New fantastic room but system pissing off neighbor


I recently moved from a typical tight apartment (though with high ceilings), to a large loft space (35x28X14) and the increase in fidelity I am getting is pretty significant. I think it has to do with obviously having to drive the system much harder, actually opening up the volume pots close to or at 12 o'clock, and mostly giving the speakers much more physical room to breath. I seem to be hearing more detail, better individual instruments and into the music much further. This is aside from the expected added stage depth and width I am now getting.

So that's the good news. However, one neighbor (on the far side of the system over 40 feet away) once casually mentioned to me that sound in this building travels. I was surprised since the building is quite old, of stone, and brick, built like a bunker, was later divided into apartments using cinderblock and sheetrock walls, as opposed to just sheetrock like our old place).

So I looked at what might cause sound leakage, and realized the bathrooms share a common vent. I now make sure to close all bathroom doors before listening, and only listen loud for fairly short times in the afternoon, early evenings, etc. No one downstairs, or in the unit right next to the wall where the system is has complained. Not that it matters that much, but since I play only LP's there is lots of down time in between sides, while LP's are cleaned, periphery ring and clamp is installed, etc, so it's not continuous music by any means.

Now these neighbors that were formerly friendly enough when we saw them in the hallways, seem to not want to talk to us at all, and now seem to go out of their way to be unfriendly. The only thing that has changed is that I got my system up and running.

Should I give up on the idea of playing back music at realistic volumes? (we're only talking about 85 db on average or so, I don't listen that loud)

Should I just forget about it and have the attitude that I'm doing my best to keep doors closed, etc, and that noise is part of urban living, etc.

The funny thing is I've never heard sound from any other apartments, except for faintly, when right next to those bathroom vents.

Listening to music is obviously important and therapeutic for me.

Anyone else dealt with similar problems?
emailists

You might want to go to a pair of Monitor speakers. The only thing you will miss will be the 80hz room resonance. Monitors don't couple with the floor/walls like typical floor standers. So my bet is you have floor standers. By the way I have a pair of Wilson benesch Trinity's on sale here. Every bit as good as the Magico Mini's and every bit as technology advance too.
Sorry I had to put that plug in there. I will probably have trouble sleeping tonight.
When you have this hobby :

First thing to consider when looking for a place is making sure you can't hear the neighbor's toilets flush, phones ring, rugrats or bedroom activity noise(s)

Places are built like shit with paper thin walls and they charge a fortune to rent them, you're wasting time and money to mask them.

Otherwise, get headphones and tell your neighbors to jump in the lake,
I've been down this road before.
Some posters have advised you to remove your subwoofer which makes the most sense. However, I don't see where you mentioned that you were using a subwoofer. Are you using a subwoofer?
All these suggestions seem relevant and worth the pursuit.You may be dealing with people that resent you for disrupting the previous quiet they enjoyed before you moved in.No amount of compromise on your part will satisfy them.They are part of the "i was here first" legion mentality.First be civil and try to work with them,if that does not work,play away within the legal restrictions of excessive noise at certain hours laws where you live.If they pursue this by calling you on it they will find it very difficult to entertain any legal enforcement.Sound travels,first you have to hear what they are complaining about and try to work with them.Life is too short not to enjoy your music and system.A little ass kissing never hurts but will only get you so far if you are dealing with "difficult" people.Good luck!