Home theaters can be wonderful places to relax, retreat and entertain. If acoustics are overlooked, however, any home theater can become a nuisance to the rest of the house. But do not fear, we are here to show you how to soundproof a home theater!

In creating a home theater, two issues need to be addressed: soundproofing and sound absorption.

Soundproofing — blocking sound from entering or leaving a space.

LiveWire Home Theater Two inch fabric wrapped panels installed over the theater seating and the bar area.

LiveWire Home Theater — two-inch fabric wrapped panels installed over the theater seating and the bar area.

Before/during Construction

If acoustical issues are addressed during this phase, treatment will be most effective, and more choices will be available. Options include:

  • AudioSeal® Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV) Soundproofing Barrier — can be installed in walls, ceilings or floors and blocks sound using sheer mass.
  • Resilient Isolation Clips — an economical choice, these clips stop sound transfer by creating space between walls, ceilings or floors and what is opposite them (studs, concrete, wood, steel, etc.).
  • Green Glue — used between two rigid building materials such as drywall, Green Glue absorbs vibration within the wall. This reduces sound on the other side of the wall.

After Construction

If your walls and ceilings are already fully constructed don’t fret, it’s not too late. While not ideal, soundproofing treatment can be applied to the outside of a wall.

  • Absorber/Barrier Combination Blanket — these blankets can be hung on walls and are made of one barrier layer sandwiched between two absorptive layers.
  • Door Seal Kits — these kits seal gaps in doorways. This is important. A 1% opening will allow up to 50% of sound to pass through that opening.

Sound Absorption — stopping sound from reverberating or echoing within a space.

Countless combinations of options exist in this area, but we have a few suggestions:

  • AlphaSorb® Fabric Wrapped Acoustical Panels — used in many applications, these versatile panels work in home theaters by absorbing sound waves and converting them into heat energy. This eliminates sound from bouncing from wall to wall (echoing).
  • Bass Traps — these absorptive traps are important to have in the corners of a home theater because bass and other low-frequency sounds build up in corners.

To learn more about how Acoustical Solutions can solve your noise control problems, use our contact form, call one of our Acoustical Sales Consultants at (800) 782-5742, or visit us on the web at acousticalsolutions.com.