Folks. I promise, I have read damn near every post I could come up with via searches. Now they all are just churning in my head. Here's my issue:

- I'd like to create a significant amount of sound isolation in my existing room. Significant meaning I know if I don't start over from scratch I will not be able to isolate the room. The large multi use room design itself prevents that too.

- See the room below. I want to take down the false wall that houses the 65" CRT and apply some isolation from there.

- My main concern is Low Frequencies. That is where my confusion and indecisiveness is. Quiet Rock or Green Glue and another drywall layer seem to be great if higher frequencies are the issue.

- What other products or techniques should I be researching that would help with low frequencies and do not require taking down the room to the studs?

- Certainly money is an object but I am able to put some decent cash into this if I absolutely have to.

- Lastly. ***For all of you in the Northern Virginia area*** I'm not Mr DIY. Are there any contractor leads that do good work in this area that can be recommended?

Thanks!!
Randy

What other products or techniques should I be researching that would help with low frequencies and do not require taking down the room to the studs?

There's the problem.

You might have a look at this article. Basic list of things to incorporate. #1 is decoupling. If you can't do this, you'll be very limited despite what some may say. Low frequencies are absolutely the most difficult to deal with. Significant reduction will only come from deploying all 4 elements listed below.

http://www.soundproofingcompany.com/index.php?/library/articles/elements_of_room_construction

You might have a look at this article. Basic list of things to incorporate. #1 is decoupling. If you can't do this, you'll be very limited despite what some may say. Low frequencies are absolutely the most difficult to deal with. Significant reduction will only come from deploying all 4 elements listed below.

http://www.soundproofingcompany.com/index.php?/library/articles/elements_of_room_construction

Thanks for the link. We're certainly thinking of scraping the whole room and starting over but I don't think that will be the way we go. If so, it will be next year.

I'm familiar with all the techniques the article outlines but really my goal is to get from the point we're at now, where damn near the entire upstairs living room shakes while I'm watching a movie, to where it is certainly noticeable but not almost unbearable.

I have a new Marantz 11S2, Panamorph U480 CIH, and few fixed screen on the way....Thanks Jason!....so I'm thinking I'm going to remove the false wall that houses the TV and Green Glue a second layer of drywall on all four walls and the ceiling. Would that not make some considerable headroom?? Unfortunately this was a basement finished by the builder and I didn't start from scratch, which I regret.

Please tell me if I'm wasting my time, I certainly don't want to do this for nothing, but knowing I won't be able to completely fix it right now won't this make a marked improvement?

Thanks
Randy

Hi Randy,

This will be a marked improvement, yes. It's just that this is a big expense and effort, and if someone can incorporate more elements of soundproofing all at once obviously they're a lot better off.

You had mentioned low frequencies as the big issue. Without decoupling and insulating, your low frequency results will be improved, but limited. Adding mass with drywall and damping with Green Glue is all fine, but if decoupled your results would be that much better. That was my point.