Not all bongs sound the same… if you’re someone who values discretion, or just wants a  peaceful sesh, the noise your piece makes can matter. Whether you’re taking a full bowl to the face or gently cornering it, the sound remains the same. The volume of a bong depends on how the percolator, or perc, diffuses the smoke through the water.

Let’s break it down.

How Bong Percs Work

When you inhale from a bong, the smoke travels through water, where it’s cooled and filtered. The perc is the component that creates this diffusion. It does this by breaking the smoke into bubbles. The size, number, and flow of those bubbles – and how they interact with the air and water – all contribute to the sound of your hit.

Some percs make a deep, bubbling, choppy rumble that can shake a table. Others are effortlessly silent, moving bubbles so subtly that you question whether there’s water in the piece.

What Makes a Bong Loud or Quiet?

Percs come in all different shapes and styles, each diffusing smoke and moving bubbles in a unique way. There’s infinite ways to design a perc, but they all have one thing in common: holes. The number, size, and shape of these holes affect how the water travels through them, changing the sound of the rip. 

1. Number of Holes

A classic downstem with just one or two slits is going to be loud. All the smoke is forced through just 1-2 holes, creating bigger bubbles and more chuggy sounds. On the other hand, percs with many holes allow for more even airflow, smaller bubbles, and a softer sound. Sometimes you can barely hear the water move, depending on the design of the perc. It’s like trying to fit a crowd through 1 door versus 50 – less holes, more congestion, more noise.

2. Size of the Holes

Small holes = small bubbles = quieter rips. Larger slits or circular holes tend to make bigger bubbles, which pop louder as they break the surface. More ‘advanced’ percs, like those made by Mobius or Sovereignty, often layer dozens of micro-holes in a single perc to maximize diffusion without the roar of bubbles. Although some people love that sound too!

3. Airflow and Shape

It’s not just about cramming in as many holes as possible. The shape and layout matters. To maintain solid airflow, the perc needs the total area of the holes to be similar to the joint size. Bigger slits/holes require less, and smaller require more. Slits vs circles also make a difference in the shape/size of the bubble: slits are usually louder, and grids are quieter. Grids are basically a bunch of small holes. That’s why grid-style or stacked percs tend to be quieter and smoother. They offer high diffusion with less disruption to your inhale.

4. Bubble Stack and Surface Area

One key to quiet hits is minimizing the sound of bubbles popping in open air. If the bubbles stack and rise up the tube, rather than bursting immediately at the waterline, you’ll get a much quieter rip. This often happens in pieces with tight chambers, splash guards, or additional chambered percs that allow bubbles to rise before they pop.

So, What Are the Quietest Percs?

Here are some perc types that are often quieter than average:

• Matrix percs (lots of small, stacked holes)

• Honeycomb discs (dense fields of micro-holes)

• Grids or Stem percs (horizontal with many tiny holes)

• Gridded inlines or circ percs (horizontal with many tiny slits)

• Multi-chamber recyclers (where bubbles travel before popping)

Smaller bongs can sometimes be quieter because there’s less space for bubbles to rise and burst, but this isn’t a hard rule. A large piece with proper stacking and diffusion can be just as silent if designed well.

Final Tip: Ask for Function Videos

Whether you’re shopping online or buying from a local artist, always ask for a function video. You’ll get to hear exactly how the perc performs. Every setup is different, and even the same perc style can behave differently depending on how it’s built.

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Want to explore more about bong function or how to find the right piece for your setup? Drop us a comment or check out more on the GlassPass Blog.