In today’s economy, more and more office managers are looking for ways to boost their business. While we can’t drop sales in your lap, we can offer a solution that keeps your employees on top of your business instead of in everyone else’s business.
A sound masking system is an ideal solution in any new or existing building – its sole purpose is to prevent distractions from sidetracking your employees. So, how does it work?
There are two methods of masking sound in office environments. First is the indirect field method, also known as “above-ceiling” masking. This type was developed in the 1960s and has remained largely unchanged in terms of how it works. Large loudspeakers are mounted above the suspended ceiling in a grid pattern, and blast unstructured sound upward at the concrete deck above. It works on the theory that by bouncing the sound around, it will overcome the sound uniformity problems inhernet in the speaker technology of the 1960s. Because of such drawbacks, such systems required extensive tuning by acoustic professionals. Today, such systems face many of the same difficulties. As ceiling spaces become more filled with network cables, HVAC ducts, and other materials, the acoustic challenges of putting the speakers above the ceiling become more acute.
Enter the second, new method of sound masking: the direct-field system. Direct-field systems were designed to overcome the acoustic challenges above while at the same time, take advantage of the advances in speaker technology. As a result, most major sound masking suppliers now carry some form of direct-field system.
Getting a little direction
With a direct-field sound masking system, your facility will get the most uniform sound-masking available with maximum result and minimum hassle. That’s because direct field technology (as its name implies) is installed directly in the acoustic ceiling, rather than above the ceiling. This placement allows your facility to have the advantage of being pre-tuned to the