Strong bass causing buzzing behind the wall


I've got a spot in my new listening room (in the basement) where there is a drywall wrap around some hvac ducting along one of the side walls at the ceiling. The drywall is installed over thin aluminum framing. When I play music with strong bass (e.g. Jennifer Warnes "Way Down Deep"), I can hear buzzing in the wall. I set up REW to generate a sine wave around 50Hz and I can easily cause the buzzing. 

The good news is that pushing on the drywall in a particular place will cause the buzzing to stop. So I'm trying to figure out the best way to fix this. I was thinking of drilling a small hole and spraying some expanding foam insulation. Something like this: 

https://www.homedepot.com/p/GREAT-STUFF-16-oz-Big-Gap-Filler-Insulating-Foam-Sealant-Quick-Stop-Straw-99053938/207050533

But I'm not confident that this will stop whatever is vibrating, and once this stuff is in, it might be harder to deal with the issue another way. 

Any ideas? Thanks.
128x128jaytor

Showing 3 responses by jetter

Hi jaytor, if you have never used it be very careful with it.  If you put too much in it will expand so much to push out your drywall, easily.  It can probably bend studs, its that strong.
213runnin
Yes, I did exaggerate a bit, on purpose to make a point to someone who may not have used the product. I would hate to see a tiny problem replaced with a big one. I had very expensive Marvin Ultimate windows installed where the installers used the expanding foam as a bit of insulation on two of the windows and to this day the windows are a bear to open and close. Yes, I have used it myself.

I do disagree with Millercarbon's benign description of the product just above.
I agree with you audiozenology.  Really no need to analyze my comments any further as wl all have made OP aware that this stuff expands like all get out and can wreck "stuff" (yes most likely drywall or sheetrock name depending on the part of the country you live) if not used carefully.

213runnin, it was used between the stud and the wood frame of the window.  Per Marvin professionals it is not an uncommon problem that the foam can bend the wood frame of the window which is much thinner than 2x4.