Japan Rental Game Booth DIY Under ¥30K: Practical Guide

For streamers who play games with voice chat (VC) or stream gameplay, sound leakage in rental apartments is a serious concern. Especially during nighttime, game sounds can easily lead to complaints, making countermeasures urgent.

This article explains the right way to build a DIY soundproof booth under ¥30,000 (approx. $200). Rather than aiming for complete soundproofing, we focus on creating a minimal box that changes how sound is perceived, introducing methods that can be safely practiced even in rental apartments. From material selection to construction methods and budget allocation, we’ve compiled this guide in an easy-to-understand format for young gamers and streamers aged 25 and under.

Introduction: Why Do Game Sounds Leak to Neighbors?

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Rental Apartment Walls Are Weak Against “Voices and High Frequencies”

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Rental apartment walls generally have low soundproofing performance. Especially in lightweight steel frame or wooden structures, voices and high-frequency sounds pass through easily.

The sounds that cause problems during game streaming are mainly these three:

• VC (Voice Chat) voices: Especially high frequencies easily penetrate walls
• Keyboard typing sounds: High-frequency sounds easily transmit to adjacent rooms
• Game sound effects and BGM: Sounds from speakers vibrate walls

Why Keyboard Sounds and VC Sounds Pass Through Easily

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Let’s understand the mechanism of how sound passes through walls.

Characteristics of Airborne Sound

• High-frequency sounds (2000Hz and above) penetrate walls more easily than low frequencies
• High-frequency voices (especially women’s voices or excited voices) also leak through wall gaps
• Keyboard typing sounds are instantaneous high frequencies, so without soundproofing materials, they transmit directly

Structural Weaknesses of Rental Apartments

• Thin walls (often around 10cm in lightweight steel frame construction)
• Many gaps (doors, windows, around pipes)
• No soundproofing materials (general rental apartments have low soundproofing performance)

Times and Types of Sounds That Lead to Complaints

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Complaints are most likely to occur during nighttime (after 10 PM) and early morning (before 6 AM). During these times, the surroundings are quiet, so even small sounds become noticeable.

Types of Sounds That Lead to Complaints

Minimum Requirements for an Affordable DIY Soundproof Booth

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Goal: Not “Complete Soundproofing” but Creating a Minimal Box That Changes Sound Perception

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A DIY soundproof booth built on a budget under ¥30,000 is not aiming for complete soundproofing. The goals are:

1. Change sound quality: Reduce reverberation and change how sound is perceived
2. Reduce sound leakage: Even if not completely stopped, reduce it to a perceptible level

Essential: Soundproofing (Leakage Prevention) + Sound Absorption (Reduce Voice Reverberation)

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An effective DIY soundproof booth requires these two essential elements:

Soundproofing (Leakage Prevention)

• Prevents sound from leaking outside
• Can be handled with thin soundproofing sheets or blankets

Sound Absorption (Reduce Voice Reverberation)

• Reduces indoor reverberation and improves sound quality
• Can be handled with urethane absorption materials, etc.

Combination is Important

• Soundproofing alone makes the room echo and hard to talk in
• Sound absorption alone cannot stop sound leakage
• Combining both provides practical effectiveness

NG: Cardboard Only / Sound Absorption Only Structure

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Here are common failure examples:

NG Example 1: Cardboard Only Structure

• Cardboard has low soundproofing performance (around Dr-5)
• Weak against moisture, lacks durability
• Poor appearance, low interior value

NG Example 2: Sound Absorption Only Structure

• Sound absorption only reduces reverberation, cannot stop sound leakage
• Sound leakage to adjacent rooms is not improved

Correct Understanding

• Both soundproofing and sound absorption are needed
• Ensure stability with frame structure
• Design considering ventilation

Optimal Solution Under ¥30,000: Simple Booth for One-Room Apartments

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Point: Materials Should Be Lightweight, Rental-Friendly, and Easy to Process

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For a simple booth built under ¥30,000, choose materials that meet these conditions:

Material Selection Conditions

• Lightweight and easy to move
• No screws needed in walls (safe for rentals)
• Easy to process (requires few tools)
• Keep to minimum necessary configuration

Configuration

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Frame: Metal Rack or Slatted Board (around ¥10,000)

Soundproofing: Thin Soundproofing Sheet + Blanket

Sound Absorption: Urethane Absorption Material (30-50mm)

Internal Dimensions: “Half-Booth” Shape Covering Head to Chest Height

• Width: 90cm (size to fit desk and chair)
• Depth: 90cm (size to fit PC and monitor)
• Height: 120-150cm (covers from head to chest height)

Ventilation and Heat Management (Considering Long Gaming Sessions)

• Leave 5-10cm open at the back (for PC heat exhaust)
• Make the front openable/closable
• Circulate air with ventilation fan or small fan

Construction Method (Concise Steps)

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Step 1: Assemble Frame at 90cm Width

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Assemble a 90cm width frame using a metal rack or slatted board.

For Metal Rack

• Purchase 90cm width rack
• Adjust height to 120-150cm
• Set depth to 90cm

For Slatted Board

• Purchase 90cm×90cm×180cm slatted board
• Cut to required height
• Assemble to create frame

Step 2: Fix Soundproofing Sheet to Outside (No Gaps)

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Fix soundproofing sheet to the outside of the frame.

Fixing Method

• Fix with cable ties or clips (no screws needed)
• Ensure 10cm or more overlap to avoid gaps
• Secure corners firmly

Step 3: Attach Absorption Material Inside (Only Where Voice Hits)

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Attach urethane absorption material inside the frame.

Attachment Method

• Fix with double-sided tape or cable ties
• Focus on front and sides where voice hits
• Leave part of the back open for PC heat exhaust

Step 4: Front is Blanket or Absorption Curtain

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Make the front openable/closable.

Front Construction

• Hang thick blanket from curtain rail
• Or use absorption curtain
• Make it openable for entry/exit

Step 5: Create Microphone Dead Zone Matching Chair Height

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Consider microphone position to create a structure that prevents sound leakage.

Microphone Placement

• Adjust front height to match chair height
• Place absorption material behind microphone
• Prevent voice from directly hitting walls

Step 6: Leave 5-10cm Open at Back for PC Heat Exhaust

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Leave the back open considering PC heat exhaust.

Heat Management

• Leave 5-10cm open at lower back
• Circulate air with small fan
• Ventilate every 20-25 minutes

Finished Image: “Half Phone Booth” Size

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The completed simple booth will be about half the size of a phone booth.

Features

• Complete sealing is NG (heat builds up, ventilation needed)
• Optimized to change sound quality
• Practical size that doesn’t get in the way even in one-room apartments

How Much Quieter Will It Be? Expected Effects

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VC’s “Piercing High Frequencies” Weaken

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Using a simple booth provides these expected effects:

Sound Quality Improvement

• VC high frequencies weaken, changing how they’re perceived
• Reduced reverberation makes voice sound clearer
• Voice remains clear even at lower volume

Voice Remains Clear Even at Lower Volume

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Sound absorption reduces reverberation, so voice remains clear even at lower volume.

Effect Guidelines

• Reverberation: 80% reduction
• Sound leakage: 50% reduction at perceptible level
• Sound quality: Clear and easy to hear

Reduces Leakage to Adjacent Rooms at Perceptible Level

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While not completely stopped, sound leakage is reduced at a perceptible level.

Expected Effects

• Sound leakage to adjacent rooms: 50% reduction (perceptible level)
• Complaint risk: Significantly reduced
• Nighttime gameplay: Can enjoy with peace of mind

Especially Effective During High-Risk “Nighttime Hours”

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Effects are particularly noticeable during nighttime (after 10 PM).

Nighttime Effects

• Surroundings are quiet, so countermeasure effects are easily felt
• Complaint risk significantly reduced
• Can play games and stream with peace of mind

Finishing and Reinforcement Parts by Budget

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Additional ¥5,000: Change to Thick Absorption Material

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For higher effectiveness, change to thick absorption material.

Change Details

• Change urethane absorption material from 30mm to 50mm
• Additional cost: around ¥5,000 (approx. $33)

Effects

• Further reduction in reverberation (90% reduction)
• Further improvement in sound quality

Additional ¥10,000: Reduce Low-Frequency Leakage with Inner Window-Style Soundproof Curtain

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If low-frequency leakage is a concern, add soundproof curtain.

Additional Content

• Install inner window-style soundproof curtain
• Additional cost: around ¥10,000 (approx. $67)

Effects

• Low-frequency leakage reduced
• Soundproofing performance improved (around Dr-15)

Additional ¥20,000: Use Commercial Foldable Soundproof Booth Together

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For more comprehensive countermeasures, use commercial soundproof booth together.

Combined Use

• Commercial foldable soundproof booth (around ¥20,000 / approx. $133)
• Use together with DIY booth

Effects

• Further improvement in soundproofing performance
• Easy to move and store

Precautions for Rental Apartments (Avoiding Failures)

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No Screws in Walls → Use Frame Structure

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In rental apartments, you basically cannot use screws in walls.

Countermeasures

• Make it self-supporting with frame structure
• Fix with cable ties or clips
• Design to not touch walls

Heat Builds Up Easily → Ventilate Every 20-25 Minutes

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Simple booths tend to build up heat, so regular ventilation is necessary.

Ventilation Method

• Open front every 20-25 minutes for ventilation
• Circulate air with small fan
• Design considering PC heat exhaust

Blocking PC Back Too Much Risks Malfunction

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Blocking PC heat exhaust can cause malfunctions.

Countermeasures

• Leave 5-10cm open at back
• Don’t block PC heat exhaust ports
• Ventilate regularly

Complaints Arise from “Voice Quality” → Reverberation Improvement is Top Priority

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The cause of complaints is voice quality rather than sound volume.

Countermeasure Priority

1. Reverberation improvement (change voice quality with absorption material) ← Top priority
2. Sound leakage reduction (reduce leakage with soundproofing material)
3. Ventilation countermeasures (prevent heat buildup)

Summary: “Practical Level” Can Be Achieved Even Under ¥30,000

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Goal is “Nighttime Game Sound Countermeasures”

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A DIY soundproof booth built under ¥30,000 is not aiming for complete soundproofing. The goals are:

• Nighttime game sound countermeasures
• Complaint risk reduction
• Practical sound quality improvement

Combination of Soundproofing + Sound Absorption is Essential

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An effective DIY soundproof booth requires these two essentials:

• Soundproofing: Reduces sound leakage
• Sound absorption: Reduces reverberation and improves sound quality

Combining both provides practical effectiveness.

Frame Structure is Safe Even in Rental Apartments

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Making it self-supporting with frame structure allows safe installation even in rental apartments.

• No screws needed in walls
• Easy to move
• Easy restoration

Half-Booth Shape Provides Optimal Balance of Cost-Performance and Effectiveness

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A half-booth shape about half the size of a phone booth provides optimal balance of cost-performance and effectiveness.

• Keep costs down with minimum necessary size
• Achieve practical effectiveness
• Doesn’t get in the way even in one-room apartments

Even under ¥30,000, building with the correct method can complete a practical-level DIY soundproof booth. First, understand the combination of soundproofing and sound absorption, then practice safely with frame structure.