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Spring-Loaded Screw Turns Drywall Into Sound-Absorbing Panels

This looks promising for a 9db reduction in sound escape in homes.

Apparently the spring loaded screw acts as a dampener of sound vibrations that hit a regular dry-wall.In principle, the screw is split in the middle with a spring placed inside. The screw tip goes into the wooden joist, the head holds the plasterboard in place and in between a thin resilient mechanical coupling that prevents the sound waves from advancing is formed.

They have patents and are looking for mass production.https://www.akoustos.se/

I’d certainly consider it for renovations and new builds.
blooloo

Showing 3 responses by bpoletti

bpoletti
1,531 posts
 
Let's think this through. 

The drywall is already tightly screwed to the studs or joists.  The drywall will vibrate based on the dampening effect of the studs or joists, the thickness of the drywall and the size of the open area of the drywall that is not secured against the joists / studs.  Any loosening will just allow the drywall to vibrate even more since it will lose the dampening effect of the joist / stud.

Rather than trying to use the walls to damp reflections, why not try complex diffusers.  Lots of different kinds.  My favorites are artificial Ficus trees.  5 footers work well in my room.  They are about $40 each purchased from the "At Home" store.  I bought about 15 of them and they have killed the sonic problems in my room except for a slight bloom in a narrow band of the bass.  Other A'goners have reported similar positive results.


bpoletti
1,531 posts
 
@optimize - 

A room must ABSOLUTELY BE COMPLETELY DEAD in order to NOT distort the recorded signal.  ANY room contribution to the sound is a distortion.

Anything other than a DEAD room will distort the sound.  Absorbers, diffusers and the like need to be strategically placed in the room to deaden it.  


bpoletti
1,531 posts
 
@optimizerWhen room interact with recorded sound, the recorded sound is distorted.  Period.  

The BEST listening is in a dead room.  Your statement that rooms should not be deadened is promoting that distortion.  Period.  It interferes with imaging, can upset the soundstage and changes musical instrument harmonics.  Period.

Distortion in room is ABSOLUTELY something you want to be NULL.  We must minimize distortion / reflections from the walls.  Those quite simply interfere with the reproduction of the recorded signal.  There will be reflected sound on that recording.  We cannot add to that distortion by using a live rom. 

There is nothing to say in rebuttal.  If the goal is undistorted music exactly how it was recorded, then a dead listening room (or headphones that do exactly the same thing as a dead room) is the only way to go.  Anything else is distorted. 

DEAD ROOMS do not have to look like an anechoic chamber.  They can be nicely decorated and pleasant.  
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