What realization stemmed from the 1970s failure of using foam or carpet for sound control?

Answer

Intrusive external noise became more apparent by contrast

In the 1970s, when designers attempted to treat noisy rooms using materials like shag carpeting on walls or foam, they were focusing only on acoustic absorption within the space to deaden internal echoes. This effort, while reducing internal reflection, inadvertently highlighted the failure of their strategy regarding external noise. By absorbing the internal sound, the contrast made the noise transmitted *through* the solid barriers (walls, floors) seem louder by comparison. This failure demonstrated the crucial difference between acoustic treatment (managing internal sound) and true sound isolation (blocking transmission between spaces), prompting the search for materials with mass, like sheet lead, which could block transmission.

What realization stemmed from the 1970s failure of using foam or carpet for sound control?

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