Small apt, Need to minimize leak out of door area

Started by RobRokken on 23 May 2010. 1 reply.

Originally posted at johnlsayers.com, topic 14411.

Hello, I must admit, there's a lot here to read! Cool forum. I live on the bottom floor of a duplex apartment. My room is 8X12 and wanted to know the "best" placement for my monitors to minimize "leak" or "bleed" out of the door area (which leads to the living room and other sleeping areas). I'm usually up in the late hours (12am - 4am) lol. When outside the door with music playing I hear a lot of Snare frequencies seems like a lot of sub 200 hz. I know it may be as simple as "moving your speakers as far away from the door as possible", but sound is funny, so I didn't know. I was thinking about putting some 703 insulation on the door, but for now, I'm mainly concerned with the layout to start. I still have the old bag up stairs to worry about too lool. Here's how my "bedroom" is setup now:
External image, not preserved — original: http://stashbox.org/904372/robroom.PNG
I will go look around for more info. By any chance, does anyone have experience or pics of a "studio" in this sized room? Grr, yeah, I have to keep the bed :) Thank you, ~Rob.
wanted to know the "best" placement for my monitors to minimize "leak" or "bleed" out of the door area
Unfortunately, "placement" isn't the problem: Sound level is the problem! There isn't really anything you can do to re-position your speakers that will prevent sound from getting out the door. The only way to stop sound is with mass. Lots of it. If the sound you are making is annoying other people in the house, then the only option you have is to seal the room air-tight, then place a massive barrier all around it, such as another wall a few inches away from the existing wall. But you don't have enough space to do that, so your only real option is a good set of headphones!
I was thinking about putting some 703 insulation on the door,
That is good for TREATMENT, not ISOLATION. Two entirely different things. 703 on the door will help your room sound better, but it won't stop sound getting out to the rest of the house. The only thing you could maybe try, is sealing every last tiny air gap that leads out of the room, but even then it will only help you by a couple of dB, since your real problem is flanking through the house structure, and low transmission loss through walls, floor, ceiling, windows, and doors. - Stuart -