New nonwoven fibrous webs are taught which comprise a collected mass of a)
directly formed fibers disposed within the web in a C-shaped
cross-sectional configuration and b) staple fibers having a crimp of at
least 15% dispersed among the directly formed fibers in an amount of at
least 5% the weight of the directly formed fibers. The web is lofty but
free of macrovoids. Preferably, the web has a filling ratio of at least
50 and a light transmittance variation of about 2% or less. Typically,
fibers within the web are bonded together at points of fiber
intersection, preferably with autogenous bonds, to provide a
compression-resistant matrix. The webs are especially useful as acoustic
and thermal insulation.