Page 1 of Sound proofing in a flat.

As our first step onto the `property ladder` we`ve just bought a little first floor flat, really nice little place. But i`m worried about my speakers.. my two front left and rights are floorstanding. I just wondered if theres any kindof matting, or something like that, I can use to dampen the vibrations to the floor. I don`t want to upset our new neighbours as I know too well how depressing noisy neighbours can be.

Kip

How about squash balls cut in half and placed underneath? I had to put them under my spikes to stop them marking the floor in my rented place.

Hi Kipster

I would say it depends if your speakers are on spikes or not. The spikes go a long way to isolating the cabinet from the floor boards.

If on the other hand your speakers sit directly on the floor you could try squash balls or invest in some sound deadening material obtainable from In car Hi Fi Shops. Usually this material is used in door panels or on rear parcel shelfs but it has proven sound deadening abilities.

Check out http://www.carhificentre.sagenet.co.uk/dynamat.htm for a write up on how this material is used in car hifi installations.

Only other trick you can do is to turn down the bass as the low frequencies carry more.

Good Luck

Disco Dav

Cheerrs for the advice dudes - i think spikes will be the best - i`ve seen some on ebay you can retrofit onto speakers. does anyone know where else i can get these from?

Kip

Why not try egg boxes. They are supposed to be a good sound proofing ,something to do with the shape of them, Give it a go just save your egg boxes , and get others to save theres for you too, Cheap and easy to do...... :D

EDIT... and to tidy up the finished product just make a wooden frame to go round them.

This item was edited on Sunday, 18th April 2004, 23:35

Hi Kipster

I know that Richer sounds have spikes made by speaker firm Gale that do the job.

With referenc to the egg boxes they do act like "anachoic" (think I spelled that correctly)foam. The foam is shaped int triangular wedges that trap the sound waves in the valleys between the wedges so to not reflect sound back.

Egg boxes do much the same thing but are less efficient and do not look as cool stapled to your walls!!! :D

Forgot also to say to move your speakers out from the walls as that redues the bass loading, alternatively just buy your neighbours a bottle of wine and crank it up!

See ya

Disco Dav

Invite the neighbours round, put on Jurrasic Park turn it up and they`ll soon appreciate it.