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Condo Bass Courtesy Suggestions?


DizRotus

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My son just moved into a 2nd floor condo. He's asked for suggestions regarding his Heresy speakers. He's concerned that sitting directly on hardwood floors will cause ureasonable bass disturbing the neighbors below. He wants to know what he can put under the Heresy to "decouple" them from the floor.

He doesn't know it yet, but I'm in the process of building a 25Hz tapped horn sub as a housewarming gift. I'm thinking that the sub might actually improve the situation. Placing the Heresy on stands will improve the midrange and treble, while isolating them from the floor. A sub powered by a separate amp could only be used when it would not bother the neighbors.

Any experiences you are able to share are welcomed. In his email he said, ". . . I figure there has to be suggestions or DIY tips from the Klipsch forums."

Edited by DizRotus
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Low frequency sound waves will resonate through most walls and unless the condo itself is very well insulated for sound thumpy thumps will travel into the adjacent units w/o too much difficulty.  You can mitigate it but not eliminate it.  Then it comes down to neighbor relations and timing.  In mine own experience just a single belligerent condo neighbor can ruin the enjoyment of a system period.  No time is the right time.  The CC&R's gives them the rights to a library quiet existence. 

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I know they are not the best for music but what about tactile traducers?

 

 

You'll still get vibrations in other apartments.  The only way bass won't be an issue is if his neighbors aren't home.  The subdudes will decouple the speakers from the floor though.

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I'm on my phone right now but Google Subdudes. They're specifically made to decouple subs and will work with speakers as well.

Carl,

 

Do you have experience with these?

 

 

 

Only with subs and concrete slabs.  They seem to tighten the bass up slightly for some reason but I've never felt the need to purchase one.  I never heard a before and after (only after), but taking someone's word for it.  I would think they'd work better in your application.

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I have a friend who could never use the sub on his ProMedia 2.1s because it was always audible in his adjacent neighbor's livingroom (Though to be fair, it was also right on the shared wall). On the other hand, I lived in a condo at one point where I had a system set up in a room that didn't share walls with any neighbors, but did share the ceiling with the upstairs neighbor's floor. We even asked if they could hear bass, which they said they couldn't, so that was never an issue. His best bet might be to use a room that borders as few neighbors as possible, and then ask the nearest one if they can hear anything. 

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heresy....bass....same sentence?  I think you should be fine.  Subdudes or other acoustical foam are great for decoupling so that at least the resonance isn't put through the floor.  The Heresys are pretty light in the bass department and i dont think you'll have much issue.  My only other suggestion to to get them further up and away from the floor.

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A subdue will help only with floor vibrations.  A cheap rubber matt from Lowes or Homedepot will do the same.  I like the comment on using a room least likely to disturb the neighbors.  Nothing else really works well except move to a house, lol.

Edited by derrickdj1
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Once upon a time, I lived in an old house that had been made into duplexes. When I was home, the neighbor just turned everything off and listened to what I was playing. I had a pair of Heresy and a pair of La Scala played at the same time and driven by a Marantz 2226b. My system drowned out anything they were listening to. At least they were cool about it!

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Moi? Out here on the periphery we ain't got no neighbors to worry about :D

 

 

I was thinking Diz, he's fairly handy.  I'm fortunate I don't have that issue either except when I crank the patio system :o

Handy is not an issue.

I'm thinking that I'll recommend the following combination of suggestions:

- put the Heresys up on stands;

- place them against an exterior wall not shared with a neighbor;

- use a subwoofer on an isolating pad;

- get on good terms with the neighbor below;

- turn up the sub and visit the neighbor to see what it sounds like below;

- only use the sub judiciously;

- invite the neighbor to ask you to turn it down if it's too loud; and

- only crank it up when the neighbors are out.

Thanks for the great suggestions.

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