Is there any soundproofing that works for a bedroom please? (low-frequency bass sounds)

Hi

I am extremely noise sensitive and am plagued by the low frequency rhythm of bass music from somewhere in my neighbourhood.  Since I am not sure where it comes from and it is too quiet to be considered a nuisance by the council or any 'normal' person, I am stuck with insomnia and nightly distress. Ear plugs amplify the sound and the white noise headbands give me a headache that is as bad or worse than the sleeplessness. I have triple glazing and 2 layers of thick curtains, my bed is on anti-vibration plates and not touching any wall. I don't know what more I can realistically do or afford. Please can anyone offer any advice on soundproofing that actually works for low-frequency vibration? Or other ways to cope without getting more and more desperate?  Do wall or ceiling panels work? Do any medications or treatments help?  I am worried about getting more and more crazy and I don't want to cause any animosity with neighbours as it is not their fault.  Thank you. K x

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  • Wall and ceiling panels I don't think will help. Sound bounces off hard flat surfaces, so the panels are designed to be soft and often wavy to counteract echo within the room.

    You can get sound deadening materials which go in, on or to make walls out of, but they will struggle with bass. It travels through materials easily so it's almost impossible to stop.

    It may be worth going to your GP. Be sure to mention the insomnia.

  • Thanks for your kind reply  . I don't understand why they cannot make materials and houses that dampen bass noise and I am sure there are lots of others out there suffering every day. I don't really want to waste my GP's time or end up with sleeping or anti-anxiety tablets for noise. When there is no noise, I can sleep. But I struggle to not focus on any noise I can hear when I am trying to get to sleep.  I am going to persevere with white/brown noise masking to see if I can find a sweet spot between distraction and a headache from too much noise in total (white noise + bass is sometimes worse for me). I appreciate your help.  K

  • Pardon for what is possibly an unhelpful post, but from a purely practical pov, in terms of blocking low frequency soundwaves it's mass rather than material that does it - from a studio perspective building a room that keeps the sounds isolated within is quite a challenge...

    It's usually built as a room within a room with a high density material surrounding the inner structure... Best way to imagine it is thinking of a larger box with a smaller box inside, with a reasonably thick layer of sand (or similar) in between the two boxes. 

    There are things like high density rock wool that can absorb some of the vibrations through walls, but you'd still get it through the floors etc, and you'd lose a good foot from your room... all the way around if you wanted to block everything. 

    I feel your pain - there's not a lot worse than having someone else's noise forced upon you, which is the main reason I use headphones to make/listen to music. 

  • Thanks  . I am going to try window inserts and maybe some flooring, but other than that, you are right, headphones and white noise may be my only option.  It would be nice to be able to live freely, but I have to hold on until my kids are old enough for me to start saving up again...  Thanks for your help.  Any floor suggestions/websites would be great, but I am not sure if you are allowed to post them here?  best wishes. K

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  • Thanks  . I am going to try window inserts and maybe some flooring, but other than that, you are right, headphones and white noise may be my only option.  It would be nice to be able to live freely, but I have to hold on until my kids are old enough for me to start saving up again...  Thanks for your help.  Any floor suggestions/websites would be great, but I am not sure if you are allowed to post them here?  best wishes. K

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