“When I start working in my soundproof room, for some reason, I’m hit with intense sleepiness within the hour.” “I want to focus on producing music, but my head immediately feels foggy.”
If you are experiencing this kind of physical discomfort inside your soundproof room, the cause is not a lack of willpower, but “brain saturation (mild oxygen deprivation) due to a rapid spike in carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration.”
A narrow soundproof room of 1.5 tatami mats or less is like a “giant airtight tupperware container.” In this article, we explain the “visualization of CO2 concentration” essential for maintaining creativity and productivity, and the ultimate simultaneous ventilation technology using “Lossnay.”
1. Pushing the Limit in 15 Minutes: The Terrifying Speed of CO2 Spikes in Soundproof Rooms#
Simply by a human breathing in outside air and exhaling, the indoor carbon dioxide concentration rises. According to general office environmental standards, a CO2 concentration of “1,000 ppm or less” is desirable. Once it exceeds 1,500 ppm, you begin to feel sleepy, and over 2,000 ppm, you experience headaches, lethargy, and a clear drop in performance.
Actual Measurement Data of a 1.5-Tatami Soundproof Room (Ventilation Fan Stopped)#
If one adult enters a 1.5-tatami soundproof room, closes the door, and turns off the ventilation fan, the CO2 concentration breaks past 2,000 ppm in just 15 to 20 minutes. After one hour, it reaches the danger zone of 4,000 ppm to 5,000 ppm, falling into a state where proper cognitive work is impossible.
The act of turning off the ventilation fan switch “because I’m afraid of sound leaking” is nothing short of suicidal behavior—throwing away your own productivity.
2. A CO2 Sensor (Meter) is a Must-Have Item for Soundproof Rooms#
Once you get a soundproof room, buy a “CO2 monitor (carbon dioxide concentration meter)” before you even buy a microphone or a monitor monitor.
- How to Choose: Select a model in the several thousand to 10,000 JPY range equipped with an “NDIR (Non-Dispersive Infrared)” sensor. (Cheap, shoddy products will show fake numbers reacting to alcohol, etc.)
- How to Operate: Always place it on your desk where it is in your field of vision, and adjust the ventilation fan’s airflow so the number doesn’t exceed “1,000 ppm - 1,200 ppm.” By visualizing the numbers, you can intuitively manage invisible “air pollution.”
3. The Technical Theory of “Lossnay” Solving the Contradiction of Soundproofing and Ventilation#
The only way to lower CO2 concentration is through “ventilation (exchanging air),” but if you open a hole in the wall to let air escape, naturally, “sound” will also leak out from there. The product that resolves this “soundproofing vs. ventilation dilemma” at a high level is Mitsubishi Electric’s proud heat exchange ventilation fan, “Lossnay.”
Why Lossnay is Called the “Heart of the Soundproof Room”#
Lossnay, which is standardly installed in almost 100% of authentic soundproof rooms like Yamaha’s Avitecs, has the following two absolute strengths:
- Simultaneous Intake and Exhaust (One Unit Breathes In and Out Simultaneously) While a standard ventilation fan can only perform “exhaust,” a single Lossnay unit brings in fresh outside air (intake) while throwing away dirty indoor air (exhaust). This maintains a constant air pressure inside the soundproof room and prevents sound from leaking through gaps in the door.
- “Heat Exchange” and “Sound Insulation” via Paper Filters Inside the Lossnay, there is a mille-feuille-like “heat exchange element” made of special Japanese paper. As sound passes through these complex layers of paper, the sound energy is converted into heat and attenuated (sound absorption effect). Because of this, seemingly magical ventilation that “lets air through but not sound (without dropping soundproofing performance)” is achieved.
Conclusion: Do Not Compromise on the Ventilation System if You Want to Buy Productivity#
“I bought a soundproof room, but Lossnay is expensive, so I’ll just use a normal ventilation fan.” When DIYing or choosing a cheap soundproof booth, this is the number one cost-cutting measure you must never take.
- The cause of sleepiness and headaches in a soundproof room is “carbon dioxide (CO2).”
- Keep a CO2 monitor on your desk and maintain levels below 1,000 ppm.
- To maintain fresh air while preventing sound leakage, a “Lossnay” with simultaneous intake/exhaust and sound insulation properties is indispensable.
A soundproof room is not a mere “quiet box.” It is a “capsule for continuously exhibiting peak performance 24 hours a day.” Get the perfect ventilation system that won’t saturate your brain, and fully unleash your maximum creativity.
