No stud actually touches both walls, so there is no direct sound path. The most soundproof staggered-stud design also uses separate base plates under each set of studs.

Soundproof wall materials, however, can be quite expensive. Swedish scientists have developed a thinner, less costly alternative, in the form of a spring-loaded sound-damping screw.

The cost could “easily reach $20,000.” Natural wool Legge says the optimum approach to soundproofing is to absorb, damp, decouple, and seal sound.

Set the first stud at 15 1/4 inches away from the wall so that the center of the stud falls at 16 inches. This saves some cutting and a lot of frustration when installing the Sheetrock.