Subwoofer bothering downstairs

[Kyle Braunlich]

I have two definitive Technology pro sub1000s. I have them each on subdudes. I was wondering if anyone had any good ideas on how to stop or lessen the bass. I was thinking of getting some concrete slabs to put under each. Would that be effective, and how wide and high should they be stacked? Thanks for any help,
Kyle Braunlich

 

[shadyJ]

Only way to reduce the bass for a downstairs room is simply to turn the bass volume down. One thing you might be able to do to reduce bass for your downstairs neighbors without lowering it for yourself is to place the sub in a location very close to you, like right behind your seat. That way you don't have to have the sub turned up as much for yourself to experience the same amount of energy.

 

[ryanosaur]

Without experiencing the way they are being implemented, my suspicion based on what I have learned about DT Subs is you are probably getting some distortion out of them. Turning them down is a good start.
I've never used the subdudes, but am a fan of the way the SVS Soundpath feet work. Wood cutting boards like the ones from Webstaurant, granite slabs, some types of concrete, mounted on spikes, with vibration isolation between that and the sub WILL do more to deaden some of the pass through vibration. But to be more successful still, if you are getting any distortion in your output, you will still have more "rattle" effect going on. I've experienced that first hand. Nothing can be done about distorted output.
Hope that helps!

 

[sholling]

I agree with ShadyJ and will add that decoupling the subs from the floor (along with ShadyJ's suggestions) may help a bit. Several members have cobbled together their own poor man's (dirt cheap) versions of a Subdude isolation stand. The idea in your case would be to keep your subs' down firing bass radiators from slamming bass directly into your downstairs neighbor's ceiling. It may or may not help but can't hurt to try.


Edit: I missed the part where you already have a subdude.

 

[ryanosaur]

My own experience:

My goal was to minimize pass through vibrations due to my floor being super spongy. My own estimation is that by combining the isolation feet with the platform on spikes, I reduced the structural vibrations by around 85% total. Neither solution worked well enough on its own. Mind, the outlaws are powerful subs, especially in my little room. Distortion does not come into play with these, unlike the way my little 10” HTIB behaves.
Regardless, just some ideas to help you through the trouble with your neighbor.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Kyle Braunlich]

My own experience:

My goal was to minimize pass through vibrations due to my floor being super spongy. My own estimation is that by combining the isolation feet with the platform on spikes, I reduced the structural vibrations by around 85% total. Neither solution worked well enough on its own. Mind, the outlaws are powerful subs, especially in my little room. Distortion does not come into play with these, unlike the way my little 10” HTIB behaves.
Regardless, just some ideas to help you through the trouble with your neighbor.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This might be what I try. Did you make the spiked platform or buy it?

 

[ryanosaur]

I bought outriggers from soundocity, had a local concrete fabricator sell me scrapped countertops cut to the size I wanted, and made them myself. If cost isn’t an issue, that’s a good path and will look nice. If you can find a quarry or landscaper that deals in granite, granite slabs cut to size are best.
That said, the wood cutting board is an excellent way to do it for at least half the cost. Webstaurant for the cutting boards, parts express for adjustable spikes from Dayton Audio... boom. Probably less than $50 per.

 

[lovinthehd]

@ryanosaur did your setup reduce the bass in the room under your floors?

I'm with shadyj in general, bass travels easily enough so reducing the volume/nearfield placement is likely the way to go other than moving away from an apartment where noises travel from one to another too easily (as most apartment buildings seem to be).

 

[ryanosaur]

@ryanosaur did your setup reduce the bass in the room under your floors?

Only thing under me is good ol' norcal crawlspace. But it did cut down on the vibrations being transferred to the floor.

 

[lovinthehd]

I couldn't remember, was thinking there wasn't. I doubt the platforms would change that aspect much but....

Only thing under me is good ol' norcal crawlspace. But it did cut down on the vibrations being transferred to the floor.

 

[ryanosaur]

I couldn't remember, was thinking there wasn't. I doubt the platforms would change that aspect much but....

I get what you're saying... and LF Waves are some cruel mistresses. I really suspect that some of the shortcomings of that product are at fault too... Have just heard a few too many poor experiences shared. As I said before, I think distortion is a part of the equation. Turning things down will help. But when a DT sales guy heard what I wanted to do originally, he told me to go to SVS. That was before I joined the conversation here at AH. Regardless, I will stand by my experience about the vibration minimization... in terms of how my subs work on a suspended wood floor with the feet and platforms. *shrugs
Sometimes all the kings men can't fix a Sub in an apartment building.

 

[lovinthehd]

I don't know about distortion causing more problems below but then we have no idea what Kyle was doing when the neighbor was annoyed DT "subs" are another subject of course.

I get what you're saying... and LF Waves are some cruel mistresses. I really suspect that some of the shortcomings of that product are at fault too... Have just heard a few too many poor experiences shared. As I said before, I think distortion is a part of the equation. Turning things down will help. But when a DT sales guy heard what I wanted to do originally, he told me to go to SVS. That was before I joined the conversation here at AH. Regardless, I will stand by my experience about the vibration minimization... in terms of how my subs work on a suspended wood floor with the feet and platforms. *shrugs
Sometimes all the kings men can't fix a Sub in an apartment building.

 

[ryanosaur]

I don't know about distortion causing more problems below but then we have no idea what Kyle was doing when the neighbor was annoyed DT "subs" are another subject of course.

exactly.

 

[jliedeka]

I had that issue when I lived in an apartment with a much smaller sub. My solution was to buy a house.

Jim

 

[theJman]

I have two definitive Technology pro sub1000s. I have them each on subdudes. I was wondering if anyone had any good ideas on how to stop or lessen the bass. I was thinking of getting some concrete slabs to put under each. Would that be effective, and how wide and high should they be stacked? Thanks for any help,

Unless you put the concrete under the SubDude it would likely exacerbate the problem, not mitigate it. The object of decoupling is to use a pliable substance to absorb and transfer some of the energy. A rigid substrate, by itself, doesn't achieve isolation (perhaps if it was a foot tall that would be different as you would be adding significant mass to the equation). The vibrations could actually be worse if the solid piece was placed directly on a wooden floor and your sub on top of that as you may introduce sympathetic vibrations into the situation.

The SubDude provides a measure of isolation so if you still have an issue lowering the volume may be the only alternative.

 

[ryanosaur]

Unless you put the concrete under the SubDude it would likely exacerbate the problem, not mitigate it. The object of decoupling is to use a pliable substance to absorb and transfer some of the energy. A rigid substrate, by itself, doesn't achieve isolation (perhaps if it was a foot tall that would be different as you would be adding significant mass to the equation). The vibrations could actually be worse if the solid piece was placed directly on a wooden floor and your sub on top of that as you may introduce sympathetic vibrations into the situation.

The SubDude provides a measure of isolation so if you still have an issue lowering the volume may be the only alternative.

My understanding of this is that the platform needs to be acoustically inert. Granite is supposed to be fantastic for this. Concrete can be tricky; some pads can ring a bit. The stuff I picked up doesn’t. And then there is wood. The next most important things are spikes between the platform and floor and isolation (subdude) between sub and platform.

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

The DT’s notwithstanding, I think nearfield is the only hope. Kyles room is behaving like the neighbor kids car and exhibiting vessel gain, and all those long bass waves are going right through the floor. Just like my daughters cheap stereo system goes right through her bedroom wall and into mine. The concrete/subdudes might help with some of the percussive nature, but to anyone downstairs, it will all sound the same. Agree with the other dude. Get a house!