Sound Proofing from bass sounds

[michaellam]

My flatmate in the room next to mine likes to play dance music. The thing is in my room all I hear is this thumping sound. Is there anything he could use to stop the bass sound getting through to my room?

[memyselfandi]

might sound stupid, and it may look worse but if u can get your hands on egg cartons (empty of course!!) then place them on the connecting walls and it will cut out the noise. you can get the cartons at any place that sells free range eggs!

[brachiopod]

It's a little known fact, but much dance / R'n'B / Garage music emits what is called a 'signature bass frequency'.

Being compressional waves, most sound waves can be cancelled out by a process known as 'destructive interference'. All it requires is an 'emitter' set up in your own room, that takes the form of a speaker system that is emitting the same, but 'in-phase' frequencies.

All you need to do then, is to take a large hammer, go into your flatmate's room, and smash-in the woofers on their speakers. Et voila ! No more annoying bass from crap 'ahr-ren-bee' and 'garridge' (sic).

[michaellam]

would I have to cover the whole wall that is inbetween my flatmates and my room?

[Phantaxus]

talk to your neighbour about it he may not be aware of the problem he is causing.

Failing that talk to your environmental health department.

[smorodina]

Egg cartons won't help with the bass frequencies, which are transmitted through the ceiling and floor joists as well as the walls. The only really successful way to stop these is to built a suspended room within the room. A lot easier to tell him to use headphones, or turn it down.

[Tweed]

Egg cartons are really only used to reduce reverb (in the listening room). To minimise sound travel, the materials that it passes through, i.e. walls, doors floors etc. need to be dense, i.e. a brick wall will be more effective than a stud wall.

[Mortartube]

Stand the speakers on thick foam, (if they're not wall mounted), this probably won't stop it, but it should produce a damping effect to stop some vibration getting into the structure of the building. Also if the speakers are facing a wall, cover the wall in front of the speakers with thick foam, this gain damps the vibrations before they can get into the walls. You can probaly try this with some sofa cushions to see what works best before committing yourself to buying anything. And of course ask him to turn it down as previously suggested.

[Jay70]

I think he should use a bit of common decency and respect for his fellow housemates.  If after asking him politely if he could turn the amplitude/bass down he continues loan a young child from a friend or relative and let them losse on the HiFi.  My young lad manages to break allsorts of expensive TV Video equipment without even trying.

[landie]

Invite him round to listen to it over a cup of coffee.

[Dom Tuk]

The problem with this is (atleast i find this to be the case) that whatever measures you take, now that it is on your mind, however successful those measures turn out, even the slightest bit of bass will still bother you. Or may be i am just a grumpy old man. Move.... to get back your sanity...or indulge in  a bit of revenge and when your flatmate has a crucial essay to hand in play some DIDO.

[johnmillward]

baseball bat