Subwoofers are excellent additions to a home theater system, producing a deep sound to amplify your viewing experience. Unfortunately, this addition can also shake your walls and cause a lot of noise. Is there any way to keep your subwoofer from shaking the walls? How do you stop this noise from occurring?
If you’re interested in learning more about how to keep your subwoofer from shaking the walls, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to learn more about the best ways to stop a subwoofer from shaking the walls, from the easiest techniques to the most complicated. The more you know, the easier it will be to make your subwoofer much quieter.
Table of Contents
Bring The Subwoofer Closer To You
One of the easiest ways to stop a subwoofer from shaking the walls is to bring it closer to you. This action is also known as a near-field replacement. It may make the noise louder during your viewing experience, but it will move the deep noise away from the walls to prevent intense shaking.
To complete this process, you should:
- Locate the best place for the subwoofer away from the walls.
- Untangle and unplug cords as necessary.
- Shift the subwoofer.
- Test the system and determine if you need to turn it down.
The subwoofer will be much less overwhelming after this point.
Near-field replacement is an excellent choice because it doesn’t require much effort to stop shaking the walls. Your ears also experience a different version of the bass that hasn’t been changed by bouncing off the walls many times. You will receive pure waveforms and less rattling for the benefit of your neighbors.
Not everyone wants to be closer to their subwoofer. If this choice doesn’t appeal to you, we have another suggestion.
Decouple
Another option is to decouple the subwoofer from the floor. This action involves pushing your subwoofer upwards, allowing it to float in the air rather than letting it sit next to the wall. Pushing it in the air will help prevent the waves from bouncing through the walls, keeping the sound down without ruining the experience.
Here’s how you can decouple your subwoofers from the walls:
- Locate the best place to float your subwoofer.
- Invest in decoupling materials, such as rubber or metal spikes.
- Place the materials.
- Put the subwoofer on top.
- Test the system.
There should be a significant difference in how the subwoofer sounds.
Decoupling takes a little money and planning to ensure your subwoofer is in the proper place to prevent shaking whenever audio pushes from the system. However, it’s with it, and it will look cool inside your home.
Another choice is to adjust the room gain compensation. We will go over that process next.
Adjust Equalizer Frequency
The equalizer frequency makes a big difference when attempting to reduce the shaking in the walls through the subwoofer. This item adjusts to ensure the bass isn’t as loud and disturbing as usual, preventing the noise from bouncing off as many items as it typically would. It only takes a slight adjustment to change the equalizer frequency.
Here’s how you can adjust the equalizer frequency:
- Locate the equalizer frequency area.
- Turn down the 125hz slider until it sounds more comfortable on the ears.
- Check for adjustments in the sound.
If the equalizer frequency is the issue, you will note fewer vibrations after this adjustment.
It’s vital to note that the equalizer frequency is not the answer to everything. If you move it down and the vibrating doesn’t improve, you should attempt another tactic to reduce the movement.
Our next strategy is the addition of earthquake putty. We will go over this simple process next.
Add Earthquake Putty
One of the significant issues associated with vibrations from a subwoofer is that it moves items around on the wall. When the hard surface vibrates, these items are slammed up and down. They will leave marks on the wall and cause a major disturbance for the individuals on the other side. Our solution to this issue is earthquake putty.
Here’s how you can use this product:
- Invest in earthquake putty.
- Remove items from the walls.
- Add earthquake putty to each item.
- Replace it.
- Ensure all items are secure.
When the subwoofer moves again, everything will remain in place.
Earthquake putty holds well and is easy to remove if you want to change the area. It’s also relatively affordable, so you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg for silence.
Of course, you can always place bass traps. Let’s discuss this process next.
Place Bass Traps
The bass in a subwoofer is often an issue, thanks to the placement of the device in a room. The bass goes right into the walls, rattling the structure and making a ruckus. Turning the volume down might seem like the best solution, but it’s not. We recommend investing in bass traps for the room.
Here’s how you can use bass traps:
- Invest in acoustic bass traps.
- Fit them in the corners of your room.
- Test the bass system.
These foam blocks should soak up much of the heavy bass noises.
Bass traps work as sound deflections for stray waves. They catch them and push them in other directions, preventing them from soaking up into the walls. They might not fix the issue entirely, but they should impact the overall noise levels.
Bass traps are an excellent addition to work on keeping the walls still. Another tactic is to change the bass level.
Change the Bass Levels
This action might be the simplest of all. Rather than going through the motions of raising your subwoofer or soundproofing the room, lower the bass levels on your system. The lower the bass, the less likely the waves are to push into the walls and shake them.
You can change the bass levels by:
- Checking your manual for instructions on accessing the bass settings.
- Locating the bass and turning it down.
- Testing the system out.
Everything should be less intense after completing this process.
Of course, not everyone loves the idea of turning down bass levels. This action can alter your movie-watching experience and remove some of the sounds. If turning down the base is not an option, we recommend selecting a different tactic.
Our next suggestion is subwoofer isolation pads. These are effective and simple to use.
Subwoofer Isolation Pads
Subwoofer isolation pads are another quality choice to stop the device from shaking the walls. These items raise the subwoofers off the floor and surround them on top, dampening the sound waves and reducing the device’s impact on the room around you. They are effective at absorbing vibrations.
Here’s how you can use subwoofer isolation pads:
- Invest in a quality set on Amazon.
- Determine the proper position in the room for the pads.
- Surround the subwoofer.
- Test the system to see if the sound still works.
Everything should be much calmer after they are installed.
Subwoofer isolation pads will ensure the sound waves go where they are supposed to go in the room. They also help the quality of the sound waves reaching your ear, fine-tuning the low note to make it sound much better than without the addition of the pads.
Another soundproofing method works through the use of cinder blocks. Let’s dive into those next.
Attempt Cinder Blocks
Cinder blocks are an effective tool to reduce the vibrations in a room. Although heavy and bulky, they do not vibrate like a traditional wall. They aren’t as deep as they will not resonate with a sound like wood. It’s possible to surround your subwoofer with cinder blocks for an optimal sound experience without shaking.
To use cinder blocks, you should:
- Decide on a location and design for the blocks.
- Invest in cinder blocks.
- Place them in your home.
- Decorate as needed.
- Add the subwoofer.
These will be effective at stopping the shaking.
Many don’t love cinder blocks because they look very constructed, like in a home. However, there are many things you can do to make them appear better to the naked eye. From fabric covers to paint, it’s possible to be creative with your cinder blocks to stop the shaking in your walls.
Concrete tubing is a unique choice for removing shaking from your subwoofer system. Let’s dive into this option next.
Concrete Tubing
Concrete tubing is an alternative form of cinder block. Concrete tubing comes in large pieces, rounded and hardened for construction purposes. If you want to stop the shaking from your subwoofers, invest in a small piece of concrete tubing and put your subwoofer on top. This action should prevent sound from bouncing around.
If you want to try concrete tubing, you should:
- Locate a small piece of concrete tubing.
- Set it in the right palace in the room.
- Decorate as needed.
- Put the subwoofer on top.
When you test the system, it should sound much better.
Concrete tubes are a little more appealing to look at than cinder blocks. They are also full of sand, which makes them even more effective for dealing with the noise. You can find concrete tubing at most hardware stores.
Another option for interested parties is to use green glue. This method is somewhat unconventional, but we recommend it for less shaking.
Attempt Green Glue
Green glue is a unique choice for soundproofing a room. It’s an excellent noise dampener that works well for reducing low sounds, minimizing the impact they have on your walls. The glue remains soft, permitting it to absorb sound waves. In time, the glue transforms those waves into heat.
Here’s how you can use green glue to prevent your walls from shaking:
- Invest in glue and a new wall layer.
- Add the glue between your old and new walls.
- Seal.
There is an additional layer installed.
Your walls should be much sturdier with a layer of green glue added underneath. If it doesn’t work, you can always try another layer of glue. It’s an effective product you can purchase online and won’t break the bank.
Another suggestion is to remodel the room to fit the demands of the subwoofer. This option requires a little more on your part. Let’s go over it next.
Try A Remodel
Although this action isn’t practical for everyone, you can always remodel your home. One of the simplest ways to stop a subwoofer from shaking the walls is to create a room meant to handle the boom of a subwoofer. You can make the area larger and add materials to reduce the movement of your home.
You may also consider building a room separate from the house to watch movies and listen to music. This room can be much more soundproof than the main building, created with different materials and cushioned with as many items as possible. It will take work, but it’s worth it.
If remodeling your home isn’t an option and you are bothering the people who live near you, there is one final option. It’s time to talk to the people living close to your home.
Keep Your Subwoofer From Shaking The Walls Conclusion
It isn’t just about the volume but the vibration. These tips will help you absorb the bass vibration and help prevent it from going through the walls.
Our final suggestion is to speak to your neighbors, whether they are your roommates, next apartment door, or the next house over. If they have complained about your noise in the past, it’s best to approach them to talk about the situation. This action will help you avoid future conflict and remain civil with those close to you.
If they know you are aware of the trouble and trying to fix it, they might be more lenient about the situation. Plus, they can confirm whether your incremental fixes are working or not. If they want the noise to stop badly enough, they might pay for part of the process to soundproof your room. Wishful thinking, probably, but you’ll never know until you speak to them.
Sharing a wall or living close to someone requires cooperation. Talking to your neighbors is ideal if you have subwoofers that rattle your walls.
