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Subs And The Downstairs Neighbors

I live in a brownstone in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. The building has the usual suspended hardwood floors but there must be magic insulation because I can listen at 90-plus decibels and remain quite friendly with the couple downstairs. Nor do I hear anything from upstairs.

I have an Arcam A19 and a pair of LS50s. The system sounds great but one wouldn’t call it chest-thumping. So I’m thinking about a subwoofer.

In traditional New York style, my apartment is both small and expensive. So I’m looking for a cheap, low profile, downfiring sub that will fit under the couch. Monoprice? I’d rather get something used but the only other low profile model I can find is a $1200 Focal.

The secondary question is whether I’ll be defiling the sound of the LS50s by using a cheap sub. I haven’t heard the Monoprice but it’s probably doesn’t sound REL-like. Supposedly it reaches 30 db. Is that low enough? The sound doesn’t have to be great, it just has to be better than it is now.

The primary question is whether the sound will break into the downstairs apartment. Just a gut reaction but it seems like I’d be asking for trouble.

There’s an similar thread from 2008. The poster only got two responses from people with actual experience. One nearly got evicted, the other had two subs and reports that all went well. I thought I would check to see if anyone in a similar position has joined since then. Anyone?
paul6001
m-db's avatar
m-db
969 posts
 

No soup for you...

I put my 70lb subs on extra soft rubber caster dollies topped with a two inch layer of open cell foam which greatly reduced the the low frequency transmission through my homes structure. Decoupling the subs and the substantial recalibration needed actually improved the subs low frequency presentation.

You'd satisfy your neighbors but a DIY cabinet with signal processing and a couch with futon like space might take you way over budget. There are some in wall or contractor models that may give you some ideas.

In my experience I would never consider 'sound REL-like' a goal. Good luck with it. 

garyalex
117 posts
 

I used to wonder if putting a floor standing speaker on spikes, as opposed to no spikes, reduced the amount of noise transmitted to the floor.  Living in an apartment with neighbors below is what prompted that thought.

I think the answer is no.  It's the same amount of energy regardless of the speaker's contact with the floor. Spikes wouldn't help but something like the SVS isolation product would. 

4krowme's avatar
4krowme
542 posts
 

I wonder if Rythmic sells a sub that would be right for you at the price range you want. I made mine for $700, minus the cabinet that I just happened to have, but it is a 12" model. They may have a put together kit or assembled in your price range.

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