I would really welcome some perspectives from those that live in apartments as to the suitability of HiFi.
I have been retired for a few years and am considering a significant upgrade to my hifi. Although I currently live in a detached house, I am conscious that one day we are likely to downsize to an apartment if we eventually find a suitable one. That in itself is not easy; that could be this year or as far away as 10 years if we do not find the “right one”.
At the moment, I can play the hifi as loud as I want (subject to my other half’s constraints)! That said, for most of the time, I do not exceed 75db but will frequently go a bit lower when my wife is around.
So my question is: are good quality speakers etc mutually exclusive with domestic life in an apartment. I would always wish to be on good terms with my neighbours.
Am I better to consider a really good quality headphone system?
I’ve lived in a few apartments with a couple of different systems along the way. I’ve also made plenty of mistakes with hifi as well and used money badly in hindsight.
Some bookshelf speakers do work well on a bookshelf, others don’t. Small floorstanders might do better from an aesthetics point of view than bookshelves on stands.
A nice high quality bookshelf speaker like the B&W CM1, Proac Tablette 10, Harbeth P3ESRs, Q Acoustics 3010/20 combined with a one box or two box Naim front end could be a great combo.
A lot will depend on the construction of an apartment block. Modern purpose built apartments can be very effectively soundproofed. In some hotels, for example, you don’t hear any noise from adjacent rooms at all. You would need to check that an apartment had been built to such a standard.
I would say not. I’ve lived in apartments, and I suspect many here still do. I now live in a rowhouse, again I suspect many of us do. I’ve always had a quality stereo and do on occasion play it loud.
Of course one does need to consider ones neighbours. You probably don’t want to do it in the middle of the night, unless it’s an exception, like a party. In which case just let them know in advance and perhaps either invite them or give them something like a bottle of wine to apologise for the inconvenience. During the day should be fine, as long as its not every day all the time. But from what you say, you have the same constraints now with your wife.
We moved from a detached home to a purpose built apartment/condo a few years ago and absolutely love it. It’s true that we don’t play music quite as loud as we used to but the advantages more than compensate for that consideration. We have large rooms and high ceilings which are nice.
Actually, we prefer the aesthetics of stand mount speakers but that’s a personal choice.
One of the most relaxing things I’ve done is move to a house with nobody adjoining the living/listening room. Having lived in an apartment, then a terrace, I was always conscious of limiting the volume.
Something I would resist until absolutely no alternative option (or until I become so deaf as to not to be able to play music, or non compos mentis). Possibilities I will consider if I move from my current chalet bungalow with a downstairs bedroom are detached bungalow, detached house and install lift (surprisingly compact ones are available), or at a real pinch a semidetached bungalow with lounge not adjoining party wall. In all cases with a decent sized music/living room. If the dreaded were to happen and an apartment, then find one with such soundproofing in all relevant directions as to not matter. If a care home it would mean a switch to headphone listening, nit ideal but better than suppressed or bass curtailed music.
I currently live in an apartment complex . I have no issues with sound volume or bass. My apartment is rather new. The floors are poured concrete, with faux wood, very very solid. Front door is steel, walls are good. I also live about a half mile away from a small regional airport. The jets aren’t bothersome helicopters are louder. I’m on the third floor and no one has ever complained.
Given our shopping list of “wants” for an apartment (in the U.K. incidentally), it’s likely that it would be new or recent build. The few apartments that we have looked at have all had concrete floors and reasonably high ceilings so might help with insulation.
Unless unforeseen poor health ever forced a move, it’s unlikely that we would move to anything other than a property with concrete floors.
That’s essential for me as I am not the soundest sleeper in the world and I value quiet nights!
I am living in an apartment building with neighbors above, below and to the left of my living room (where the HiFi system is). I never play music loud. Not sure how loud in terms of dB’s, but I do n’t even get close to the 9 o’clock position. I basically do n’t do, what I do n’t want others to do. You have to take others into account.
Well, my reply kind of mirrors the one from whatu1tme2b.
If you can play your music as loud as you want, (with swmbo being the only restriction) I think you’re quite privileged.
Moving to an apartment doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy listening to music on a good quality HiFi-system, but you do (most likely) have some neighbours to take into account. Year of build of the apartment doesn’t always mean that much imo.
(for example: the previous apartment I lived in, from 1997-2010 was build in 1964, but I could hardly ever hear any noise from my neighbours
Since 2010 I live on the second floor of a noisy apartment. (build in 1992) Therefor I can’t play music loud/as loud as I’d sometimes wish. (I mostly listen at modest/late-night volume levels) I don’t like headphones, but I do like my friendly, quiet neighbours and I like to keep 'em friendly.
So, I think it will take some getting used to new circumstances, but I’d try to find a system that sounds very transparent and satisfying at modest volume levels.
In the UK a set of building regulations was released to cover soundproofing in approximately 2003, so any apartment built after that should comply. Given the standards of compliance to building regs in the UK construction industry I’m not sure how effective these regulations have been, but you might at least question the builders over compliance, and maybe ask to see their soundproofing test results.
When choosing an apartment you could consider having additional soundproofing installed. It usually involves adding an additional layer of acoustic plasterboard. Correctly installed, it only loses about 50mm of space. Also look at ceilings and floors, not only for sound transmission to floors above and below you, but also for sound that finds its way past a well insulated wall.
You can be lucky if you find the right spot. I live in an apartment - duplex, where my 2nd floor is above the other apartments, so my hifi room doesn’t have either an adjoining wall or floor/ceiling with anyone. I can play extremely loud and you can stand outside my front door and not hear it (I did check ). I’ve always had a hifi in apartments around the world, but I did specifically search for one where I could have a decent hifi and not annoy neighbours.
If playing music at realistic levels is important to you then consider a small detached single level home - there are plenty of them specifically designed for age-in-place seniors. Even with a pair of LS3/5As and a Nait amp, you’re going to disturb the neighbors in an apartment or duplex/semi.
I sleep quite badly and have a dedicated headphone system for middle of the night music. Pre war semi with elderly (ha I keep forgetting how old I am)neighbor.Luxman cd player,Ferrum Headphone amp with power supply and too many expensive headphones. It works well and comparing it with the downstairs Accuphase you get a lot of good sounds for your money.
When they finally bundle me into an apartment I would take the headphones system and Muso Qb without hesitation.
We live in an apartment complex. The construction is such that sound travels down the hallways but generally not into adjacent apartments unless one really turns up the volune. However the construction is such that it presents acoustic challenges for building a system.
). I’ve always had a hifi in apartments around the world, but I did specifically search for one where I could have a decent hifi and not annoy neighbours.