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Question for apartment dwellers - speakers and audio systems

S

Special K

Diamond Member
How many people here live in an apartment and have a decent audio system for their PC and/or HT? Do you even get to use it to anywhere near its max capacity, or do you have to keep it low because of your neighbors?

I don't have much experience with HT, but at one point I was tempted to buy a set of Klipsch 5.1's for my PC. However, one of my roommates in college had a set, and these things were insanely loud even at low settings. I don't see any way I could use these things in my current apartment complex without pissing off everyone who lives adjacent to me. Sure I could turn the volume way down, but doesn't that defeat the purpose of buying them in the first place?

I realize that the ultimate solution is to simply buy a house, which hopefully gives you a lot more leeway to make noise without disturbing your neighbors. However, I'm just wondering what the other apartment dwellers on here do. Maybe the walls here are just a lot thinner than what some of you have?
 
I had complaints after having my Klipsch 4.1's at mid level during the day. Sucks to live in an apartment.
 
If you live in an apartment you can count on some jerkoff complaining about your noise, even if its the middle of the day.

But at the same time I sympathize since I work late at night and have afternoon classes, I don't like to wake up to techno rattling my walls.
 
I have the Logitech Z5500's. I rarely turn it past 25 % volume unless I see my neighbor's van (who lives upstairs) not in the parking lot.
 
Depends on your apt, how thick the walls are, and how much gain you put on the sub. If the sub is on lowest then shouldn't be too big of a problem during normal hours.
 
Originally posted by: Juddog
I have the Logitech Z5500's. I rarely turn it past 25 % volume unless I see my neighbor's van (who lives upstairs) not in the parking lot.
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same with me.. it kinda depends where it is on the layout of the apartment though.. in my old apartment we would crank it mainly because the downstairs neighbor's living room was right below ours... now I have my system in my room in a new apartment so I keep it down cause I know I'm right above someone else's bedroom.
 
after living below someone who started listening to music @ 6am, waking me up every f'n morning, i am in turn very conscientious of others and their varying sleep schedules.
 
Originally posted by: G Wizard
after living below someone who started listening to music @ 6am, waking me up every f'n morning, i am in turn very conscientious of others and their varying sleep schedules.
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I should add that I try to be responsible with my stuff too. Only playing stuff during reasonable hours can go a long way 😛
 
I live in an apartment, my setup is in my sig. I can't "max" it, but I can listen to music at levels I'm content with. Enough to give the walls a fair vibration anyway. I have to be a bit more careful with movies since they're so dynamic. Explosions etc put out a lot of bass and are quick to annoy my neighbors. I turn it down after 9-10pm or so.

The walls aren't anything special, regular wood and drywall with insulation I assume. I can hear my neighbors TV some because our living rooms share a wall. Lucky for me there's only one other apartment in this building.

Anyway, I don't regret buying my audio setup at all. I just had to take some time to learn what acceptable volume levels were.
 
I live in an apartment, I don't have an expensive audio system, just a $200 5.1 system that can get pretty loud. My apartment has cement floors on each level and it's fairly good at muffling noises from other rooms, but I never put the system above mid-volume.
 
My Klipsch Ultra 5.1s at Max capacity can cause a ruckus from neighbours in nearby Houses. No way can they be used at Max capacity in an APT.
 
I have a decent HT setup and I live in a apartment. Volume never really goes past 40%. I have my sub at less than half volume so that I can keep the dialouge volume up and the bass down when watching movies.

Sony KV36HS420 - 36" CRT HD w/HDMI
Sony STRDE997 - 7.1 AV Reciever 110watts x 7
Phillips Upconverting DVD player w/ USB
JBL E50 Mains
JBL E35 Center
JBL E10 Rears
Mirage S12 powered subwoofer


 
I try to keep it at respectful levels during the evening, daytime I maybe get to 50% vol. If somebody asks you to turn it down, do so, but ask them if there is any time that is acceptable.

I have 3xInfinity Overture 1 (8" 150w powered sub in each), 2x Infinity RS4s, a HSU 12" powered sub, and a Pioneer VSX-82TXS with 110x7. I could crank it pretty high but as I said, I am pretty respectful.
 
Originally posted by: G Wizard
after living below someone who started listening to music @ 6am, waking me up every f'n morning, i am in turn very conscientious of others and their varying sleep schedules.
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Same here. I don't want to hear my neighbors and they don't want to hear me. The people below me say they never hear me unless I'm vaccuming. They said they thought I was dead a few times.

Only a complete ass would make a lot of noise in an apartment.
 
Originally posted by: SZLiao214
My z-2300s cant be used much at all at my apartment. It will probably get worse when i go back to the dorm.
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When I lived in the dorms, it was pretty much expected that at least one person would have their stereo cranked between the hours of about 1 pm and midnight 😉
 
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
My complex had concrete construction; about 18" of it between each unit. I had them cranked and no one raised a peep.

- M4H
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Oh, that's sweet.
Too bad most people get just a 2x6 stud wall with a sheet of 1/2 sheetrock on each side.
damn, 18" of concrete....
 
I never crank mine too loud, but that's just because I don't like to listen that loud. I go as loud as I want and I haven't had a complaint.

Some apartments are built better than others (concrete between walls/floors). If your neighbors are understanding, you should be okay. Just talk to them. Try seeing how loud you can go before they hear something.
 
even cheap speakers with subwoofers can't be used fully...subwoofer thud really travels...... i guess its like cars with subs...everyone else hears noise.
 
I have an Outlaw RR2150, Axiom M3 v2's and 2 Energy 8" subs running in my room and I figure as long as it's between 10am and 10pm I'm going to play it as loud as I want. I've lived in this apartment for 7 years and never had a complaint.

Also, depending on the CD, the volume can't really go past 30-40% because it's even too loud for me.

My neighbor next to my room has played music really loud at night (past 1am) and I've only complained once by banging on the wall.
 
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