Soundproofing: Alternative to CityQuiet windows?

Would be interested in this as well.

Me Three! Also, if they give discounts for multiple windows, etc...

I remember a recent thread where 30yrs seemed pretty impressed with them, assuming some customization:

http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/talk/discussion/12196-disadvantages-of-groundsecond-floor-apartments

it all depends on your situation. The way their system works is to install another window within your space. No matter who and what you use, the technology is the same. what's wrong with cityquiet?

I have used Citiproof (http://www.cityproof.com/) and their product works great. The thicker that glass you use, the better the sound insulation. No experience with CityQuiet.

"I remember a recent thread where 30yrs seemed pretty impressed with them, assuming some customization:

http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/talk/discussion/12196-disadvantages-of-groundsecond-floor-apartments""

"I have used Citiproof (http://www.cityproof.com/) and their product works great. The thicker that glass you use, the better the sound insulation. No experience with CityQuiet."

100% agreed on using thicker glass than whatever the minimum or "standard" they offer. Also, the farther from the outside windows the second set it, the better. Obviously this depends on the physical setup you have. But ONE BIG CAVEAT about using these windows: what is your air conditioning situation? With sound, it's always the weakest link in the soundproofing chain which rules. If you use window AC units, you not only have to figure out how you're going to set up the second set of windows so that your AC fits, but you can't use both the AC and have the second set of windows closed. And with the second set of windows (or any windows) it's "all or nothing" - if your windows are open AT ALL, you lose pretty much all of you sound insulating capabilities.

If you have thru the wall AC units: it doesn't matter if you close off all the sound coming thru the windows if you've got a big hole in the wall which allows sound to come thru. Most thru the wall AC units have 2 kinds of leakage: first is the leakage around the unit: unless the unit has been perfectly sealed in place (which is rare) you've got air coming in around the outside of the unit. If you have air, you have sound. The second type is thru the AC unit itself: most AC units allow for "fresh air" from the outside either as a "default" setting (i.e. they are permanently set this way), or they have a flap which is movable to either let fresh air in, exhaust inside air out, or be "closed. Obviously in the first 2 cases, again you have air and therefore sound. But even in the third case, all that protects you from sound infiltration is this (usually) little plastic flap. Most of the time, little plastic flap does not equal big thick double windows in terms of sound insulation, so this weak link gives you noise infiltration.

If you think you have "central" AC units, you may or you may not: in a lot of "modern" buildings where the heat and AC are contained as a single unit, you still have the compressor for the AC in that unit (as opposed to true building central AC with a cooling tower and cold water being pumped through the building in the same way that hot water is pumped for heat in "heating season". If you have your own compressor, you need to have the hot air created by the compression exhausted to the outside, and .... you guessed it... that means you have an opening to the outside world and a potential noise leakage. Go look at the outside of buildings which you think are "central AC" and take a look below all the windows and you will see in many of them what look like a set of slots below many of the windows.

If you have either truew central AC (either from the building or your own) or the new "split units" (where the chiller sits outside and the separate blower unit sits inside, you are much better off.

As far as the various companies who do these windows, most use fairly low quality materials and are a lot like floor guys - they promise the moon and when they deliver NJ, they make excuses as to why what they delivered is good enough, etc. For example, several of them use high gauge (i.e. thin) metal for the windows and don't bother to insulate the void (empty) parts, so even though the glass works, noise comes in thru the metal surround. Depending on how much you want to spend, you might consider going to someone who makes custom made windows and/or doors, or makes custom made shower enclosures as an alternative, but you will be spending real money to do so.

Oh, and I forgot: you may want to simply consider replacing the existing windows with better quality one's, depending on your situation (like landmarks, how much noise, etc. There are all sorts of other benefits you can get out of some of the really fancy new windows that you can't get out of the second interior set. They have windows which will reflect light in the summer keeping it cooler inside but let light in during the winter to make it warmer and all sorts of neat shit.

Waiting for quotes from CityQuiet, cityproof and soundproofwindows. Apparently, all three of them had installations in the building, so I hope to speak to the owners, once I get appt numbers: nothing beats show and tell, right?
Would be interested to compare notes with someone who recently went through similar selection process.

to all the acoustical engineers out there: is it possible to achieve the same 90%+ reduction in noise with two 1/4 inch thick laminated windows set half an inch apart as with one 3/4 inch thick laminated window? The second option is almost a grand more expensive per window, would be nice to confirm the science behind these claims before going with the cheaper version…

unfortunately, the answer to the "is it possible" question is yes, but it depends on a lot of variables as to what else is going on that just because it's possible, it doesn't mean it's going to happen; and especially since all of the things you would have to do in order to accomplish the goal cost money, the cost differential might be closer to zero or even the other way around, so it's impossible to give you an answer which will be meaningful without seeing the full engineering specs on each setup. (and yes, I took undergrad and grad acoustics courses in engineering school)

I have had Cityproof windows installed and they address the problems with the AC's (either through-wall or through-window). They manufacture and install enclosures with access panels. The real problem I learned is when the AC is off- that's when you really get the full brunt of the noise coming through the AC. By being able to close off the AC it makes a world of difference! The windows along with these enclosures have transformed my apartment!! I highly recommend City proof.

PhilYoPain,or anyone else have opinions on which one looks best Cityproof, CitiQuiet or Soundproofwindows? And which seem to work best?