So my husband and I are planning to redo the carpet in our theater area.

The question has come up...does the thickness of the carpet, not the pad, matter?

It is coming down to I want a patterned carped that is fairly thing, but he wants a thick loop carpet and says it will help the acoustics of the room better.

Thanks for any responses and advice! http://z09a0222gshv273.imageshacknow.info/img/3044************************

So my husband and I are planning to redo the carpet in our theater area.

The question has come up...does the thickness of the carpet, not the pad, matter?

It is coming down to I want a patterned carped that is fairly thing, but he wants a thick loop carpet and says it will help the acoustics of the room better.

Thanks for any responses and advice! http://z09a0222gshv273.imageshacknow.info/img/3044************************

The thicker the carpet the more absorption you'll get; whether it's loop or just thick pile I don't think will matter much at all. The acoustic benefit would be the same unless one is significantly thicker than the other.

Frank

I think you will get a much more effective acoustic treatment if you properly treat your theater walls (front/back and sides). I don't think thick versus thin carpet is going to make an audible difference, unless you are comparing very thick plush carpet against the very thin commercial carpetting you see in stores and offices.

The best way to effectively improve the sound in your theater, is to properly treat your walls (Readily made decorative acoustic panels, or using 1" and 2" thick oc703/jm814/LinAcoutic insulation behind fabric walls).

So I would personally go with whatever carpet looks good with your existing color scheme and decor. Also something that feels nice to the bare foot. The thicker the carpet and pad is the more "cushioning" it will feel.

Carpeting makes a large acoustical difference in a room. The combination of carpet thickness + underpad thickness is important, provided the underpad is fibrous. If the underpad isn't fibrous, then just the carpet thickness matters. So obviously you should get a fibrous underpad, not a rubber or close-cell foam pad.

- Terry

Carpeting makes a large acoustical difference in a room. The combination of carpet thickness + underpad thickness is important, provided the underpad is fibrous. If the underpad isn't fibrous, then just the carpet thickness matters. So obviously you should get a fibrous underpad, not a rubber or close-cell foam pad.

- Terry

I agree that the difference between carpeting and bare wood (for example) would be huge, but how much difference do you think 2" pile would make vs. 2" loop?

Frank

Terry, follow up to that. Are there fibrous underpads that can be used in basements?

Terry, follow up to that. Are there fibrous underpads that can be used in basements?
Sure, provided you deal with any moisture barrier issues for your basement separately (plastic sheeting, etc.).

Thanks for the info guys, I'm actually looking at carpet and pads this week!

I agree that the difference between carpeting and bare wood (for example) would be huge, but how much difference do you think 2" pile would make vs. 2" loop?

Frank
Some research has shown a difference between loop vs. cut pile for the same thickness and density, and some hasn't. The difference certainly isn't simple (if it exists), as with thickness or density. Both of the latter* are correlated with increased absorption.

- Terry

* Correction. One study I know of did not show a significant difference with density. :cool:

I always go thick pad and cheaper carpet. :)

No right or wrong answer here.