“I can’t afford $10,000! I want to do something about it more cheaply!”
It’s natural to think so. If you search on Amazon, etc., a lot of “extremely cheap soundproof rooms (simple soundproof rooms)” ranging from hundreds to a few thousand dollars appear.
However, there is a clear reason for being cheap. In conclusion, if you buy an extremely cheap product for "instrument practice (especially piano and wind instruments)", you will regret it almost 100%.
In this article, we will explain the limits of cheap soundproof rooms and cases where they can still be recommended.
Ability of “Simple Soundproof Rooms” under $1,000#
Represented by “Danbocchi”, these are soundproof rooms made of cardboard or lightweight panels.
How quiet does it get?#
- Effect: around “Dr-15 to Dr-20”.
- Experience: About “you can’t hear the content of the conversation” in the next room. The sound itself is audible.
- Instruments: The sound of piano or saxophone can be heard normally even across one wall. It is completely underpowered as a countermeasure for neighbor trouble.
Fatal weakness: Heat hell#
The biggest problem with cheap soundproof rooms is that “air conditioners cannot be attached”. If you try to do game streaming with a PC in it, the indoor temperature will exceed 30 degrees even in winter. In summer, you can’t stay for 5 minutes. If you open the door and run a fan, it no longer makes sense as a soundproof room.
Cases where “Cheap Soundproof Rooms” are still useful#
I said “it’s impossible for instruments”, but it becomes a tool with the best cost performance for the following applications.
- Telework / Web Conference
- It is sufficient for purposes such as not wanting your family to hear the conference content or preventing children’s voices from entering.
- Low-voice calls and voice chat at night
- If you don’t shout loudly, you can considerably reduce sound leakage to the next room for chats at the level of normal conversation.
- “Reverb Prevention” for recording
- It is excellent if used as a booth for the purpose of sound absorption (not letting the room’s echoes enter the microphone) rather than soundproofing (not leaking out).
Options from $2,000 to $5,000 (Used, OTODASU II, etc.)#
If you raise the budget a little to the range of $2,000 to $5,000, the options change.
1. High-end models of simple soundproofing (OTODASU II, etc.)#
- Price: around $2,000 - $3,000
- Features: Easy to assemble and looks stylish.
- Performance: Still around Dr-20 to 25. It’s tough for instruments, but there are models that can have fans attached, improving comfort.
2. “Extremely cheap used” unit soundproof rooms#
- Price: around $3,000 - $5,000
- Features: Old Yamaha/Kawai products from 15 to 20 years ago.
- Performance: Even an old model has sound insulation performance of Dr-30 or more, and it is overwhelmingly quieter than simple soundproof rooms.
- Caution: Since there is a possibility that the soundproof rubber has deteriorated or the smell of cigarettes remains, checking the actual item is essential.
Summary: What’s important is to “match the use case”#
The ironclad rule for not failing in choosing a soundproof room is not cheapness but matching “your purpose”.
- For remote work / web conference:
- A “simple soundproof room” under $1,000 is sufficient. It is ideal for reduring the sound of voices and the cost can be kept low.
- For game streaming / instrument practice:
- Please choose “Unit Type (Dr-30 or more)” without hesitation. With simple soundproofing, sound will leak out and you will eventually have to buy it again.
If the budget is tight, “Used unit soundproof rooms” are also a strong option. They can be obtained for less than half the price of new ones and the performance is often sufficient. Calmly determine “Do I really need that much performance?” and choose the one that is perfect for you.
→ Related: Breakdown of Costs for DIY Soundproof Rooms | How much do materials alone cost? → Back to Soundproof Room Price Map (Top)