Home theater - question about insulation

[Chainsaw_]

Building a small cinema/gaming room of about 10sqm, and have framed with steel studs (air gap 45mm). It's starting to be done with electricity and various cables and it's time for drywall and possibly insulation.

Now to the question:

Wondering if the intended insulation behind the drywall makes any significant difference sound-wise, besides the fact that it becomes "warmer" in the room of course. The drywall makes it tight to the extent that it becomes a little softer than concrete walls, but still "almost as hard," and the sound will bounce around anyway, though maybe not in the same way?

I would like to hear if anyone knows and why I should have insulation, or if I can skip it? I can't really see any benefits with it, besides that it becomes a bit warmer! Enlighten me! 🤔😂

 

[Dr Jumping Jack]

Insulation behind the drywall makes no difference. You need something in front of the drywall.

 

[Chainsaw_]

Insulation behind the drywall makes no difference. You need something in front of the drywall

Feels like I should spend the money that the insulation costs on something that makes the sound as good as possible in there, like acoustics..

 

[Pasjostrom]

The only reason to put any form of insulation in the walls is if it reduces resonance...
How seriously do you want to go? Are we talking floating floors on a sandbed, sound absorbers on the ceiling and walls, or more of a regular room?

 

[Chainsaw_]

The only reason to put any form of insulation in the walls is if it reduces resonance...
How seriously do you want to go? Are we talking about floating floors on a sand bed, sound absorbers on the ceiling and walls, or more of an ordinary room?

More of an "ordinary" room. Of course, it should sound good, but I'm building 10 sqm. I'm going to fix something on the walls regardless, but I plan to do that when I finish painting and using the room.

 

[Argastesnickaren]

There's one more aspect.
How much and how loud are you planning to play.
Personally, I like to watch movies with a bit more sound than many others
What I'm thinking about is the house surrounding the movie room.
The heavier the walls, the better they dampen outside the room.
OSB gypsum is better than just gypsum, and you can mount things on it (preferably on both sides of the wall).
Double gypsum dampens even better (OSB plus some insulation and then double gypsum dampens even more, etc.).
I had a movie room in my old house with poured vaults and was able to play movies quite well without disturbing sleeping children upstairs.
Try to think ahead a little and consider how the room will be used in a year's time.
It's easier to do it right the first time than having to redo it in a year.

 

[plåtrickard]

Isn't there a risk that the walls will become resonance boxes without insulation in them?

 

[Chainsaw_]

There's another aspect. How much and how loud do you plan to play? Personally, I like to watch movies with a bit more sound than many others What I'm thinking about is the house around the cinema room. The heavier the walls, the better it insulates outside the room. OSB gypsum board is better than just gypsum and then you have a little to screw things with (preferably both sides of the wall). Double gypsum insulates even better (OSB plus a little insulation and then double gypsum insulates even more, etc.). I myself had a cinema room in my old house with cast vaults and could watch movies quite well without disturbing sleeping children upstairs. It’s a good idea to think ahead a little and consider how the room will be used in the coming years. Easier to do it right once than to have to redo it in a few years.

The room is in the basement, so light concrete x 4 walls and the children sleep upstairs, so I'll be able to play fairly loud without disturbing them.

The room itself is very small. With the studs in place, it measures 3 x 3 meters, and the ceiling height will be 2.2m (with the gypsum board). The ceiling currently consists of tongue-and-groove wood, so I've lowered the ceiling by 45mm and will add insulation + gypsum board. (It’ll be 2.2m) I'm almost 1.90, so I don't want to lower the ceiling more than that!

 

[Peter_Bromma]

if you say it like this, what does it cost to insulate that room? I'm no expert on that, but if I were in the same situation, I would insulate (if I needed to put on gypsum - I would probably go for surface-mounted and then hang fabric/curtains in front of it) and agree on OSB behind. it's a shame to only have gypsum if you later want to hang things on the walls.
then in the room, thick curtains on the walls and a thick rug between the screen and the sofa should stop the worst of the sound bouncing around for a cheap price. I assume the ceiling will be black good luck.

 

[erik_qwerty]

I am planning to start a similar project at home, with a cinema and game room in the basement. I'm thinking that carpet and possibly acoustic ceiling tiles and loose textile furniture will help the sound.

Insulation is something of a science in itself, I haven't planned to insulate the walls. Is any of the walls an outer wall? If so, I would have checked very carefully what works, insulating on the inside is always somewhat doubtful as I understand it, especially in basements where it can be cold and damp in the wall.

 

[Chainsaw_]

If we put it this way, what does insulation for that room cost? I'm not an expert on it, but if I were in the same situation, I would insulate (if I needed to put on gypsum—probably would have gone with surface-mounted and then stretched fabric/curtain in front) and agree about OSB behind. It's boring to only have gypsum later for what you want to hang on the walls.
Then in the room, thick curtains on the walls and a thick carpet between the screen and the sofa should stop the worst bouncing of all sound at a low cost. I assume the ceiling will be black good luck.

The insulation costs about 2k. I was considering going with stretched fabric+insulation with wood, but since I have metal studs, the idea of attaching the fabric became super difficult, and with metal, I need sheet material, otherwise, the screws will screw themselves out, and it will rattle like hell!

I will put OSB on the front wall, where the tensioned screen will sit. Then I plan to set up support pieces on the other sections, where speakers and possibly acoustics will be placed.

 

[Chainsaw_]

I'm in the process of starting up a similar project at home, with a home theater and gaming room in the basement. I'm thinking that wall-to-wall carpet and possibly acoustic ceiling tiles and loose textile furniture should help the sound.

Insulation is somewhat of a science in itself, I haven't planned to insulate the walls. Are any of the walls exterior walls? If so, I would check very carefully what works, insulating from the inside is always somewhat questionable from what I understand, and especially so in basements where it can be cold and damp in the walls.

2 of the walls are exterior walls. I don't have any moisture problems. Feels like I'd rather spend the money on making my own acoustic panels and experimenting to find what works best!

 

[manbat]

If you want no sound to escape from the room, use double layers of heavy drywall, like fire-resistant drywall. Then make sure to apply plenty of sealant around all edges. There should be no air for the sound to escape through. Insulation behind the drywall won't help much, however, insulation in the room with fabric in front will reduce resonance in the room. Just keep in mind that a normal door will let out a lot of noise, and so will ventilation.

 

[manbat]

In my home theater room, I have a wardrobe wall filled with clothes and such, but with fabric stretched on frames as doors. It dampens, absorbs the bass nicely, and is practical.

 

[Chainsaw_]

If you want no sound to escape from the room, use double layers of heavy gypsum. Like fire gypsum. Then be careful with lots of sealant around all edges. There should not be any air for the sound to escape through. Insulation behind the gypsum won't make anyone happy, but insulation in the room with fabric in front will reduce the resonance in the room. Just keep in mind that a standard door will let out a lot of noise regardless, as will ventilation.

Good tip to seal with sealant. I will also eventually fix the door to insulate there as well. Today, it's a regular wooden interior door. It's an older type, but it's thin in some places too!

Then I thought about hanging up some thicker fabric in front of the screen, and also hanging on the wall opposite, where the chairs are to dampen!