I finally get to get back to work on my HT. My room is in the basement and it is 27x13, 8 ft ceiling with a 7 ft soffit all the way around the room. Half the soffit is covering the HVAC the other half is just for appearance sake to balance out the room.

Basement is completely underground...

The problem I have is: The previous owner put up sheet insulation and then put walls and bat insulated them and has already sheetrocked/mud/taped/sanded the whole perimeter, and tearing this out to futher soundproof is out of the question. My wife says we are not going to that expense and mess.

At this stage I would like to soundproof the ceiling as much as possible without spending a mint.

1. Should I put r-13 insulation in the ceiling and in the soffits and put up 2 layers of 5/8 sheetrock and just loose another couple of inches?
2. No insulation and use two layers of sheetrock with green glue?
3. Just put up 1/2 or 5/8 sheetrock and just accept the fact that it's better than nothing?
4. Or ???? suggestions

Thanks for the feedback folks! Again money is an issue, but give me your thoughts and I will see if I can find a financial way to do it.

The R13 would be helpful; but, I suspect your better plan would be to decouple the ceiling, install the batts and two layers of drywall with GG. Then install a second layer of drywall over your existing walls with GG.

can you add a new FLOOR to your 1st/ground floor above the basement?

I got very good bass trapping and some sound isolation by putting in a second subfloor on my main level (directly over my hometheater basement room). I used green glue between the layers of subflooring under my new hardwood floor.

see here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1136101

Thanks for the reply D. Erskine, I really did not want to spend that kind of money, but I am probably going to be in this house for many years and it will be a good investment. Especially when my kids are old enough to use the room and my wife and I will not want to hear everything.....hmmmm maybe I should install a hidden mic just in case I do need to listen in later in life :-)

Thanks

DM, the floor on the main lvl is in great shape (wood floors), so it's not an option, but I love what you did. That's a great idea and it appears to have worked great for you.

I just was trying to find the least expensive way to keep most of the sound downstairs and was hoping to not have to double up on the walls also.

Thanks for the reply

I should install a hidden mic just in case I do need to listen in later in life
Believe me, you don't really want to know.

Believe me, you don't really want to know.

Pu tthe mic in (and make sure the kids know it's there), but don't turn it on. that way you don't have to know, but you still have a deterrent. :)