SoundProofing (Angry neighbours)

[MirzaTat]

Hey, just wanted to see if any of you had some experience in soundproofing a room with a home cinema, i need something for the floors and walls, but the most importent part is the Bass since its the one making most of the really loud noises. 

 

Any suggestions would be appreciated

[Jaybird]

find your own house and move out of the apartment. 

[TheKDub]

find your own house and move out of the apartment. 

 

This ^

[rmac52]

find your own house and move out of the apartment. 

 

 

This ^

 

The title states angry neighbors.  So I'm assuming the issue is with people outside of the op's living space.

[Jaybird]

reinforcing what i said, there is nothing you can do. apartments are built on a minimum cost. there is no insulation in the walls, the only thing sperating the sound in the walls is sheetrock, meaning you could probably pounch your fist into your neightbors room. the floor is constructed of wood beans with plywood decking and zero insulation in the floor. the only place there will be insulation is in the exterior walls and in the attic. 

 

 

source: I do construction. 

[Nuluvius]

Don't be this person. I've lived next to enough of your kind to last me a life time. Nothing like trying to get your children to sleep when the scum next door cranks up the volume.

[RelentlessAF]

The title states angry neighbors.  So I'm assuming the issue is with people outside of the op's living space.

I gotta say though, that is either a really tightly packed neighborhood or OP really has the volume cranked to 11.

[minibois]

*Mumbles something about headphones..*

 

I understand you like your home cinema set, but you just can't do that in such an environment 

[rmac52]

I gotta say though, that is either a really tightly packed neighborhood or OP really has the volume cranked to 11.

Apartment?  Possibly thin walled apartment building?

[Soplias]

Acoustic Foam, sit the Sub on some of that, that will still give a nice bass feel but reduce the vibrations throughout the building. 

[rmac52]

But info from the op would help.  

Google soundproofing cheaply.

Foam is the best material to use.  Specifically acoustical foam.  A musician friend of my used fast food drink trays on the walls.  I can't attest to how well it worked though.  I never head the room before he did it though.

[Theo]

reinforcing what i said, there is nothing you can do. apartments are built on a minimum cost. there is no insulation in the walls, the only thing sperating the sound in the walls is sheetrock, meaning you could probably pounch your fist into your neightbors room. the floor is constructed of wood beans with plywood decking and zero insulation in the floor. the only place there will be insulation is in the exterior walls and in the attic. 

 

 

source: I do construction. 

This is if OP is living in the US

[Jaybird]

This is if OP is living in the US

this, even if op is not in US. the construction of concrete building where each living space is constructed of concrete is very rare today. concrete is expensive but aluminum and wood studs are cheap. if the area is super remote then the construction may be concrete cinder block. but even then is this still only the exterior of the building. 

[Theo]

this, even if op is not in US. the construction of concrete building where each living space is constructed of concrete is very rare today. concrete is expensive but aluminum and wood studs are cheap. if the area is super remote then the construction may be concrete cinder block. but even then is this still only the exterior of the building. 

in Europe most are with bricks/ concrete, at least in belgium every construction that ive seen is

[Jaybird]

in Europe most are with bricks/ concrete, at least in belgium every construction that ive seen is

alot of the buildings in europe though are protected under yalls historical thingy. where they are not allowed to tear down the old buildings but only allowed to remodel. plus europe is like mega old. 

 

source: went to england and italy. 

[RelentlessAF]

Apartment?  Possibly thin walled apartment building?

It could be I just figured you were implying it was his own house.

[knight_40k]

There is really nothing you can do that will be cost effective. If you replace all the drywall (walls and ceiling) with noise dampening stuff, insulate the areas between the suites, and put up acoustic foams/bass traps you will be looking at a ton of work and high expense that probably isn't worth the trouble. I live in a condo as well and had problems with neighbors complaining about sound (mostly bass) and I was forced to get rid of one of my subs. The best you can do is turn down/off your sub, or watch movies/listen music in the afternoon or early part of the evening.

 

Also, find out if you have any Bylaws about what time is to late to be making "excessive noise". Subs are hard to control in condo/apartment environments without bothering neighbors, especially people who expect it to be quiet 24/7.

[Theo]

alot of the buildings in europe though are protected under yalls historical thingy. where they are not allowed to tear down the old buildings but only allowed to remodel. plus europe is like mega old. 

 

source: went to england and italy. 

i mean new buildings being built, my current house is bricks everywhere ( built around 1950 ) and a new apartment block was being using concrete sheets (dno how you call them) and bricks.

Though sound insulation is still shit since i think there is none, just bricks (where i live)

[Jaybird]

i mean new buildings being built, my current house is bricks everywhere ( built around 1950 ) and a new apartment block was being using concrete sheets (dno how you call them) and bricks.

Though sound insulation is still shit since i think there is none, just bricks (where i live)

you mean tilt wall?

 

 

insulation does not do well at absorbing sound. its intent is to contain heat. sound absorbing material is much more dense and designed to capture sound. 

[Stagea]

But info from the op would help.  

Google soundproofing cheaply.

Foam is the best material to use.  Specifically acoustical foam.  A musician friend of my used fast food drink trays on the walls.  I can't attest to how well it worked though.  I never head the room before he did it though.

 

Foam absorbs whilst fast food trays diffuse; they're great for treating a room's reflections. The main problem with them for the TS' use is that they are not very useful for lower frequencies. For lower frequencies, you'd need to seal the room and block the vibration with a lot of mass to prevent it from spilling over.

 

Trapping, cancelling or EQing-out the room's resonant frequencies may also help make things more bearable.

[bmxtricky5]

fuck the neighbors and add 30 more inches of subs

[Theo]

you mean tilt wall?

 

insulation does not do well at absorbing sound. its intent is to contain heat. sound absorbing material is much more dense and designed to capture sound. 

Nono i mean legit concrete, which is a real pain to try and drill if you want to put anything on it.

Yes but since here are one next to the other, theres no insulation in between the two houses,

[flibberdipper]

Don't be that guy. I'm not even in a densely packed area, and I want to kill my neighbor for cranking it up. Turn it down or get some damn headphones.

[Blade of Grass]

There is really nothing you can do that will be cost effective. If you replace all the drywall (walls and ceiling) with noise dampening stuff, insulate the areas between the suites, and put up acoustic foams/bass traps you will be looking at a ton of work and high expense that probably isn't worth the trouble. I live in a condo as well and had problems with neighbors complaining about sound (mostly bass) and I was forced to get rid of one of my subs. The best you can do is turn down/off your sub, or watch movies/listen music in the afternoon or early part of the evening.

 

Also, find out if you have any Bylaws about what time is to late to be making "excessive noise". Subs are hard to control in condo/apartment environments without bothering neighbors, especially people who expect it to be quiet 24/7.

This guy speaks the truth.

 

Acoustic treatment for rooms is very expensive on top of alot of work. Plus, the good stuff is quite large (more than a couple inches thick) and isn't flat.

 

I personally would suggest either turning it down, or getting headphones.

[Kyuubixchidori]

ouch. that sucks. but the only real alternative is really headphones. I live in a house that was built in 2008, and its amazing for holding it sound. I can not turn the music any louder because the bass (not boosted mind you) shakes the pictures on the wall and it starts to sound bad. its nice because then you can hear it thought the whole house. yet go outside and its barely anything, I asked the neigbors, they cant even hear it.