Soundproofing

Ceruleance

I have a perhaps unique problem that I dont see other people really posting.

Soundproofing.

I like my music loud, right now I listen at about 90 db, but only because Im afraid people will get angry if I go beyond that.

Next year my living situation will be pretty much the same, except I wont have a roommate so I will have even more chances to make my amps earn their keep, and more options in terms of room modifications to facilitate this hobby. I will be in an efficiency apartment, and I dont want to make my neighbors terribly mad at me.

I'm a college student, so I dont 'particularly' care if it looks crappy, but I dont want a whole bunch of old matteresses all over the room. Mainly, its got to be CHEAP. we're talking under 100 here, ideally.

Suggestions such as, "You can goto this [merchant]/[tradesman] and he has [certain material] that is waste to him and you could take it off him for free or like 5 bucks", would be great. Room will be about 12x15 maybe?

I dont think those foam studio tiles do a tremendous lot at attenuating sound going through them, maybe preventing echos in the room, but thats not my goal.

Also, this is a short term lease, so gluing stuff/modifying the walls is a not viable, and I will probably need this same treatment wherever I end up after next year, so if it was modifiable to a different room that would be great!

I know that's a lot of requirements, but I'm hoping with 6 months and the forums help I should be able to work something out. I appreciate your input!

F1nut

Originally posted by Ceruleance
Mainly, its got to be CHEAP. we're talking under 100 here, ideally.

Let's see, supply all the neighbors with earplugs for one year.....hmmmm, yep about $100.00.

dorokusai

If you have a volume issue, cheap will not help you. My only cheap recommendations are simply by normal audio principles. Soften it up with alot o' shite. That sucks, because you degrade your listening experience, AND your neighbors.

I know that a friend of mine, who installed installation, used a variety of forms. Specifically for soundproofing, but alas, you're not talkin <100. Not gonna happen. He has used an injectable foam for joist work and the atypical padding type for free flowing work. All is much greater than $100. Not your fault, just fookin' sucks, I felt your pain at one time.

My solution was to:

A: Get drunk enough that when they banged on the door, and I answered naked, they couldnt complain.

B: Answer the door naked AND sober.

C: Answer the door with a small animal tucked uncomfortably between my legs, and naked.

I assure you one of the above ways will at least temporarily solve your problem, or get you under investigation. But then again there is a war going on, so you may get by just fine.


P.S What kinda room you live in? Dorm right? So concrete blocks eh? Let us know some particulars.....we may be able to find a intrusive " who gives a shite, I dont own it " type fix for you.

Ceruleance

Your temp. solutions might work except for a few possible catches. Namely, I might seem a little "forward" with any possible lady-friends who come knocking, and who knows what the guy's reactions will be (although I've found generally only the real pansies complain) Secondly, getting trashed alone in your room while blasting music would be pretty damn sad, and lastly, I unfortunately own nor intend to own any small animals, however I may perhaps get the same effect using a stuffed animal that could be acquired for much less than my target budget.

Next years arrangement is a dorm in theory, what it really is is a unversity owned apartment building, drywall all around. I figure with the outside facing one wall, neighbor on either side, and one wall to the hallway I will need to worry about the door and 2 walls (whats wall height 9 feet? ) each 9x10 or so. In my current situation the walls aren't even the problem its the door (despite it being a serious thick wood piece) So im hoping next year will be the same, I will only have to really worry about the door.

Assuming thats the case:
Ive seen the mass loaded vinyl sound barrier material, but even if I just end up doing the door, Im not gonna shell out like 50+ dollars or whatever its going to cost. So what's something heavy ("mass-loaded") and preferably pliable and rollable? would leftover carpet or cheap rugs serve my purpose?

If I could, I would change the name of this post to: "cheap crap to hang from my walls"

F1nut

Have you tried doing a "search" for soundproofing materials?

Ceruleance

Yeah, everyone is trying to push either the mass loaded vinyl for 300 dollars for a 54" x 15' roll plus like 50 dollars shipping (its 200 lbs. i think) or the studio attenuating oddly shaped foam. (which is outlandishly priced and probably does very little preventing room A's noise from bleeding into room

dthomps

Alright, alright- I think I might have a good solution for you, let me go check another thread I posted this exact thing in....

dthomps

Here ya go-
Some good advice from the forum.
http://clubpolk.polkaudio.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8065
I used some compressed asphault roofing material to dampen the noise in my noisey old Volvo. Thats really all dynamat is, and it works pretty well. I found a webpage that might be of some help, It has a bunch of different sound damping options. just look through all of the different products, some are kind of neat and may work well for you. There are a few really expensive ones, but look through the pages, I think there are 6. I used something very similar to these guys' "Mastic". Take care. Mike

http://www.mcmaster.com/asp/loadpagerange.asp?pagerange=*3236,3237,3238,3239,3240&descid=31616&term=Sound+Dampers

gidrah

You could try a semi-floating wall by putting some sheetrock (thin is fine on the cheap) with some 2" X 2" at the ends. Use some "L" brackets for feet. Put these parallel with and about an inch away from adjoining walls near the speakers.

This won't help for the upper or lower apartments if applicable, but it's a step.

You can isolate your bass (for you and them) by putting any subwoofer on a piece of solid stone. A piece of carpet padding underneath should help with with the downstairs neighbors. A small sandbox might be better.

Good luck!

rs159

Originally posted by gidrah
...You can isolate your bass (for you and them) by putting any subwoofer on a piece of solid stone...
Good luck!

When I put my sub on a concrete floor in the basement it still shook the house apart.

Ceruleance

Perhaps thats because the concrete was a unified part of your foundation, I think if I just use a slab on top of the carpet it will be much more isolated, good suggestions all, lemme go read that other thread.

For your situation, i would use an extra slab of concrete, and a couple small pieces of ballast to lift it off the ground, like 4x4 inch pieces of scrap carpet for each corner, I wonder how well that would work.

burdette

If I may be so bold.. I don't think there is really much you can do given that this is a rental unit. The only thing that is really going to make a large difference is new construction - double walls and ceilings, different layers of materials, things like that. You aren't going to be able to hang some foam panels or sit your speakers on cement or hang up tapestries and make a dent in your problem. And even if you cut some highs, the bass is going to travel right to all your neighbors. Such is the dilemma of renters, and especially in college-type apartments and dorms.

Just trying to be realistic here... Perhaps the best solution for now is to sit closer to your speakers... tighten up the spacing all the way around.. and buy a good pair of headphones for those times you really need to blow out.

Ceruleance

You're probably right. Perhaps my 100 dollars would be better spent appeasing my neighbors with small gifts. I'll have to see when I actually move in, but i think treating the door will probably be necessary and fairly viable. I've asked for suggestions for that, ~21 sq. ft space, needs to be able to swing open

Airplay355

um i saw a guy who used egg crate foam on his entire room, u can get that crap at wal mart or whatever doesnt really look nice but his was covered in black fabaric so what the hell, i think the room is in the system showcase go look for urself

VR3

Originally posted by Airplay355
um i saw a guy who used egg crate foam on his entire room, u can get that crap at wal mart or whatever doesnt really look nice but his was covered in black fabaric so what the hell, i think the room is in the system showcase go look for urself

Egg crates work good, you can hide wires and its CHEAP as a ****! And the person you are talking about is Micah