Acoustic underlayment for pre-finished laminate floor system

A method of making a nonwoven fabric, comprising the steps of:

• providing a fibrous matrix;
• providing a self-supporting support layer;
• carding said fibrous matrix;
• cross-lapping said fibrous matrix to form a precursor web;
• entangling said precursor web on a foraminous forming surface;
• juxtaposing said support layer onto said precursor web;
• providing a three-dimensional image transfer device comprising an imaging surface having an array of three-dimensional surface elements, said imaging surface being movable relative to at least one associated hydroentangling manifold, said imaging surface of said image transfer device defining a network of discrete nubs each surrounded completely by a support surface, and discrete drainage openings extending into said support surface;
• and
• advancing said juxtaposed precursor web and said support layer onto said image transfer device, including minimizing the tension to which said fibrous matrix is subjected during said advancing step by supporting said fibrous matrix with said support layer;
• hydroentangling said precursor web on said imaging surface so that portions of said precursor web are displaced from on top of said three-dimensional surface elements to form an imaged and patterned nonwoven fabric, wherein said fabric includes a plurality of discrete, upstanding nodes, and a plurality of apertures.