The other story is hifi audio in apartments or condos. However I'm considering a senior living apartment building and I'm concerned about losing the ability to use my stereo system. How do you manage that without complaints? I would think that even moderate levels with normal music would be a problem.
I have lived in an apartment one way or another all my life.
Back when i was younger, and lived in a place with all younger folks, I could blast away and never think twice about it.
In middle age I was a bit quieter, wanting peace more than wanting to boogie.
Figuring being quiet myself was the way to be able to ask for it in return. So I started listening at lower levels. And to really blast away some Rock music late at night I got headphones. (Now I have a Rudistor RPX33 mk2 headamp and some Sennheiser HD800 phones)
My last move, a few years before retiring to a 'over 55' building.. I LOVE the fact it is really quiet. daytime ambient noise 35dB (think in downtown area, but next to park) and i really never hear anyone. Night time mid/low 20dB! I can hear trains rumbling a mile away if the wind is right. It is really quiet, way quieter than any other building I ever lived in.
Anyway, I just play music quieter too. averaging mid 50dB playing Classical in mornings. And really usually around 70dB max. Averaging mid 60's dB all day, on a typical day. ("C" weighted, at listening chair)
I also have (accidentally) a sort of corner apartment. The living room wall is the next door neighbors bedroom wall. So normal daytime they do not hear as much.
Though if a day sleeper moved in there, it might become an issue! all other side walls are mine alone as they are the hallway walls, which wrap around to the side of my apartment.
Above and below I never hear anything from their apartments, no TV, nothing. (as if they were empty.. Though once every two weeks I do hear music from above for an hour. I think it is a cleaning lady they hire, masking her activities?)
I also like the fact Magnepans bass just does not go through walls the way a cone woofer bass does. It seems the softer Magnepan bass 'attack' keeps a lot of the wall penetration down.
Then the style of bass. The annoying noise folks most complain about is a steady "thump thump thump thump". Any syncopation in the bass notes and the annoyance level drops dramatically. So I avoid most of the 'bad' sort of bass, and find it really boring anyway!
As I mentioned, Opera arias I can play a lot louder, since the music is not going through the walls much. But even those are still below 80dB (averaged) peaks.
Another plus with my new Magnepan 20.7 is they can play softer, and still be really clearer sounding than the 3.6 Magnepans could. particularly in the midrange.
Anyway, Over all, over the years I have just trained myself to listen at lower levels.
Yes it might be said it is not as exciting as blasting away.. But it is still wonderful music. And IMO as I listen at lower levels, and being used to it, it is really great.
I KNOW folks who usually listen at louder levels, and then they get it turned down, the sound sucks.
I think that is a psychological thing. But if one really just keeps the level lower, the ear and brain adjust over a time until it just sounds right at the lower levels. The biggest plus is I am no longer making myself gradually go deaf from overexposure!
And when I do blast away, up to 80dB, it really seems LOUD!
(when I go to a dealer and audition, they always start the music at like 90dB. I turn it down, and actually bring my dB meter to adjust it.)
Also, when you move in. totally resist the temptation to crank it up.
I have to say folks here who move in and the same day, with the windows open crank up the music, get told in clear terms, noise and eviction go hand in hand.
Maybe once a year someone moves in and start right off with music blasting away. Funny it stops pretty soon. I have also called and complained about it!
Then the other little old ladies.. and men too. they gossip, and tell each other to complain! So any rash events get the management involved. (getting a three day notice to quit or evict is scary)
But now I have been here 11 years.. If I make a little noise, it is more 'forgivable'
So my once in awhile making some noise other might be able to hear is not so terrible. But I try hard not to make any noise someone might complain about.
The manager, when I asked, said he had never even heard any music coming from my apartment at all (which is a great complement considering I play music all day every day!)
And they certainly know about my stereo and music collection. there is a yearly 'inspection' which I think is really to see if the people are still physically functioning and able to care for themselves.. and not hoarding trash or getting bugs and such stuff. So they see all my 4,500 records, and 2,500 CDs and piles of equipment.. (I am wondering if they will notice my speakers 'grew' (I bought the same color and trim larger Magnepans.) LOL)
Anyway, I have no problems with playing music in 'over 55' senior apartments.