Speakers isolation from resonance and angry neighbours — Critical Mass Center, Revopods, EVP.

[Al M.]

My neighbours from upstairs won’t give me peace… I’m currently using Graphite Audio 35 premium cones. While doing a good job in tightening the sound and lowering the noise, they’re pretty useless in reducing resonance and rumbling.

My room is not treated and WAF doesn’t allow so…
TAD ME1 sitting on wooden flooring. No idea if suspended or not. It creaks when walking if it helps.
Room is 30x15ft with system sitting on the long side close the wall and facing windows. I have heavy curtains which I guess help but that’s it.

The EVP footers, while cheap vs many other options, seem appreciated for resonance.

Any help would be very much appreciated.

I have been told that @Jim Smith is a specialist in the matter.

I had my monitors stand on concrete tiles (garden tiles) from Home Depot, 16' by 16'. Kills wood floor resonances and improves sound. Cost $5 each. Admittedly not aesthetically the most pleasing solution. You can buy small carpets to put the concrete tiles on, so that the wood floor is not scratched. Herbie's Audio Lab round footers between stands and speakers (may also improve the sound).

 

[Imperial]

If the parquet floor makes noise when you walk on it, it has not been installed correctly. First, the concrete floor must be absolutely straight, which is achieved by pouring liquid screed. Then a vapor barrier and impact sound insulation must be installed. Then the parquet is laid and glued. Then the parquet is sanded down and sealed against water with wax or varnish. If water penetrates the veneer layer, it becomes wavy and can makeover noise when you walk on it.
Sandbox base
The sand in the box described above converts sound energy into friction (heat). It works really well - just try it out. Go to the hardware store and have the boards cut to size. Buy wood glue and a couple of screw clamps. Glue them together and varnish or paint them as desired. It's quick to do - buying a 25kg bag of quartz sand isn't rocket science.

Yes. The impact resistance is most likely not there to much a degree (maybe no damper is there ieither or crappy) and the floor is now more of a boom chamber basically. We can see that the tiles Are shrinking in the edges and gaps Are getting visible.

For the long run and basically total cost of project - Get happy neighbour and play music unhindered…
I think what @DasguteOhr is saying and I agree, assuming…
The floor and the (fireplace) should be a priority in the long run. So… the system should be packed down And these two matters dealt with.
Then footers dampers and what have you would have a much better chance of getting their worth.

Close of the Fireplace better. Try the sandbox first…
It is cheapest… but redoing the floor in the long run….I’d think about it…
Yeah, that is up to you.
How much for a profesjonal assesment ? There must be companies in Paris that Are well capable. And guide in refurnishing anything structural.
I'm much more for a hands on help here. A lot of us have built houses, laid floors, refurbished houses and maybe acoustically isolated them also, maybe even going back 25 years or more doing so. And as you do that you notice that long term use of the project and feedback makes so that you refine you methods and maybe discover errors you did - and some get better at it, some never learn.
Now, this kind of expertice... getting it right, and feedback is that it is done right. It is always worth it in the long run.
BUT, getting there... hands on, a person on site, that has seen 500 rooms, and knows what he is looking at. Preferrable, rather than online advice.
Just lifting the tiles, getting things level and a Good impact damper mat. The on with the tiles…
What is the price of that versus alternative.
So, how is the DIY skill level. Comes down to that and or friends and family. Whats the available know how.

 

[Ricco275]

Yes. The impact resistance is most likely not there to much a degree (maybe no damper is there ieither or crappy) and the floor is now more of a boom chamber basically. We can see that the tiles Are shrinking in the edges and gaps Are getting visible.

For the long run and basically total cost of project - Get happy neighbour and play music unhindered…
I think what @DasguteOhr is saying and I agree, assuming…
The floor and the (fireplace) should be a priority in the long run. So… the system should be packed down And these two matters dealt with.
Then footers dampers and what have you would have a much better chance of getting their worth.

Close of the Fireplace better. Try the sandbox first…
It is cheapest… but redoing the floor in the long run….I’d think about it…
Yeah, that is up to you.
How much for a profesjonal assesment ? There must be companies in Paris that Are well capable. And guide in refurnishing anything structural.
I'm much more for a hands on help here. A lot of us have built houses, laid floors, refurbished houses and maybe acoustically isolated them also, maybe even going back 25 years or more doing so. And as you do that you notice that long term use of the project and feedback makes so that you refine you methods and maybe discover errors you did - and some get better at it, some never learn.
Now, this kind of expertice... getting it right, and feedback is that it is done right. It is always worth it in the long run.
BUT, getting there... hands on, a person on site, that has seen 500 rooms, and knows what he is looking at. Preferrable, rather than online advice.
Just lifting the tiles, getting things level and a Good impact damper mat. The on with the tiles…
What is the price of that versus alternative.
So, how is the DIY skill level. Comes down to that and or friends and family. Whats the available know how.

my DIY skills are limited to build an hifi rack with 3 Ikea Lack tables.... I'm renting, so I'd prefer not investing in refurbishing the room for acoustic. Will try to find experts in town and get an assessment. The sandbox may look messy to my wife's eyes. She's the boss obviously.

 

[Imperial]

my DIY skills are limited to build an hifi rack with 3 Ikea Lack tables.... I'm renting, so I'd prefer not investing in refurbishing the room for acoustic. Will try to find experts in town and get an assessment. The sandbox may look messy to my wife's eyes. She's the boss obviously.

Yes. Ok.
That limits things.

In Paris there is a company called General acoustics - Paris branch

Paris office​

159, rue La Fayette
75010 PARIS


Fabien Gouel
phone +33(0)1 48 03 03 40
mail paris@general-acoustics.fr

So.. the theory is that ask close to home.
If they cannot help, or cost to much, they could know of someone else, who knows their shit.
The above it just an example... I know nothing about them.. but just ask someone first... just start..
But yes... Acoustics AND HVAC should be what anyone needs experience with... and those you should ask..

Also… wife might go along with advice from such a person ( who actually is in room, and with pretty name badge rather than anything we suggest…
How to sell it as They say…
And it will show that you do what you can on your part, to make as many happy as is possible.
You said that any solution might be a tough sell.
So, sales pitch then… He suggests a solution.
He tells you what he can detect of issues. Hopefully he adress what we on the forum thinks wee csn see, but it might be completely different from what we think…
You mention products you have heard of. Maybe the Expert has used them already.
The nod… you nod, the Expert nods. You both look at your wife. And you both nod.
You wait for the smile…

WHEN presented with alternatives in said fashion.
Options that normally can not be chosen - suddenly can. The alternatives laid bare.
And price of things.

Smarts is also a tweak. It may not be dirt cheap.
But. An alternative it is and hopefully a solution enhancer…

So, truth - we Are not saying this as a cheat but as a door opener … a solution might be close but is it a nod away?

 

[Willgolf]

They know I’m trying my best. When they text me to lower the volume I send screenshots of db meter app showing 70db average. The building has bad isolation.

Time to move...70db is nothing