Gregory GuayMusic

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Soundproofing Dilemma: Need to compromise to reduce cost

Jan 10, 2025 | avsforum.com | Gregory GuayMusic

#1 · I am building a new house with a theater room (at last!). I had been planning to soundproof the room with whisperclips/hat channel, 2 layers of 5/8" sheetrock (with GG), and putty around the outlets and light switch. The wall that separates this from the adjacent rooms has staggered studs (this is already in place). Unfortunately the builder just told me the cost of using the clips, double sheetrock (+GG) will be $7200 (includes labor and materials).
Second Floor Isolation

Nov 5, 2024 | avsforum.com | Gregory GuayMusic

There's a lot of snake oil products and misinformation on "soundproofing floors", what are somethings that you have personally designed/constructed/witnessed that have worked well to reduce airborne sound on 2nd story homes? By "worked", I mean drastically reduced sound below. A couple things I can NOT do in this case:not put resilient clips on ceiling belownot pour a slabnot build up sub-floor more than a couple more inches.
Green Glue vs Acoustik Mat

Sep 17, 2024 | avsforum.com | Gregory GuayMusic

I would like to add green glue (GG) with 1/2" plywood on the subfloor (then finish with engineered hardwood); however my contractor is suggesting 3/8" Acoustik mat instead of GG+plywood. I have a baseboard heater, so I can't raise the height of the floor too much. Also, my main concern is low frequency airborne noise from my neighbor downstairs, not impact noise. Any suggestion? Thanks in advance.
Vertical drywall on resilient channel

Aug 14, 2024 | avsforum.com | Gregory GuayMusic

Agreed with jsagraves14. Horizontal channel with vertical drywall is every install detail I have ever seen. They do have 12ft length drywall sheets that would solve your problem. You might have to get them from a drywall distributor likely as I haven't at least seen them in big box stores in Canada. Provided you align properly on the seam, I don't see why you couldn't do one sheet vertical and one horizontal to make it match.
Location of short, throw projector in small room

Jul 11, 2024 | avsforum.com | Gregory GuayMusic

#1 · Hello, this is my first DIY build for a room that will serve as a band rehearsal room and potentially a very modest home theater. I only recently learned about short throat projectors, and I’m trying to decide where I should add my ceiling outlet as well as a run of cat 6 cable for potential HDMI. I’m thinking of putting a screen that would essentially pull down and hide my desk. I will have a blackout window curtain.
CAT6 vs XLR for active studio monitors?

May 13, 2024 | avsforum.com | Gregory GuayMusic

#1 · I have 1000 ft of solid Cat6 shielded cable for my HT/home music studio and wondering if this is a bad idea to use for XLR/TRS wall jacks for my main stereo speakers? Soldering solid Cat6 to XLR wall jack reasonable task? If I understand correctly, the best traditional option is stranded XLR plenum in wall with foil (instead of braiding). This is only a 10-20' run.
Why separate circuits for the projector and equipment?

May 9, 2024 | avsforum.com | Paul Scarpelli |Bi GmouthinDc |Gregory GuayMusic |Dennis Erskine

#1 · I've always read you should have separate electrical circuits for your projector and equipment. Nobody has ever explained why. I know the projector, equipment and subwoofers need to be on the same phase to eliminate ground loops, but I don't know why you need separate circuits. Can someone please enlighten me?
Star Grounding System for dedicated audio outlets

May 2, 2024 | avsforum.com | Gregory GuayMusic

Does anyone have any experience and successful experiences with using STAR GROUNDING methods? Example: Four dedicated outlets on one circuit. Each outlet has it's on 'home run' to the panel/sub-panel in order to discourage ground loops and EMF. This is not that same is isolated ground outlets which use an extra ground conductor - I don't think.
Wall Outlets: Surface mount vs recessed

Apr 26, 2024 | avsforum.com | Gregory GuayMusic

I struggle with accepting the aesthetics of surface, mounted outlet boxes, but I know that the small half-inch penetration for the Romax cable is much better for the rooms STC in comparison to a 4“ x 2“ hole for recessed boxes in my decoupled wall. I’ve invested in kinetics isomax clips and hat channel, going with two 5/8 gypsum or OSB + gyp so I’d like to make the STC above average.
Decoupling double wall / hat channel at window.

Apr 9, 2024 | avsforum.com | Gregory GuayMusic

I build a second wall but decided to add isoMax rubber clips and hat channel anyway, and now I have to learn what to do around my existing window. I’ll be adding double 5/8” gyp to hat channel, or likely OSB + gyp. My thoughts are that I need to extend the casing but with a neoprene gasket separating the new casing extension from the existing window casing. Maybe float the 2x4 or replace 3/4” OSB on GenieClip or Piltec brackets.