I had a similar situation at my old condo. Neighbors upstairs had a pretty serious surround sound setup, and sealing gaps around outlets and baseboards definitely helped with voices and regular TV noise. But when they watched action movies or played music with heavy bass, it was like the sealing didn't even exist.
Eventually, I bit the bullet and added mineral wool insulation in the ceiling between our units. Honestly, I was skeptical at first—seemed pricey and I wasn't sure it'd make a big difference. But after installation, it genuinely cut down on that deep bass rumble that used to drive me nuts. Didn't eliminate it completely (I could still faintly hear explosions or heavy beats), but it was way more manageable.
So yeah, sealing is good for everyday sounds, but if you're dealing with neighbors who love their bass-heavy entertainment, insulation really does make a noticeable difference. At least it did for me...
Totally agree on mineral wool insulation—it's a solid choice. A few things I've noticed from working with clients:
- Sealing gaps helps with chatter and everyday noise, but bass is a whole different beast...it travels through structures like nobody's business.
- Mineral wool definitely cuts down the rumble, but placement matters. If you can get it between joists or studs, even better.
- Also, adding some heavier furniture or rugs upstairs (if neighbors cooperate) can surprisingly help dampen vibrations.
Bass is stubborn, but every bit helps, right?
You're spot on about bass being tricky... I've seen homeowners surprised after investing in insulation but still noticing vibrations. Definitely helps though, especially if neighbors pitch in with rugs or heavier decor. Every small tweak adds up eventually, even if it doesn't kill the bass entirely.
Had a similar thing happen with a house I flipped last year. Insulation definitely helped cut down the noise, but bass vibrations still snuck through. Ended up adding heavier curtains and some thick rugs—made a noticeable difference in the end, even if not perfect.
Insulation helps, but it’s definitely not magic. Like you said:
"bass vibrations still snuck through"
That’s always the tricky bit. Heavy curtains and rugs are a good call—soft surfaces absorb vibrations pretty well. I've had decent luck with bookshelves loaded with books or dense furniture against shared walls too. It’s never gonna be 100% silent though... unless you move to the countryside.