Basement Arcade Sound Absorption

Zud

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So those of you with a basement arcade, what did you use to deaden the sound? Wife wants to make sure the sound does not travel from basement to 1st floor. I will have a drywall ceiling with insullation between the floor joists. I will also have insullation in the walls. I was thinking of using drywall that has sound deadening material in it, if I can find some.

So any ideas would be great. FYI I have a large space to cover as you can see by my previous post about the gameroom layout. :D
 
I used sound deadening (or supposedly) insulation in the ceiling when I redid my basement. I also tore out the dropped ceiling and put in can lights with drywall. I can hear just about everything from upstairs, but it is hard to hear the gameroom or basement sounds upstairs. The can lights probably add to the sound level in the basement, since they are basically open holes, but I think the drywall/insulation helps keep the sounds in the basement. The other option, which will be pretty expensive is to use something like dynamax/dynamat or whatever it is called nowadays- the stuff that they put in cars with huge stereos to deaden the sound that gets out of the car. It is pretty pricey if used on a large scale, but I considered it as well.
 
Green Glue. Use two layers of drywall and put this stuff in between them. The guys in the home theater community swear by it. I used it when I converted my 2-story detached garage into an office/gameroom and it did a great job. The only sound that travels between floors is kids stomping upstairs. It keeps out most outside sounds as well. Even lawn mowers. It's not cheap but if you're only using it for the ceiling it shouldn't be too expensive.

http://www.greengluecompany.com/
 
I have a basement arcade, and pretty much the same issue exists for me. I can hear all significant noise from downstairs to upstairs. Arcade section of the basement is directly underneath the bedroom too. *ouch* So, unless the game has a volume control, it doesn't get played past a certain time at night. I also have a drop ceiling that I refuse to rip out.
 
Another option is to use "resilient channel" (Google it) between the drywall and joists on the ceiling. I have a suspended ceiling in my basement so I can't comment on how well it actually works, but it's supposed to decouple the ceiling from the floor above to dampen vibration, since the drywall is no longer rigidly attached to the floor above. Used in combination with sound deadening material in between, it's supposed to do a good job soundproofing.
 
My arcade is in the basement, and as part of code I had to have insulation between the 1st floor joists, so you can't hear anything between the basement and 1st floor, you have to really really scream.
 
when i was a kid and we built my drum room in the basement, we used styrofoam sheets glued to both sides or each joist and on the subfloor between the joists, then used super thick insulation, then drywalled it all in. worked pretty good.
 
Another thing you have to worry about is return air vents.

Doesn't matter how much insulation you put if your return air vent is shared with the room upstairs.
 
LOL, you mean the intercom right?

Haha, too funny.

I just finished my basement office and insulated the ceiling to prevent music from disturbing the kids upstairs. After putting the carpet and door in I cranked the music and went upstairs only to clearly hear it.

I could plug up the return air vent, I suppose.

This was a small trial in preparation for the arcade and home theater part of the basement. Looks like I have some extra work cut out for me.

The home theater people are fanatical about sound insulation! I think you could drop 10s of thousands of dollars in just sound proofing a room!
 
We only have insulation in the ceiling, then a drop ceiling.

Wife says she never hears the games. Not even Hyperball.

Unless the door is opne, then it's a whole different story.

They do make sound deadening drywall that I understand is very good.

CHris
 
http://www.quietrock.com/quietrock-drywall.html

In the air return could you put some panels in line like this

zk20qa.jpg



It would reduce the flow some but would act kinda like the inside of a car muffler to reduce the sound waves
 
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Well my new Gameroom is sound proofed. I keep asking the wife when I come upstairs if she heard anything, she keeps saying no. I have an F14 pin and that is the loudest thing I own. I think I am good for an all night party. :D
 
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