Ω

GET A FREE CONSULTATION

Schedule a free, no-obligation phone consultation with one of our experts to discuss your needs.

  • Type what you see

we will not share or sell your email


The Ins and Outs of Sound Masking

Posted 5 years ago

What Is Sound Masking?

Sound masking is the practice of lessening the volume of speech and muting undesired noise with the addition of background sound. Essentially, this lessens the impact of troublesome office noises by introducing a barely noticeable frequency of sound to ‘flatten’ the profile of the disruptive sounds. The noise emitted from a sound masking machine is almost imperceptible and is frequently described as a hum.

What’s In A Sound Masking System?

The equipment required for a sound masking system is easily concealed and typically requires three simple components: the control module, the emitters (speakers), and the cables. The speakers, barely the size of recessed lighting, can be hidden behind a drop ceiling, embedded within it, or in some cases below a raised access floor. These positions make for direct and indirect masking applications.

Direct and Indirect Sound Masking

Direct Sound Masking:

this means the speakers point down from the ceiling directly into the desired space. This makes for a more uniform sound profile, but requires a more invasive and expensive installation.

Indirect Sound Masking:

This allows the speakers to be hidden behind a drop ceiling, wherein the sound waves are bounced back into the desired space. This approach is less invasive and typically more affordable, but may lack the effectiveness of a direct sound masking system.

Sound Masking vs. White Noise

Sound masking is frequently confused with white noise but is far more sophisticated. Sound masking is engineered to match the frequency of the human voice, subduing conversations and decreasing distractions. Unlike white noise, which closely resembles the sound of radio static, sound masking fades into the background. Traditional white noise would be extremely intrusive if it were tuned to effectively mask human speech.

Why Use Sound Masking?

Open-concept office spaces have become the de rigueur of workplace floor plans, and though they may have their benefits, they pose quite a challenge for speech privacy and unwanted noise. After all, speech is one of the main distractions in an office setting. At an audible level, conversations can distract your employees and put vital client information at risk.

If employee productivity and speech privacy are concerns in your office (and they should be), then sound masking is definitely for you.

What Sound Masking Solution Is For You?

At Customer 1st Communications we provide scalable, easily installed solutions to disruptive office noise. Discover our range of Cambridge Sound Management technology here, and contact us today for a free consultation to find out how C1C can help you maintain a productive and private environment for your employees, clients, and customers.

CALL TODAYGET A QUOTE