Denim insulation definitely won't cut it for the heavy-duty stuff, but honestly, layering drywall really does wonders. Did it in our basement and it's surprisingly effective. Curious though—anyone tried acoustic panels for music noise? Wondering if they actually make a noticeable difference...
"Curious though—anyone tried acoustic panels for music noise? Wondering if they actually make a noticeable difference..."
I put up some budget acoustic panels in my home office to cut down on street noise and my kid's gaming next door. Definitely noticed a difference, especially with echo and higher-pitched sounds. But honestly, deep bass still sneaks through. Wonder if heavier curtains or rugs might help more with low-frequency stuff...anyone have luck with that?
"Wonder if heavier curtains or rugs might help more with low-frequency stuff...anyone have luck with that?"
I've dealt with similar issues on a few remodeling projects, and you're right—acoustic panels alone don't always do much for deep bass frequencies. Those low frequencies travel differently, and regular panels or foam mostly tackle echo and higher-pitched sounds, as you've noticed.
Heavier curtains or thick rugs can help a bit, especially if your floors are hardwood or tile, but they're still not ideal solutions for serious bass. Rugs can dampen vibrations somewhat, but bass tends to travel through walls and structures rather than bouncing around like higher frequencies do. One thing that's worked well on past jobs is adding mass and density to the walls themselves—like soundproof drywall or mass-loaded vinyl behind drywall. It's more involved (and pricier), but it genuinely cuts down on bass transmission.
Another simpler trick I've seen homeowners try is rearranging furniture placement—bookshelves full of books or heavy furniture against shared walls can absorb some vibrations. It's not a miracle fix, but it can make a noticeable difference.
Have you considered checking if the bass is coming through specific weak points, like doors or windows? Sometimes sealing gaps around doors or upgrading window seals can surprisingly cut down on noise leakage.
Honestly, I've tried the heavy curtain route and it didn't do much for bass at all. Like you said, bass travels through structures, not just bouncing around.
"bookshelves full of books or heavy furniture against shared walls can absorb some vibrations."
This actually worked better for me than curtains or rugs. Plus, it's a great excuse to finally unpack all those boxes of books I've been ignoring since moving in...
I went through something similar when I converted our basement into a home theater. Tried curtains, rugs, even those foam panels everyone swears by... honestly, none of it really touched the bass. Ended up building a massive bookshelf along the shared wall, loaded it with books and vinyl records, and surprisingly, it made a noticeable difference. Not perfect, but definitely better. Plus, now my wife can't complain about my "hoarding" anymore, haha.
