I recently moved into a rental basement apartment, and it turns out the way we set up our TV room is directly under the bedroom of our upstairs neighbors. They've been really nice and asked us to keep the noise down after 10:00 PM, which can be a bit frustrating since we usually have our chill time in the evenings when we want to watch movies or chat without worrying about the volume. It's odd that we can barely hear them, but they can hear us! I'm looking for suggestions on how to soundproof our TV room. I've seen that having furniture helps and that we should check for sound leaks, but the main concern is just an AC vent. I'm wondering if heavy curtains or wall panels would help. Any renter-friendly ideas? Thanks in advance for your tips!
3 Answers
Honestly, soundproofing can be tough, but there are some options you might try. Acoustic panels on the ceiling can help, but they can be pricey. You might also want to consider some mass loaded vinyl; it works well if you put it on the ceiling and then put furring strips with acoustic tiles above that. It’s relatively inexpensive and effective without needing to disturb much. And, using headphones while watching TV is super practical, especially if you want to keep things quiet. Good luck!
I totally relate to your situation! Ideally, a top-floor apartment avoids this kind of problem, but since you’re here now, using acoustic panels on your ceiling could dampen the sound. Insulation between floors is also an option if you're allowed to make those changes. You could even suggest to your neighbors using white noise machines to mask sounds. It's a two-way street, after all! Good luck, and I hope it works out!
I feel you, that’s a rough spot to be in! If your neighbors are sensitive to sounds at night, maybe try soundproofing your vents first, as they might be where the sound is leaking through. Have them listen in while you chat down below to see if that's the case. Also, using a Bluetooth speaker with a low bass setting may help keep it under the radar for late-night movies. Just some ideas to consider!