Listening room ceiling type?


I'm in the planning stages of my listening room in my basement. The dimensions will be approximately 13' x 19' with the ceiling measured 7'7" from concrete floor to the bottom of the joists above. The joists are 2x10 with a finished length of just less than 9". It is my intension to fill the space between joists with Roxul mineral wool bats. These bats have a 3" thickness.

Should I stick three of the bats between each joist to fill the space or say two bats with an air space between the floor above and the first bat and again an air space between the first bat and the second with no third bat at all. The joist run perpindicular to the direction the speakers will be pointing.

Also, I have had a suggestion to us burlap to cover the ceiling but thought this might be to absorbtive. I've been considering a drop ceiling of 2'x2' panels (1st choice) and a fixed drywall ceiling (2nd choice if not 3rd after burlap). Any advise from some of you folks in the know would be much appreciated. Thanks, Tom.
cosmic_void

Showing 1 response by douglas_schroeder

Some excellent responses.
In my HT which I built, soundproofing was of ultimate concern, as well as the sound quality. I had just under 8' of height.
To sound proof, I put prodigious amounts of insulation inbetween joists. However, I understand that if it's packed too tightly, it will actually work worse. I did pack it in around ducts, etc. which could carry noise.

I attatched "hat channel" or resilient channel (same thing) across the joists, then put up sheets of Homasote, which is a paper product good for noise barrier. I put the channel and homasote (you can check it out; it's at Home Despot), on the interior walls of the HT as well. It's excellent at sound blocking!
Then, put dropped ceiling in over the homasote and channel. This is one QUIET room! Very little noise transmission in or out of room. I can have system cranked pretty good and virtually no noise upstairs above.

Be forewarned; any "holes" or spaces in your ceiling will transmit noise. To allow for can lighting as well as a perfectly sound proof ceiling, I built individual sound-proof boxes recessed into the joists for the cans to sit in. They could be moved about within the boxes later for placement on the dropped ceiling grid. Worked perfect!
You'll have to caulk and foam all spaces! Even electrical outlets. Well worth the extra time.
I have zero noise from the dropped ceiling (it's a 3" drop; I had a professional install - very glad I did!)
Oh, and yes, if this room will double as a HT, DEFINITELY go witht he black ceiling tiles and channel! Very worth it! Really gives a classy appearance to the HT!

Get a subscription to Home Theater Builder Magazine and buy the past issues. There are some on sound proofing and every other aspect of room. Extremely valuable insights! don't begin building without first checking them out!