using Bluetooth, the system transmits the noise in the vehicle as well as your voice. If the interior of your car or truck is quieter, your voice will be clearer. In many cases, once a vehicle is soundproofed, many clients report that people can’t tell the caller is using a hands-free system. A bonus is that voice recognition and accuracy of Apple CarPlay and Android Audio are also improved.

Improved Comfort in the Summer and Winter

It’s no news that it gets good and cold here in Alaska in the winter. The thermal barrier added by SoundShield helps your climate control system warm your vehicle up faster when it’s cold out, and keeps heat out in the summer. SoundShield is popular with custom car and hot rod owners, as high-horsepower engines and large exhaust systems can turn a vehicle interior into an oven.

Upgrade Your Comfort at Perfectionist Auto Sound and Security

If you want to improve the performance of your car stereo, make your vehicle quieter inside or improve your comfort, drop by Perfectionist and talk to one of our Product Specialists about soundproofing your vehicle. You can also reach us by e-mail using our contact form to schedule a personal consultation.

SoundShield Upgrade Quiets Road Noise and Boosts Audio Performance

07/28/2020 By John Schwartz

One of our team members from here at Perfectionist decided that he wanted to build up the 2015 GMC Denali that he recently bought. He wanted to add lots of aftermarket sound gear and lighting, but that wouldn’t be complete without the addition of sound deadening.

Here at the shop, we use SoundShield, our very own sound-deadening product, created by our owner, John Schwartz. It is a triple-layer mat that consists of butyl rubber and high-quality aluminum foil, topped with closed-cell acoustic foam.

Our tech decided to SoundShield his whole vehicle — the front two doors, rear doors, floor and back wall — to block out unwanted noise as best as possible. He got what he wanted: better audio and a quieter ride.

If you or anyone you know are looking to reduce road noise and increase the quality of your sound system, stop by our shop or contact us here.

Ford F-250 SEMA Build for Anchorage Off-Road Enthusiast

06/23/2020 By Joey Knapp

The fabrication team at Perfectionist Auto Sound and Security in Anchorage was approached by a client to transform his 2017 Ford F-250 pickup into a show truck that was worthy of a spotlight at SEMA. The client had researched the upgrades he wanted for the vehicle and knew that our staff was capable of executing his plan, well, to perfection.

Our fabrication team met with the client several times before the project began to review the audio system, suspension, cosmetic and lighting upgrades he had in mind. Once each aspect of the project was defined, we proceeded to order the equipment required to complete the task. The client wanted the Transformers Decepticon theme for the build. He calls the truck MG8TRON (Megatron), so we incorporated several Decepticon symbols into the build to further the personalization.

Project MG8RON Ford F-250 Audio Upgrade

The first of four categories for the build was to upgrade the audio system. The client envisioned a custom center console in the truck that would include a high-output subwoofer, amp rack, control switches for the lighting and the mandatory cup holders. We started by removing the seats, trim panels and carpet from the interior so we could lay down a foundation of SoundShield sound deadening material through the interior. Once in place, we ran Stinger 1/0-AWG power cable up to the battery and new Stinger RCA interconnects from the radio location to the back of the cab.

The factory radio was replaced with a large-screen Linkswell TS-FDPU12-IRR9 radio that includes a vertically oriented 12.1-inch touchscreen display. The radio feeds a pair of JL Audio amplifiers that power the speakers. A VX800/8i eight-channel amplifier, with its integrated 10-channel DSP, serves as the master signal processor for the sound system. The amp provides up to 75 watts of power from each of its channels. The ninth and tenth channels from the DSP feed a JL Audio HD1200/1 1,200-watt monoblock amplifier that drives the system subwoofer. In terms of speakers, the system uses JL Audio C7-100ct 1-inch tweeters and C7-650cw 6.5-inch midrange drivers and a 13.5-inch 13W7AE-D1.5 subwoofer. Our fabrication team designed a set of custom grilles for the door speakers that include the Decepticon logo, along with adequate openings to ensure that the speakers will perform well.

As is evident from the photos, blue lighting is a critical factor in this truck’s cosmetic design. We integrated two acrylic plastic strips into the outer top edges of the center console and back-lit them with flexible LED strip lighting. A large acrylic Decepticon logo in the center of the console was created using our computer-controlled laser, and it’s also back-lit with blue LEDs.

We added a Compustar remote car starter with one of its amazing 3-mile-range T12 two-way remote controls. We also installed a Momento M6 dashcam system to monitor everything going on in front of and behind the truck. The battery was upgraded with an XS Power Group 34 AGM battery to ensure that the truck will start reliably.

Ford Super Duty Suspension Upgrades

The client wanted the truck ready for extreme off-road duty. We can attest to the fact that this vehicle was not built as a mall-crawler in any way. The suspension upgrade is based around a Stryker Off Road Design Identity-Series kit. The Stryker kit features a four-link design for the front and rear axles. In fact, the only components in the suspension that remain original are the axles. The track bar, driveshafts, steering knuckle, brake lines, tie rods, pitman arm and all their associated hardware were replaced by our team. The kit also includes a dual front stabilizer kit and external-reservoir coil-overs with an external reservoir shock absorber in each corner.

The client chose 20×12.5-inch Dick Cepek DC2 wheels and had them upgraded with bead locks to hold the massive Mickey Thompson Baja Claw 46-inch tall by 19.5-inch wide tires. We upgraded the wheels with new TPMS sensors so the client can easily monitor tire pressure.

An SCT GTX Programmer and engine monitoring system was added to revise the transmission settings for the massive wheels and allow the driver to keep tabs on the engine status.

High-Performance Body and Lighting Upgrades

The chassis of the truck was upgraded with a Warn Ascent front bumper and a Warn Zeon 12-S Platinum 12,000-pound winch. A matching Ascent rear bumper completes the look. We added an Addictive Desert Designs Honeybadger chase rack with its matching roof rack upgrade. We added Decepticon logos to the sides of the chase rack to follow the theme of the build.

The fenders were opened up and trimmed with Fab Fours Open Fender System fender flares. A T-Rex Torch AL grill replaces the original unit in front of the radiator. A tire carrier in the back of the bed carries two extra wheels, should something unfortunate happen on the trails. We also added driver- and passenger-side storage boxes from Undercover to the bed of the truck. Last and certainly not least, we added a set of Kleinn ProBlaster HK-9 triple train horns with their Ultra BlastMaster valve upgrade kit. The horns would startle a locomotive engineer a mile away.

The lighting project on this truck rivals the audio system for complexity. We started by running a heavy-duty power cable from the battery to a Blue Sea Systems 150-amp fused distribution block. From there, power is sent to a relay block with six 30-amp relays. We cut a trim piece for the top of the relay block with our CNC router and labeled the function of each unit.

In terms of lighting, we started with a pair of white SAE-compliant D-Series and amber driving-pattern D-Series pods in the front bumper. A 30-inch Rigid Radiance Series light bar is mounted in the center of the T-Rex grille, and the headlight assemblies have been replaced with upgraded units from Morimoto that use their XB-Series LEDs. Two Radiance+ 50-inch light bars are mounted to the leading edge of the roof rack. We added six pairs of blue Rigid rock lights around the chassis of the truck and another set of D-Series light pods in the rear bumper. We created a power and ground distribution panel inside the chase rack to keep the wiring neat and tidy. As always, all the wire connections we made are both mechanically and electrically secure, and we routed everything to avoid sources of heat or damage from moving parts.

Ford F-250 Offroad Beast!

It took our team about two months to complete Project MG8TRON. The client was thrilled with how it turned out, and we are happy to report that he’s been out bashing it around on the trails and trying to break stuff. That is, after all, why he built it. If you have a dream project for your car or truck, we invite you to drop by Perfectionist Auto Sound and Security in Anchorage and talk to our automotive enhancement experts. You can, of course, send us an e-mail anytime using our contact form to schedule a personal consultation.