Ever wondered how soundproof curtains actually perform in a home studio? While not the typical go-to in acoustic treatment, they do serve a purpose, especially under the right circumstances.
What Are Soundproof Curtains?
It’s important to clarify right away that soundproof curtains don’t actually “soundproof” a room. There’s a common misconception, or at least misused wordage, between “soundproofing” and “acoustic treatment.” The former suggests a completely isolated space in which no sound can escape, and none can get in. Acoustic treatment, on the other hand, refers to managing reflections and echoes within a space to make a more friendly recording and mixing environment.
Curtains like the ones we’ll look at here don’t completely isolate a room, but instead absorb a bit of noise coming from the outside through the window and from the inside bouncing off the window back into the room. They’re made out of thicker-than-normal material which is able to provide a bit of dampening versus a regular window curtain.
How Do Soundproof Curtains Perform Compared to Other Sound Treatment Options?
Unfortunately you can’t compare soundproof curtains 1:1 with dedicated acoustic treatment such as absorption panels and diffusers. No doubt, absorptive curtains can make a noticeable difference in the sound of your room, especially if you don’t have any other treatment at all. It will be most noticeable if you stand near the window/curtains and clap — open the curtains, clap again, and see what I mean.
The biggest difference between curtains and panels/diffusers is placement. We can place acoustic treatment anywhere on the ceiling and walls to manage reflections, whereas curtains are going to be hanging above a window(s). To summarize, the actual absorptive performance would be similar to a panel, but you aren’t able to place curtains as freely as other acoustic treatment.
When (and Where) Would You Use Soundproof Curtains?
You’d use absorptive curtains in an echoey room where you want to minimize reflections. This could be a home studio/recording space, or even a practice room for drums, guitar, or other instruments. You can also use curtains like these to help trim down the amount of noise coming from the outside in.
Technically, you don’t have to put curtains above a window, but that’s the most obvious placement. You can hang them on walls or even in a doorway depending on your space and what you’re trying to accomplish.
The 7 Best Soundproof Curtains For Your Home Studio
1. RidPhonic Soundproof Curtains
RidPhonic curtains offer four layers of absorptive material for up to 15 dB worth of noise attenuation. It also doubles as a blackout curtain.
They come in different colors and sizes to incorporate into most rooms, studios, and rehearsal spaces.
2. Nicetown Thermal Insulated Curtains
Nicetown curtains are an incredible value. Though they’re touted primarily as UV-blocking/blackout curtains, they are simultaneously thick enough to also absorb noise and reflections in a space. They come in a wide variety of colors and sizes to fit on virtually any window imaginable.
3. WONTEX Blackout Curtains
WONTEX blackouts offer a triple-weave, thermal-insulating and noise-reducing design. You’ll notice that most soundproof curtains actually serve more than one purpose, such as balancing room temperature, blacking out a room, and even protecting furniture, artwork, and other interior objects from harmful UV rays.
4. Deconovo Thermal Insulated Curtains
Deconovo is another triple-weave soundproof/blackout curtain that comes in a ton of different colors along with a chic printed pattern. There are multiple sizes available for most needs as well.
5. DWCN Total Privacy Divider Curtains
DWCN soundproof curtains are ideal for larger spaces with huge windows, such as over sliding glass doors. You could also make use of them to drape over a wall for ample noise absorption in your recording/rehearsal room. For their size, DWCN curtains also offer a great value.
6. RYB HOME Soundproof Divider Curtains
RYB makes some pretty heavy-duty curtains that block out noise and thermal energy. Like all of the curtains here, they’re not 100% soundproof, but instead provide echo reduction and a bit of insulation from outside noise.
7. MIUCO Room Darkening Curtains
Last but not least are the MIUCO room darkening curtains. They control noise, they control sunlight, and they would make a nice addition to any home studio space in need of some help in the acoustic treatment department.