A downstairs mining machine can disturb you in two ways: fan/airflow noise through the air and structure-borne vibration through the floor, walls or pipes. Foam on your own wall may soften echo in your room, but it will not solve strong low-frequency vibration from the source.
Do not make the machine unsafe
The BITMAIN ANTMINER troubleshooting guide lists abnormal temperature and fan errors among common ANTMINER failure causes. That matters because many “quiet miner” ideas reduce airflow. Do not wrap the machine, block exhaust, replace fans casually, or change fan curves unless the operator is following the manufacturer’s temperature, firmware and support guidance.
Source-side fixes should be engineered
- Move the miner away from shared walls, columns, pipe shafts and thin shelves.
- Use a rigid, heavy base where appropriate; avoid flimsy furniture that amplifies vibration.
- Select anti-vibration mounts or pads by equipment weight and vibration frequency. A random soft pad can bottom out, overheat, or make low-frequency movement worse.
- Separate intake and exhaust so hot air does not recirculate.
- If an acoustic enclosure is used, it needs forced ventilation, temperature monitoring and fire-safe materials.
Evidence from the upstairs neighbour
The Environmental Health Project noise and vibration overview notes that low-frequency noise may be felt as well as heard, and that vibration can disturb sleep and concentration. A phone sound-meter app can help record a rough pattern, but it is weak for low-frequency vibration and is not a professional noise survey. Keep a log instead: time, room, whether the floor/bed vibrates, whether the sound changes when the machine stops, and short recordings from the same location.
Escalate through the operator, landlord, property management or local authority if the source owner refuses safe isolation, wiring or heat looks unsafe, or sleep/work disruption is repeated. The realistic solution is source control plus evidence, not decorative “soundproofing” alone.