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How to Reduce Bass Noise from Neighbors | Blocking Low Frequencies

How to Reduce the Bass Noise and Annoying Low Frequency Sounds Emanating From Your Neighbors

Usually, the biggest problem coming from your neighbors is not the volume of sound they make, but from the bass and other low frequency noises that emanate from their speakers. The thumping sounds they make are just seriously mind-boggling and annoying to the highest power. Of course, even if we feel like it, it’s illegal to kill of these annoying neighbors. What then can we do?

If you are stuck with nasty, inconsiderate, and annoying neighbors that refuse to lower their bass and stop their racket, you have to take matters into your own hands because this level of noise pollution has serious consequences for your hearing and mental health. You don’t want your eardrums to suffer from an annoyingly loud decibel of noise. You also don’t want to suffer mentally because you’re always agitated in your own home. We feel your pain because we know it is hard to sleep and relax when it is noisy.

If you are stuck in this situation, consider the following ways listed below to prevent deep base noise sounds and other low frequency sounds from reaching your apartment. Here are some materials that you may need for this project. We have tried out most of them, so you can rest assured that these offer premium sound deadening. Remember this: you may not be able to control your neighbor’s volume, but you can control your immediate surroundings and make them sound proof.

Materials You Need for Canceling Bass Noise

Product
Sound Addicted - Studio Monitor Isolation Pads for 5 Inch Monitors, Pair of Two High Density Acoustic Foam which Fits most Speaker Stands | SMPad 5
Resilient Metal Hat Channel - 8.6' long - Pack of 20
Green Glue Noiseproofing Sealant pack of 6 Tubes (28 oz each) - With Cleanup Wipes
ROBERTS Black Jack 100 sq. ft., 28 ft. x 43 in. x 2.5 mm Premium 2-in-1 Underlayment for Laminate and Engineered Wood Floors
Siless Black 50 mil 52 sqft Sound Deadening mat - Sound Deadener Mat - Car Sound Dampening Material - Sound dampener - Sound deadening Material Sound Insulation - Car Sound deadening
Preview
Sound Addicted - Studio Monitor Isolation Pads for 5 Inch Monitors, Pair of Two High Density Acoustic Foam which Fits most Speaker Stands | SMPad 5
Resilient Metal Hat Channel - 8.6' long - Pack of 20
Green Glue Noiseproofing Sealant pack of 6 Tubes (28 oz each) - With Cleanup Wipes
ROBERTS Black Jack 100 sq. ft., 28 ft. x 43 in. x 2.5 mm Premium 2-in-1 Underlayment for Laminate and Engineered Wood Floors
Siless Black 50 mil 52 sqft Sound Deadening mat - Sound Deadener Mat - Car Sound Dampening Material - Sound dampener - Sound deadening Material Sound Insulation - Car Sound deadening
Prime Benefits
-
Product
Sound Addicted - Studio Monitor Isolation Pads for 5 Inch Monitors, Pair of Two High Density Acoustic Foam which Fits most Speaker Stands | SMPad 5
Preview
Sound Addicted - Studio Monitor Isolation Pads for 5 Inch Monitors, Pair of Two High Density Acoustic Foam which Fits most Speaker Stands | SMPad 5
Prime Benefits
-
Details
Product
Resilient Metal Hat Channel - 8.6' long - Pack of 20
Preview
Resilient Metal Hat Channel - 8.6' long - Pack of 20
Prime Benefits
Details
Product
Green Glue Noiseproofing Sealant pack of 6 Tubes (28 oz each) - With Cleanup Wipes
Preview
Green Glue Noiseproofing Sealant pack of 6 Tubes (28 oz each) - With Cleanup Wipes
Prime Benefits
Details
Product
ROBERTS Black Jack 100 sq. ft., 28 ft. x 43 in. x 2.5 mm Premium 2-in-1 Underlayment for Laminate and Engineered Wood Floors
Preview
ROBERTS Black Jack 100 sq. ft., 28 ft. x 43 in. x 2.5 mm Premium 2-in-1 Underlayment for Laminate and Engineered Wood Floors
Prime Benefits
Details
Product
Siless Black 50 mil 52 sqft Sound Deadening mat - Sound Deadener Mat - Car Sound Dampening Material - Sound dampener - Sound deadening Material Sound Insulation - Car Sound deadening
Preview
Siless Black 50 mil 52 sqft Sound Deadening mat - Sound Deadener Mat - Car Sound Dampening Material - Sound dampener - Sound deadening Material Sound Insulation - Car Sound deadening
Prime Benefits
Details
Getting rid of the bass noises or low frequency sounds emanating from your neighbors is not going to be easy. On top of that, you may need to prepare some dough because it will cost you some money. Thankfully, there are many good deals on Amazon where you can buy sound proofing materials to help with your issues. You can also try these bass busting solutions below, ranging from simple changes to more complex projects to help you address those noisy neighbors that just can’t keep quiet:

1. Talk to Your Neighbors

This is the simplest solution to address the problem, but it is probably also one of the hardest steps because let’s face it, no one wants to offend their neighbors. However, if those bass and low frequencies noises are just too much to bear, talking to them is your first line of defense. The key is to be diplomatic about it, so there will be no problems. Being polite can go along way. If you start your conversation on a belligerent tone, then chances are you may end up antagonizing each other. You can choose to talk to them in person or call them if you have their phone numbers. If you live in an apartment complex, you can inform your building management and let them do the talking on your behalf. But if there is no building manager or landlord, you have no choice but to do it yourself. Discussions that deal with conflict resolution don’t have to be stressful if you plan things in advance. Jot down you thoughts on paper, so you can visualize what you’re going to say. State your case calmly and rationally, so you won’t ruffle any feathers. In normal circumstances, friendly neighbors will apologize because they don’t realize their bass music is bothering you. If they are the friendly sort, you can even give them advice to buy sound isolation pads, which have a dual purpose. They serve to improve the quality of the bass, while preventing the noise from reaching you. These affordable isolation pads are available on Amazon. Influencing your neighbors to get this is a win-win situation for all of you.
Sale
Sound Addicted - Studio Monitor Isolation Pads for 5 Inch Monitors, Pair of Two High Density Acoustic Foam which Fits most Speaker Stands | SMPad 5
  • SMPad 5 is made out of the highest quality acoustical foam (50kg/m^3 density).
  • 7.5'' x 11'' x 1.6'' inch (W x D x H). Designed to hold up to 24 lb without changing the shape.

But in some cases, you will be next to people that don’t give a damn. They’ll raise their eyebrows at you and continue doing what they like to do. That’s life and some people are inconsiderate! However, if things escalate, especially if they do it at the crack of dawn with a clear intent of pissing you off, then by all means, please call the police to explain the situation. However, if you’re the type who doesn’t like messy situations, then consider doing your own sound proofing to ward off those annoying sounds.

2. Consider Building a Room Within a Room

It may sound like a funny suggestion but this is a serious solution. You need to create another wall that doesn’t touch the pre-existing walls of the room you are sound proofing. Remember, sound travels through walls. If you keep a small empty space in between them, the flow of travel is impeded because the bass sound can no longer vibrate and pass the sound around the structure. Instead, the sound will be dispersed in the minute air space in between the walls. This is fairly similar to installing resilient channels, which again are abundantly found online. These can be installed to absorb the sound of structural noises. You can also add another layer of drywall and add green glue in between the layers to dampen bass sounds even more. Green glue is a compound on Amazon that many use for their free soundproofing needs because it fortifies surfaces that transmit the sound, making sure it stays put and doesn’t bother you.
If doing this all on your own seems daunting, then you may consider hiring professionals to help you install these materials in between the drywall in your home. If you’re renting, you may want to consult your landlord first if you are allowed to install these fixtures in your place. Hiring professionals to fix your wall will need some monetary investment, but doing these simple wall changes can easily transform your situation and give you the peace of mind of a quiet home. Peace and quite after a long day at work should not have to be a luxury in your own home.

3. Stop the Noise from Traveling by Insulating

What works for your walls will also work for your ceilings. Typically, if the problem is ordinary noise, soundproofing your walls is more than enough. However, if the bass noises are still too much, then you should consider padding even your ceiling with different kinds of materials that inhibit noise. This step will cost time, money, and take a lot of effort because it includes stripping walls down to the frame, so you can pad them with soundproof insulation materials.
With the right set of materials and equipment like a saw, screw driver, drill bits, screws, and the like, you will be very well on your way to soundproofing those walls. You can stuff your ceilings and walls with sound proofing insulation to mute out sounds and to improve the acoustics of the room. Installing what you call the mass loaded vinyl on the upper parts will get rid of those airborne sounds that pass and bound around your walls. Remember, only high mass materials work efficiently on blocking out bass sounds. This is the reason why it is critical to install MLV over studs and insulation because they all complement each other to ensure maximum sound deadening.

4. Don’t Neglect your Floor

Apart from floating your floor, akin to a resilient channel that creates space that prevent sound from traveling within your flooring, you can put mats. Do not underestimate the power of these sound proof materials that can be mass loaded vinyl under the carpet or by merely placing rubber mats in between. If you have the budget, you can opt to buy sound deadening mats that work efficiently to block off the sound. If budget is an issue, your ordinary yoga mat will also work equally well to ward off those annoying bass and low frequency noises coming from next door.
If budget is not an issue, you may need to take apart your floor boards for the best soundproofing method. An underlayment like the Roberts Black Jack Underlayment on Amazon will give the best results. Once these have been installed, you can place back the hardwood floors without anyone knowing there is a stuffing of high mass barrier in between to drown out the sound.

5. Utilize White Noise to Drown Out Some of the Bass Sounds

If money is tight, a simple solution to drown away those noisy bass sounds and annoying low frequency noises coming from your neighbors is to use a white noise machine. This device actually works well in drowning out noises of ALL frequency levels and best part is it doesn’t break the bank. Technically speaking, white noise is a compilation of all humanly detectable sound frequencies that range from 20 to 20,000 Hertz. Thus, the sound coming from it can effectively drown out bass noises.

That being said, white noise machines will not completely get rid of all the auditory elements of bass noise. But in general the many white noise fans and machines for sale online like in Amazon will be sufficient enough to block those annoying bass sounds. It may not completely take the sound away, but at least you will be getting the much needed sleep that you are craving for.

There are many white noise machines in the market today that can actually make more than one sounds. You can choose from nature sounds like rain drops, whispering winds, or the ocean wave. You can also opt for a more ambient sounds like a swooshing sound and shhhhhhushing (shush) sound, and the like. With these choices, you can pick the one that you like best to give you that illusion that your neighbors have ceased making those annoying bass and low frequency noises.

6. Block of that Bass Sounds with Noise Canceling Headphones or Earmuffs

This is the final tip for dealing with those annoying bass sounds. Use noise canceling headphones or earbuds. If you have a snorer for a bed mate, you may actually already known that these can help drown out the sound. You can also opt for sound deadening earmuffs, which work in helping you keep your cool when your neighbors blast their bass heavy metal music at the maximum volume.

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Both devices can actually assist you well. Typically, earmuffs are really designed to cancel out noise, so these are undoubtedly effective. Headphones and earbuds were designed to make music. The noise canceling part is just the added bonus. That being said, you may find it annoying to have to constantly put these on when you’re at home. Even in your sleep, you may find them popping out of your ear when you toss and turn. But still, these two are pretty good and cheap options, especially if you don’t want to spend so much on remodeling your place. If you’re renting, it doesn’t make sense to spend too much because you may eventually end up moving down the line.

Bottom Line

As you can see, there are many ways to dampen the bass noises and low frequency sounds coming from your neighbors. The cheapest and most important is at the top of the list. After all, when you think about it, no one wants to be branded as the annoying inconsiderate neighbor. You might end up surprised when your neighbor exclaims that he or she isn’t even aware about the inconvenience they are causing you at how loud they are being. Before you buy anything or start any noise canceling projects, it is imperative to do the first step.

If you are unable to resolve the matter peacefully, then you may just have to push through with some of the projects mentioned herewith. Some of them can cost money and time, plus your effort if you choose to DIY, but these are worthy investments that may keep your mental sanity in check. It is, after all, vital to find a calm, peaceful, and serene environment to de-stress in after a long day at work. Stress is the number one killer, so if you don’t address this issue, you may just reach your breaking point.

If budget is an issue, buying a noise maker machine or opting to use noise canceling earmuff or headphone/ earbuds may also help alleviate the annoyance of your situation. These less permanent solutions can still offer you some relief without inflicting damage to your wallet. If things really do get out of hand, then you might consider moving to a different place. This can be easily done if you are just renting your apartment.

In this scenario of renting, asking your building management to talk to your neighbor is also another stop to make things a lot easier and quieter for you. Whatever option you decide, know that it is within your right to protect the peace and calm of your home. Exhausting all efforts to get your neighbors to take down their noisy bass and annoying frequency sounds may take time, but it will definitely be worth when there is already the sound of silence