How to Soundproof Speakers

Home theaters are one of the best ways to experience your favorite movies, TV shows and video games. The huge screen and the all-encompassing sound of the audio take your beloved pastimes to the next level. With home theaters comes the need for powerful speakers, including 5:1 and 7:1 systems that could lead to messy wiring and an untidy space.

If you have a home theater, you have several options when it comes to the speakers you need and how to set them up. But one thing is for certain — you’re going to want to soundproof them. In the following sections, we’ll take a look at why you should soundproof your home theater speakers and how you can soundproof in-wall and in-ceiling speakers.

Reasons to Soundproof In-Wall Speakers

There are plenty of reasons why you should engage in wall and ceiling speaker soundproofing:

• You’ll enjoy better sound quality: One of the main disadvantages of non-soundproofed in-wall and in-ceiling speakers is the loss of sound quality. Without proper soundproofing, the space surrounding the speakers will absorb, muffle and deaden the audio. In other words, your ears will detect less of the intended sound. This obstruction may reduce audio quality and limit your ability to enjoy your home theater.
• You’ll be considerate of other people in your house: If you have other people living with you, then soundproofing your in-wall and in-ceiling speakers is essential. Your speakers transmit sound vibrations throughout your home, causing disturbances to those around you. In-ceiling speakers can even cause noise upstairs, which is sure to bother people who are uninterested in hearing every word of dialogue in the movie you’re watching — especially if it’s past their bedtime.
• You can turn your volume levels up: With greater soundproofing comes the ability to turn your volume up for maximum enjoyment. When you really want to feel the power of your home theater’s audio, you can do so without disturbing people in another part of the house. Soundproofing allows your speakers to deliver the best sound within your area while limiting how much noise escapes elsewhere.
• You’ll keep your neighbors happy: Proper sound insulation is especially crucial if you have neighbors nearby who may be able to hear loud sounds coming from your home theater. The last thing you want is to disturb them with your cinema experience. Soundproof your speakers to keep everyone happy and ensure your neighbors talk about the weather when you see them in the morning instead of the movie you were watching last night.

In short, you’ll get the most out of your home theater when you soundproof your in-wall and in-ceiling speakers.

How to Soundproof In-Wall and In-Ceiling Speakers

There are two main ways you can get essential soundproofing. The first is to build backer boxes, and the second is to buy and install pre-made soundproof enclosures. In the following sections, we’ll dive into how these methods work for your home theater speakers. One option may suit your theater better than another, so make sure you consider both methods to determine the right choice for you.

Option 1: Build Backer Boxes

If you’re a fan of doing things yourself, building backer boxes for your speakers may be the choice for you. Sound can escape from behind a speaker into the adjacent room. Backer boxes insulate the area around the speaker with an airtight enclosure so the sound stays where you want it — in your home theater. Of course, this method also increases the sound quality and overall experience of your home theater.

Here’s how you can build backer boxes for your in-wall and in-ceiling speakers:

1. Measure the dimensions of the back of your speaker where you’ll be putting your in-wall speaker box.
2. Cut a 2×4 piece of wood into four pieces. Two will match the length and two will match the width of the measurements you took in step one. Keep in mind that ceilings usually offer more depth for your 2×4, so you may have to cut the 2×4 into a 2×3 for your in-wall backer boxes.
3. After cutting these pieces, screw or nail them together to build the frame of your backer boxes. You can use a nail gun or electric screw gun to make the process smoother.
4. Once you’ve finished the frame, place it on a medium-density fiberboard (MDF) or oriented strand board (OSB) sheet. Then use a pencil to trace the outline of the frame on the sheet of your chosen material.
5. Use a table saw to cut the sheet where you made the pencil outline. The area you cut will be the lid of the backer box that keeps sound from escaping into the next room. You’ll then fix this lid onto the frame using screws.
6. Make sure you drill a hole in the frame so you can route the wires of the speaker to your liking.
7. Fix the backer box to the drywall, making sure to eliminate any gap between the backer box’s frame and the drywall of your wall or ceiling. Use OSI^® Pro-Series SC-175 Acoustical Sound Sealant to seal up any gaps you find to make your backer box even more soundproof.

And with that, you’ve successfully created and installed your in-wall or in-ceiling backer box! You can use two layers of MDF or OSB sheeting for the lid of your backer box to enjoy even better speaker sound insulation. Use Green Glue Noiseproofing Compound to adhere the two layers together.

Option 2: Buy and Install Pre-Made Soundproof Enclosures

Your next option is to buy and install a pre-made soundproof enclosure for your in-wall and in-ceiling home studio speakers. You can find these products online from various retailers. Reliable pre-made soundproof enclosures contain a filling of sound-deadening materials to help contain the sound of the speaker. With so many different brands to choose from, check out the reviews to make sure you’re getting the best soundproofing enclosure available.

You’ll end up installing these enclosures much like DIY backer boxes, although they may need special hardware or include unique directions. Be sure to follow all instructions to get the best results from your pre-made soundproof enclosures.

Purchase Soundproofing Materials From Soundproof Cow

Choose residential DIY soundproofing products from Soundproof Cow to take your home theater to the next level. Our soundproofing materials will help you complete your project with the best-sounding results possible. If you want to enjoy your home theater without disturbing other people in your house or neighborhood, you can count on us for the products you need to get the job done.

Contact us today for more information about how our products can help soundproof your home.

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