Flat owners, advice please

agnes

agnes

agnes

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Amsterdam, NL
Looking to rent a flat. Never liked the idea of renting a flat simply because I own a very expensive high end sound system for my home theatre system.

This puts out rather loud bass.

Now, you are probably thinking "turn it down?". My main excuse for this is, I am partially deaf in my left ear. But really, the main reason is, why buy it if you are not going to use it.

So, my question is this, what is the norm around this sort of thing? I don't listen to dance music at silly hours. Mainly just enjoy my Blu Rays on my silly sized plasma (e-peeeeen). I am curious to know, is it going to be worth letting neighbours have my number and simply ask them to let me know when it needs to be turned down? I really don't want to annoy people with it.

I normally go for a semi detached house/detatched bungalow to rent, but as it stands, the best place I have seen is a REALLY nice flat.

Anyway, this is probably a silly question, but I just want to know. Am I going to have to leave the movie buff I am out of the flat or just be sensible and make the neighbours aware of my 'hobby'?
 
If it was me I would just move in and carry on as normal, only if someone moaned about it would I look to find a happy medium.
 
maybe u can sit the sub and speakers on some thing to try and stop the bass from travelling as much
 
I just tell my neighbours to let me know if it's too loud.

They like their camp music to be blaring out the back doors so I feel it's only right that my films/games are just as loud (at reasonable hours).

I probably should've told them to text me as I won't hear them at the front door...
 
I rent a flat and would say that this is a massive no.

Other residents are unlikely to be comfortable with confronting you about the noise, regardless of how friendly you seem, and will just get annoyed and angry.

Bass really travels and sometimes we can't even work out where it has come from. I have been annoyed by it in the past so didn't plug my dub in when I moved to my flat.

You also have to consider that there could be families in the building with young children whose bedtimes you could be disturbing, even if it isn't what you would consider to be an unreasonable hour.
 
Just a suggestion but I use some wireless head phones that have reasonable bass (for head phones).Basic reason is so I can play games and watch films as loud as i like late at night without waking the kids or wife. If your on your own could always put those on instead late at night and stuff.

Mine go up quite loud I cant have them on full volume as its to loud :D

I know before everyone say its not the same as having a nice 5.1 system I know this and have a system much like the OP just a suggestion I found that works for me.
 
Move in
wait till at least 8am on a Sunday morning
download these here
Burn to CD or copy to USB stick
Play them on said sound system at your normal volume you like
wait 30 - 60 mins and if no one is banging on your door then that's the happy medium.

To test the MAX you can have it without complaints turn it up 1 notch at a time every 5 mins until someone bangs on the door

:-)
 
I don't mind headphones, but could never watch a blu ray or a entire film with them.

Thanks for the advice!
 
agnes said:
Looking to rent a flat. Never liked the idea of renting a flat simply because I own a very expensive high end sound system for my home theatre system.

This puts out rather loud bass.

Now, you are probably thinking "turn it down?". My main excuse for this is, I am partially deaf in my left ear. But really, the main reason is, why buy it if you are not going to use it.

So, my question is this, what is the norm around this sort of thing? I don't listen to dance music at silly hours. Mainly just enjoy my Blu Rays on my silly sized plasma (e-peeeeen). I am curious to know, is it going to be worth letting neighbours have my number and simply ask them to let me know when it needs to be turned down? I really don't want to annoy people with it.

I normally go for a semi detached house/detatched bungalow to rent, but as it stands, the best place I have seen is a REALLY nice flat.

Anyway, this is probably a silly question, but I just want to know. Am I going to have to leave the movie buff I am out of the flat or just be sensible and make the neighbours aware of my 'hobby'?
Click to expand...

Good quality wireless headphones. I wear mine constantly, with spare sets of rechargeable AAA batteries (because I wear them constantly).

Kinda defeats the expensive sound system idea though.
 
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The Tenancy agreement for leaseholders will usually state what exactly the rules are inregards to noise. They no doubt also stipulate what hours are considered unsocial for making noise too. Its the kind of thing that private landlords are supposed to make tenants who rent their properties aware of, but don't aways do.

As Firestarter says above though, its the construction that effects noise the most. If its a relatively new build, its highly likely it has some degree of sound proofing. In my flat I have a home cinema system and have never once had anyone complain in over three years. Similarly, even when my neighbours have a party, I can only just about hear it.

In an older property, its not going to have the same level of noise reduction, so its likely you would annoy the hell out of somebody. I've been in some places where you can hear the people next door having a conversation at speaking level.
 
In general sound systems cant really be used but it depends on the flat.

My flat is in an converted old warehouse so has thick walls so I don't tend to hear my neighbours and haven't had any complaints about playing movies / music reasonably loud.

My brother however has moved in to a new build flat and he can't have his sound system on any sort of decent volume without worrying about the neighbours banging on the walls.

I know you have to respect your neighbours but it does suck not being able to enjoy movies / music in your own home.
 
I live in a new build and was worried about the home cinema system, plus noise from others.

My mind was put to rest once I learnt the floors are solid concrete and the walls have lots of sound insulation, the mass of the concrete all but removes the bass frequencies and the mids and highs are dealt with by the acoustic wall insulation.

I’m a considerate neighbour but I do like the enjoy myself and love music, the above has been tested for the past 3 years, with no issues.

Final confirmation was next-door has a newborn and I’ve never heard it cry once.

Regardless of your insulation its worth keeping volumes down between 11pm and 7am, it’s just common decency imho.
 
I don't have an active bass for my cinema system for just this reson. My place is pretty well
insulated but i live at the top so no idea about the ceilings.

bass will travel and it will **** off everyone but as we are English no one will complain to your face.
 
garak112 said:
I rent a flat and would say that this is a massive no.

Other residents are unlikely to be comfortable with confronting you about the noise, regardless of how friendly you seem, and will just get annoyed and angry.

Bass really travels and sometimes we can't even work out where it has come from. I have been annoyed by it in the past so didn't plug my dub in when I moved to my flat.
Click to expand...

100% this. Good of you to be thinking about it first, though. At the very least I'd introduce myself to the neighbours and mention it. They might all be noisy people for all you know now, though. :D
 
Flat & big sound systems don't go.

If you have a proper landlord / agent, likely hood is you will get in to trouble.

Telling your neighbors is a good start, but unless its quiet its going to annoy them.
 
Very much depends on the age and type of building as to whether it will impact the flats around you. As long as you don't do it too often and control your times in relation to nearby kid's bedtimes, I wouldn't have thought people would mind that much. Saying that, in my experience, people are unlikely to actually come and let you know if it's bothering them anyway, and just prefer to stew.

Have you considered getting a really nice set of headphones? A potentially far more immersive experience to be had anyway, depending on just how serious your sound system is ...
 
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