• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

how to build a room with total silence?

Page 4 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.
Hm, how big does the room have to be? If it just has to fit around your head, there's these. I've never even tried them, let alone bought them, but I hear they're pretty good.

I wonder if anyone makes similar technology for a room?
 
ussfletcher said:
A pretty simple, effective, and cheap way to go would be to buy/build some noise canceling headphones.
Click to expand...
Noise cancelling headphones do an okay job on steady low background noises like the whoosh of a fan, the hum of a fridge, or the air passing by in an airplane. They don't really work well on silencing outside noise like the OP is probably looking to do. You'll likely still hear all the TV, cars, radios, or people talking around you with noise cancelling headphones on.
 
Just have to bump this thread to update my results...

I've got my theatre temped in before I do a final trim out to make it look good. But between the double layer of drywall and the green glue I used between them (and maybe some help from the resilient channel) my room is virtually silent to the rest of the house. I can crank the volume up to what I consider an "enjoyable" level within the theater (around -18 on my Onkyo for those that have that brand) and the only thing you can hear is a very faint rumble of the sub in the room that shares a wall with the the theater. Walk to the other side of the house and you'd never even know someone was watching a movie.

Very cool. I do have to attribute a large part to the sound isolation of the room. It is dead silent in there...to the point where the projector running is almost obnoxious before you pop in a movie. But you just don't have to crank things up as loud as normal since you aren't trying to cover up ambient noises else where.

I'm highly impressed.
 
Glad that worked out for you. You'll like having it isolated.

Given that this thread will be out on the internet forever, while you had success using resilient channel, I would caution others from using it. Consider other decoupling options.
 
Ted White said:
Glad that worked out for you. You'll like having it isolated.

Given that this thread will be out on the internet forever, while you had success using resilient channel, I would caution others from using it. Consider other decoupling options.
Click to expand...

Definitely. I really didn't intend to use the resilient channel, it was just something recommended by the sheet rockers and they threw it in with tab.

Had I planned better, and had a little more disposable income at the time I would have went with clips and a hat channel. I scrambled trying to find a local distributer of the hat channel but struck out. Couldn't bring myself to pay the costs to ship some to me.
 
vi edit said:
Definitely. I really didn't intend to use the resilient channel, it was just something recommended by the sheet rockers and they threw it in with tab.

Had I planned better, and had a little more disposable income at the time I would have went with clips and a hat channel. I scrambled trying to find a local distributer of the hat channel but struck out. Couldn't bring myself to pay the costs to ship some to me.
Click to expand...

The resilient channel can decouple, which is more than can be said for standard channel applied to the joists. The problem is there is no single standard or spec for "resilient channel," so you really don't know if any particular channel performs better with one sheet of drywall load, or two, etc. Any decoupling system will create a spring, essentially, with a corresponding oscillation after the load (drywall) is applied. If the resilient channel simply sags, there is no spring. If the RC is too stiff, there is also no spring.

Please don't read that I'm criticizing your build at all. That's certainly not my intention at all. I hope my comments are OK.
 
vi edit said:
Definitely. I really didn't intend to use the resilient channel, it was just something recommended by the sheet rockers and they threw it in with tab.

Had I planned better, and had a little more disposable income at the time I would have went with clips and a hat channel. I scrambled trying to find a local distributer of the hat channel but struck out. Couldn't bring myself to pay the costs to ship some to me.
Click to expand...

Where did you learn about creating this room?
 
paperfist said:
They use roxul insulation in the ceiling and a resilient channel attached to the joists to mount 5/8 drywall to. I don't know if that would translate to the walls, but I don't see why it wouldn't.
Click to expand...

Roxul probably pays the show well for the marketing, plus mineral wool has better fire rating and that's a big deal for commercial properties over traditional fiberglass. I used mineral wool(although not Roxul name brand) because my insulators stocked it, and it might have some advantage over traditional fiberglass batts. Although there's not very compelling evidence measurement wise vs. the cost. And I think Ted will back that statement.

I also wanted to use the leftovers for my DIY acoustic panels as it is highly recommended for that purpose for sound treatments within the room.
 
Paperfist, Not that there's anything wrong with that, but there are better methods.

For example, using Roxul, unless you get it cheap, won't work any better than cheap fiberglass. Per a lot of independent lab data. Works great, however.

Resilient channel I've already commented on.

Using a single sheet of drywall is fine, but given that a decoupled system really performs so much better with added mass, it's a shame not to throw another layer of $7 drywall up there.
 
I think we should keep an eye on this guy. maybe he saw the elizabeth smart article and got inspired
 
nn2000 said:
How to build a room with total silence so that the outside noise could not be heard at all? What's the cost?
Click to expand...

I would be really careful. Hire contractors that can promise to be ultra quiet. Ask them not to use any hammers and to do their cutting off site.

*grin*
 
Is there a more temporary method of soundproofing my pc room? My upstairs neighbor is creepy and tends to follow me around different parts of the house. Dumbass doesn't care or realize that I can hear his footsteps following me.

I rent my place and the most I can probably do is use screws to attach material to my ceiling. Most instructions on the web seem to involve ripping out walls and the ceiling to get to the baseboards.
 
Any halfway descent solution would involve adding mass. Drywall is a great source as it's not only heavy but cheap. Tough in an apartment setting
 
vi edit said:
Definitely. I really didn't intend to use the resilient channel, it was just something recommended by the sheet rockers and they threw it in with tab.

Had I planned better, and had a little more disposable income at the time I would have went with clips and a hat channel. I scrambled trying to find a local distributer of the hat channel but struck out. Couldn't bring myself to pay the costs to ship some to me.
Click to expand...

What about that thing that Anand had mentioned in his home theater blog posts, where he mentioned staggered studs was potentially as effective as going with the clips and hat channel?

http://www.diy-home-theater-design.com/staggered-stud-wall.html
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top