My new bedroom feels like it's in my neighbor's living room

[no noise please]

Please help, I've barely started moving in and I already feel like I made a mistake. I hope this is only going to be a Saturday night problem when the guy next door has a friend over. I really don't think he had his tv and/or stereo all that loud, there just doesn't seem to be any insulation or whatever in this one shared wall. I can hear his voice, the tv, etc. But it feels like I am actually in his apt. It's a very small room-nominal dimensions are 7' by 9' so no room for portable panels. But the good thing is that the floors are concrete so I really don't hear anything above or below me and the way the apt is located in the building there is only one shared wall, however, it can do a lot of "damage" noise wize to your sanity.

What I would like to know if the headsets shown on this site really work, seems like they do? I would like to use one for sleeping and to wear to read in peace, etc. For sleeping, can a person hear an alarm clock, otherwise I can't use it during the week and get up for work on time so I would be stuck living and sleeping in my living room, not fair.

Also what is the difference really between a white noise machine and a fan?

I really would like to find a solution to this problem, can't break lease before I even move in and besides one can never escape noise problems in an apartment building. The best bet to me would be the headset if I will be able to hear my alarm.

Thanks for any suggestions.

[no noise please]

Could someone please reply even if it's just to say nothing will work. Thanks.

[Randy S]

Sorry for the delay, been a very busy week.
It is best to soundproof the wall, because that will give you the best reduction based the speach frequency.
The headsets will give you some reduction, however headsets are designed to allow speach frequency in for saftey purposes i.e. "someone yelling fire" you must be able to hear.
Since you rent and doesnt sound like soundproofing the wall is an option then the headsets in combination with a white noise machine would be your best value and best reduction.

[no noise please]

Thanks for the reply Randy. That's what I figured.

I am wondering though if "speech frequency" means that the headsets will also pick up tv and stereo noise from behind the wall?  If so, what would be the point?

That's why I was thinking that a "noise cancelling" or "noise isolation" headset might work better-something like a professional dj monitoring headset, but of course this would only be good for Saturday nights when I don't have to hear an alarm clock to get up for work the next day.

I am thinking about trying both options-one for during the work week and one for obnoxious weekends. Any opinions regarding the above would be greatly appreciated.

[Randy S]

Well I can't say that you wouldnt hear speach frequency from next door, chances are high that you will. But it will be reduced, that is why the combination would yield best results. You can also use a fan to help mask some of the noise next door.