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Soundproofing a Cubicle?
Anon! A Mouse Cowered! asks: "I work in a 10 x 10 ft. cubicle that's about as low-end as it can be (my back wall is made of my filing cabinets). I have a cheap set of speakers on my desktop for internet radio, but if I play anything other than light jazz or classical at anything above a squeak, it's annoying to my coworkers. Are there any other Dilberts (or Wallys, even), who can offer ideas on making a workspace more livable so that I can enjoy my Primus albums at an audible volume while working?"
Get a pair of rather nice, open-back, full ear headphones. The set I use with my iPod are Sennheiser HD 590's (purchased at The Great Indoors for ~$30, down from ~$70). They sound absolutely amazing, but because they aren't sealed you can still hear the phone, people talking directly to you, etc.
Earbuds are nice and cheap, but they block out too much sound. You need to ensure that the headphones are really comfortable and have a nice long cord, though, since you'll probably want to move around your desk a bit and be wearing them for hours on end. Also, if you are running the sound out of your desktop or notebook and it's kinda crappy (bad S/N ratio, interferance, etc) look into a Griffin Technologies iMic. As they are just a standard USB audio device, they work without drivers on Macs or PCs and sound excellent.
I personally find it extremely rude when coworkers insist on playing music out loud (headphones solve this) or having conference calls on speakerphone (that's what headsets are for). Hopefully if more people start using a more personal listening device, the workplace will be calmer for everyone.
Good headphones will give you exactly what you want and more...
Get a good set and you'll be amazed by the sound and your neighbors will be happy.
I recommend a high-end Sennheiser model, like the Sennheiser HD-580
After using them for a while, you won't go back to "computer speakers"
Since water does a fairly decent job of muffling sound, the answer is obvious: build yourself a cubiquarium. A few sheets of plexiglass, a snorkel and a standard garden hose should get you started.
It's worse than the crap posts being allowed, it's the good posts being rejected int he last year I have had 2 rejected. the first is an alternative to light guns for panel monitors, the second is fault tolernant clusters. Either of these two are geeky enough for /. of course they do require thought so prehaps that's why they were rejected.
I've been using AKG Acoustics K-240 Monitor for many years - superb sound quality, durable, comfortable.
There's also K-240 Studio and K-240 DF, but I haven't had a chance to try those out.
Hmm, I've tried it and it's not that great. Too much hiss and such if the microphone is turned up loud enough to hear overhead pages and the phone ringing. People behind you isn't as much of a problem, you can always put up the little mirror or simply let them tap you on the shoulder.
One thing I tried, and which had moderate success, was to build a little optically-controlled attenuator to put inline with the headphones. Basically two transistors and two phototransistors arranged so that when a phototransistor receives enough light, the transistors pull down the audio signals nearly to ground. The phototransistors ara taped to the "Page" and "Line" lights on the AT&T office phone so that when there is an overhead page or the phone rings, the headphone volume automatically kicks down and you can hear it.
Since the obvious ( headphones!!! ), for whatever reason, is not applicable, there are a few ways sound travels from one cubicle to another and a few good ways to make it not travel so well.
Your cubicle is a big speaker cabinet that's pointed at the ceiling. Anyone within a few cubicles will get the reflections from the ceiling.
* Place sound deadening ceiling tiles above your cubicle (and out 8-10 feet). Cover them with loosely attached cloth (so it drapes several inches below ceiling height). This will reduce the largest portion of sound reflection.
Cubicle surfaces are attached to neighbor cubicles. Sounds from within the cubicle can be transmitted directly to the cubicle and reproduced at other points as the sound travels through the system.
* Place the speakers on sound deadening material and then on top of a rubber pad. Surface your entire cubicle with sound deadening material. Place loosely attached cloth around the cubicle (the heavier weight the cloth, the better)
Sound, by its very nature, travels through the air very well. All the previous measures only prevent reflections and transmissions through and from solid surfaces. Now you need to prevent the sound from traveling through the air to your neighbors.
* Extend your cubicle walls to the ceiling, or at least place several layers of cloth, preferebaly with sound deadening materil inbetween, from the top of your cubicle to the ceiling. Install a door of some kind. Put cones around your speakers to direct the sound energy towards you - you shouldn't be sending sound pollution to places you aren't at, so place the cones to prevent the sound from going all over the cubicle.
Of course, some sound is still getting through, and, let's face it, Primus isn't intended to be played at low volumes. I recommend installing a concrete block on top of a rubber pad/shock system inside your cubicle. On top of that pad you'll need double walls with sound insulation between them, and, of course, a similar door and ceiling.
But you'll probably have a better time (easier, cheaper, faster) buying wireless headphones or convincing your employer to allow you to telecommute.
For my part, I just find this hilarious when the worst part of your job is you can't listen to Primus at your preferred volume.
You must really be suffering, but remember that you need to choose your battles wisely. You may win this one, but the next one might be more important, and you might not have any more room to move.
-Adam