Ensure Everyone Can Hear Loud & Clear in Your Conference Space 

Note: This blog was originally published in 2017 and has been updated in 2024. 

If you’re planning on upgrading your conference room speaker systems, speaker placement and configuration is essential. One way to tell if you need a new sound system upgrade is if you experience inconsistent sound and volume levels throughout your space. In larger meeting rooms, you need to make sure everyone is engaged—even in the very back of the room. 

When making the decision on new speaker installations, consider the following speaker placement tips.

Why Should I Upgrade My Boardroom Audio? 

Upgrading your conference room audio can significantly improve the overall meeting experience. High-quality audio ensures that all participants can hear and be heard clearly, which is crucial in our hybrid age of video conferencing. 

Modern conference room sound systems also integrate seamlessly with video conferencing platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams, so you can hear remote participants’ input clearly. You don’t want to rely on a built-in computer or display speakers to project all the way to the back. Instead, a professional audio-video installation will distribute your meetings’ audio to every necessary corner.

SEE ALSO: 2 Reasons Why You Need Your Own Conference Room Audio/Video Setup

Room Layout and Speaker Placement

The layout of the room will directly affect the number of speakers you need. A good rule of thumb is that you want the sound to be at the same level regardless of where you are in the room. 

The size of the room and the height of the ceiling are also crucial. The more speakers you have in the ceiling, the more even the sound will appear across seating positions. If you have a presenter or a display for video conferencing, it is a good idea to have some speakers that make it appear that the sound is coming from the screen or where the presenter is positioned.

High Ceiling Considerations

In rooms with high ceilings, like a church or large meeting hall, it may make more sense to use a single speaker or a cluster of speakers so the sound comes or appears to come from a single point. The higher mounting position makes the distance from the speaker to each seat close to the same. Speaker manufacturers also use different engineering designs to correct this distance even further for various speakers.

Addressing Sound Levels in Large Rooms

In large rooms, sound levels can recede drastically from the front to the back. If the amplified sound does not reach all the way from the front podium to the back of the room, perhaps because of a balcony, rear-fill speakers can be used to fill in the gaps. 

These speakers are usually delayed using an electronic processor to make them seem in time with the front speakers, eliminating what could appear as an echo.

Choosing the Right Conference Room Speakers

Your choice of speakers can make a huge difference in sound quality and sound pressure levels at various listening positions. We recommend and only install uncompromised quality audio products for conference, boardroom, and other speaker systems. Here are a few of our favorite brands:

• EV Electro-Voice
• QSC
• One Systems
• Tannoy

All of these companies produce amazing quality for loudspeakers, ceiling mount, or surface mount speaker configurations. After we review your room layout, you can be sure one of these companies or our other vendors will have a speaker design available to best suit your Florida business. 

Ready for Boardroom Audio Upgrades? 

Room design, configuration, and installation can be a daunting task. Our professionals in Tampa Bay are ready and willing to help you determine the best products for your conference or boardroom speaker system. 

We've been helping businesses upgrade to quality audio-video equipment for nearly 20 years. Our goal is to give you the best value we can for the budget you have. Contact us today to discuss your needs and find the best solutions for your space.