Hard top vs soft top noise

[Mr. Nice]

The first thing I did when I got home with my Badlands 4DR softtop was test noise. Was surprised that at 85mph on the highway, it was averaging only 5db higher than my bone stock VW GTI. It clocked around 75db compared to 70db.

5db is very noticeable.

For what it’s worth 75db for long car rides becomes a problem, voice strain, for one.
Avg conversation level is supposedly like 55

The maximum noise level you can be exposed to without having to worry about hearing damage or potential hearing loss is 70 decibels over a 24-hour period. 80 decibels is twice as loud as 70 dB and therefore considered potentially unsafe.

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[Tricky Dick]

I haven't measured it but I feel my hard top is quite good for what it is. There's a little leak on the passenger side somewhere that I can faintly hear wind noise, and cross winds are pretty loud, but most of the time it's about the same loudness as your average 90s car I'd say.

I'm putting on a soft top tonight or tomorrow and I'm looking forward to see the difference.

 

[Ksjrb03]

I haven't measured it but I feel my hard top is quite good for what it is. There's a little leak on the passenger side somewhere that I can faintly hear wind noise, and cross winds are pretty loud, but most of the time it's about the same loudness as your average 90s car I'd say.

I'm putting on a soft top tonight or tomorrow and I'm looking forward to see the difference.

This is where the wind and snow comes in. Your two door will have this on the front panels. Apparently some are built better than others. My driver side gap is 3 times wider than passenger.

 

[Tricky Dick]

This is where the wind and snow comes in. Your two door will have this on the front panels. Apparently some are built better than others. My driver side gap is 3 times wider than passenger.

That's likely it, it does sound like it's more forward.

 

[BroncoSC]

This is where the wind and snow comes in. Your two door will have this on the front panels. Apparently some are built better than others. My driver side gap is 3 times wider than passenger.

Where exactly is this? Photo from the interior of the car? I'd like to be able to check it at the dealer once mine is built...

 

[drew707]

5db is very noticeable.

The maximum noise level you can be exposed to without having to worry about hearing damage or potential hearing loss is 70 decibels over a 24-hour period. 80 decibels is twice as loud as 70 dB and therefore considered potentially unsafe.

Just curious where that number comes from. Both NIOSH and OSHA have 85 decibels for the upper limits (8 hours over a forty year career). But that of course deals exclusively with occupational levels. I’ve never seen a standard for general environmental noises

 

[MnLakeBum]

They are both noisy. I measured 72-75 db in my 4 door soft top at 70mph with a db meter at head level. Car and Driver got about the same noise level when they did their testing of a hard top First Editon. Convertibles are going to be nosiy even with the tops on.

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a37103139/2021-ford-bronco-first-edition-v6-by-the-numbers/

"The off-road rubber starts singing at about 30 mph. Between 65 and 70 mph, wind noise overpowers tire roar. Even with the extra sound-deadening material on our First Edition's hard top, at 70 mph, the Bronco summons 73 decibels of interior racket, which is no quieter than a V-6-powered Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. The Bronco's frameless windows shrink the size of the doors, allowing them to be stowed onboard in the cargo area. But everything is a compromise, and at speed, you hear a lot of wind noise at the seals. Also, when someone tugs a door handle, the indexing glass doesn't drop quickly enough and often snags on the weatherstripping."

 

[Ksjrb03]

Where exactly is this? Photo from the interior of the car? I'd like to be able to check it at the dealer once mine is built...

Its on the edge of front panel, right above drivers head. Cant miss it.

 

[Aman]

I finally received my replacement Ford Sunrider and installed it last weekend. On city roads, the noise difference is minimal. On the highway, the Sunrider is much, much louder than the hardtop front panels. If I make a phone call while on the highway, the other party can no longer hear me clearly. I never had a problem with the hard top panels.

 

[Mr. Nice]

Just curious where that number comes from. Both NIOSH and OSHA have 85 decibels for the upper limits (8 hours over a forty year career). But that of course deals exclusively with occupational levels. I’ve never seen a standard for general environmental noises

I didn't write the article.
https://decibelpro.app/blog/how-loud-is-80-decibels/

 

[Dayton1984]

This is where the wind and snow comes in. Your two door will have this on the front panels. Apparently some are built better than others. My driver side gap is 3 times wider than passenger.

So rain and snow just come in, and can’t take through a car wash? Seems defective seeing how big that gap is

 

[Ksjrb03]

So rain and snow just come in, and can’t take through a car wash? Seems defective seeing how big that gap is

Ive never had rain or snow in mine, but others have. I just have major wind noise. I stuff foam in there and it helps a bit, until I remove the top and loose my foam bits. Annoying.

 

[Dayton1984]

Ive never had rain or snow in mine, but others have. I just have major wind noise. I stuff foam in there and it helps a bit, until I remove the top and loose my foam bits. Annoying.

Sorry to hear, that definitely seems subpar for a 50-60k vehicle. I’d hope for better. Been wanting the bronco for years and just now finally financially in a place where I can place an order for the 23 model and have been debating on soft vs hard top. We have long winters here so considering pros and cons.

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