Product Comparison
Independent Product Testing Results
Re: Acoustical Foam Products
Sound is a non-tangible factor that is not easily measured. As a result, an acoustic customer must rely on a seller to provide trustworthy product performance data to know what is being purchased. Unfortunately, most sellers do not provide this data. Even when some data is provided by a seller, it is rare to find independent third-party testing results. This is because such testing is expensive and may not yield results that a seller wants to share with its potential customers. This is a real problem for the acoustic customer because such results are absolutely vital to ensure that the product being purchased will meet the particular need.
Given the growth of its acoustic division, in 2011 Foam Factory engaged Riverbank Acoustical Laboratories to conduct standardized third-party testing. Nearly all of Foam Factory's acoustic foams were performance-measured during the testing. Actual results are available online or in print by contacting Foam Factory. This full disclosure allows our customers access to current and reliable product performance values before the point of sale. Foam Factory also had comparable products from leading acoustical foam competitor Auralex tested and compared to its own comparable products. This allows our customer to now compare and assess a product's capabilities, qualities and price differences.
We are pleased to announce that Foam Factory's product line measured either higher or similar to the stated performance values of its major competitors, including Auralex. Additionally, the testing of Foam Factory vs. Auralex products demonstrated that Foam Factory products are either better or just about equal to those offered from Auralex. These findings are remarkable given that Foam Factory products are priced at a fraction of Auralex products. Equally remarkable is that the independent testing by Riverbank Acoustical Laboratories revealed that companies like Auralex currently provide inaccurate and/or outdated performance values.
PRODUCT ILLUSTRATIONS:
EXAMPLE - Two-Inch (2") Wedge Foam Tiles: Though this very popular acoustic tile is offered at a substantially lower price at Foam Factory, independent testing demonstrated that Foam Factory's 2 inch wedge foam tiles exceeded the acoustic scores of Auralex's corresponding product nearly across the board. Further, the actual values of the Auralex products were lower than the stated values.*Data Comparison:
The greatest differentials in performance were recorded at 100Hz, 500Hz and 1250Hz, where Foam Factory outperformed Auralex in NRC rating by .11, .06 and .18 respectively.** Overall, the Auralex tiles had an NRC rating .10 less than Foam Factory's tiles (and .25 less than Auralex's stated value).
Price Comparison:
One (1) twelve (12) pack of 4x2 tiles sells for 69% less at Foam Factory.
Auralex charge: $399.99 / Foam Factory charge: $123.98
EXAMPLE 2 - Corner Bass Absorbers (11"x11"x21"): While being offered again at a substantially lower price at the Foam Factory, independent testing demonstrated that Foam Factory's corner bass absorbers held an overall NRC rating nearly identical to that of Auralex.
Data Comparison:
Foam Factory's absorbers tested higher than its competitors at 200Hz, 250Hz, 4000Hz and 5000Hz intervals. Overall, Foam Factory's absorbers received an NRC rating of 1.20. Auralex absorbers received an NRC rating of 1.25. Also interesting again is that Auralex's products missed their stated performance values for tested frequencies of 315Hz and higher by an average of .14.
Price Comparison:
A corner bass absorber sells for 63% less at Foam Factory.
Auralex LENRD bass absorber charge: $38.75 per unit / Foam Factory charge: $14.50
PRICE VS. PERFORMANCE DISCUSSION:
Some of Foam Factory's acoustic solutions admittedly tested lower than its competitors'. However, the price-to-performance ratio was always heavily in favor of purchasing acoustic products from Foam Factory.EXAMPLE A: Four inch (4") pyramid foam tiles sold by Foam Factory received an overall NRC rating of .65 while Auralex's product rated at .90. However, Foam Factory charges $125.99 for a 6-pack of these pyramid tiles (2' x 4') while Auralex distributors sell the same 6-pack for $439.99 or more. This is a 71% price difference in cost for a mere 0.25 difference in NRC rating.
EXAMPLE B: Female broadband absorbers sold by Foam Factory received an overall NRC rating a mere .05 less than the Auralex product. However, Foam Factory charges $98.99 for a set of 4 on these absorbers while Auralex distributors sell the same item for $419.99 or more. This is a 76% price difference in cost for a mere 0.05 difference in NRC rating.
EXAMPLE C: Four inch (4") wedge tiles sold by Foam Factory received an overall NRC rating a mere 0.1 less than the Auralex product. However, Foam Factory charges $111.99 for a 6-pack of these tiles (2' x 4') while Auralex distributors sell the same item for $399.99 or more. This is a 72% price difference in cost for a mere 0.1 difference in NRC rating.
ADDITIONAL TESTING INFORMATION:
Standardization: The Riverbank Acoustical Laboratories test results for Foam Factory are reported in standardized values. Standardizing the test requires every tested sample to be lined with steel. The steel lining is a control factor but has the effect of reducing overall performance results by 10 percent (10%) or more. Non-standardized tests fail to fully expose the strengths and weaknesses of all products on a level plane and, even if done unintentionally, create false performance claims. For these reasons, standardized test results should never be compared to non-standardized performance claims.Test Frequency: While testing is always better than not testing, test frequency must remain an important consideration when attempting to evaluate competitors' stated performance values. Product manufacture, pour and production technology in the foam industry changes constantly. Likewise, the processes and techniques for optimization, safety and quality are ever-changing in this arena. Testing results must, therefore, be up to date to provide any value to the customer.
*The biggest discrepancy between actual performance and claimed performance for Auralex was from 500Hz to 2000Hz, where based upon the seven sound intervals, the product recorded values about .36 lower than the claimed value.
**These values should be interpreted on the NRC scale where 0 represents a reflective sound material and 1 and higher represents an absorptive material.
Independent Lab Results
The Foam Factory
Wedge Foam
1 Inch Wedge Foam
2 Inch Wedge Foam
3 Inch Wedge Foam
4 Inch Wedge Foam
Eggcrate Foam
1-1/2 Inch Eggcrate Foam
2-1/2 Inch Eggcrate Foam
Corner Solutions
Corner Bass Absorbers
Male Boroadband Absorbers
Female Broadband Absorbers
Complete Graph Comparison
Auralex
Wedge Foam
1 Inch Wedge Foam
2 Inch Wedge Foam
3 Inch Wedge Foam
4 Inch Wedge Foam
Eggcrate Foam
Sonomatt
Corner Solutions
Corner Bass Absorbers
Male Boroadband Absorbers
Female Broadband Absorbers