ᐅ Noise Reduction from Neighboring Properties – Any Ideas?

Quietness is something you unfortunately have to be able to afford; you can almost calculate it down to the exact euro. I notice this as well and try to come to terms with it. (Too) much of these disturbances actually happen in the mind.

11ant schrieb:

If your issue is specific to low frequencies, diffusing the sound won’t help much, because low tones primarily propagate through vibration – with diffusers, you only scatter the overtones of the low frequencies, which means relatively higher low frequencies and mid frequencies, but not the bass itself. Bass requires a lot of energy and weakens after a short distance. The stronger the bass “arrives,” the more it’s probably transmitted as vibrations rather than sound – and therefore more through building components than through the air.

Kids change a lot – but they don’t turn headbangers into symphony lovers. The child would have to scream endlessly before the goth mom gives up her black lipstick.

So before I start with measures like counter sound, I’d rather try talking. Most people here are very nice, and I know the problem is in my head. I don’t want to come across as a constant complainer in this new neighborhood, where we’ll probably live together for a long time, just because I’m very sensitive to music (bass).

ypg schrieb:


If you’re talking about a Makita radio, is he working out on the terrace? Then it’s only a temporary problem, right? Was this the first time? Or do you think he will now always listen to the radio outdoors?

I’d try curtains.
And if it really is only a few times a year, go to Ikea, the home improvement store, or the playground during those times.
However, you can’t keep running away from the bass or social noise all your life… once summer comes, terraces will be in use, often until 10 p.m. (or later). What about yoga? Seriously 😎

Whether this becomes a permanent situation will only become clear in summer as it’s expected to get cooler soon. Right now, he is working there, yes, and yesterday unfortunately right on our side of the house. So there were only a few meters air distance between the radio and our house.

I will definitely try curtains.

Pierre schrieb:

Oh yes, when I get annoyed by noises in our current rental apartment, I sometimes put on my noise-cancelling headphones without playing any music through them. At least then I have some peace and quiet for a while to relax, read a book, or concentrate. I have even done that at the office 🙂

Yeah, I could try putting on my Bose headphones too; they’re pretty good.
I just get as annoyed by any “countermeasures” as by the disturbance itself. It starts bubbling inside me when I can’t behave normally as I would like, but instead have to carry annoying headphones, be chased out of my own house (to the playground or the store, etc.), or have to play counter music even though I don’t want to hear any — that just makes me even angrier inside. Hard to explain.

Golfi90 schrieb:

Is your baby actually waking up, or are you just afraid it will wake up?!
Be glad you don’t have a neighbor with the “hobby” of chopping wood and keeping rabbits. He’d be busy with the log splitter all Saturdays 😉

It’s hard to say. The baby woke up once shortly after the music started – I can’t prove it was because of the music, of course. But since the baby had only been asleep for a few minutes, it seemed likely.
We do have neighbors with a fireplace, but the wood splitting doesn’t bother me. Also, conversations or cars don’t bother me. I’m really only sensitive to music.

I think it’s because I can’t switch off in my head; my brain follows these bass lines, trying to detect patterns and constantly analyzing the stuff. I find it very hard to ignore music. I can’t listen to music while gaming either; I can’t concentrate. I often even turn off the game’s music in the settings because it distracts me. I also prefer familiar music over new tracks. Even when my favorite artist releases a new album, I initially find it stressful to have to listen to it and “get into it.” Most people look forward to a new album from their favorite band. 😀 My ex found all of this so strange that he guessed I might have some kind of talent and suggested I take an IQ test. I did it once for fun, but it barely covered anything about musical pattern recognition, so while I roughly know my IQ, it didn’t help me understand my unusual music perception at all. 😀

Reinhard84.2 schrieb:

Quietness is something you unfortunately have to be able to afford, you can almost calculate it down to the dollar. I notice that too and try to come to terms with it. (Too) much of these kinds of disturbances really happen mostly in the head.

That mostly happens in my head, that’s true. But it doesn’t solve my problem. 😉

kati1337 schrieb:

Maybe I’ll wait until next summer. By then, everyone here will be more familiar with each other, and I can see if this is a long-term situation and he often uses his "Makita" in the garden, or if it was just an unfortunate coincidence because he was laying stones near the corner of our property. When he mows the lawn, he uses headphones anyway, and if he works more centrally in his garden where the hedge is taller, the sound might not carry that much here anymore.

I think that’s a good idea.
I could also imagine that if he wears headphones when mowing, he wouldn’t mind putting them on more often. Maybe you could casually observe whether he sometimes wears headphones inside the house as well. That might indicate that he understands the balance between noise/music/bass and unwanted listeners and could be sympathetic to your concerns.

Golfi90 schrieb:

Be glad you don't have a neighbor whose "hobby" is wood and rabbits. He would be busy with the splitter all day every Saturday 😉

A very good example that shows how important the interpretation of sounds is. The noise of a wood splitter, church bells, etc., never bothered me in the countryside because, as someone who grew up in the city, I associate those sounds with rural life and village charm. In my mind, I immediately picture the hardworking farmers who tirelessly work to provide our food. On the other hand, when it comes to bass sounds, I react the same way as the original poster.

kati1337 schrieb:

I think it has to do with the fact that I can’t switch off in my mind the way my brain follows these bass lines. It tries to recognize patterns and constantly analyzes everything. I find it really hard to block out music. I also can’t listen to music while playing video games because I can’t concentrate. I often even turn off the game’s music in the settings because it distracts me. I also prefer to listen to music I already know rather than new music. Even when my favorite artist releases a new album, I initially find it stressful to have to listen to the new songs, to essentially “get into” them.

You describe that really well, thanks for that, because I feel the same and haven’t been able to explain it so clearly before.

Pinkiponk schrieb:

Sounds like wood splitters, church bells, etc. never bothered me in the countryside because, having grown up in the city, I associate them with rural life and village charm.

I would have actually said it’s the other way around. People from rural areas are used to these sounds and hardly notice them consciously. You’re probably the exception 😉

In our area, some newcomers even take legal action against church bells, cowbells, farm odors, and so on.