Sub-Woofer annoying neighbours

[DJEPSON]

I know this subject has been covered before, but my TV is mounted on the party wall with my neighbour and the amp underneath that and my sub-woofer not too far away, the sub (a PV1) volume is set just below 1/2 way but booms a lot in my neighbours room no matter what I do, unless I turn it that low I get no benefit. I have tried various things all to no avail and short of moving house the final thing I was thinking of is to switch my lounge round and mount everything on the opposite wall, which is about 5m away and the external wall as we are on the end of a row of 3 houses. This could prove expensive (but cheaper than moving), it will also allow me to tidy up wiring/hide wiring behind the new wall, but the big question has anyone done this and will it work ?

Cheers

 

[Frank Harvey]

Might be worth trying an Auralex sub platform....

 

[DJEPSON]

I have already tried standing it on a granite block, then I moved it into the conservatory that joins the lounge, which is tiled on a wooden beamed floor and has no contact with any party walls, yet as soon as I turn the volume up anywhere around 12o'clock, the neighbour complains.

 

[Anonymous]

Are you in a house and not maisonette type property?

I think without soundproofing your house / room theyre always going to be complainging

 

[Anonymous]

how old is your property?

 

[Anonymous]

FrankHarveyHiFi:

Might be worth trying an Auralex sub platform....

Agree with David, a bass player i used to jam with had one and the sound became tighter, better, and also took the bass out of the room,s structure, which is what you are trying to achieve. Spend £40, stick it under the sub, job,s done.

 

[DJEPSON]

in a timber framed house that is about 2 1/2 years old

 

[DJEPSON]

Is is just about guaranteed to work, i have looked on the web and seen the Auralex Subdude for £60 but as I live in the Channel Islands delivery will be another £40, so i want to make sure it will work

 

[Big Aura]

does IoM count as UK for deliveries - free delivery here.

 

[Andrew Everard]

CI rather than IOM! But might be worth the OP checking whether any of the music shops on Jersey sell Auralex, so he might be able to arrange a try before you buy. Just looked at a couple of them, but they don't mention the brand.

 

[Big Aura]

quite right, Andrew. I guess Her Majesty's dependencies are not quite my Bailiwick....!

 

[Andrew Everard]

Although both Guernsey and Jersey are - Bailiwicks, that is. But not yours, Her Maj's...

 

[Big Aura]

no need to get Sark-y,

 

[Frank Harvey]

DJEPSON:I have already tried standing it on a granite block, then I moved it into the conservatory that joins the lounge, which is tiled on a wooden beamed floor and has no contact with any party walls, yet as soon as I turn the volume up anywhere around 12o'clock, the neighbour complains.

A granite block will give you stronger bass, but the Auralex bases work in a different way. I wouldn't say it's guaranteed to work, but I think that's your best bet, and take it from johnny as he also has direct experience with them.

 

[Andrew Everard]

Big Aura:no need to get Sark-y,

Sorry - but no Herm done, eh?

 

[Anonymous]

Auralex also make a Gramma and great Gramma intended for decoupling guitar amps from stages etc.

The gramma is probably more widely available and nearer £40-£45 and is made in exactly the same way as the subdude except the design looks different.

I have both grammas and a subdude. I live in a 1st floor flat and have neighbours both above and below.

They say they can't hear me - although I think its because I've already deafened them!

I cannot guarantee they will solve your problem as airborne transmission is much more difficult to attenuate, but vibrations via surfaces will be dramatically cut.

 

[DJEPSON]

shreddy, thanks for that, I have contacted my local hi-fi retailer to see if they have any thing in I can demo

 

[Big Chris]

Have you tried the different EQ modes? IIRC, they limit output, almost like a late night mode or compression setting. This may help you get the bass you want but caps it when things get stupidly bassy.

 

[DJEPSON]

Big Chris - I haven't I will check them out, thanks

 

[Big Chris]

No probs. I'd be interested to hear your findings. You never know when the deaf old dear next door moves out and people with acute hearing move in.

 

[Anonymous]

I dont think this will make much difference towards your neighbours as i think it will still be noticeable from next door. New built houses tend to pass sound between neighbours so much easier than older houses due to using cheap materials such as breeze block between houses

 

[Anonymous]

craigtumilty:I dont think this will make much difference towards your neighbours as i think it will still be noticeable from next door. New built houses tend to pass sound between neighbours so much easier than older houses due to using cheap materials such as breeze block between houses Craig, i don,t think the fabric of the build makes much difference, the sub is still sitting on wooden floorboards, joists, etc, and so the vibrations will use the said flooring as a vehicle to travel along into the neighbours property. As i said before, a bass player i know uses the foam-covered device to sit his amp on and the vibrations are captured in the foam before they have a chance to spread along the flooring.

 

[Anonymous]

I dont doubt for 1 second that the subdude will subdue the vibrations coming directly from the subwoofer. But this wont stop soundwaves which come from speakers passing through walls etc. Unless a material is used on said floors and walls which will cause the waves to reflect

 

[Anonymous]

Yea Craig, your probably right about the thin walls in modern builds, i don,t know how they pass building regs

 

[DJEPSON]

so I will be wasting my time with the SubDude ? which leaves me with my original idea of switching the room round or I could build a another stud wall in front of the party wall using proper soundproofing material, has anyone done this before ?