Theatre Room doors

[blizzard76]

Hi all,

Looking for some advice about replacing my current theatre room double doors with something as soundproof as possible.

The current doors are just standard hollow doors that have virtually no noise reduction properties and that I always intended to replace. 
 

Is it worth going to a specialty supplier to install some doors, with rubber surrounds etc? Or are there some decent doors that I can more or less DIY/get a carpenter to install?

 

Based in Melbourne. 
 

By the way, I did try looking for an existing mega thread but didn’t find much. But if there is one I should be posting this in please let me know. 
 

Thanks!

[Kaynin]

I had the same issue of standard privacy double doors in my HT room, then swapped in solid cores.  They’re so much more heavy, you have to make sure your screws are going to reach the frame.  They have reduced sound heaps, so I’ve been very happy.  Of course they don’t eliminate the sound, just deaden it somewhat.  I also have acoustic insulation in the walls and ceiling, so the doorway was the final problem area.  I’m not sure how effective they’d be on their own, without any insulation in the walls.

 

I tried running a seal around them, that created more issues in terms of closing space than anything else.  I ended up removing it and don’t use any now.

[Kaynin]

I bought them through a door store in Mornington, then had a chippy install and called in a painter to finish off.

[David A]

Artnovion have a range of acoustic doors, and there are Art Novion reps in Melbourne includiing @Tivoli Hi-Fi - https://www.artnovion.com/product-categories/49-acoustic-doors/products/1143-dba-door-pm40

[lucmor444]

Just quickly looked up the price of one of those Artnovian doors - the smallest/narrowest door is close to $6K!  Maybe you could haggle that price down a bit:). 

[blizzard76]

14 minutes ago, lucmor444 said:

Just quickly looked up the price of one of those Artnovian doors - the smallest/narrowest door is close to $6K!  Maybe you could haggle that price down a bit:). 

Ah yeah that’s a bit more than I’d like to spend. 

 

15 hours ago, Kaynin said:

I had the same issue of standard privacy double doors in my HT room, then swapped in solid cores.  They’re so much more heavy, you have to make sure your screws are going to reach the frame.  They have reduced sound heaps, so I’ve been very happy.  Of course they don’t eliminate the sound, just deaden it somewhat.  I also have acoustic insulation in the walls and ceiling, so the doorway was the final problem area.  I’m not sure how effective they’d be on their own, without any insulation in the walls.

Sounds like you were in a very similar situation to myself. My room walls/ceilings are also soundproof. Just the doors that need replacing. 
 

Excuse the barrage of questions coming…
 

Do you know what the Rw/NRC of your doors is? Also the manufacturer? Being solid, do they reflect sound or absorb it?

 

Also when you say deaden, how much reduction do you mean? A large percentage?

 

For me it’s ok if movies etc are still slightly audible, as it’s just an open living space on the other side. But I do want a fairly decent reduction. 

Edited December 3, 2024 by blizzard76

[Kaynin]

Yeah all of the Artnovion stuff is pricey, but they make great products.  I have some of their room treatments.  $6k x2 is also out of my league...

 

I feel moving from the useless hollow core to solid core will help you a lot.  For me, when I had the hollow core doors on it was like there weren't any doors there at all.  This was despite having insulation within the walls and ceiling.  It was then that I formed the opinion that sound is like water, and it will flow out wherever it can. After I put the solids in the reduction in noise level was significant.  It's a large percentage improvement in my set-up.  

 

I put mine in about 10 years ago, so I don't remember the brand, and certainly not acoustic measurements or any specs.  I would imagine they reflect sound.  This never bothered me because I've put room treatments in to the room after the doors were installed.  I think I just contacted a door retailer and ordered solid core doors in the right dimensions.

 

I'm in Cranbourne West, you're welcome to come and inspect if you wish -