How is noise reduced in a car?

Answer 1

Customers are beginning to make greater demands for quieter automobiles, and because of this, automakers have begun to attack sound inside the passenger compartment with greater ferocity. Thanks to advanced engineering capabilities and improvements in materials technologies, what used to be thought of as an uncontrollable source of unwanted sound is now fair game in the quest to reduce interior noise. From front and side windshields, to tire wells and the engine compartment itself, nothing has been left unexplored when it comes to finding new ways to ensure a quieter driving experience.

"There is an increased sensitivity toward noise, from a personal standpoint and a societal standpoint," says Daniel Maguire, technical director--active systems, at Cooper Standard. "You see increasing links between noise and vibration and fatigue, noise and hearing loss. There is a technical interest coming about, and you also have personal interest. In the very high-end vehicles especially, it's clear that the companies are devoting significant effort in the development of the vehicle to minimize the noise and vibration harshness that exists in these vehicles. And that is something that is of late. When you look at a high-end vehicle and consider the amount of attention and money that is spent on the vehicle's ride quality and NVH characteristics, it is significant and very well representative of the importance that you see."

Cooper Standard's product line includes passive and active vibration control components that are intended to reduce both vibration and the noises created by the vibration within the vehicle.