Is There Any Way To Reduce Window Rattling?

[Mr._Clark]

My upstairs and downstairs AV systems are in rooms that have large windows across one side. The windows rattle quite a bit, even at relatively modest volume levels. Besides scaring the crap out of our dog, it detracts from watching movies.

Is there an easy way to reduce the rattle? Do the SVS SoundPath isolators help? I have a pair of SVS PC-12 NSDs upstairs, and a PB-13 ultra downstairs.

 

[TLS Guy]

My upstairs and downstairs AV systems are in rooms that have large windows across one side. The windows rattle quite a bit, even at relatively modest volume levels. Besides scaring the crap out of our dog, it detracts from watching movies.

Is there an easy way to reduce the rattle? Do the SVS SoundPath isolators help? I have a pair of SVS PC-12 NSDs upstairs, and a PB-13 ultra downstairs.

May be your sub is too loud. Or else your windows are cheap and you need better ones.

 

[lovinthehd]

What kind of windows are they? Pics? Put a pad of some carpeting or packing foam or a blanket or something similar underneath the sub before buying something and see if that alleviates rattles (and if that actually works then buy something reasonably priced rather than those SVS things).

 

[Littlefoott]

"Do the SVS SoundPath isolators help?"

s.

Is there an easy way to reduce the rattle? Do the SVS SoundPath isolators help?

I have them on my pb2000 have no rattles above 23hz in a large open space

 

[j_garcia]

Sub isolators work, but will not stop window vibration IMO. I used to use an Auralex Gramma Pad and it helped with my vented sub on a concrete floor from vibrating a lot of the house, but some of the larger windows still rattled (this was a 15" down firing sub too though).

 

[Bucknekked]

My upstairs and downstairs AV systems are in rooms that have large windows across one side. The windows rattle quite a bit, even at relatively modest volume levels. Besides scaring the crap out of our dog, it detracts from watching movies.

Is there an easy way to reduce the rattle? Do the SVS SoundPath isolators help? I have a pair of SVS PC-12 NSDs upstairs, and a PB-13 ultra downstairs.

My door used to rattle in my music room. I didn't look at the sub for the fix, I looked at the door.
If your windows are rattling, can you figure out through trial and error exactly where the window is rattling?
Simply using your hands and fingers should tell you a lot. You may find that simple fixes at the window frame may be all you need. I simply weather stripped my door after figuring out I could damp the rattles by simply putting my hands on the door. It takes a fair amount of sound pressure to produce rattles so at least your systems are putting out some sound !

 

[j_garcia]

Rattles are often natural resonant frequencies for some materials or the door as a whole on the hinge. Window rattle can be the same, where sometimes it is the glass itself or the window frame as mentioned. In my old room, the closet door would rattle at 25hz - easy enough to fix with weatherstripping too. The main windows were fixed but they were very tall and would resonate in the low 30s. Other than changing that resonant frequency I wasn't sure how to resolve that one. Then I got on a ladder and went up there and found the window seals were old and worn. I re-caulked them and things improved, but did not go away. Then I got an Auralex Gramma for my 15" vented sub. That solved it in that specific case, because the sub was actually directly transmitting the vibrations into the floor, wall and window.

 

[lovinthehd]

"Do the SVS SoundPath isolators help?"

I have them on my pb2000 have no rattles above 23hz in a large open space

What happens below 23hz?

 

[j_garcia]

My fireplace fence vibrated at around 18Hz I eventually got rid of it.

 

[Littlefoott]

What happens below 23hz?

mostly the door to the pantry in the kitchen and the fireplace vents

 

[lovinthehd]

I'm lucky, found and fixed all my buzzes/rattles...for now.

PS FWIW my subs all have rubber feet. No issues with those alone. Most of my rattles have been metal picture frames vibrating against the wall....touch of putty here and there for the most part for all the rattles.

 

[MrBoat]

Yes, I too, have these rattles. The little retainer strips that hold the glass in were loose. Removed those, used butyl to reinstall the glass and replaced the strips. Another window started, and I have a piece of cedar shim wedged in it for the time being.

What's that saying? There's nothing quite as permanent as a good, temporary repair?

 

[lovinthehd]

What works to stop rattles.....works.

 

[highfigh]

Sub isolators work, but will not stop window vibration IMO. I used to use an Auralex Gramma Pad and it helped with my vented sub on a concrete floor from vibrating a lot of the house, but some of the larger windows still rattled (this was a 15" down firing sub too though).

How would a sub on a concrete floor rattle the rest of the house? The floor is too massive for the sub to cause it to resonate.

 

[highfigh]

Sound energy is propagated in three ways-
Radiation, which is the direct sound from the source,
Modulation, which is the resonance of materials and objects that are responding to the energy and
Conduction, which is mainly structure-borne resonances.

The easy way to find what's vibrating is to move through the room, listening for where you think the sound is emanating. The reason I wrote "...where you think..." is due to the fact that the sound may seem to be coming from one place, when it's actually coming from someplace else.

Remember to check heating ducts and vents- these can be made to vibrate very easily and it may not sound like they're the source of the sound.

 

[j_garcia]

How would a sub on a concrete floor rattle the rest of the house? The floor is too massive for the sub to cause it to resonate.

I don't know, but the Gramma stopped a lot of the vibrations.

 

[djreef]

This is why my next music room will a windowless, 3200 cu/ft solid cinder block trapezoid with a dampened steel roof sitting on top of a 10 inch slab.

DJ

 

[highfigh]

I don't know, but the Gramma stopped a lot of the vibrations.

Down-firing sub?

 

[j_garcia]

Down-firing sub?

Yes, and the tempest driver is quite a beast.

 

[Mr._Clark]

Thanks for the suggestions. I suspect the glass is rattling against the grills in the windows. I'm going to try putting some pieces of 2-sided foam mounting tape between the grills and the glass.

On a somewhat related note, in terms of things not to do with subs, don't put a lamp or other breakable item on an SVS PB-13 ultra while watching a movie with significant bass.