Has anyone used "Acoustiblok"? If so what did you think about it? What would be a good inexpensive way to acoustically treat a room (dedicated home theater) without having all the whizbang equipment for professional measurements etc? Is there a rule of thumb for the right size room? Thanks in advance for the input.

Are you starting from scratch in a new home?

If so, room ratio H x W x L 1 to 1.6 to 2.33. ie 9' ceilings 14.5 wide and 21' deep. Other ratios work but
You dont want a square room. ie 12' x 12'
Keep couch off rear wall
Put Acoustikblock on the walls and ceilings. Consider building walls in a staggered stud fashion and weave the stuff between the studs. Use 5/8 rock or skip the acoustiblok and use 2 layers of 5/8 with green glue between.
Don't use tile or hardwood on the floors. Use Carpet.
Use some type of sound aborbing material, acoustic panels, on the first reflection points on the walls and a few pieces on the rear walls.

Thats all for know. Give us a little more info on what your trying to do.

Basically just trying to get an idea of what works for both new construction and retrofit and just trying to get the best sound without breaking the bank on acoustics, I guess good solid home theater sound on a common mans budget that makes sense for homes in the 3000 to 4000 sq.ft range and rooms about the size you mentioned...(well maybe upper common mans budget.)

Acoustiblok will definitely break the budget.

Product cost is not the only problem. The freight costs are gawdawful......

So what is another way to keep sound in the room and outside sound from coming in the room? Staggard stud wall and using Quiet Solutions sheet rock? Then using acoustic panels on inside? What about ceiling and floor?

Yeas. staggered stud walls with 5/8 rock. 2 layers if money permits. Green glue between if $$ permits. Same on ceiling.


These are for reducing first reflections not keeping sound in/out



double layer rock. maybe acoustic/fire channel. limit use use recessed lights


Carpet


You can use Acoustiblok on all the surfaces but increases cost. Figure $4 per square foot of area to cover. ie a 10'x10'x8' room has approx 520'sq

Quiet Rock works good, but it's expensive @ $190 for a 4x8 sheet, but 1 sheet = 8 sheets of drywall when it comes to acoustics.

Very messy to work with as you have to cut it with wood tools like circular saws and jigs saws.

They used this stuff in a studio I wired and there was like a 1" or more of drywall dust over the whole room, it was crazy!

If you want to reduce the amount of bass outside the room, you can also make a floating subfloor. Acoustic Innovations makes IsoBlocks which decouple the floor in a home theater from the main floor of the house. This gives you more impact in the theater, and keeps unwanted vibrations outside the room.

the cheapest way to go is go to your local foam shop, and ask the guy if you can buy his scraps. Everytime I install an inwall spkr, or sub I throw it in. Very inexpensive alternative to acoustablock or even sound deading foam.

the cheapest way to go is go to your local foam shop, and ask the guy if you can buy his scraps. Pick up a huge back, I mean huge and try to get him down near $100 bucks or so. Everytime I install an inwall spkr, or sub I throw it in, it really improves the sound. Very inexpensive alternative to acoustablock or even sound deading foam.

Just exactly where do you throw it? In pieces, in bags or what ?
about subs..I assume this is not a box sub, right ? ...need more info please.
tjg

Everytime I install an inwall spkr, or sub I throw it in, (the wall)

Acoustic treatment is a LOT less expensive than soundproofing the room... That just doesn't exist in small budgets.

Acoustical Solutions can cut up some decent 1" thick rectangles that you can hang here and make it sound real nice...

Don't go for the extras... Just catch a few of the 1st reflections and keep the volume reasonable.

Just think... Even at modern theaters.. you can hear the next theater over if the soundtrack is boomin'

Yeah, but your wife isn't in the next theater naggin' at you to turn it down:)

Be careful throwing Foam into a wall, you don't want to be responsible for another Great White/Rhode Island tragedy.

Please make sure your foam products are fire rated and do meet local codes if any exist.

Not even to be the #1 perfect installer, but to prevent a family from dying of smoke inhalation because you put "scrap foam" in their walls