Corporate Sound Masking Installation

Sound Masking is the addition of an unobtrusive background sound, similar to airflow, to reduce the intelligibility of human speech and to reduce distractions. The resulting environment leads to greater productivity and increased privacy and comfort.

Corporate offices feature a variety of workspaces that require their own unique solutions for improving worker comfort, productivity, and speech privacy. Modern open offices contain far more reflective materials, such as glass and wood, than ever before. Then, combine those factors with more benching and less private offices. While these changes have made workplaces more aesthetically pleasing and collaborative, it has also affected the acoustics. Sound Masking in corporate settings, such as the ones described above, help improve the acoustic environment. This enables employees to feel more comfortable and less distracted at work.

RTS was approached to design and install a multi-zone sound masking solution as part of an office refurbishment in central London. The space was a combination of open planned office spaces, communal hallways and private meeting rooms.

RTS installed a Cambridge Sound Management QT300 control module, capable of multi-zone installations up to 36,000 square feet. The QT300 was connected to 122 individual sound masking emitters across 3 independent zones. This system is capable of covering up to 3 diverse areas in buildings needing improved speech privacy. Configuration of the system was through the QT300 web browser interface or the front panel which can be locked out to avoid unauthorised tampering.

QT300 Controller Module

Qt emitters are wide dispersion direct field speakers with 1.25” (3.17 cm) drivers and are smaller than a coffee mug. All Qt emitters come in the adjustable format. These emitters deliver four uncorrelated audio channels, which provide uniform, unobtrusive sound masking. This feature, along with plug and play installation and easy configuration capability, make Qt® systems the most intelligently engineered and most effective sound masking systems on the market today.

RTS installation engineers worked alongside various tradespeople to ensure that the sound masking installation was delivered on schedule and to budget.