New listening room build-Acoustics Forum-Acoustic Fields Forum

Hi Dennis,

Since we had our phone conversation, I have been in contact twice with my contractor and will meet on Friday with their architect about the new listening room that I am hoping to build. I have also spent a lot more time on your website to get as much information as possible to help guide me in this adventure. My contractor gave me an early “loose” estimate of the possible cost of the addition to my house and it was considerably “north” of what I thought it might be. So, one consideration that I presented to him was that we build the shell of the room so that it is weather tight and then wait to finish the interior until I have recovered from the cost of the initial build. What I want to try to build is a room that is close to an ideal shape and size so that any internal treatments that are deemed necessary might be lessened in cost.

As I try to get closer to determining the actual size of the room and the kind of wall construction, I would like to have some feedback about both of these issues. My plan is to make the room (outside measurements) width: 22′ and length: 28-29′. The flat ceiling height would have internal measurement of 16′. As far as wall construction, I am not going to be able to afford any of your products that go inside the walls when using the 2×12″ studs, so can I build the walls using 2×8″ studs with 1/2″ QuietRock and 3/4″ Cherry plywood on the inside and the QuietRock and 1/2″ plywood on the outside? The interior wall space would be filled with insulation, and I wonder if I used an open cell spray on foam insulation would that provide a good deal of sound blocking as well? What is prompting me to ask these questions is the idea of cost savings during the shell construction so that I could have more money to spend on the treatment of the inside of the room after that phase of construction is completed.

I really appreciate the great help that you have provided to so many of us trying to create an environment for our critical listening to music, and especially at no cost to us. A rare and welcomed gift!

Thanks,

Tom McKinney