Dedicated Music Room Recessed Lighting (High Hats)?


The music room is down to studs.  Rewired the entire room and in the process added 7 high hats.  They were to be used to make the room very bright for cleaning, playing with wires etc.  I also have four sconces that will get the old style low wattage Edison bulbs for lighting during listening (as well as a lamp or two).  It did not occur to me that although the "cans" won't be used during music the "cans" may buzz. I've been told this by three audiophiles and a home theater guy.  Two emphatically tell me to "rip them out while you can".  Others have told me just go get the automotive sound deadening sheets (cut and stick on the cans). The room has been insulated with Roxul SAFB (Sound Absorbing Fire Barrier) in batt form 6" in the walls 9" in the ceiling. Does anyone have any experience with cans rattling or buzzing?
Should I rip them out?  Yes I do listen to music very loud at times. Thanks.
Regards, barts  
barts

Showing 2 responses by bkeske

In the industry, we have mostly moved away from the ‘can light’ housings and trims. Almost all our projects use the new LED fixtures that look like recessed fixtures. They are cheaper, small and shallow (can actually fit into a 1/2 space, which makes them extremely versatile as you don’t have to worry about HVAC, plumbing, or even the joists or rafters to place them), so can fit practically anywhere, and have no parts that can ‘rattle’ at all.

look at those, that is what the industry is moving towards. I have not used a standard recessed ‘can’ fixture in over two years.
@barts 

bkeske, I didn't specify the LEDs to my electrician. And I just had him put in six 3" LED "shallow" lights in a fireplace bookshelf surround. Unfortunately I wasn't here when the cans went in. So, now I'm going to take the cans out and replace with the LED shallow solid fixtures.

Good idea. I’m an ‘older fart’, and dismissed the new technology early on, for good reason IMO. Heck, I’m one of those guys who bought 2 large cases of incandescent bulbs before they became ‘outlawed’. Since, I’ve actually replaced all the bulbs in my home with dimmable LED’s recently (all very ‘warm’ bulbs that mimic incandescent). I’ve become much more accepting of the new LED technology and their benefits. The shallow LED lights are actually pretty nice for a variety of reasons, and will reduce almost all your sonic concerns.

In terms of sound deadening drywall, ‘sound insulation’, and the like. Yes, those products might have some effect, but it is rather small. The science and technology of creating a true sound dampened/diffused space for high end audio takes a lot more than simply  utilizing those types of products. Check out Acoustic Fields on YouTube. That guy knows what it takes to make any significant impact in a dedicated listening room.