Structural vibrations present significant challenges in engineering systems, and particle impact dampers (PIDs) have emerged as a promising solution for vibration control. This paper presents a comprehensive experimental investigation on the damping performance of PIDs with varying numbers of particles. The experimental setup involves subjecting a single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) structure to base motion excitations. Frequency response analysis is conducted to assess the dynamic behavior of the primary system using different PID designs. PIDs with one mass, two masses, three masses and multiple particles are designed and analyzed using the same mass ratio. Additionally, time domain displacement responses of the top of the structure and the base are measured to capture the system's response characteristics. The frequency response analysis reveals the influence of different particle configurations on the system's response amplitude at various frequencies. Interestingly, the results show that a PID with multiple particles exhibits reduced damping performance due to excessive particle-particle collisions. These collisions decrease the energy of the particles, leading to lower velocity before impact. This highlights that the impact itself is the primary source of damping in PIDs, and any other phenomena, such as particle-particle collisions, directly affect the relative velocity before impact. The outcomes demonstrate that an optimal design of PID can reduce vibration amplitude by approximately 85 % with single mass, two masses, and three masses configurations. Conversely, the best-case scenario of PID with multiple particles provides a vibration amplitude reduction of 75 % compared to the absence of a damper. Furthermore, noise data is recorded for all cases, as noise generation is a significant concern associated with PIDs. The results indicate noise magnitudes of 62.5 dB, 70.60 dB, 73.24 dB and 78.64 dB for PIDs with single mass, two masses, three masses, and multiple particles, respectively. Overall, the relationship between the number of particles and damping performance provides valuable insights for optimizing PID designs and ensuring comfortable operation. The findings have broad implications for diverse engineering systems, leading to improved structural performance, reduced noise, and enhanced safety. This study could serve as the basis for several potential applications of PID in structural vibration control with enhanced performance and reduced noise.