DBs and disturbing the neighbors

[GAWD]

Alright...got my hands on my first sPL tonight and was messing around with it.

I played Terminator Salvation through my 7.1 system. Paradigm Monitor 9s with a Velodyne 12" sub.

Watched one of the most action packed scenes in the movie motorcycle terminator scene with the tow truck. Now at a comfortable listening level...enjoyable actually my system clocked in at 90dbs at the highest for a split second. The rest of the time it hovered around 75-83dbs.

I'm semi detached and the wall that my speakers are placed against is attached to my neighbor's wall. Here's the question....

at that volume do you think sound would travel through my wall, insulation, then concrete wall, then his insulation and then his wall...loud enough for him to hear me?

I've asked him 20 times if he hears anything but says no. I don't know if he's saying that to be a good neighbor but I'm always riding the volume when watching movies thinking OH MAN they must have heard that loud and clear.

At times my wife hears the glasses shake in some movies due to explosions and such. Is 90db really loud enough to get through my house and his?

[Rblu-Dblu]

As long as he says he can't hear you then what can you do?
Some people's hearing is more sensitive than others so I don't think anyone's going to be able to tell you that your neighbor can hear you through a concrete wall at __ decibels.

[JBL4645]

Originally Posted by GAWD

Alright...got my hands on my first sPL tonight and was messing around with it.

I played Terminator Salvation through my 7.1 system. Paradigm Monitor 9s with a Velodyne 12" sub.

Watched one of the most action packed scenes in the movie motorcycle terminator scene with the tow truck. Now at a comfortable listening level...enjoyable actually my system clocked in at 90dbs at the highest for a split second. The rest of the time it hovered around 75-83dbs.

I'm semi detached and the wall that my speakers are placed against is attached to my neighbor's wall. Here's the question....

at that volume do you think sound would travel through my wall, insulation, then concrete wall, then his insulation and then his wall...loud enough for him to hear me?

I've asked him 20 times if he hears anything but says no. I don't know if he's saying that to be a good neighbor but I'm always riding the volume when watching movies thinking OH MAN they must have heard that loud and clear.

At times my wife hears the glasses shake in some movies due to explosions and such. Is 90db really loud enough to get through my house and his?

Only one way to find out is go walkabout with SPL db metre! That’s why its handy and portable. Play a scene on A&B loop and go outside and see how loud it is, don’t force the level to be loud.

Play it so its average is 85db at the seated location then go outside and see how it fairs on the outside.

You might find a few lows moving the needle around or LCD display within 70dbc and the odd one at 80db due to the wavelength of some low frequencies.

I think unless the person across the road can (hear it) then its too loud. Otherwise don’t sweat it. You should listen to street level sound!

[Zman2k2]

If there's a concrete dividing wall between the sides, I seriously doubt he's able to hear you at all. I lived in a concrete building for a while, and the only time I could really hear my neighbors was out in the halls. Other than that, it was a quiet building. I wouldn't worry about your sound transmitting through concrete too much.

[Rob J in WNY]

GAWD,

That is very considerate of you to ask your neighbor - repeatedly. Few conjoined dwellings offer concrete walls. There was a recent thread about this right here:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=128480

Enjoy the fact that you are not bothering your neighbor and that you can listen at volume levels you enjoy. If your neighbor ever does has a problem with it, you have already paved the way for him to approach you in a friendly manner, instead of confrontationally harsh, or even calling the police.

There are many people who don't get to deal with this in an easy manner. You, sir, are in the minority!

[victorvondoom88]

Sounds like pretty solid construction between your places I would suspect hes telling the truth. The only way to know for sure is to play a scene and be in his house and see for yourself if its an issue.
I would think its minimal if at all. I have a neighbor that is close but we don't share a wall you can hear my HT outside somewhat but I doubt he can unless its all quiet in the room he's in.
I just try not to watch anything too action packed after 10pm out of courtesy and if I do I watch at a lower volume.

[GAWD]

Thanks for the replies guys. Yeah I'm considerate and don't watch anything too loud late at night. I just really wanna enjoy the movies and my sub. I don't play too loud and noticed my comfort zone is around that 75-85 DB. Even when I close my door and stand in the hallway or garage it drops down to under 70db.
Hell even if he's watching TV in his basement there should be no way I can over power that. Maybe somethings will shake lol

As for him calling the cops...he's a state trooper more reason why I'd wanna be on the up and up with him lol

thanks for the input guys...I'm loving this SPL meter.

[tilallr1]

Originally Posted by GAWD

As for him calling the cops...he's a state trooper more reason why I'd wanna be on the up and up with him lol

Well that explains it. He is probably a bit deaf. Especially if he's had to fire his gun a lot. Even using a gun a few times unprotected can seriously damage your hearing.

But if your walls are concrete there really should be no worries. Even real low level bass doesn't travel threw that. Windows might be your only problems, and if you don't have large ones and you treat them with heavy curtains, you have pretty much eliminated any sound reaching the inside of your neighbors house.

Trust me I got complaints all the time from my neighbors when I used to live in a semi. I had the HT in the living room and the sound easily traveled out the window and back in theirs. Couldn't finish my basement fast enough. Once I moved the HT down there I never heard a peep from the neighbors again. Concrete really is the best isolator. I think its the reason why most retail movie theaters are in pretty much a concrete box.

[DonRSD]

i live in a townhouse.
my neighbors NEVER complain or have ever mentioned they could hear my HT
all the walls in between our houses are concrete....nothing is getting thru them

ive ben known to blast the radio for movies (pre baby) and never once has anyone ever mentioned a peep to me.

thank the concrete walls

[loco]

Originally Posted by Zman2k2

If there's a concrete dividing wall between the sides, I seriously doubt he's able to hear you at all. I lived in a concrete building for a while, and the only time I could really hear my neighbors was out in the halls. Other than that, it was a quiet building. I wouldn't worry about your sound transmitting through concrete too much.

technically, sound travels faster through concrete than air.