The “forgotten” acoustic need of home cinema: soundproof doors and windows
The famous Pink Floyd and Beatles producer Alan Parsons once told it CE Pro that room acoustics are just as important, if not more so, than the electronics in a home theater or listening room.
Taking this advice to heart, integrators have spent decades trying to perfect the acoustics of a home theater or private recording studio with acoustic panels for walls and ceilings. But one part of room acoustics is often overlooked: soundproof doors and windows.
Obviously home theaters and studios in special rooms like basements usually don’t have windows to deal with, but EVERY room has a door. Likewise, home theaters in large multi-purpose rooms/family rooms/dens with huge windows and high ceilings can be sonic nightmares.
The reflective quality of the glass is often somewhat shielded by motorized blinds, but these blinds are more purposefully designed to address the ambient light in the room versus the room acoustics.
Soundproof Studios in Reno, Nevada offers custom soundproof doors and windows for the home theater or home studio that requires the greatest soundproofing available for their specific space.
The soundproof sliding doors and windows not only help prevent sound from entering other areas of the home, but also keep out distracting outside noises like barking, sirens, traffic and leaf blowers that could otherwise ruin recording sessions and home theater experiences.
The soundproof sliding glass doors have an STC (Sound Transmission Class) value of up to 65 – the equivalent of absorbing sound like walls in a recording studio – and can dramatically block low frequencies (40dB at 80Hz). STC ratings are used for doors, windows, walls and most building materials, with a higher rating indicating a greater ability to stop noise ingress. The average STC rating in the market today ranges from 33 to 47.
A new door frame design preserves the double-walled soundproofing. In fact, according to the company, the soundproof doors are more powerful and economical than steel doors.
The soundproof door panels are removable, allowing homeowners to use the full width of the door opening when needed. Multi-lane telescopic studio glass sliding doors can also optimize the use of space. Wider doors are available for any given gross opening size.
In addition to soundproof doors, the company also manufactures soundproof windows for recording studios, which can achieve an STC value of 64. These consist of two independent fixed windows on each side of the window opening. Each window can be installed vertically or at an angle.
The company has a design team that can assist integrators with custom soundproof doors and windows to meet the acoustic, aesthetic, budget and space requirements of the home theater or home recording studio. The recording studio doors and windows are made to order.
