Listening to noise through speakers at home

accidental · August 02, 2016, 06:52:23 PM

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Andrew McIntosh · August 03, 2016, 03:59:36 AM

Usually listen with speakers rather than headphones anyway. I keep the volume down to a respectable level. I don't want to be the cunt that bothers other people with unwanted noise. It's bad enough there are fuckwits who insist on foisting their appalling taste in music on everyone else in earshot, whether it's neighbours turning up their miserable doof or brainless kids on public transport turning up their miserable - I don't know what you call it now, hip-hop? R&B? Urban? That kind of shite, anyway.

What I listen to is personal, so there's no need to share it with anyone, least of all the people I have to live next to. So far I haven't had any complaints but that doesn't mean neighbours don't hear anything or aren't annoyed by it. I really should inquire, out of politeness.

a_2_g_2 · August 03, 2016, 06:31:19 AM

Live far away from other people
problem solved.

But seriously, I have some QSC speakers that I like to play really loud music from occasionally, nobody really cares unless its really late at night.

tiny_tove · August 03, 2016, 10:48:50 AM

I live in a small condominium. The only person I could annoy lives in the upper floor, but is never there.
Said this I don't listen at top volume due to tinnitus, so I am noticeable only when you pass next to my door.
My listening times are usually between 6 pm and 8 pm, then I start watching movies.

I use headphones only for recording.

Different systems in the house.
- Main stereo system with cd, tapedeck, vinyil, subwoofer.
- Recording station with its own amps.
- bedroom system (tape, cd, files)
plus a small system connected with my laptop.

I am surrounded.

Ashmonger · August 03, 2016, 12:53:11 PM

Quote from: Andrew McIntosh on August 03, 2016, 03:59:36 AMWhat I listen to is personal, so there's no need to share it with anyone, least of all the people I have to live next to. So far I haven't had any complaints but that doesn't mean neighbours don't hear anything or aren't annoyed by it. I really should inquire, out of politeness.

I don't know whether that's a good idea, you risk making people pay attention to it and becoming annoyed afterwards.

acsenger · August 03, 2016, 01:36:45 PM

I moved to a new apartment recently and the walls are thinner than what I had been used to, so I was worried at the beginning that I might annoy the neighbours. However, so far there have been no complaints. I listen to music at what I consider reasonable volume (and always on speakers) and I wouldn't listen at louder volumes even if I had no neighbours because I prefer the current volume (which is lucky cause otherwise I'd surely be disturbing the neighbours and damaging my hearing).

I actually haven't met my neighbours yet, so maybe when I do, they'll ask what the hell those sounds are that they must inevitably hear when they pass by my entrance door. However, if it disturbed them, I imagine they'd be knocking on my door.

ConcreteMascara · August 03, 2016, 04:21:04 PM

I think a certain amount of noise is standard for apartment living, music or otherwise? I guess it depends on the neighborhood, your neighbors and how strictly the landlord enforces noise complaints. When I was in college I lived in a decent apartment building with pretty thick walls so I was able to blast music of all types, at all hours. I think eventually new tenants moved in in a nearby apartment and they liked that less so I started getting a lot of noise complaints rapidly. Especially once I started drunkenly recording horrible mic feedback sessions at 2am.

Currently I live in a different building and I only have neighbors below me who have never said anything, although I'm generally a bit more reasonable with volume and hours. I find that it is very hard to judge what they might be able to hear from my apartment at what hours. I have two 4'6" Technics speakers for my primary system so they can be very very loud but they're not overly bass heavy so I guess it helps? Also, my neighbors are Turkish immigrants so I don't know if they're afraid to approach/report me if I am too loud but then I hear their kids screaming till 2am sometimes so I guess it all evens out...

I have found that generally listening to music at lower volumes than I did 5 years ago has actually helped me to hear it better, and as a result I don't need to blast stuff to get my full enjoyment out of it.

Andrew McIntosh · August 03, 2016, 04:45:54 PM

Quote from: Ashmonger on August 03, 2016, 12:53:11 PMI don't know whether that's a good idea, you risk making people pay attention to it and becoming annoyed afterwards.

Not a bad point but I still feel I should at least make an effort. Because -

Quote from: accidental on August 03, 2016, 07:47:13 AM...the problem is many will not tell you it's annoying them even though it might be to some extent.

- which is very true. The only neighbours I'm concerned about at this stage are the ones who have a little child. The fuckhead who keeps standing outside his front door hawking up phlegm audibly enough to make me want to record him every time he does it and give him a cdr of his own disgusting noise, I couldn't give a fuck about. But I don't want to fuck over a young family.

I know what it's like to live next door to selfish cunts who just play their stupid music loud even though I've asked politely more than once to please turn it down. In fact, it was that factor that made me move to the place I live in now, which is for the most part nice and quiet. I have no intention of joining such ranks. I might be a misanthrope but I'm not a cunt.

aububs · August 03, 2016, 10:24:44 PM

Quote from: Andrew McIntosh on August 03, 2016, 04:45:54 PMI might be a misanthrope but I'm not a cunt.

words to live by.

tiny_tove · August 03, 2016, 10:41:55 PM

tattoo....

Zodiac · August 04, 2016, 05:06:07 PM

Quote from: a_2_g_2 on August 03, 2016, 06:31:19 AM
Live far away from other people
problem solved.

This.

Fluid Fetish · August 05, 2016, 12:33:05 AM

I've thought about this myself too actually....I live in a small one bedroom apartment that I've had for six years with the same neighbors and I have insomnia and typically work 50-60+ hour weeks so when I get home it's usually pretty late, and then I'm up all night. My building is from the 60's or 70's and has pretty thick walls, I have pretty small/shitty speakers and I don't ever listen to music TOO loud but sometimes I wonder why no one has knocked on my door or complained when I'm somewhat loudly playing SPK at 3am on a Tuesday night, especially because I at times smoke a LOT of weed with no windows open or anything and no one ever says anything, as I'm told by my peers I'm not the most approachable person due to my appearance maybe they figure I'd just tell them to fuck off (which I wouldn't, anyone who is mature enough to knock on my door and ask me like an adult to turn my fucking racket down to my face instead of calling the cops instantly has my respect and cooperation)....especially because I live across the hall from a Pentecostal Church pastor and below me is a diagnosed schizophrenic who is extremely reclusive (no idea about the people above me and no one is next door to me as I live on the corner and right next to the elevator shaft) but both neighbors are actually very friendly to me, despite in the not so distant past having undoubtedly heard me lose my temper several times, various sexual noises, the racket of my insane ex-girlfriend etc. I've told the husband several times if anything is ever too loud or anything (smoke) is too bothersome just to knock on my door and let me know ANY time. He always tells me it hasn't been a problem yet. I literally don't want to move largely because of this situation that I actually really appreciate.

holy ghost · August 05, 2016, 12:33:48 AM

I'm in a semi detached. My one neighbor is into "electro-industrial" although I'm not really sure what that actually means - I asked if it was like witch house but I don't think that was the case..... anyway, he swears he's never heard any music coming from my place although I've been known to sit and drink beers and crank tunes all night.

My other neighbor has these kids that sit outside and smoke weed all the time with these douche losers and I have overheard them complaining about weird shit coming from my window as my living room is very close to their back porch. Not even about the noise, more about the content. Not concerned at all too be honest, if their mom said she was bothered I'd take it very seriously as she's a great neighbor but quite frankly I don't give a shit about her kids.....

cantle · August 05, 2016, 10:36:18 PM

I'm lucky even though I live in a terracre it is old and has very thick walls.

Fluid Fetish · August 11, 2016, 10:38:39 PM

The key apparently is to find an old building as they typically have thick walls and be up front and/or polite with your neighbors. Like accidental mentioned, it never hurts to just walk out into your hall or if you know your neighbors even, turn up your music and then go see how far it travels. Or just listen on high quality head phones and shut the world out. I'm an asshole, but at least I'm a courteous and somewhat polite asshole.