A subwoofer can be used in an apartment as long as the vibrations are controlled. Long wavelengths make up the base frequencies of a subwoofer, allowing them to easily travel through barriers.
The balance between getting the most out of your audio system and being a decent neighbor can be a bit difficult for music and movie fans who live in apartments. This article will explain a few things you can do to reduce the extent to which you disturb your neighbor and possibly improve your sound system.
Subwoofers are not illegal in most apartments and high-rise buildings, but playing loud music is illegal in most cases. You need to keep the volume of your bass down in order to reduce vibrations and affect your neighbors.
Are Subwoofers Illegal In Apartments?
Loud music can be a problem in and of itself if you live in an apartment where other people stay, but a subwoofer can cause additional issues because of the vibrations it produces.
Subwoofers sound terrific, and even the most irritated neighbors can appreciate bass at a good time, but they’re not ideal most of the time, especially if you stay in an apartment. It is very likely for your subwoofer to cause aggravation, fights, and, in the worst-case scenario, eviction from your own home.
While there is no law against using a sub in an apartment, is it rude to get a subwoofer for your apartment? Yes, most likely. Is it possible to get a subwoofer type that both you and your neighbors will enjoy? Definitely.
Are Subwoofers Legal In High-Rise Apartments?
Do you live in a multi-story structure and you are wondering if it is legal to use a subwoofer in your room?
Yes, it is legal to use a subwoofer in a high-rise flat. You may watch and listen to music and videos of your choice with your subwoofer as you’re probably making no noise. You can enjoy your music without having to inconvenience your neighbors.
Can I Have A Subwoofer In My Flat?
Subwoofers are not the same as the other surround speakers. Because their drives and motors are much larger and heavier, they can only reproduce low frequencies sounds. As a result, these subwoofers are likely to produce great room-shaking bass.
Mechanical shock and vibration are caused by this energy, which is then transported to your floor, ceiling, and walls, generating rattling and resonance.
But yes, you can have a subwoofer in your flat once you follow the necessary steps to secure your flat as these vibrations are likely to cause a lot of damage, such as shaking your wallpaper until it falls off.
Best Subwoofers For Apartments
This subwoofer’s speaker is a 13-inch SVS driver with a vented aluminum cone that allows the metal to maintain an appropriate mass ratio for music.
SVS SB-3000 13″ Subwoofer
You can easily change and tune the sound using different controllers to get your favorite crisp and clear sound. The speaker is slightly heavier than many other subwoofers of similar size, but its dimensions of 15.2″x17.8″x15.6″ allow it to fit in almost any place in your home.
It’s still possible to use a smaller cone for huge rooms in case you are worried you using a small cone. One of the best advantages is that you can control the subwoofer using the SVS smartphone app from a distance. Note that it is more expensive than other speakers.
BIC America F12 12-Inch 475-Watt Front Firing Powered Subwoofer
If you don’t have a lot of money to spend on a subwoofer for your apartment, BIC America can be a wonderful alternative because it offers outstanding sound at an affordable price.
This 12″ front-firing speaker can play clear, loud, and sharp music at home, and it’s patterned after the same speakers that have been used in movie theaters.
This subwoofer’s sensitivity can reach 116 dB, which is virtually as loud as a live musical performance, thanks to its adjustable crossover and volume.
The speaker is wired and features Dolby Digital/DTS and Dolby Pro inputs. Because the subwoofer contains a built-in amplifier, it can start playing music as soon as you plug it in and turn it on.
Subwoofer Stands and Subwoofer Isolation
Using subwoofers causes vibrations. Objects that generate vibrations or vibrational waves are well known for transmitting these vibrations or vibrational waves to anything they come into direct touch with.
- Subwoofer Isolation products help to prevent or decrease the transfer of vibrational waves from your subwoofer to your structures. It accomplishes this by separating the bass frequencies and preventing them from colliding with the subwoofer’s surroundings.
- Subwoofer Stands are also unique in that they minimize contact between the subwoofer and the ground. This was designed to reduce vibration transfer from your sub to the floor. It also lets you put a vibration-absorbing rubber between your subwoofer and the stand.
- Avoid Downfiring Subwoofers: Downfiring subwoofers produce bass waves downwards and that will spread through the floor. If someone lives below you, this can affect them.
This is an excellent solution for reducing vibrations, and it can be combined with isolation pads. It is, however, rather costly.
How To Deal With Neighbors With Subwoofers
There are several ways to deal with a neighbor using a subwoofer. Try one of the listed methods below to you find one with the best result:
- Ceiling Soundproofing: You can soundproof your ceiling in a variety of ways. One option is to install a drop ceiling over your existing ceiling. Acoustic clouds with specific surface patterns can be used as drop ceilings. Aside from its aesthetic value, this type of additional ceiling will create some space in between, which will aid in sound isolation.
- Soundproof The Door: To block as much sound as possible, try using vinyl or neoprene strips to fill any gaps on your door. The best feature of these materials is that they are great, making them ideal for sound absorption.
- Using Headphones Or Earmuffs: Using headphones and noise-canceling earmuffs is the last recommendation on our list. Although they won’t assist with the vibrations, headphones and earmuffs can help filter out most outside noises, allowing you to sleep well.
Conclusion
Many audiophiles tend to sacrifice their preference for their neighbor’s satisfaction. It doesn’t have to be this way. You can enjoy that thick bass and still be within a safe limit without triggering your neighbors. We have explained which subwoofers are suitable for your apartment. You can also use your subwoofer and reduce its impact on your house using subwoofer isolations and stands.
In addition, if your neighbor has a subwoofer that disturbs your peace or daily activity, you can try one of the many hacks listed in the article to reduce noise and vibration.