"Heavy stuff, total pain to install (my back still hates me), but it seriously cut down those low-frequency rumbles."
Yeah, I've looked into mass-loaded vinyl too, but the price tag made my wallet cry a little. Ended up doubling up drywall with Green Glue instead—surprisingly decent results without breaking the bank (or my back). Still hear some bass, but it's manageable now...mostly.
I feel you on the drywall route—did something similar myself. We went with resilient channels and extra drywall layers, skipped the fancy vinyl stuff altogether because...yeah, budget. It definitely helped quiet things down, though I still catch a bit of bass when neighbors crank their music. But honestly, after weeks of renovation chaos, I'll take "manageable" over "rattling my walls" any day. Hang in there, sounds like you're on the right track.
Totally agree about the drywall and resilient channels—honestly, that's my go-to combo whenever I'm flipping a place. The vinyl stuff always struck me as overpriced hype, anyway. I mean, sure, it might block a bit more noise, but at what cost? I'd rather spend that cash on upgrading fixtures or adding some curb appeal.
Funny story though: one time we went all-in with extra insulation and double drywall layers thinking we'd created some kind of soundproof fortress...and then realized the windows were still letting in every car horn and dog bark from outside. Lesson learned—soundproofing is only as good as your weakest link. Bass frequencies are just stubborn like that; they'll always find a way to sneak through somewhere.
Still, like you said, "manageable" noise levels are way better than feeling like you're at a nonstop EDM festival every weekend. Sounds like you're already miles ahead of most folks dealing with noisy neighbors.
Haha, your story about the windows hits home for me. I had a similar experience when we first moved into our place. We spent a weekend stuffing insulation into every nook and cranny, thinking we'd finally get some peace from the neighbor's late-night karaoke sessions. But guess what? Turns out our vents were basically acting like megaphones, piping in every off-key rendition of "Sweet Caroline." Lesson learned indeed—soundproofing is definitely a weakest-link scenario.
But I'm curious, have you ever tried heavy curtains or window inserts? I've heard mixed things about them. Some folks swear by those thick blackout curtains—not just for blocking light but also dampening street noise. Others say they're mostly placebo. I've been tempted to try them myself, but I'm hesitant to drop cash on something that might just end up being decorative.
Also, speaking of bass frequencies...has anyone here experimented with rearranging furniture or adding rugs to absorb sound? I know it won't stop the deep bass completely, but maybe it could help soften the echoey feel inside the room? I'm always looking for budget-friendly hacks rather than splurging on specialized materials.
Either way, totally agree that manageable noise levels are the goal. Complete silence is probably unrealistic unless you're building a bunker underground (tempting sometimes, haha). But if we can at least keep the EDM festival vibes outside and not in our living rooms, that's a win in my book.
We tried the heavy blackout curtains in our bedroom, and honestly, they did help a bit with street noise—not a miracle fix, but noticeable enough to justify the cost. Rugs and furniture rearranging also made the room feel cozier and less echoey, though as you mentioned, bass is stubborn...it still sneaks through. Still, every little bit helps when you're on a budget and can't exactly build that underground bunker (though tempting sometimes, haha).
