inexpensive sound insulation

[gusfinley]

I am looking to reduce some sound transmission through the plaster walls in my rented apartment, as well as cutdown on unwanted reflections.

What is a good non-permanent way to do this? I was thinking of buying some blanets and hanging them on the walls and ceiling. Or maybe some of those 18" square cardboard eggcrates, although they would look terrible and would not be as easy to set-up and remove quickly.


thanks

Gus

[Ethan Winer]

Gus,

Blankets and egg crates do nothing to prevent disturbing the neighbors. They will help a little to get rid of echoes, but only at the highest frequencies. Proper acoustic treatment requires absorption that's effective down to bass frequencies. When you cover the walls with blankets or other thin materials the room becomes too dead, yet the bass and low mids are still bouncing all over making it boomy sounding.

--Ethan