home theater setup in apartment

[serialkiller]

Looking to get a 5.1 speaker set...probably the logitech z-5500 for the htpc I built.... Since I dont want to get on my neighbors bad side I wanted to get an idea of what I can do to dampen the bass that leaks to the neighbors below me. I was lucky enough to get an apartment where I have no neighbors to the left, right, front, and back... but just below. Any input would help, Thanks guys!

Note: I was sorta looking for like a pad that the subwoofer can sit on... do they make something like this?


Jorge

 

[Quasmo]

LOL... funny you mention this, I need the exact same thing. I've got the z680s and I'm running coax. I used to have the bass level on a half bar, and that was obnoxiously loud. I have it sitting on a wood bookshelf so I doubt that helps any though. I just got a new sound card that does Dolby Digital Live, You'll be wanting to get one of those, especially if you want to run digital sound to the x-5500s, otherwise you'll only be able to hear stuff in 5.1 that has already been encoded in 5.1, "DDL" encodes on the fly. I just picked up the X-mystique and I love it. I guarentee YOyoYOhowsDAjello will show up here telling you to get a reciever, but if you're looking to go the inexpensive way, I'd say you're making a good choice with those speakers.

 

[serialkiller]

Originally posted by: Quasmo
LOL... funny you mention this, I need the exact same thing. I've got the z680s and I'm running coax. I used to have the bass level on a half bar, and that was obnoxiously loud. I have it sitting on a wood bookshelf so I doubt that helps any though. I just got a new sound card that does Dolby Digital Live, You'll be wanting to get one of those, especially if you want to run digital sound to the x-5500s, otherwise you'll only be able to hear stuff in 5.1 that has already been encoded in 5.1, "DDL" encodes on the fly. I just picked up the X-mystique and I love it. I guarentee YOyoYOhowsDAjello will show up here telling you to get a reciever, but if you're looking to go the inexpensive way, I'd say you're making a good choice with those speakers.

yea, since im still in an apartment I didn't want to go crazy with 100lbs speakers, huge sub, recievers, dvd player, etc etc etc etc... I just want to keep it simple infocus 4805, htpc (will run all files, music, soon to come myhd card, dvd's) and some nice speakers. Only problem I am running into now is the bass that will leak through the floors to my neighbors....

 

[thirdeye]

If their below you, there's probably not a whole lot you can do aside from keep the bass down. I used to piss my neighbors off below me quite often. Glad I don't have to deal with that anymore.

 

[serialkiller]

Originally posted by: thirdeye
If their below you, there's probably not a whole lot you can do aside from keep the bass down. I used to piss my neighbors off below me quite often. Glad I don't have to deal with that anymore.

I was thinking some company out there must make some kind of dampening pad... sorta like a pad thats made out of what the dynamat stuff is for cars.... but specifically made to be inserted between the sub and the floor....

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

You could get bass shakers rather than a sub to still get shaking effects from explosions etc. without turning the sub up.

If you don't want to run a digital cable to your z-5500s, that's fine too. It's actually probably a better method if you have a decent soundcard already.

You can get a HT setup if you want, but for under $400 a computer speaker set makes a lot of sense especially if the comptuer is your only source of sound.

 

[serialkiller]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
You could get bass shakers rather than a sub to still get shaking effects from explosions etc. without turning the sub up.

If you don't want to run a digital cable to your z-5500s, that's fine too. It's actually probably a better method if you have a decent soundcard already.

You can get a HT setup if you want, but for under $400 a computer speaker set makes a lot of sense especially if the comptuer is your only source of sound.

bass shakers?

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

I have the same problem with my Z-5300e's. There is so much bass to them that I have it turned down to the minimum and it still produces a ton of low level bass.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: serialkiller

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
You could get bass shakers rather than a sub to still get shaking effects from explosions etc. without turning the sub up.

If you don't want to run a digital cable to your z-5500s, that's fine too. It's actually probably a better method if you have a decent soundcard already.

You can get a HT setup if you want, but for under $400 a computer speaker set makes a lot of sense especially if the comptuer is your only source of sound.

bass shakers?

They're devices that you attach to your furnature and they will vibrate it.

pic

I got some when my PB10 was doing a little too much shaking in my dorm room. Shakers wont replace a sub, but it will recreate the rumbling you get from a sub if you're into that sort of thing.

 

[Kelvrick]

I have the same problem. Well, it was a lot easier in my situation because instead of having computer speakers, I have actual home theatre speakers hooked up to my receiver. I just bust out the remote and turn it to Subwoofer setting 1 (normal), setting 2 (reduced), and off. Aside from that, just select subwoofer and adjust the bass levels depending on the time.

For my gf's logitech's though, I have a towel folded like twice (so 4 layers total) under her sub.

 

[cerebusPu]

i researched this exact problem a few days ago. you are looking for the "subdude".

it should be around $49.

btw, i have your setup except i went with a receiver and 5.1 speakers instead of 5300.

 

[serialkiller]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: serialkiller

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
You could get bass shakers rather than a sub to still get shaking effects from explosions etc. without turning the sub up.

If you don't want to run a digital cable to your z-5500s, that's fine too. It's actually probably a better method if you have a decent soundcard already.

You can get a HT setup if you want, but for under $400 a computer speaker set makes a lot of sense especially if the comptuer is your only source of sound.

bass shakers?

They're devices that you attach to your furnature and they will vibrate it.

pic

I got some when my PB10 was doing a little too much shaking in my dorm room. Shakers wont replace a sub, but it will recreate the rumbling you get from a sub if you're into that sort of thing.

interesting

 

[serialkiller]

sounds good, thanks for all the help guys... ima try out the towel trick and then if that doesnt work.. subdude! hahahaha

 

[speg]

I just got the Z-5500's a week ago for my soon-to-be HTPC and I recommend them without hesitation. You can always keep the sub turned down if you're woried about the neighbour.. there's also a "Night Mode" which (i think) normalizes the sound so that lound explosions and stuff are at the same level as everything else... I havn't really tried it though since I live out in the country

 

[Rubycon]

IEM + X-fi.