Haha, foam panels...been there, done that. Glad you found something that actually works. Bass is stubborn stuff—sometimes you gotta bring out the big guns (and drywall) to win that battle. Worth it for sanity's sake though.
"Bass is stubborn stuff—sometimes you gotta bring out the big guns (and drywall) to win that battle."
Did drywall alone really cut down the bass, or was insulation key too? Curious because my neighbor's home theater setup is driving me nuts...
Drywall definitely helps, but insulation is pretty crucial too. I just finished dealing with a similar issue myself—neighbor had this massive subwoofer setup that rattled my walls every movie night. Here's what I learned from my own renovation experience:
- Drywall alone isn't enough to tackle bass frequencies. It helps reduce general noise, sure, but bass vibrations travel through structures easily.
- Insulation designed specifically for soundproofing (like rock wool or mineral wool) makes a noticeable difference. Regular fiberglass insulation doesn't cut it as effectively for low-frequency sounds.
- Adding resilient channels or isolation clips between drywall layers can significantly reduce vibration transfer. This was the game-changer for me.
- Sealing gaps and cracks around outlets, doors, and windows is surprisingly important. Even small openings let sound leak through more than you'd think.
"Bass is stubborn stuff—sometimes you gotta bring out the big guns (and drywall) to win that battle."
Totally agree with this point, but I'd add that drywall alone isn't the "big gun"—it's more like part of a bigger system. If you're serious about cutting down bass noise from next door, you'll probably need a combination of insulation, drywall layering (double drywall with Green Glue compound worked wonders for me), and some kind of decoupling method.
Honestly, it's not cheap or easy...but if your neighbor's home theater is driving you nuts like mine did, it's worth the hassle. Good luck!
I went through something similar last year when my neighbor got into gaming with a crazy surround system. Insulation like rock wool definitely helps, but honestly, the biggest improvement for me came from decoupling the drywall with resilient channels. Bass frequencies are sneaky—they travel through studs and joists easily. If you don't break that direct connection, insulation alone won't fully solve it. It's a hassle, but worth it if you're losing sleep...
Totally agree about bass being sneaky. My neighbor had this obsession with action movies—think explosions at midnight, helicopters landing in my living room kinda vibe. I tried insulation first, and yeah, it helped a bit, but the real game-changer was adding mass-loaded vinyl behind the drywall. Heavy stuff, total pain to install (my back still hates me), but it seriously cut down those low-frequency rumbles. Now I only hear faint whispers of chaos instead of full-blown warfare... worth every ache and pain.
