Dealing with a Noisy Neighbor: Tips for Handling Loud Music from Afar

[BobG]

Some loud music, particularly with heavy base, can feel rather oppressive when coming through a wall. All the person on the other end gets is the vibrations and some only partly coherant sounds. It can be rather annoying.

Subwoofers should be banned from both housing units and vehicles. There's absolutely no escaping or ignoring them. The subwoofers cause permanent hearing loss to the people using them, turning them into chronic "loud music" abusers.

Alternatively, all digital sound media could be banned. Back in the days of the phonograph, it was impossible to generate the low frequencies that subwoofers amplify so well (which is probably why subwoofers didn't become so popular until CDs replaced vinyl records).

 

[Moonbear]

YES! Lawn mowers and kids! They drive me nuts. The only other thing that has ever driven nearly as mad as either of those were people whooping and hollering over the superbowl. That day I actually went and slept in my car someplace.

Lawnmowers don't really bother me, because from inside, it's usually just a steady hum that I hear. People who let their kids go out shrieking in a common yard do drive me nuts though! If you live in an apartment and the kids want to be noisy, there are usually plenty of parks and playgrounds they could go to.

I have lived in some fairly well insulated apartments, especially in MI where it's an energy-saving necessity, and when I lived in ones that were far enough from campus that it was mostly working adults living there, not students. But, even good insulation, as has been pointed out, won't stop that irritating thumping and vibration of bass from subwoofers from penetrating the walls/floors. It actually is less irritating to just hear someone else's music than to only hear/feel that thumping that gives me a headache.

And, there are some times of year that you know people have a big parties going on and just suck it up knowing it's going to be loud. I think everyone understands that it's going to be noisy on New Year's Eve, and really only says something if the noise continues past 1 or 2 AM and you're already hungover before they've turned down the noise. But, I don't know why a SuperBowl party needs to be noisy. They're just supposed to be watching a game, not blasting music and such.

My own rule of thumb when having parties in apartments, and what I also appreciated if my neighbors did, was just to go let the neighbors know you were planning one a day or two ahead of when you were actually holding it, and give them your phone number to call if the noise bothers them...or even invite them to the party. As long as it isn't every weekend, people tend to be much more charitable about noise if they know ahead of time and were even invited to join.

I actually somewhat like the idea of an apartment complex near a college that promotes itself as allowing noise. I just think they should make sure it's not just spread by word-of-mouth that it's a party complex, but the managers should emphasize that they don't enforce noise rules unless they disturb people outside the complex before people sign leases so they are aware of what to expect. I do think a lot of students would go for it, while others who want quiet would know to avoid the place. Of course, it would be desirable if it was located someplace where there were no other nearby houses or apartment complexes...maybe with a freeway as a buffer between the complex and any other homes...so they don't drive other town residents mad. We do have one apartment complex like that here. It's buffered by a large parking area, road and business zones (primarily fast food restaurants, bars, bowling alley, other stores that close early, etc.), so nothing else residential is nearby to be bothered. That complex even has late-night pool parties that they sponsor complete with DJs, so it's frequent that you'll drive past on weekend nights and hear the party from the road. But they won't even lease to anyone who isn't a student, so there's never someone new to town who doesn't know any better and accidentally rents there expecting a normal, quiet apartment complex.

 

[BobG]

Lawnmowers don't really bother me, because from inside, it's usually just a steady hum that I hear. People who let their kids go out shrieking in a common yard do drive me nuts though! If you live in an apartment and the kids want to be noisy, there are usually plenty of parks and playgrounds they could go to.

Living downstairs from a couple that babysits their grandchildren, but keep them trapped in the house all day is fun, too. It's no wonder the kid would throw temper trantrums in which she screams and kicks her feet up and down on the floor.

Living downstairs from someone who feeds their dogs on the slatted balcony because their eating habits are a little too exubriant for indoors is fun. Every balcony below theirs gets pelted in dog food when they eat. But, I'm sure it must easier for them than having to sweep the kitchen floor after every feeding.

(I live in a house and don't have to deal with that stuff, but I'm extra glad not to be in an apartment with every bad neighbor story I hear).

 

[junglebeast]

My son tells me there's a way you can interfere with the operation of a radio using a Glock.

Are you talking about the handgun?

 

[fleem]

You could go out and buy a 500 watt subwoofer, place it against the shared wall, turn off the speakers to your amp, and play rock or rap music (sans speakers) whenever they play their music too loud (you might want to go out for an hour or so, least the bass make you nauseous).

Lawrence Welk music would be a better choice, here.