NRC Ratings for Bass Absorbers
Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC)
Acoustical foam's effectiveness is measured by its Noise Reduction Coefficient, or NRC rating. The NRC of a material can be found by using either the Reverberation Room Method (ASTM C423) or the Impedance Tube Method (ASTM C384). We use the Reverberation Room Method.
1) Approximately 72 square feet of material is rested on the floor of a reverberation chamber. This chamber usually has all hard concrete surfaces.
2) The change in absorption from the room without material compared to the room with material is measured.
3) The changes in sound are measured for octave bands ranging from 125Hz to 4000Hz, recording the differences in Sabin absorption coefficients. The overall NRC rating is the calculated average of frequencies 250Hz, 500Hz, 1000Hz, and 2000Hz, which is then rounded to the nearest multiple of 0.05.
| 125 Hz | 250 Hz | 500 Hz | 1000 Hz | 2000 Hz | 4000 Hz | Overall | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corner Bass Absorbers | 1.18 | 1.27 | 1.26 | 1.19 | 1.16 | 1.16 | 1.20 |
| Male Broadband Absorbers | 0.52 | 0.78 | 1.00 | 0.93 | 1.01 | 1.07 | 0.95 |
| Female Broadband Absorbers | 0.59 | 0.88 | 0.95 | 0.95 | 1.06 | 1.07 | 0.95 |
Independent Lab Test Results
Corner Bass Absorbers 
Male Broadband Absorbers
Female Broadband Absorbers
NOTE: The greater the NRC rating, the more sound a material can absorb. This test covers frequencies between 125HZ and 4000HZ.