Soundproofing Cinema Room

[grahamboyd]

Does anyone have experience of using 'Acoustic Carpet Underlay' from Custom Audio designs? Just wondering how effective it is and if it still functions as a good carpet underlay as well? http://www.customaudiodesigns.co.uk/soundproofing/A10underlay_doc.htm Thanks,

 

[MakkaPakka]

Depends what you want to achieve but underlay isnt going to have any affect on bass only higher frequencies

 

[duaplex]

They have some very effective solutions that can help you cut out the bass transmission. Essentially you can have a floating floor with the correct mass and materials in between to cut out the bass. If you follow the specifications they give you then its very effective (talking about custom audio). I am in the process of doing this to my loft using thier materials.

This company specialises in soundproofing for recording studios, where you could sit outside the door and hear nothing. If you phone and speak to them they are very helpful and will send you a document outlining exactly what to do and how. This can then be given to your builder or able person to follow.

Hope this helps

 

[duaplex]

Depends what you want to achieve but underlay isnt going to have any affect on bass only higher frequencies

Correct, simply using underlay wont.

 

[grahamboyd]

Hi,

Thanks to answers above. Decided then to phone custom audio. As was mentioned above was looking at the wrong product. They said as my speakers are on stands reducing airbourne noise and stopping it going downstairs ( noise in other rooms in my flat is Ok but trying to eliminate going to neighbours below ) is my main objective.

VL65 High Performance Acoustic Membrane is what I should buy http://www.customaudiodesigns.co.uk/vl65-acoustic-membrane.htm

Apparently its 4mm thick so I could put 3 layers on realistically - The person who was helping me said they have sold this to a lot of people making cinema rooms and this is the best option for the floor.

Anyone used this? - again I do worry about airbourne sound going through my walls and down the stairs but I think floor is main objective!

 

[duaplex]

I am doing this right now. Remember most of the branded "Acoustic" material, or board or foam etc is going to be over priced. The best thing to do is get an idea of what you should be doing as you did today. Then approach a builder who can come in and do it properly for you. You are essentially going to build a room within a room. So you build a stud wall and then load it with mass between you wall and the stud. This will reduce the noise being transmitted. You not only have to treat the floor, but the walls and ceiling too as sound will leak. Then, consider a door that isnt hollow in the middle (fire door). Next think about the windows, are they triple glazed (if you have them) If so, you need to address that too.

Builders will know about the materials custom audio mention and they can advise you on identical materials that do the same job, but dont suffer form the over pricing of a "acoustic" branded product.

It will be fine, dont worry 🙂

 

[duaplex]

double post*

 

[grahamboyd]

Hi Duaplex,

Thanks for your advice on this as above. I would be looking to put 3 layers on the floor then a carpet - It removes airbourne sound. I'm not worried about sound cgoing into other rooms in my houese - same level or above as thats empty loft space.

My only concern is neighbours below me. I'm hoping the floor obviously solves that. However I realise sound can travel down the walls. For me to build room wihin the room is too expensive and difficult. As said its a Victorian property - the walls have lathing plaster then a small air gap then brick / stone. Is some of this airboourne sound going to pass mthrough the lathing plaster into air gap and travel to the room downstairs????? Having removed skirtings I can see at the joists the air gap stops at the fllor and there is old style packed dirt insulation here - so it has to pass here before going down stairs.

Perhaps soundproof was wrong term I used - just want to prevent as much sound as possible travelling downstairs only. Finally anything I can put behind new skirtings when fitted like some kind of foam to catch anysound travelling behinh lathing plaster wall?

Advice much appreciated.

 

[duaplex]

I'm with you.

Consider also that soundproofing the whole room will improve your system. Often the joining rooms can be a weakness as you want to contain sound within.

Still the floor is a good place to start, you will dull the bass considerably for your neighbours. Then later on if budget permits you can do the walls etc.

Do let me/us know how you get on 🙂 and you are welcome

 

[grahamboyd]

Hi Duaplex,

With this Custom audio designs VL65 acoustic membrane I'm thinking of putting my new skirting boards on top of the first layer - my thoughts are as skirting is nailed to the wall then some of the vibrations going down the wall will obviousy pass into the skirting - the acoustic membrane underneath will absorb some of this sound. - Is that a flawed way of thinking?

Thanks again

 

[duaplex]

Not at all, you are thinking correctly.

Are you planning to use this on the wall too? This material is really supposed to go on a stud wall, where you build a frame around the room (150mm from the wall) and you then place it over the frame.

If you build a stud wall and place the skirting over the first layer then you have no problem, just make sure you use screws with large heads, this will stop you punching right though the skirting board and through the membrane creating a hole.

About the sound passing down the wall and through the board - No problem as the bottom layer will stop it on the floor, which is what you are really trying to do here. Double up on the floor layering if you can. I think thats what you meant above 🙂

It will be fine, just remember that the room will leak sound at its weakest point. Have you considered the door?