How To Keep Bass In A Room: A Soundproofing Guide

The biggest problem you face with the neighbours is complaining about the sound you make. The low frequency bass vibrations make them disturbed and you even cannot experience the complete base level.

You should control the bass from speakers and subwoofers. We cannot repair them to lower the strength of the bass levels but we can use some other techniques to keep the sounds and vibrations within the room.

In this guide, you will learn how to soundproof your walls, doors, ceiling, and floor so that you can keep bass inside the room.

How Bass travel outside of the room?

It’s important to know how sound or bass travels from your room to your neighbor’s room. Generally, if you can hear the loud music and vibrations from your upstairs neighbor, it would feel like the sound is traveling through the floor and air.

Any physical substance can reflect the frequency waves but it passes the vibration. If your door is open you can directly feel the pressure of the song but not the vibration because your door and air are carrying the bass frequencies. Sound travels through the air in any kind of situation and it passes in all directions.

Both the impact and airborne noise are easy to travel but the medium is important. In any Apartment, the air is the medium to carry these sound vibrations. People think that sound travels only in one direction and if your upstairs neighbor is making noise, you will try to soundproof the ceiling.

This is a myth and you have to know that sound can travel in any direction. Even if your upstairs neighbor is making noise, you can feel it from your main door. It’s more important to soundproof the room than a single substance. Thus, you can pass your bass from anywhere and it’s important to start from speaker placement to end with soundproofing.

How to Keep Bass in the room (7 Effective Ways)

Bass and sub-bass are the frequency ranges and the values are varied. Sub-bass varies from 20 Hz to 60 Hz and the bass frequency is from 60 Hz to 300 Hz. The ideal bass frequency range is from 20 Hz to 250 or 300 Hz. You are supposed to get rid of these frequencies going from outside.

Walls and windows are the most affected areas that pass a lot of basses. Bass sounds can be felt even if the sound is not clear. It’s a crucial part of the sound and even deaf people can feel it through vibration.

#Method 1: Find holes and air gaps and seal them

Airborne noise which needs only tiny gaps to travel through. Airborne gaps are the most negligible holes from soundproofing but do you know how much noise it can pass? You need great knowledge to understand this.

Usually, you find these gaps on walls but you forget that even windows and doors may also have these cracks and gaps.

Here is how you can use the acoustic caulk yourself and it will take only less than 30 minutes to complete the work.

• First, clean the surface and find any tiny holes and gaps on walls, windows, and floors. If you have furniture on the wall side, you need to find the gaps behind the furniture.
• Take this Acoustic Caulk and properly seal the gaps. You can get different colors and the tube size in these acoustic caulks. These acoustic caulks are non-hardening and flexible. Acoustic caulks are easy to apply and use. Just like glue, you can use it anywhere and the price for each cartridge is also affordable.
• This Big stretch caulk stretches over time. In the case of delicate surfaces, you can use your fingers to spread the glue. Once it dries, you are free to apply any paint and it becomes waterproof as well.
• There are a variety of applications where you can use this caulk between the walls, floors and ceilings, windows, and doors.

#Method 2: Soundproof doors and windows

This is a serious suggestion for someone who is curious to block the sound from both sides. Yes, you can soundproof your home from inside too. One for all, this is the best solution, and here are some best ways you can soundproof your doors and windows.

As we said already, Bass can travel from anywhere. It just needs some vacuum for fast traveling. Doors and windows are such great vacuum spaces to allow the bass.

How to soundproof your doors

First, clean the surface of the door with available solutions and then find the cracks and gaps. The doorknob might have cracks and gaps from the walls and that is the point you should start soundproofing.

• You can use an acoustic caulk to seal those gaps and cracks in the door.
• The bass can also be blocked by installing a door draft, it works best as a noise blocker.
• You can also use soundproof paint from your local store. Get the best sound-absorbing paint and choose the right color that matches with the existing door and wall color.
• Another way to make it a more soundproof gateway is to get the high-quality weatherstripping tapes. With proper pressure and alignment, stick it on your door or door frame.

The complete door soundproofing cost may vary from $300 to $500. The largest gap in the wall that is a great vacuum for sound traveling is the door. Soundproofing your door also helps in improving air quality and temperature control.

How to soundproof windows

The second most hole in the wall is a great vacuum for bass, light, and the air is Window. Along with the doors, you must consider soundproofing your windows too. Most people don’t know where to begin but if you are a DIY lover, you can save money by doing it yourself following the steps mentioned below.

Not only to control your bass, but also to get rid of noise pollution, air pollution, and heavy sunlight problems, you must soundproof your windows.

• The type of glass on windows affects the sound reduction. A strong windowpane is nice but windows with acoustic glass are better. It’s important to invest in the best glass.
• Laminated glass is designed to absorb the sound whereas tempered glass is designed for durability. It is recommended by the professionals to use both the tempered and laminated glass for windows.
• If you think using too many panels and layers might increase the level of sound reduction, you may get into the myth. Single or double pane windows are sufficient for the results, however, double glazed glass has the high STC (Sound Transmission Class) ratings.
• The old window frame might have a lot of cracks, in that case, it’s better to replace the window. Once you’ve insulated a new window, you can start the work.
• Soundproof window curtains are designed to block light and noise. When we have the curtains inside the room, there are minimum chances the bass goes from the curtains.
• Like the door you can also fill gaps and cracks in the windows by applying acoustic caulk.

It’s crucial to have the right materials and glass. Since you are escaping the labor charges, invest in some high-quality materials to get the things done.

#Method 3: Use sound-absorbing floor mats

Generally, people who are living in an apartment must know about the soundproofing floor and ceiling. Since, you don’t want to pass your bass to your downstairs neighbours, here are some simple methods to soundproof your floor.

If you are dancing to the bass, your downstairs neighbors might get disturbed. We want to enjoy the music as hard as we can but disturbing your neighbors is not at all a good choice.

• Method-1: Use some thicker and denser carpets on the floor. The thick carpets can stop the bass as sound frequencies face difficulties passing through the hard surfaces.
• Method-2: Now coming to the rubber floor mats, you can use the rubber mats underneath carpets for better results. This Rubber-Cal floor mat is affordable and looks so simple and beautiful but works better. You may have seen these mats in gyms, basements, and fitness centers.
• Method-3: Install soundproof materials like Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV) under the carpet. MLV is a high-density material between the floor and you. Studio owners use these to balance the bass and treble values.

There are other cheap ways to soundproof your floor only up to some portion. If you have a small area that needs to be soundproof you can use the normal exercise mats made with foam or the underlayment such as foam or rubber.

#Method 4: Soundproof the Wall

The most important step in preventing sound from coming inside or the bass going outside is soundproofing the wall. Living in an apartment has its benefits but it matches the downsides as well such as your neighbors complaining about your music.

Here are some easy tips to soundproof the wall to control the bass inside your room. If you are living in a rental apartment then you have to take permission to experiment with your wall. We have some practical ways that save your money and time as well.

• First things first, let’s start with the least expensive method – Rearranging your furniture. Yes, if you have a lot of bookshelves, closets, and other furniture you can place them near the walls to close any possible noise outcome.
• Ok, now everyone isn’t familiar with the furniture. Arrange any wall hanging or paintings on the cracks or most affected areas on the walls. If you haven’t, take some waste materials and start creating your own arts that can fit on the wall.
• The best thing to soundproof a wall is to use Acoustic foam panels. You can find some better acoustic panels in any local or retail store for the best sound dampening solution.
• Acoustic panels are affordable, simple, and easy to install. Get some double-sided tape pieces and use them on the foam panels for grip or you can drill the screws as well.

The proper installation works when you have done it right. Figure the cracks and air gaps on your wall and then insulate the foam panels. You can also use the different color panels for a premium look. Most studio owners use these Panels as their primary choice.

• Hang some soundproof curtains on the walls. Soundproof curtains are great sound damping barriers. But, the thing is you should install a rod. You can install the rod either on the wall or on the ceiling. If you want to divide the room, you can install the rod on the ceiling.
• Soundproof curtains and blankets can install on the ceiling rods for better sound reflection or to control the noise.
• Clear all the holes and cracks on the walls. Clean the surface and then use an acoustic sealant to seal the holes and cracks on the wall and doors.

That’s how you can control the bass and other sounds traveling to the neighboring rooms. If you have more than one room in your home, you might have to consider soundproofing other rooms as well. Especially if your kids are disturbed by your noise, then it’s a serious situation.

#Method 5: Place your speakers and woofers at a distance

High frequencies are directional and low frequencies have more vibrations. If you use speakers and woofers on the table beside your computer, you have to align the speakers at a proper distance. Some speakers have sound outcomes at the bottom while some are at the front side.

If the placement is wrong, you can identify the frequency differences. This article shows the art of speaker alignment. Speakers should be laid out at a distance to make the sound clear. If the soundbar is near doors, windows, or walls, the echo bounces back to you and passes outside and it sounds weird to listen.

The best place to place your speakers is in the middle of the room at some height. This will increase the mid level frequencies to travel inside the room.

#Method 6: Reduce subwoofer vibration

If you have only one subwoofer, you can place it about 1.5 feet from the wall. The sound waves move the woofer slightly. Set the volume of the woofer to hear property but not to vibrate. Adjust the crossover on the woofer for smooth wave transmission.

To trap the bass from the subwoofer you can install some foam panels on the wall. Egg Crate-shaped foam panels are good to absorb high frequencies even though they are thick enough to absorb low and mid-level frequencies.

Place the panels in the corners if you want to experiment minimally. Placing these in corners will reduce the echo bounce frequency range and you cannot feel the echo. After placing your speakers properly, set your subwoofers in the right placement, and notice the vibrations.

#Method 7: Hanging drywall on ceilings

The most neglected area while soundproofing is the ceiling. People don’t know the importance of soundproofing ceilings, however, it’s important to know. Not only to control bass, but also to replicate the music side you need to soundproof the ceiling.

Hanging a ceiling without a professional is just like a two-person job. In a room, attach the ceiling panels to make the work done simply.

• Prepare the positions of the two men at the distance to cover your ceiling and install the correct sized panels to the ceiling. Balancing must play an important role here.
• Apply some primer or good colors to the panels to match the colors with the room. When installed correctly, panels are less likely to sag. Avoid attaching the drywall over sagging insulation.

Tip: Set the drywall sheet on the drywall lift and then crank it up to the ceiling. Cut the holes for light using a drywall tool.

You need some handy tools like a drywall lift, impact driver, drywall screw setter, and drywall screws. You can take drywall lifts for rent if you want cut down investment.

Dampening BASS inside the room

Some people want to enjoy the music alone with complete bass vibrations and some people don’t want to disturb their neighbors. In both cases, you need to control the bass inside your home for a better hearing experience.

You can resolve the issue by spending huge money on premium glasses and panels but these tips might fit best rather than spending huge on experts. The steps mentioned here are simple and I guess, nobody wants to soundproof the entire room just to enjoy the music.