This　paper　presents　a　preliminary　study　of　the　damping　performance　(DP)　and　mechanism　of　crumb　rubber　modified　(CRM)　asphalt.　The　loss　factor　(LF)　temperature　spectra　of　a　dynamic　shear　rheometer　was　applied　to　evaluate　the　damping　performance　of　crumb　rubber　(CR)　and　styrene-butadiene-styrene　(SBS)　compound　modified　(CSCM)　asphalts　using　with　four　criteria.　The　results　showed　that　CSCM　asphalts　exhibited　a　good　damping　performance　with　a　wide　effective　damping　temperature　range,　low　damping　temperature　susceptibility,　and　relatively　high　LF　in　normal　working　temperature　range　of　pavement.　This　finding　served　as　an　indirect　but　novel　explanation　for　the　superior　noise　reduction　of　CRM　asphalt　pavement.　Then,　an　initial　investigation　of　the　damping　mechanism　of　CSCM　asphalts　was　conducted　by　analyzing　molecular　structure,　thermal　behavior,　and　morphology.　The　results　showed　that　the　integrity　(synergistic　effects　of　each　component　in　the　polymer　system)　strongly　influenced　the　damping　performance　of　CSCM　asphalts　through　the　temperature　and　blending　of　polymers　and　additives.　The　finding　would　facilitate　the　application　of　CRM　asphalts-based　damping　materials,　which　can　assist　to　develop　sustainable　solutions　to　tackle　worldwide　environmental　problems　to　some　extent.　©　2019　Elsevier　Ltd