Dense-graded rubber asphalt pavements are the new forms developed from low-noise pavements. In order to promote the development of low-noise pavements, the generation and the enhancement mechanisms of tyre/pavement noise were described, as well as the noise reduction mechanism and the effect of dense-graded rubber asphalt pavements. Firstly, two types of noise reduction asphalt pavements with large porosity and dense gradation and their noise reduction mechanisms were introduced. The generation and the enhancement mechanisms of tyre/pavement noise were discussed. Secondly, the noise reduction mode, influencing factors of tyre/pavement noise, and detection methods of dense-graded asphalt pavements were emphatically reviewed. Finally, the development and the optimization directions of dense-graded low-noise asphalt pavements were prospected. Most of the low-noise asphalt pavements are open-graded ones with large porosity,while there are less researches on noise reduction mechanism and the realization path of dense-graded asphalt pavements. When the pores are blocked, the noise reduction effect decreases sharply and the blocked pores are difficult to recover, which restrict the wide application of open-graded asphalt pavements with large porosity. In contrast, the dense-graded rubber asphalt pavements usually rely on their own rich surface textures and the elasticity of rubber particles, so as to achieve sound absorption damping and noise reduction, avoiding the above shortcomings. Although the noise reduction effect of dense-graded rubber asphalt pavements is not as good as that of open-graded pavements with large porosity, dense-graded rubber asphalt pavements have excellent road performances and long-lasting noise reduction effects, thus becoming an important choice for low-noise pavements in practical engineering applications. In order to better use dense-graded rubber asphalt pavements with noise reduction effects, future researches should focus on various important factors affecting the noise reduction factors of the pavements, such as the incorporation of rubber particles, particle size, content and so on.