As an example,

adding a layer of 5/8-inch gypsum board over an existing 1/2-inch gypsum

board wall can significantly increase sound dissipation and reduce sound

flow to adjacent areas.

Yet, when planning

a media room, it is important to recognize that effective sound control

is a two-way street. While homeowners want to contain sound within the

media room, they also want to insulate the media room from exterior noise

that can compromise the fidelity of a surround-sound system.

To keep unwanted

sound out of the media room, the Gypsum Association suggests sealing gaps

around electrical outlets, plumbing fixtures and doors and windows with

flexible caulk. "Sound waves will find their way through penetration

points in a room," Gardner stressed, "so sealing perimeter gaps

is essential to creating an acoustically pleasant environment."

For more information

on how controlling sound in a media room or elsewhere in the home, log

on to www.gypsum.org. First click on the "Environmental" link

on the association home page. Then click on "Gypsum Board-A Key to

a Quieter Home!" highlighted in the fourth paragraph of the document

entitled: "Environmental."

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