DEI Introduces New 1-Step Interior Coating to Control Both Heat and Sound

To all those who decided on that GranTurismo Level 5 Weight Reduction IRL. Itā€™s a little hot in there, huh? Well Design Engineering Inc. (DEI) has your back, and everything else thatā€™s sweaty.

AVON LAKE, OHIO ā€“ Design Engineering Inc. (DEI), a worldwide leader in heat and sound control products, is thrilled to announce the launch of its groundbreaking product, ATACā„¢: Advanced Thermal Acoustic Control Coating.

ATAC (#50208) is a revolutionary water-based coating that sets a new interior heat and noise management standard. Unlike traditional coatings that focus solely on either heat or sound control, ATAC combines both functionalities in one innovative solution thus saving time and money. This cutting-edge product can be sprayed on, rolled, or brushed onto interiors, providing unparalleled performance in heat and sound management. 

"We are excited to introduce ATAC to our customers," said Mike Buca, Brand Manager of Design Engineering Inc. "With ATAC, we are offering a unique solution in one product that addresses the dual challenges of heat and sound control. Whether you're restoring a classic car, refurbishing a boat, upgrading an RV, enhancing a truck, or tackling industrial applications, ATAC delivers exceptional results." 

ATAC is now available for shipping and comes in a convenient 1-gallon size, making it ideal for various projects and applications. Its versatility and effectiveness make it a must-have product for automotive enthusiasts, marine enthusiasts and industrial professionals alike. 

Key features and benefits of ATAC include: 
Advanced thermal and acoustic control in one solution saves time and money. 
Reflects radiant heat up to 375 F (177 C) while reducing vibration and noise for a quieter more enjoyable ride. 
Easy application through spraying, rolling, or brushing.
Available in a 1-gallon resealable bucket that covers up to 75 square feet.
Provides superior performance compared to traditional coatings. 
Water-based coating that cleans up easily and is environmentally safe. 
Suitable for automotive restoration, marine vessels, RVs, trucks and industrial applications. 
An optional DEI Spray Gun is also available (#50209).

For more information about ATAC, available to order now, visit  

To learn more about DEIā€™s complete line of innovative products, visit .

Two materials that will change your tune.

You wouldnā€™t turbo an engine without also upgrading the fuel injectors, the exhaust, and intake, would you? Then why would you buy a nice, new pair of speakers without upgrading everything else around them as well? Car audio, much like performance tuning, isnā€™t about blowing your wad on one cool thing and expecting it to be all that it can be. In fact, itā€™s quite the opposite. Speakers specifically have two major upgrades that should never be forgotten.

Next time youā€™re at your local car audio store searching for a new set of speakers, you absolutely should not forget your sound deadening or acoustic foam. These two very simple products can make a set of speakers sound twice as good as they cost, and who doesnā€™t love getting more bang for their buck? Some shops may market this as a ā€œpreferredā€ or ā€œpremiumā€ install, which can set off some scam alarms for a more thrifty shopper, but rest assured, this is actually one of the few times when ā€œpremiumā€ actually means premium.

In car audio applications, sound deadening is the magic material that reduces rattles and panel vibrations that can destroy the mid-bass frequencies that make bass guitars and kick drums sound so awesome. Itā€™s a product that has been widely used in the aftermarket automotive world since the ā€˜80s. You may have even seen Chip Fooseā€™s face on some of the stuff a few years back. Most types of deadening today are made from a very sticky butyl-rubber backing and a thin layer of aluminum to give the product rigidity. The material, usually packaged in sheets or rolls, is applied to various surfaces of a panel to both add mass and to acoustically treat the surface. Iā€™ve even got some of this lining the inside of the housing on my washing machine at the house to cut down on the noise it makes. Itā€™s great stuff!

Acoustic foam has been around just as long as deadening, but itā€™s only been in the last decade that companies have made an economical, easy to apply product that works in just about every install. The product that Iā€™m talking about is often called a ā€œfast ringā€ or ā€œspeed ring.ā€ Itā€™s a three-piece laser-cut foam ring that does triple duty for your speaker install. One piece goes between your speaker and the mounting baffle, another piece goes behind the speaker, and the third piece mounts to the front of the speaker, often over the mounting screws. This third piece is actually the most important one. On modern cars with big molded door panels, thereā€™s a great deal of space between the actual mounting surface of the speaker and the plastic door panel itself, and thatā€™s where the problems lie. In a perfect application, like a home set-up, speakers are placed into enclosures that make them sound better and they play into the room - the same space where your ears are. In a car, itā€™s like youā€™re adding another enclosure in front of the speaker and the sound has to bounce around before it can make its way through the grill to your ears in the cabin. Thatā€™s where the foam ring comes in. The ring bridges the gap between the speaker and its baffle and the speaker grill on the door panel, effectively eliminating the extra enclosure in the space inbetween.

The best part about these two upgrades is that they arenā€™t bank breakers. A foam ring kit generally runs $20-30. Sound deadening will be a bit more abstract since it is sometimes sold by the foot on a roll or may come in pre-cut sheets. However, in most cases, a basic deadening upgrade should be somewhere around $40-50 for materials. Of course, if youā€™re buying an especially nice set of speakers or are really looking to cut down on road noise, you may want to talk to your installer about treating the whole door with deadening, which will raise the price. Either way, both deadening and acoustic foam can make your next install go from good to great with pretty minimal work, so donā€™t miss out!

ABOUT AARON TRIMBLE

As a car audio competitor, sound-off judge, car stereo technician, and SPL brand ambassador with the "DD Kong," Aaron Trimble has been neck deep in all-things car audio since 2008. Aaron currently works as a brand representative with Vault Marketing, for a variety of mobile electronics brands who trust Aaron to help retailers give the best experience possible to their customers. Aaron's background in retail, and his 6-year tenure at manufacturer, DD Audio, give him a unique perspective into how shops function and interface with the public. He uses this to help car and audio enthusiasts alike get the most from their stereo systems.

Photos Courtesy of Trick Factory Customs, Metra Electronics, Stinger Electronics

Dynaliner is the most effective automotive thermal insulator available. Dynaliner is a soft, self-adhesive closed cell rubber that resists oil and will not hold water or promote rust or mildew like most under carpet padding. Dynaliner provides acoustic absorption and thermal insulation. Available in 1/8ā€, 1/4ā€ and 1/2ā€ thicknesses, use the thickest one that your space will allow. For more information, visit .

30% Lighter. 30% Thinner.

Dynamat SuperLite is a high-efficiency sound damping material used to stop noise and vibration in your automobile. It is the same sticky butyl rubber Constrain Layer Damper (CLD) as Dynamat Xtreme in a 30% thinner, and lighter form. Use Dynamat SuperLite when you need to quiet your car and get better sound, without adding too much weight.

The thin butyl rubber layer is bonded to a gleaming blue, 2 mils thick aluminum alloy. As CLDs work better the thicker they are, Dynamat SuperLite is not as effective a sound damper as Dynamat Xtreme, but using patented VECTORā„¢ Chemistry, SuperLite is still able to outperform other brands of damping material.

Dynamat SuperLite can be used for full coverage on your vehicleā€™s interior or just in problem areas of high sound resonation. It does not require any special equipment, so it is very simple to cut and install. It will conform easily to all interior surfaces, and the sticky butyl rubber will adhere and stay in place without any special surface prep. Use it on doors, floors, roofs, hoods, trunks, and Experience the Dynamat Difference.

For more information, visit .

New Jet Black Finish with Silver Logo 2.2mm Thickness 0.72 mass per ft2

Made of proprietary butyl rubber composite with an aluminum constraining layer for vibration damping. Designed and engineered in the United States, Ballistic is extremely efficient at converting vibration to thermal energy. This unique formula allows the material to easily conform and adhere to sheet metal and most other hard surfaces.

COVERAGE

• 1.67 Sq Ft (0.155M2) Each
• 20.0 Sq Ft (1.86M2) Total

BOX DIMENSIONS

• 16.5" x 15.4" x 1.9"

MASTER CARTON

• 5 Per Carton
• 16.9" x 15.7" x 9.6"

For more information, visit .