Using Surround Sound in a Terrace Houses

Firsttimebuy1991

Hi

How noisy are terraced houses? For example can you hear people talking all day, singing in the shower. I’d like to buy a surround sound cinema system and I’m wondering how to use this in a terraced house.

Is sound proofing expensive or is there a particular type of terraced house I should look at (e.g Victorian) which has the best sound proofing.

Thanks for thoughts and comments!

Dave_606

Its more the sub woofer that would be heard & felt. If a terraced house, the maximum volume without pi$$ing off the neighbours would likely be limited. Though saying that, we are in an end terraced (100+ years old) and have yet to hear the neighbours at all. Might be lucky there or a sign of a nice solid soundproof wall. I guess all you can do is ask when viewing what any noise from the neighbours is like.
An end terrace would certainly help I guess and allow the placement of equipment further away from any neighbours to minimise noise pollution.

lookstraightahead

I've lived in terraces, flats and detached houses. I don't even put a telly on an adjoining wall. I would def not have surround sound and as your neighbour it would indeed upset me. A lot. What is it with surround sound anyway?

VincentVincent

I think it would be better to invest in some high end headphones instead and have the best of both worlds; cinema quality audio and not aggravating your neighbours.

Headphones are also far cheaper than speakers for the same quality and there isn't anything better if you really want to immerse yourself.

jamesperrett

I had a soundproof room built in an old Victorian semi around 15 years ago which cost £25k. However, that included extra soundproof doors and splitting the soundproof area into two rooms (it was a recording studio rather than a home cinema).

muhandis

It also depends on the nature of the city/town/village you live in. Ive lived in flats, terraces in zones 1-3 London for many years and people generally have a very high tolerance to noise from neighbouring properties and indeed the streets. And I felt the same as well, was never bothered by music from the next house, etc.

Otoh when I was in a small town up north for a year, I’d get annoyed by someone standing outside and talking loudly on the phone.

Of course there’s the odd neighbour you can never keep happy, we had one in a flat who’d always knock and tell us to turn down the TV, even though it was super low and even we could barely make what was being said. Eventually had to tell her to take a hike and make a complaint to the council if she thought it was too much.

RelievedSheff

Having lived in a semi detached house where you could hear everything from next door I would say that you are likely to be able to hear a surround sound system in an older terraced property.

We had a brilliant Bang and Olufsen 600w sound bar which we had to get rid of when we lived in the 1930's semi as we just couldn't use it to anything like it's full potential.

We unexpectedly moved a few months later to our current new build detached. The sound bar would be great for this house but not we are using a little 30w JML sound bar we bought instead!

Lioness_Twinkletoes

lookstraightahead wrote: »

I've lived in terraces, flats and detached houses. I don't even put a telly on an adjoining wall. I would def not have surround sound and as your neighbour it would indeed upset me. A lot. What is it with surround sound anyway?

That's nice for you, but some of us live in terraced houses where both walls in the living room are adjoining. I also have a surround sound (improves the sound, clue is in the title) and no issues with the neighbours.

LandyAndy

jamesperrett wrote: »

I had a soundproof room built in an old Victorian semi around 15 years ago which cost £25k. However, that included extra soundproof doors and splitting the soundproof area into two rooms (it was a recording studio rather than a home cinema).

Glad you clarified that.

[Deleted User]

Another one for suggested good quality wireless headphones, then you get good quality sound wherever you are without disturbing anyone.

Slinky

Dave_606 wrote: »

I guess all you can do is ask when viewing what any noise from the neighbours is like.

And the chances are they'll tell you they are never disturbed by next door as they think you're asking because you're worried about hearing noise, not making it!