Common Noise Q&A back
Feel free to send me a question and it might end up here with an answer.
Noise Control
Acoustics performance contains a very broad range of subjects. The details are sometimes boring or take a long time to describe and sometimes can't be avoided. I'm limiting my scope information to the practical application of acoustics and noise control that I use as it relates to your home.
Website, magazines, books and others generally give good advice on acoustical performance and noise control. Unfortunately, it's almost impossible to distinguish the difference between advertising and fact when trying to decide what might be best for your own application.
Very rarely are any two rooms the same and a plan needs to be developed to most efficiently use your materials, time and money.
Q. Do fiberglass, foam or other fibrous acoustical panels in a room help make the room sound proof?
A. No, they effect the acoustics of the room they are in but have very little effect on noise escaping the room.
Q. OK, what makes a room sound proof?
A. Almost nothing makes a room sound proof. A better word would be sound isolating. For most needs you'll need a massive barrier (a wall) and a sealed room. If the room can hold water then it can hold sound in. Most rooms though have openings such as the space around doors, heating ducts, canned lighting in the ceiling and even electrical boxes. Low frequencies actually make the walls deform or flex. That movement turns back into sound in the next room. Low frequencies are tough. They need massive walls (concrete, CMU, multiple layers of sheetrock) and decoupled spaces. The easiest example of a decoupling space would be a hallway between two rooms. The individual walls of each room are separated or decoupled.
noise control ∙ small
room acoustics ∙ home theater design ∙ project management ∙ a/v
consulting ∙ room testing and setup