Minimizing floor noise in an apartment...

[Mobjack]

Hey guys and girls, I have just moved into and apartment. I got some great tips from people here on equipment to get to make my theater look and sound great. I wanted to know if there was something made that I could put under my speakers to minimize the amount of noise my downstairs neighbor will hear.

Thanks for any and all advice.

Tripp

[Aerodude73]

Originally Posted by Mobjack

Hey guys and girls, I have just moved into and apartment. I got some great tips from people here on equipment to get to make my theater look and sound great. I wanted to know if there was something made that I could put under my speakers to minimize the amount of noise my downstairs neighbor will hear.

Thanks for any and all advice.

Tripp

For one example, maybe a bit extreme or not depending on if you live alone or with a g/f or wife, would be a liberal use of Foam panels. See "Crazyblue's" HT for examples - https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...36#post1852336 - look at the HT Gallery pics.

Here's the link, and the foam IS available in Colors. - http://www.thefoamfactory.com/acoust...ramidfoam.html

[Johnny Vinyl]

Hi,

This thread may answer some of your questions.

John

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by Mobjack

Hey guys and girls, I have just moved into and apartment. I got some great tips from people here on equipment to get to make my theater look and sound great. I wanted to know if there was something made that I could put under my speakers to minimize the amount of noise my downstairs neighbor will hear.

Thanks for any and all advice.

Tripp

I don't know what kind of sub you have, but if the sub is a good performer, you may want to look into buttkickers or aura bass shakers. The buttkickers are more pricey than the aura bass shakers ($400 for the complete buttkicker kit vs. about $150 for the aura bass shaker and amplifier.) These are a good supplement to your bass that will not affect your neighbors below.

Again, this could be more than you had in mind to spend, but I thought I would throw it out there. Both of these will rumble your seating position very well, and isolate the rumble to the seat only. They work out of your sub-out or LFE channel from your receiver with an RCA audio cable. Most use a Y-splitter to power your subwoofer and the amp for the transducer. The amp then powers the transducer by speaker wire. By this means, nothing will be transferred to the floor for your neighbor to get upset about.

Of course, a sub riser or decoupler will help, but may be limited in the amount you are looking for.

I have a buttkicker and a sub riser, so you can look in my gallery for any pics of what I mentioned.

Good luck on whatever you choose......

[VinnAY]

Use any sort of sub at even a respectable volume and you're going to affect your neighbors, guaranteed. I lived in apts for a few years and here's my advice: get to know your neighbors, give em your phone number and tell them about your hobby and ask them to call you if it ever bothers them and then go on to say that you'll always be courteous with it. Also, get to know their vehicles and peek outside and see who's home before you crank it up.
But no matter what you do, you're going to bother people to some degree. You're alot less likely to get death stares from people if you reach out to them beforehand and let them know that you're open to being asked to turn it down.

[aramis109]

Originally Posted by Aerodude73

For one example, maybe a bit extreme or not depending on if you live alone or with a g/f or wife, would be a liberal use of Foam panels. See "Crazyblue's" HT for examples - https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...36#post1852336 - look at the HT Gallery pics.

Here's the link, and the foam IS available in Colors. - http://www.thefoamfactory.com/acoust...ramidfoam.html

A "bit extreme" is pretty kind.

I would start off with an Auralex Gramma or some kind of isolation pad for your subwoofer. I've found that while bass in my living room hasn't changed much (it doesn't "linger" or rattle like before, so that's good) where it really helps is in keeping it from transferring into the walls and floor. Before, in the basement it was kind of ridiculous. Now, it's still audible, but not nearly as bad.

In apartments that I've lived in, it always seemed like bass was the worst. I'd work on some acoustic treatments for that first. Cornertraps and the like.

[Mobjack]

Originally Posted by aramis109

A "bit extreme" is pretty kind.

I would start off with an Auralex Gramma or some kind of isolation pad for your subwoofer. I've found that while bass in my living room hasn't changed much (it doesn't "linger" or rattle like before, so that's good) where it really helps is in keeping it from transferring into the walls and floor. Before, in the basement it was kind of ridiculous. Now, it's still audible, but not nearly as bad.

In apartments that I've lived in, it always seemed like bass was the worst. I'd work on some acoustic treatments for that first. Cornertraps and the like.

What are corner traps?

[kpkelley]

Originally Posted by Mobjack

What are corner traps?

http://www.thefoamfactory.com/acoust...bassbroad.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bass_trap

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by aramis109

A "bit extreme" is pretty kind.

Just kidding aramis ! I don't think I've gone overboard on the foam do to the way the room sounds now compared to what it did sound like .

The guy above me has noticed A change in the amount of vibration (being less) sense I applied the treatments to the walls !

[Mobjack]

Do the treatments actually "attach" to the walls or do you just set them again the walls and corners? I am not sure how much the apartment will let me do in terms of attaching stuff to the walls.

And great information from everyone. I really appreciate all the help you guys have provided.

Thanks!

Tripp

[Aerodude73]

Originally Posted by Mobjack

Do the treatments actually "attach" to the walls or do you just set them again the walls and corners? I am not sure how much the apartment will let me do in terms of attaching stuff to the walls.

And great information from everyone. I really appreciate all the help you guys have provided.

Thanks!

Tripp

Just sent a PM to you that might help also.