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A thousand audio uses for memory foam. Or maybe just one . . .

So i have this old memory foam topper for my bed, and before I cast it off completely, the DIY part of me I got to thinking, could it be used for acoustics in any way? I don’t have the slightest clue as to the frequency it would be good at, but cutting it into various rectangular shapes and sizes first comes to mind. I could glue them to some plywood and diffract and/or diffuse sound. 

Any other thoughts or suggestions?
last_lemming
6 responses Add your response
sgordon1
144 posts
 
Try different small shapes and sizes... 2x2x1, for example,
and even smaller than that.

Place on components, at the end of cables, speaker cabinets.
Experiment with different foam pieces as headphone pads too.

Different sizes, weights, and foam densities will yield different results.
Even try the stuff that is used in packaging.

You may be astounded at how foam can tame micro vibrations.
Think small.
rodman99999
3,557 posts
 
If you leave it flat, it won’t do much, but(perhaps) absorb some very high frequencies. If you raise portions into waves, rather than cutting it up, you may be able to use it for absorption/diffusion. ie: If it’s big enough: maybe a couple for your early/first(side wall) reflection points. Or- if you’re seating close to a back wall, use it to kill the reflections behind your head.     Finding reflection points: https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=Oa5vfEIXyok
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
324 posts
 
Cut a piece exactly 20x14. Cut another piece exactly 14x10. Wrap them in a neutral color acoustically transparent fabric. Place on ottoman. Very comfortable.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
14,147 posts
 
Acoustic foams generally are very bad for the sound, the most agregious example perhaps being SONEX, the worst scam ever perpetrated on gullible naive audiophiles. Another prime example is the IKEA Puang foam-filled chair. It looks like such a nice inexpensive comfortable chair, too. 😛 is Memory Foam an acoustic foam? Who knows? But it looks too close for comfort. Maybe if the Memory Foam is NASA qualified. 😀
jafant
10,525 posts
 
last_lemmingvery interesting query. We know that some speaker manufacturers use cotton or wool in their cabinet designs. Perhaps memory foam could be the next anti-vibration, sound absorption, evolution? I look forward in reading about any experiments conducted.

Happy Listening!
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