SoundProof
Latest
Caltech researchers devise acoustic diode that sends sound one-way, could harvest energy
Sound has this habit of traveling in more than one direction -- useful in most circumstances, but not so welcome when a person in one room is looking for a little peace and quiet while someone in the next is blasting music. Sound-proofing is one solution to that problem, but some researchers at Caltech say they've now come up with a better one: an acoustic diode that can be tuned to allow sound to pass through in only one direction. As you might expect, however, that's all still very much in the early stages, but the researchers say the technology could eventually allow for "true soundproofing," or even be used for other purposes, like scavenging sound energy from structural vibrations and turning that into electricity. The official announcement with some of the finer details is after the break, and the researchers' full paper is published in the July 24th issue of Nature Materials.
Hands-on with the THX-certified QuietHome door
Here she is: the queen of CEDIA 2008. The first construction material to ever wear the oh-so-coveted THX certification badge. We're not even close to kidding folks -- the Quiet Solutions (formerly known as Serious Materials, evidently) reps were totally gung ho about this $1,495 to $2,495 door, and we just couldn't walk by without giving you a look at what a THX-certified door, um, looks like. Notice the gorgeous brass handles, sturdy (and we mean sturdy) construction and the word "sucker" lightly printed on the rear. Just kidding, we know there's a time and place for this and all, but we couldn't help but chuckle. Oh, and don't run into this thing while perusing the gallery below --face-first into a 220-pound object is no fun. %Gallery-31184%
World's first THX-certified soundproof door debuts at CEDIA
Just when you thought nothing else on this planet could ever earn THX certification, here comes Serious Materials to prove you wrong. The image you are inevitably peering at above is the world's first THX-certified soundproof door, the QuietHome. Boasting an STC rating of 51 in a 2.25-inch thick door, it's said to be the only door in the world to stand up to those mighty THX standards. Just for reference, it's noted that typical hollow-core doors have an STC rating of only 15 (and solid-core doors around 27), and we're told that this one will reduce noise between 65% and 85% compared to traditional alternatives. Of course, such a marvelous addition to your home won't run you cheap -- the QuietHome family ranges from $1,495 to $2,495 per door, so you better have dead silence really high on your list of priorities before pulling the trigger (on a silenced Walther PPK, of course).
