Quiet AC solution (wall hanging units)

Lunatique · 24th June 2008, 04:09 AM

ductless.ca - Mitsubishi Ductless Air Conditioning

I'm probably going to buy something like Mr. Slim for my new studio, and was wondering if anyone has used one of these and are happy with the performance. The models I've looked at from other brands (Panasonic, Haier) can also go as low as 22db during normal operation (meaning when you are not blasting it on high settings). Should be quiet enough for a studio, no?

JMc · 2nd July 2008, 04:23 AM

I was considering one of these until I priced them out. The price of the unit itself is okay - it's just that having it installed is the killer. Came out close to 3 grand.

I've decided to spend the money instead, on adding a zone to the current AC setup. I'd actually planned to do that last week, and part of the job included a larger duct into the studio and possibly another line running directly into the vocal booth, but then our main AC condensor/compressor conked out. That was a week ago Sunday. I live in SoCal where we've been experiencing triple digits where I live, so I have been dreaming about cold air a lot, in what little time I can actually sleep.

Beginning to rethink my committment to all this cool tube gear that I've surrounded myself with here, on the second floor, where the heat rises...

Berolzheimer · 2nd July 2008, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMc

I was considering one of these until I priced them out. The price of the unit itself is okay - it's just that having it installed is the killer. Came out close to 3 grand.

I've decided to spend the money instead, on adding a zone to the current AC setup. I'd actually planned to do that last week, and part of the job included a larger duct into the studio and possibly another line running directly into the vocal booth, but then our main AC condensor/compressor conked out. That was a week ago Sunday. I live in SoCal where we've been experiencing triple digits where I live, so I have been dreaming about cold air a lot, in what little time I can actually sleep.

Beginning to rethink my committment to all this cool tube gear that I've surrounded myself with here, on the second floor, where the heat rises...

Really? I thought the mini splits were very easy to install- in fact I'm planning on putting one in myself in the next week or 2.

JMc · 2nd July 2008, 04:52 AM

Well, if you can put it in yourself, then more power to you - and savings! But I'm 48-years old, and don't like climbing ladders to the second story with the intent of trying to punch a hole through stucco. Not my bag.

Anyone interested in these units might want to check epinions and other consumer reviews. I've seen a lot of dissatisfaction with those buying the two-zone system, complaining that the second zone doesn't get much cooling when the other one is going. But for a single room installation, I think they sound terrific. Impractical for my own application, but terrific nonetheless.

Berolzheimer · 2nd July 2008, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMc

Well, if you can put it in yourself, then more power to you - and savings! But I'm 48-years old, and don't like climbing ladders to the second story with the intent of trying to punch a hole through stucco. Not my bag.

Anyone interested in these units might want to check epinions and other consumer reviews. I've seen a lot of dissatisfaction with those buying the two-zone system, complaining that the second zone doesn't get much cooling when the other one is going. But for a single room installation, I think they sound terrific. Impractical for my own application, but terrific nonetheless.

Well I'm 46 and still a rock climber when I can get out, but besides that my studio's only one story tall.

bpape · 2nd July 2008, 04:50 PM

I spec units like that for high end home theaters all the time. They work very well and allow better isolation since you're not sharing ductwork with the rest of the structure so that noise path is eliminated.

Bryan

JMc · 4th July 2008, 07:30 PM

It's been a really interesting two weeks for me, hassling with the 3rd party home warranty crooks, enduring triple digit heat, etc. Our new condensor/compressor unit is supposed to be here Monday, but in the meantime, it's been pretty miserable with all this nifty tube gear on the second floor... What's the cheapest anyone has paid a contractor to install one of these things? The $1,195 (equipment only) version is rated to cool 100-300 sqft (my home studio is small - about 125 sqft) so I'm thinking more and more that I'd like to pop for one of these things, but one local installer quoted close to 3 grand for the total; which is a deal breaker for me. $1,800 for labor seems a bit ridiculous for something purportedly so "easy" to install.

Musiclab · 4th July 2008, 09:24 PM

I have a freidrich model that I've used for years now and has been great. The Mr Slim is one of the priciest. There are less expensive ones out there and most are oemed anyway

Lunatique · 5th July 2008, 04:34 AM

Wow, that's terrible. In China, when you buy these standalone/split units, the retail store sends people over to install them for free! Since all homes in China already have a pre-drilled AC hole in their walls and pre-arranged space on the balcony/outside wall for the AC units, the installation is fairly painless.

JMc · 8th July 2008, 03:52 AM

Gee, that almost makes me want to move to China! Eh... Almost. What about San Mateo? Anybody there installing 'em for free? Maybe Matthews, top of the hill Daly City? If they're still in business that is. Been a long time since I lived in the Bay Area...

I think I might go with the Friederick or Toshiba unit and find a licensed HVAC tech on Craigslist who wants to make two or three hundred bucks on the side to install it.

Bounce · 8th July 2008, 06:32 AM

Last week I got one put in my new mix room I'm building for around $1500 installed plus the cost of putting in a 220v line (another $400)
:-)
Coulda been cheaper but I opted for heat as well.

From Harborpoint A/C

JMc · 8th July 2008, 09:10 PM

Hey Bounce,

What was the price of the installation alone? Do you have that breakdown? Thanks.

Bounce · 8th July 2008, 09:25 PM

The installation was $400 and I had to hire an electrician to run a 220 line from my house over to the mixroom building (I'm building a second mix room at my house for when my studio is rented out and I need to get something done ASAP). The 220 line was another $380. A?C unit with heat is around $1049 I believe. Here is their website:

Harbor Point, Ductless Wall / Mini Split, Portable, PTAC Air Conditioners (Powered by CubeCart)

JMc · 8th July 2008, 09:32 PM

Jeebus, that's a great price for an 18000 BTU unit, installed.

Thanks for the info. If I can get one of these things installed in my second floor room for <$1,500, it's a done deal. The 9000 BTU sized units will work fine for me and I've already got a breaker box directly below where I would have the thing installed. I'm starting to put out feelers to local HVAC contractors.

Lunatique · 9th July 2008, 03:52 AM

Why not just get a voltage converter? It would've been cheaper than installing a 220v line?

jval · 9th July 2008, 04:52 AM

I'm in the process of getting quotes for a mini split system right now. I'm in canada and the first company quoted $2000 with installation for a single zone 12,000 BTU unit. Unfortunately it's just too much money to get both rooms hooked up, so i'm just gonna go with the control room. He didn't mention the electricity thing, so now i'm worried about that because i'm also in a building separate from the house.
I'm meeting with another salesman tomorrow. Hopefully he can beat that price.
Can't wait to get rid of these noisy and completely uneffective window units! Me and my clients sweat buckets in the control room while that stupid thing hums away. It's so awful that i don't really care how much I have to spend for this. It's better than not being able to work all summer.

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24th June 2008, 04:09 AM	#1
Lunatique Gear maniac Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: American in China Posts: 264	Quiet AC solution (wall hanging units) ductless.ca - Mitsubishi Ductless Air Conditioning I'm probably going to buy something like Mr. Slim for my new studio, and was wondering if anyone has used one of these and are happy with the performance. The models I've looked at from other brands (Panasonic, Haier) can also go as low as 22db during normal operation (meaning when you are not blasting it on high settings). Should be quiet enough for a studio, no?

2nd July 2008, 04:23 AM	#2
JMc Gear maniac Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Boss Angeles Posts: 233	I was considering one of these until I priced them out. The price of the unit itself is okay - it's just that having it installed is the killer. Came out close to 3 grand. I've decided to spend the money instead, on adding a zone to the current AC setup. I'd actually planned to do that last week, and part of the job included a larger duct into the studio and possibly another line running directly into the vocal booth, but then our main AC condensor/compressor conked out. That was a week ago Sunday. I live in SoCal where we've been experiencing triple digits where I live, so I have been dreaming about cold air a lot, in what little time I can actually sleep. Beginning to rethink my committment to all this cool tube gear that I've surrounded myself with here, on the second floor, where the heat rises... __________________ "This is not some psychotic episode - but a cleansing moment of clarity."

2nd July 2008, 04:52 AM	#4
JMc Gear maniac Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Boss Angeles Posts: 233	Well, if you can put it in yourself, then more power to you - and savings! But I'm 48-years old, and don't like climbing ladders to the second story with the intent of trying to punch a hole through stucco. Not my bag. Anyone interested in these units might want to check epinions and other consumer reviews. I've seen a lot of dissatisfaction with those buying the two-zone system, complaining that the second zone doesn't get much cooling when the other one is going. But for a single room installation, I think they sound terrific. Impractical for my own application, but terrific nonetheless. __________________ "This is not some psychotic episode - but a cleansing moment of clarity."

2nd July 2008, 04:50 PM	#6
bpape Gear addict Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: St. Louis(Wildwood), MO Posts: 438	I spec units like that for high end home theaters all the time. They work very well and allow better isolation since you're not sharing ductwork with the rest of the structure so that noise path is eliminated. Bryan __________________ I am serious, and don't call me Shirley Bryan Pape Lead Acoustical Designer GIK Acoustics

4th July 2008, 07:30 PM	#7
JMc Gear maniac Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Boss Angeles Posts: 233	It's been a really interesting two weeks for me, hassling with the 3rd party home warranty crooks, enduring triple digit heat, etc. Our new condensor/compressor unit is supposed to be here Monday, but in the meantime, it's been pretty miserable with all this nifty tube gear on the second floor... What's the cheapest anyone has paid a contractor to install one of these things? The $1,195 (equipment only) version is rated to cool 100-300 sqft (my home studio is small - about 125 sqft) so I'm thinking more and more that I'd like to pop for one of these things, but one local installer quoted close to 3 grand for the total; which is a deal breaker for me. $1,800 for labor seems a bit ridiculous for something purportedly so "easy" to install. __________________ "This is not some psychotic episode - but a cleansing moment of clarity."

4th July 2008, 09:24 PM	#8
Musiclab Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Elmont NY Posts: 3,222	I have a freidrich model that I've used for years now and has been great. The Mr Slim is one of the priciest. There are less expensive ones out there and most are oemed anyway __________________ Lou Gimenez www.musiclabnyc.com

5th July 2008, 04:34 AM	#9
Lunatique Gear maniac Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: American in China Posts: 264	Wow, that's terrible. In China, when you buy these standalone/split units, the retail store sends people over to install them for free! Since all homes in China already have a pre-drilled AC hole in their walls and pre-arranged space on the balcony/outside wall for the AC units, the installation is fairly painless.

8th July 2008, 03:52 AM	#10
JMc Gear maniac Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Boss Angeles Posts: 233	Gee, that almost makes me want to move to China! Eh... Almost. What about San Mateo? Anybody there installing 'em for free? Maybe Matthews, top of the hill Daly City? If they're still in business that is. Been a long time since I lived in the Bay Area... I think I might go with the Friederick or Toshiba unit and find a licensed HVAC tech on Craigslist who wants to make two or three hundred bucks on the side to install it. __________________ "This is not some psychotic episode - but a cleansing moment of clarity."

8th July 2008, 06:32 AM	#11
Bounce Lives for gear Join Date: May 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 594	Last week I got one put in my new mix room I'm building for around $1500 installed plus the cost of putting in a 220v line (another $400) :-) Coulda been cheaper but I opted for heat as well. From Harborpoint A/C __________________ McKay Garner Bounce Inventive Audio Los Angeles

8th July 2008, 09:10 PM	#12
JMc Gear maniac Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Boss Angeles Posts: 233	Hey Bounce, What was the price of the installation alone? Do you have that breakdown? Thanks. __________________ "This is not some psychotic episode - but a cleansing moment of clarity."

8th July 2008, 09:25 PM	#13
Bounce Lives for gear Join Date: May 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 594	The installation was $400 and I had to hire an electrician to run a 220 line from my house over to the mixroom building (I'm building a second mix room at my house for when my studio is rented out and I need to get something done ASAP). The 220 line was another $380. A?C unit with heat is around $1049 I believe. Here is their website: Harbor Point, Ductless Wall / Mini Split, Portable, PTAC Air Conditioners (Powered by CubeCart) __________________ McKay Garner Bounce Inventive Audio Los Angeles

8th July 2008, 09:32 PM	#14
JMc Gear maniac Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Boss Angeles Posts: 233	Jeebus, that's a great price for an 18000 BTU unit, installed. Thanks for the info. If I can get one of these things installed in my second floor room for <$1,500, it's a done deal. The 9000 BTU sized units will work fine for me and I've already got a breaker box directly below where I would have the thing installed. I'm starting to put out feelers to local HVAC contractors. __________________ "This is not some psychotic episode - but a cleansing moment of clarity."

9th July 2008, 03:52 AM	#15
Lunatique Gear maniac Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: American in China Posts: 264	Why not just get a voltage converter? It would've been cheaper than installing a 220v line?

9th July 2008, 04:52 AM	#16
jval Gear maniac Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 248	I'm in the process of getting quotes for a mini split system right now. I'm in canada and the first company quoted $2000 with installation for a single zone 12,000 BTU unit. Unfortunately it's just too much money to get both rooms hooked up, so i'm just gonna go with the control room. He didn't mention the electricity thing, so now i'm worried about that because i'm also in a building separate from the house. I'm meeting with another salesman tomorrow. Hopefully he can beat that price. Can't wait to get rid of these noisy and completely uneffective window units! Me and my clients sweat buckets in the control room while that stupid thing hums away. It's so awful that i don't really care how much I have to spend for this. It's better than not being able to work all summer.

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