With the best cheap bass traps, you can fine-tune the sound in your recording studio by managing the low frequencies for the best results.
And the key word here is “cheap”.
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get quality bass traps for your studio.
Bass traps are essential acoustic treatment components that offer significant benefits in creating a well-balanced and controlled sound environment within a studio. These specialized absorbers primarily target low-frequency sound waves, which tend to be more challenging to manage due to their longer wavelengths.
Incorporating bass traps into a studio setup can yield several advantages that contribute to improved sound quality and a more accurate audio monitoring experience.
Most notably, bass traps offer the ability to mitigate excessive bass buildup and standing waves.
In untreated or poorly treated spaces, low-frequency sound waves can accumulate and resonate, leading to uneven bass response and muddiness in recordings and mixes. Bass traps strategically placed effectively absorb and diffuse these low-frequency sound waves, reducing problematic resonances and providing a more balanced bass reproduction.
This results in cleaner mixes and accurate bass perception, enabling engineers and producers to make informed decisions about their low-frequency content.
On top of my decades of experience in audio engineering, I’ve done a lot of research on the best products out there today. I read lots of forums about the solutions used by other audio engineers to deal with excessive bass sound in a recording environment.
I tried more than 30 affordable bass traps to test them for this review article. A few of the ones that I tested deserve to be mentioned, such as ATS Acoustic Tri-Corner Bass Trap, UA-acoustics Corner Bass trap, and Primacoustic Bass Trap but they did not make the cut of my choices for the best picks, mostly because they are too expensive.
Only the best cheap bass traps are included in my reviews so read on to learn the details of my choices that will help you decide what is good for your studio (and your wallet).
This guide has been fully updated for 2023 to include the best current options on the market right now, so you can be sure you’re getting the latest info to help you make a great buying decision.
Important Safety Tip: Bass traps capture low frequencies and trap them by turning the vibrational energy into heat by using friction. If you are going to make your own ones, be sure not to create a fire hazard accidentally by using highly flammable materials. Treat all flammable materials in your recording studio with a fire retardant.
Disclosure: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost for you, we might get a commission if you click the link and purchase.
A Quick Look at the Best Cheap Bass Traps
I’ll go more in depth on all of the top bass traps later in this article, but for those in a hurry, here’s a quick glance at my top picks:
TRUE NORTH Bass Traps w/Adhesive 8 Pack (12"x6"x6")
What’s inside?
- Made from non-toxic, fire-retardant material.
- The density of the foam is 30 kg per square meter.
- The high-density foam is 20% to 25% denser than standard foam.
- Easy installation with included adhesive strips.
- Full refund guarantee if not satisfied.
Killer feature: Very high-density foam.
You will appreciate the TRUE NORTH bass traps because the denser foam makes them much more effective when compared to others that are made from less dense foam. You can easily hear an improvement when these picks are installed properly. The TRUE NORTH acoustic treatment products are professional grade.
JBER 4 Pack Acoustic Foam Bass Trap Studio Foam 12" X 7" X 7"
What’s inside?
- Effective sound deadener for standing waves and flutter echo.
- Made from non-toxic polyurethane foam.
- Unique shape for excellent acoustic absorption.
- Improves room acoustics to provide warmer sound.
- Budget-priced with a nice style.
Killer feature: The low price of this product is the main attraction.
If you are on a tight budget, you can find a four-pack of these ones for about $20. The foam is not as dense as my top pick in these reviews but can work for most home recording studio setups to help improve the room sound.
For best results, you may also want to add acoustic panels (sold separately) running down the walls under these installed bass traps placed in the upper corners near the ceiling.
DEKIRU 8 Pack Acoustic Foam Bass Traps Corner Block 12" X 7" X 7"
What’s inside?
- Made from eco-friendly and fire-proof materials.
- Improves acoustical quality and helps decrease unwanted room noise.
- Easy to install.
- Excellent customer service.
- 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Killer feature: Perfect for the sound treatment of small- to medium-sized rooms.
The DEKIRU acoustic panels are also a good choice for those on a limited budget. You can get eight of them for less than $30. I appreciate that the manufacturer offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
With all of these bass traps that arrive in a compressed package, I recommend that you unpack them immediately. Soak them in water and let them dry out to make sure they expand to the proper shape and size before installing them.
Do Bass Traps Make a Difference?
Acoustic engineers demonstrate the difference in using bass traps in a room through a method called sound waveform analysis. By recording sound in the room and analyzing the waveform before and after applying them, it is easy to see the effect on the computer readout of the waveform analysis.
However, actually hearing the difference is more complicated. The reason for this is that human hearing goes down to about 20 Hz. A sub-base frequency is below this level is not heard by a person but can be felt by a person.
The other consideration is that bass frequencies resonate with the surrounding environment. If the bass sound being emitted matches a resonate frequency of the materials in a room, the sound can build upon itself. For example, a low hum can turn into a resonating vibration that causes the building to vibrate.
In this video, produced by Tommy Callaway, he answers the question of whether using a few bass traps in his recording studio would make a difference that he could actually hear.
In the video, the narrator plays back some music using his computer, which is picked up and recorded by the mic of his video camera.
He recommends opening the box immediately that they come in. Remove the foam because it has been compressed for shipping. Be careful when opening the box with a razor cutter not to cut the foam by accident.
He installs them on the wall opposite his monitors. He adds two bass traps to the corners of his home studio using t-pins to mount the foam to the wall. He prefers using t-pins over adhesive on sheetrock walls because this method does less damage, and the foam can easily be removed if necessary.
After comparing the playback with and without them in place, he concludes that the bass traps make an audible difference. He describes this result of using them as creating a richer sound for the bass, and he recommends using them.
FAQ and Buyer’s Guide: Choosing Cheap Bass Traps
Here I’ll answer the most common questions about these picks.
Q: What Do Bass Traps Do?
Bass traps absorb low-frequency sound to keep the sound from reflecting off hard surfaces. They also reduce the resonant frequency, lower the echo, and reduce vibration.
Q: Do Bass Traps Reduce Outside Noise?
The low-frequency sound coming from outside a room, such as the low rumble from passing traffic or a neighbor’s bass sound, can be reduced using a bass trap in your room.
Q: Are Bass Traps Worth the Expense?
Using them improves the sound of the music in a room. This improvement gives more bass sound with less need for bass amplification or EQ. The sound of the bass is more evenly spread throughout the room.
Q: Should Bass Traps Be Put in All Corners?
Yes, however, you can place them in two corners of the room to achieve nearly the same desired effect by treating the corners closest to the monitor speakers.
In this video, produced by GIK Acoustics, the narrator guides you on making the proper placement of bass traps and helps you understand how a bass trap works.
If you follow the techniques in this video, you will place the bass traps in the perfect positions to have the most benefit in your recording studio.
Q: Should Bass Traps Be Installed Floor to Ceiling?
The best places to install them are the upper wall to ceiling area and the wall to floor area. More acoustic pressure from low frequencies accumulates in these corners.
In this video, produced by Acoustics Insider, the narrator discusses the comparison between floor-to-ceiling and half-the-corner bass traps.
Floor-to-ceiling installations are ideal for absorption. You can eliminate covering the wall near the floor area if you need the floor space for other things and still benefit.
Q: Why Does Bass Build Up in Corners?
The ninety-degree angle of corners causes the bass sound to reflect on itself as an echo. A bass trap reduces these reflections.
Q: Can You Have Too Many Bass Traps?
No, because of the acoustic quality of the bass sound, it is not possible to have too many bass traps. If you put them in all corners, there will be very little bass reflection.
However, treating just two corners works almost as well if those corners are near the monitor speakers because you catch almost all the base coming from the source.
There are three steps in choosing a cheap bass trap:
Step 1. Decide How Much Acoustic Foam You Need.
Measure the area of the corners to make sure you get an appropriate size and amount to cover the part of the wall you want to be covered.
Step 2. Features You Want
Here is a list of the things you want to consider:
- Made from non-toxic materials.
- Fire-resistant or use an additional fire-retardant treatment.
- Foam thickness and density.
- Shape of the design.
- Color to make the treatment look nice.
- Durability of the product and guarantee.
Step 3. Choose the Solution You Can Afford.
I intentionally selected the cheap bass traps. If you are on a very low budget, you can buy the acoustic foam in sheets and then cut it into pieces that you glue together to make the shape of a bass trap. You may also want to use acoustic blankets.
In this video, produced by Mixdown Music, you can view creating a DIY acoustic absorption bass trap as an interesting time-lapse build.
To get more ideas about other acoustic materials, you can read my reviews of the best acoustic foam panels. You may also be interested in substitutes that you can use as an acoustic foam alternative.
In this video, produced by Next Generation Acoustics, you will learn the differences between an acoustic panel and a bass trap.
The key differences are the purpose, placement, and design.
The 8 Best Cheap Bass Traps: In-Depth Look
Here is a list of the cheap models that I reviewed, followed by detailed information about each one.
I had a lot of fun reviewing and testing these bass traps because I had not analyzed my recording studio since I first built it. It turns out I had some problems that I was not aware of with the low frequencies. I was able to correct the problems using cheap bass traps.
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Best for a home recording studio on a tight budget. My choice!
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Best for recording studios, for video streaming, podcasts, and in-home cinemas. |
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Best for places where the look of the foam is not important. |
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Best for video bloggers and podcasters. |
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Best for home recording studios, vocal booths, and production rooms. |
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Best for piano practice rooms, recording studios, and dance studios. |
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Best for home theater center, recording studio, control room, podcast studio, or musical instrument studio. |
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Best for any drum room, piano room, home entertainment center, or meeting rooms. |
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With more than a dozen cheap bass traps to choose from, we need to drill down on the specifics to see the ones that work the best for different applications and which ones offer the best value, so read the detailed specifications in the reviews.
My Reviews on Best Cheap Bass Trap
The reviews start with my favorite choice to help you compare the specifications to the rest of the cheap bass traps.
1. TRUE NORTH
TRUE NORTH traps are an excellent value. They are sold in a two-pack for around $35 (when on-sale). True North makes many other products for studio and home acoustic control.
Features
The TRUE NORTH traps are part of a full line of sound treatment products that can be used to fine-tune a recording studio. They improve studio sound clarity to create a cleaner recording environment with fewer echoes. The high-density polyurethane foam material provides strong absorption of low-end frequencies.
Pros
- Made from non-toxic polyurethane that is treated with a fire retardant.
- The density of the foam is 30 kg per square meter.
- The high-density foam is 20% to 25% denser than standard foam.
- Easy installation with included adhesive strips.
- Full refund guarantee if not satisfied.
Cons
- Size and cuts may vary with two pieces not exactly matching.
- Requires 24 hours to expand after unpacking, before installation.
Best for: These bass traps are a good choice for a home recording studio on a tight budget.
Buying Options
2. JBER
The JBER Soundproof Padding system comes as a four-pack with all the pieces you will need to cover the corners near the ceiling and part of the walls.
Features
The JBER foam material absorbs low- and mid-frequency sound to improve room response with a flatter sound that is crystal clear, warmer, and no longer muddy sounding. These bass traps are perfect for eliminating reverb and low-frequency echoes. The design is for the corner walls and ceilings. They can also be horizontally wall-mounted
Pros
- Effective sound deadener for standing waves and flutter echo.
- Made from non-toxic polyurethane foam.
- Unique shape for excellent acoustic absorption.
- Improves room acoustics.
- Budget priced.
Cons
- Shipped as a tightly-compressed four-pack that needs time to expand when unpacked.
- May not return to the appropriate shape and remain deformed from the compression.
- Not as dense as other brands.
Best for: These bass trap panels are useful in recording studios, for video streaming, podcasts, and in-home cinemas.
Buying Options
3. DEKIRU
The DEKIRU Soundproofing bass traps come as an eight-pack.
Features
They are made from eco-friendly and fire-retardant polyurethane foam. They are easy to install using spray adhesive, t-pins, or double-sided tape (sold separately). They are designed to be installed at the ceiling and floor level in each of the four corners of a studio.
Pros
- Reduces sound waves, reverb, and flutter echoes in small- to medium-sized studios.
- Improves acoustical quality and helps decrease unwanted room noise.
- Easy to install.
- Excellent customer service.
- 100% satisfaction guarantee
Cons
- Compressed for shipping.
- May not expand to original size and remain oddly-shaped.
- May need to wet them and then dry them, to help them expand.
- Low-density foam.
Best for: Recording studios where the look of the foam is not important.
Buying Options
4. Bekith
The Bekith Soundproof Padding for bass traps comes as a 12-pack that can be used in a recording studio, home entertainment centers, and podcast/video streaming production rooms.
Features
They are made from eco-friendly material that is treated with a fire retardant. The high-quality foam helps eliminate reverb and unwanted sound in any recording studio. They work well in small- to medium-sized rooms.
Pros
- The dimensions of each piece are 12 inches by seven inches by seven inches.
- They are designed for corner mounting at the top of the wall near the ceiling. They can also be horizontally wall-mounted.
- Helps block sound and reduce echoes.
- Absorbs low and mid-to-high frequencies.
Cons
- May not expand to the correct shape.
- May not be uniformly cut to size.
- The angles can be off and not fit well in a corner.
Best for: These can be used by video bloggers, podcasters, and in a home recording studio.
Buying Options
5. XIN&LOG
This Acoustic Black Soundproofing from XIN & LOG comes as a 16-piece pack that includes eight corner pieces and eight wall pieces.
Features
These XIN & LOG corner bass traps with wall pieces provide an excellent way to reduce echoes and manage low frequencies in a recording environment. They are easy to install. They can be used in any room to improve the sound quality for a crisp sound that is not muddied by excessive reverb.
Pros
- Lower-priced than competitive products.
- Has a good overall noise reduction coefficient.
- Provides professional sound quality.
- Cut to perfectly align with other pieces.
- Will absorb bass, mid, and high frequencies.
Cons
- A bit smaller than competing traps.
- Works best when the entire corner area is covered.
- May not expand to the proper shape without getting wet and letting dry.
Best for: Can be installed in home recording studios, vocal booths, and production rooms.
Buying Options
6. Ueemph
The Ueemph 12-pack bass traps are designed for placement in the corners and come with double-sided 3M tape strips to use to install them.
Features
They absorb low-frequency standing waves to improve sound saturation and clarity. They are made from a safe polyurethane material that is treated with a fire retardant. This kit comes with a cleaning cloth to prepare the wall surface for installation using the included 3M tape.
Pros
- Made from non-toxic material with no outgassing or unpleasant smell.
- Quickly expands after being unpacked if placed in a well-ventilated area.
- Self-extinguishing if catches fire due to the flame retardant treatment.
- Can be used anywhere for room noise reduction.
Cons
- Takes up to 48 hours to expand unless you use water and then let it dry.
- This foam is not as dense as competing products.
Best for: Piano practice rooms, recording studios, dance studios, and podcast production rooms.
Buying Options
7. SD SODOCT
The SD SODOCT bass trap acoustic panels come in an eight-pack that is easy to install with the adhesive strips, which are included.
Features
They improve sound quality to create a better recording environment by strongly absorbing bass frequencies. They are larger than the others, with the dimensions of 12 inches by eight inches by eight inches. They improve the low-frequency response of any small- to medium-sized room.
Pros
- Eliminates the standing waves, making the sound cleaner.
- Treated with fire retardant for safety.
- Easy to install with included adhesive strips.
- Larger surface area absorbs more sound.
- Eco-friendly, high-density foam.
Cons
- Takes up more space than smaller picks.
- May not expand to a uniform shape.
Best for: Home theater center, recording studio, control room, podcast studio, or musical instrument studio.
Buying Options
8. BEIYIN Block Foam
The BEIYIN Block Foam comes as a four-pack with the dimensions of 12 inches (30 cm) on each side of each cube (12″ x 12″ x 12″ equal to 30 cm x 30 cm x 30 cm).
Features
These block-shaped foam cubes can be used in the upper four corners near the ceiling and acoustic panels installed below them (sold separately). You will want to buy some spray adhesive or double-sided adhesive strips (sold separately) to install them.
Pros
- The large size gives them more sound absorption.
- Easy to install.
- Versatile to use in any room that needs reduced bass echo.
Cons
- Ships compressed and needs up to 48 hours to expand to normal size, unless you get them wet and let them dry afterward.
- May not be cut in uniform shapes with 5 mm to 15 mm possible errors in size.
- Pricey, when compared to other products in this category.
Best for: These cubes can be used to improve the sound in any studio, drum room, piano room, home entertainment center, or meeting rooms.
Buying Options
Other Must-Haves with Your Bass Traps
Here are some other items to consider along with cheap bass traps:
Focusound Acoustic Panels
The Focusound Acoustic Panels are white in color and come in a 12-pack with the dimensions of 12 inches by 12 inches by 1 inches thick.
Also included is the double-sided tape to be used for the installation.
Buying Options
BUBOS Acoustic Soundproofing
The BUBOS Acoustic Soundproofing acoustic panels come in a six-pack.
They are nice for decorative purposes as well as bass echo reduction.
Buying Options
Audimute Sound Absorption Sheet
The Audimute Sound Absorption Sheet is a sound dampening blanket with the dimensions of eight by four and one-half feet.
It comes in five attractive colors and includes hanging hardware.
Buying Options
Useful Resources
- Build your own bass traps
- The secrets of bass trap placement
- Where should I locate bass traps
- How bass traps work
- Do foam bass traps work? Pros, cons and alternatives
- Essential voice over equipment
- The best soundproof curtains
Final Thoughts
Now that you know my best choices for the cheap bass traps I reviewed, you can choose ones you like. These will help you fine-tune your recording or production room so that the sound is clear and unwanted reverb is eliminated.
The more coverage of the walls and corners you can do, and the denser the foam you use, the better your sound absorption. I hope you enjoy the process of fine-tuning your room with the help of traps.