"1.0 million yen for a soundproof room is impossible even if I do a headstand!" "But I want to graduate from acoustic panels right now!"
I’ll tell you the conclusion first. You cannot buy a new soundproof room with a budget of 100,000 yen. However, if you convert your “effort” and “ingenuity” into cost, it is possible to get a soundproof room for effectively under 100,000 yen.
From the perspective of a studio engineer, I propose three survival strategies that low-budget VTubers should choose.
Route A: The Standard “Danbotchi Modification” Is the Strongest Safe Bet#
The most reliable and reproducible method is a modification based on the simple soundproof room “Danbotchi.”
Don’t Use Danbotchi “As Is”#
To be clear: Danbotchi is a “material.” As is, it’s just a “person in cardboard”; speaking voices are muffled, but screaming will pierce through.
Mandatory Modification Recipe#
To evolve Danbotchi into a “soundproof room,” the following two points are mandatory:
- Pasting Sound-Insulating Sheet (Lead Sheet): Gives “weight” to the cardboard and strengthens its power to reflect sound. Paste it all over the ceiling and walls. Without this, it’s just a box.
- Replacement with a Quiet Fan: The stock fan has too little airflow. If you don’t replace it with a powerful quiet fan for PC use, the streaming will stop due to heatstroke in the summer.
- Total Amount: Unit approx. 90,000 JPY + Modification cost 20,000 JPY = Approx. 110,000 JPY
- Judgment: The construction difficulty is low, and it’s the standard route with the fewest failures.
👉 [Details]: OTODASU Review | What Is the Potential of Lightweight Soundproof Rooms in 2026?
Route B: High Risk, High Return “Self-Transportation of Used Soundproof Rooms”#
The second is a “used market” strategy using Mercari, Yahoo Auctions, or Jimoty.
Winning Pattern: 0-Yen Yamaha Soundproof Room#
During the moving season (January to March), Yamaha Avitecs models are sometimes listed as “I’ll give it for free as long as you can pick it up because disposal costs money!”. If you can get this, you get soundproofing performance of a different dimension (such as Dr-35) compared to Danbotchi.
Overcome the Biggest Wall “Relocation Cost” with Muscle#
Normally, if you ask a professional company for the relocation (disassembly, transportation, reassembly) of a soundproof room, it costs 100,000 to 150,000 yen even for short distances. Even if the unit is free, you’ve exceeded your budget here.
Strategy:
- You can drive a Hi-Ace (Rental Car)
- You have strong friends who can help (2 or more)
- You can use an electric screwdriver
If these conditions are met, the only costs are the rental car fee, gasoline, and yakiniku dinner for your friends. You can get a real soundproof room for a total of 30,000 to 50,000 yen.
Route C: “Serious DIY” with the Resolve to Throw Away Time and Effort#
The third is the “Self-Made Soundproof Room,” building from scratch by buying materials from a home center.
“Cheap” Is an Illusion#
Do you think “timber is cheap”? Timber prices have skyrocketed, and when you gather gypsum board, sound-insulating sheets, absorption materials, screws, caulking material, and power tools, it will end up costing 70,000 to 100,000 yen after all.
Furthermore, if you create a “box full of gaps” due to a design error, those 70,000 yen will become garbage.
People Who Have a Chance of Winning:#
- People who can use it as content for YouTube as a DIY video
- People who already have power tools
- People who can enjoy the building process itself
It’s acceptable if you can recover material costs through advertising revenue, but if you purely just want a soundproof room, it’s a “quagmire that doesn’t match the time (cost).”
Comparison Summary: Which “Hell” Do You Choose?#
To get a “screaming environment” with a budget of 100,000 yen, some kind of sacrifice is necessary.
| Route (Budget Guide) | Pros | Cons & Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Danbotchi Modification (Approx. 110,000 JPY) | No. 1 Reliability ・Won’t fail ・Easy assembly | Scorching Hell in Summer ・Cramped & Hot ・Req: Some modification |
| Self-Transportation Used (30,000 - 50,000 JPY) | Strongest Cost-Performance ・High Performance (Dr-35) ・Spacious & Comfortable | Heavy Labor & Dangerous ・Risk of injury ・Req: Muscle, Friends, Car |
| Serious DIY (70,000 - 100,000 JPY) | Free Design ・Becomes video content ・Sense of achievement | No Completion Guarantee ・Gaps = Garbage ・Req: Skill, Tools, Time |
Conclusion: Beginners Should Choose “Danbotchi Modification”#
If in doubt, choose Route A (Danbotchi Modification). The biggest risk is “burning out by building a soundproof room and neglecting the important streaming.”
Danbotchi is the smartest investment to direct your energy not toward “construction” but toward your “activities.”