The original door to my basement studio was very thin, with a classic construction (a simple frame and a floating panel in the middle), which was far from appropriate for any kind of acoustic insulation.
To remedy this, I built a soundproofing door in multiple layers of MDF, with a solid wood frame. The assembly is now much better adjusted to the opening and more airtight than before.
The choice of MDF was naturally made in the context of soundproofing, because good insulation (for sound) relies on available mass. Since the door also needs to be relatively light for easy opening, the MDF was the right balance of density / mass, for a reasonable price as well, and large availability.
The door is made of 3 MDF layers, the middle layer being a hollow frame to allow for placing some insulation (glass wool), with a layer of aluminium sheet to serve as a vapor barrier and stiffener. Door seals placed on every point of contact (2 layers) between the frame and the door serve to maximize the soundproofing.
Finally, a layer of varnished pine paneling was added to provide a throwback to the original door’s antique look.
