Shure Launches the first integrated ceiling array and loudspeaker for AV conferencing. While everyone wants good sound quality in meeting rooms, finding a solution that balances audio, convenience, and ease of installation can be difficult.
A soundbar that combines an array microphone and loudspeaker makes for a quick installation. With both components in one device, there is only one thing that needs to be mounted to the wall. The problem is that the location of a soundbar device at the front of the room is confronted by the laws of physics. The people seated at the far end of the table can be significantly quieter than people at the near end by the time their voice reaches the microphone. The result may be noticeably different sound quality for people seated in different areas.
The same phenomenon affects the audio coming from the loudspeaker. In order to make it sufficiently loud enough for listeners seated at the far end of the table, it may be uncomfortably loud for those at the near end.
Ceiling-mounted array microphones and loudspeakers provide the optimal coverage of the seating area. With the microphone and speakers overhead, the distance from the microphone or loudspeaker to each participant is roughly the same, resulting in more consistent sound quality for everyone at the table. But in small and medium-sized meeting rooms, installing and configuring multiple ceiling-based components is not always cost-effective.
The MXA902 is ideal for small to medium-sized meeting rooms where the seating area is no more than 6 by 6 meters (20 by 20 feet). Its array microphone uses Single-Zone Automatic Coverage™ technology to capture every talker within that area, while its integrated loudspeaker provides robust sound for every participant. In addition, built-in IntelliMix® DSP includes automatic mixing, echo cancellation, and noise reduction for a pristine audio mix.