Sub Platforms

[Jay_C]

Hi Guys

I have a carpeted room and have just improvised a platform to try and stop the sounds being absorbed into it by used about 4mm thick ply wood.

Should this be adequate or will the sound still be getting absorbed in to the wood as well?

Thanks

 

[fuzz092888]

4mm? That's way too thin. I'm thinking something closer to 3/4" or greater in thickness, possibly even raised if you can manage it. Then wrap it in thin carpet or something similar and you'll have a pretty darn good sub decoupler.

 

[timoteo]

You need to add foam to the bottom of the wood. Go to a foam shop & get the dense charcoal grey foam. Put 2 4"wide x 2"tall strips running front to back on the bottom sides. Then add convoluted foam in between the stops. This will absorb the vibration.

If you can't find a foam shop then go to a fabric store & get a sheet of 2" thick medium density foam & glue a sheet to the bottom.

 

[Jay_C]

I have some kitchen worktop 1.5" and ~2" thick polistiren panels i could glue to it would that work?

Is decoupling better suited to Films or Music or both?



System Details :

Samsung 40" TX-NR509 (TV)
Samsung BD-C5500 (Blu-Ray)
ONKYO TX-NR509B (Amp)
Bowers & Wilkins 685 (Front)
Gale 3050C (Center)
Gale 3010S (Rear)
Eltax Thunder 10" Active (Sub)
Harmony 1100 (Remote)
HDA XPLOSION 7.1[DTS] (Soundcard)
Shure SRH440 (Headphone)
Ultimate Ears SuperFi 5pro (Earphone)

 

[timoteo]

I'd search out some foam instead if possible. The sub needs to have enough decoupling to absorb the vibrations. If you can't get foam at all them go ahead & give the the kitchen mat a try.

Sub decoupling is good for movies & music!!

 

[j_garcia]

I'm also going to say make the effort to get the foam. 2-3" thick and medium density.

 

[Jay_C]

I'd search out some foam instead if possible. The sub needs to have enough decoupling to absorb the vibrations. If you can't get foam at all them go ahead & give the the kitchen mat a try.

Sub decoupling is good for movies & music!!

The worktop I was talking about is a 1.5" thick piece of wood not a mat, should use that or continue using the 4mm thick ply wood?

Is the link below the sort of foam you meen when you say medium density? if so i alot of this spare i can cut it so it flat and glue it together to make 3" thick

http://w23.indonetwork.co.id/pdimage/60/497360_armaflex.jpg



System Details :

Samsung 40" TX-NR509 (TV)
Samsung BD-C5500 (Blu-Ray)
ONKYO TX-NR509B (Amp)
Bowers & Wilkins 685 (Front)
Gale 3050C (Center)
Gale 3010S (Rear)
Eltax Thunder 10" Active (Sub)
Harmony 1100 (Remote)
HDA XPLOSION 7.1[DTS] (Soundcard)
Shure SRH440 (Headphone)
Ultimate Ears SuperFi 5pro (Earphone)

 

[Beatmatcher247]

I picked up a couple of auralex Grandma's off of Audioholics' Store here. They should be here in a day or two. I'll post my findings this weekend in the "is it possible my house is acting as a bandpass box" thread when I've had a chance to do some measuring in and outside of the listening room. I've read nothing but good things about them. Hoping that my can lights rattle less and less bass radiates outside my home via the walls. Free shipping, 10% off with a facebook like discount.

 

[timoteo]

That pipe insulation seems more of a headache than anything to be honest. It's not the type of foam I was referring to either. You know the grey foam that is on the walls in sound studios or movie theaters? That is the foam I'm speaking of. It's called acoustical foam. Google for either a fabric store or foam shop near your home. Otherwise yeah just order one online. Look online at photos of the platforms to get an idea.

All they are is a piece of 1/2" MDF with cloth wrapped & glued around it. Then a couple strips (2"x4"x length) are glued to bottom sides with the same foam, but convoluted, glued between the runners. That's it!!

If your getting a new sub, add the cost of the platform into the total. Using sub-par materials will give you less that optimal results!

 

[Jay_C]

That pipe insulation seems more of a headache than anything to be honest. It's not the type of foam I was referring to either. You know the grey foam that is on the walls in sound studios or movie theaters? That is the foam I'm speaking of. It's called acoustical foam. Google for either a fabric store or foam shop near your home. Otherwise yeah just order one online. Look online at photos of the platforms to get an idea.

All they are is a piece of 1/2" MDF with cloth wrapped & glued around it. Then a couple strips (2"x4"x length) are glued to bottom sides with the same foam, but convoluted, glued between the runners. That's it!!

If your getting a new sub, add the cost of the platform into the total. Using sub-par materials will give you less that optimal results!

Ye I will have to budget with me getting a new Sub and center speaker I will also need some foam for my fronts.
I am on a limited budget so I’d like to stick to something that will help the sound until I get my new speakers
So even though I agree 100% about sub-par materials not giving optimal results, I’ll try the pipe foam until I can afford my new speakers. I’d rather have some results that none at all.

Oh side question I can’t find a way for my sig to appear on every post automatically is there an option for this?


System Details :

Samsung 40" TX-NR509 (TV)
Samsung BD-C5500 (Blu-Ray)
ONKYO TX-NR509B (Amp)
Bowers & Wilkins 685 (Front)
Gale 3050C (Center)
Gale 3010S (Rear)
Eltax Thunder 10" Active (Sub)
Harmony 1100 (Remote)
HDA XPLOSION 7.1[DTS] (Soundcard)
Shure SRH440 (Headphone)
Ultimate Ears SuperFi 5pro (Earphone)

 

[afterlife2]

I'd search out some foam instead if possible. The sub needs to have enough decoupling to absorb the vibrations. If you can't get foam at all them go ahead & give the the kitchen mat a try.

Sub decoupling is good for movies & music!!

Would this work?
Amazon.com: Sonic Barrier 1" Acoustic Foam w/PSA 18" x 24": Electronics
or
http://www.amazon.com/Nanuk-Part-Foam-Inserts-Case/dp/B003JH7XBA/ref=sr_1_34?ie=UTF8&qid=1337785144&sr=8-34
or
http://www.amazon.com/Acoustic-Foam-1-1-24-18/dp/B0002ZPLPC/ref=pd_sbs_p_10

 

[j_garcia]

Those should both work, but so will this
Amazon.com: 12 x 12 x 2" Charcoal Soft Foam Sheets: Office Products

 

[timoteo]

Yes that is the type of foam. By you want it a good 2"-3" thick. The convoluted foam (with the bumps) is the type that you want between the to "runner" pieces. The runners should be 2"-3" tall, about 4" wide & the length of the platform (ea). You want 2 of those pieces & you'd want to put them on the bottom but on the sides. Then you put a piece of the convoluted foam (bumpy) in between like I mentioned. I hope this makes sense!

 

[j_garcia]

Yes that is the type of foam. By you want it a good 2"-3" thick. The convoluted foam (with the bumps) is the type that you want between the to "runner" pieces. The runners should be 2"-3" tall, about 4" wide & the length of the platform (ea). You want 2 of those pieces & you'd want to put them on the bottom but on the sides. Then you put a piece of the convoluted foam (bumpy) in between like I mentioned. I hope this makes sense!

I will get pics of the foam setup on the bottom of my Gramma this weekend.

 

[afterlife2]

Thank JG!

 

[j_garcia]

Gramma

 

[afterlife2]

Thanks for the pics JG! So if I get a piece a flat wood with carpet on top and this on the bottom it will work?
Seems like the cheapest option: http://www.amazon.com/Acoustic-Foam-2-1-24-18/dp/B0002ZPLP2/ref=pd_sim_MI_1
If there is the cheaper option let me know.

 

[timoteo]

If you get that convoluted foam then I recommend getting enough to stack 2 layers together. Have the "bumps" facing eachother so they interlock. A single layer of that foam won't be quite enough to support a large sub. But 2 layers will give you better rigidity & will absorb more. You don't nessssarily need to have 2 runners with the convoluted in the middle. Instead you could have the 2 layers stacked & just covering the entire bottom of the MDF plate.

Don't use wood or plywood for the top plate. Use a piece of 1/2" MDF (medium density fiberboard) this absorbs energy better. Cut it a little larger than the sub, 1" overhang on each side of sub. This will make it more stable. Wrap it in some black felt using spray adhesive. Wrap over the sides & staple the bottom edges. Cut off any excess so there is plenty of MDF exposed on the bottom for the foam to stick to. Then use the spray adhesive to attach the foam. It's very simple to do. Have fun!!

 

[afterlife2]

timoteo thanks. Looks like I should just buy one. It will end up costing about the same trying to get all those materials.

 

[timoteo]

Yeah probably! You don't really save much if any until you are building 2 or more platforms. For those who only have 1sub & so only need 1platform, buying it prebuilt is the easiest.