Sound Masking Systems

Turn down the volume, get more done.

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The Story of Sound In The Office Space

Over the past few years as workstation heights have decreased, the number of distractions keeping your mind off your work has increased.

Be it your neighbour’s phone call, the teammates chatting as they work together on a project or just the everyday sounds of people going about their work, background distractions have become more noticeable than ever.

There are a variety of ways you can reduce background noise in your office and increase auditory privacy but one of the most effective solutions to reduce auditory distraction is to install a sound masking system. These systems are designed to introduce low-level noises that subtly raise the ambient sound level; rendering office and outdoor noise less noticeable and speech virtually unintelligible.

How Does Sound Masking Work?

A sound masking system comprises a centrally located controller connected to strategically placed speakers throughout the office space. These speakers emit a consistent background sound that blends with the existing ambient noise, effectively covering disruptive sounds without being intrusive.

What Are The Benefits of a Sound Masking System?

Boost productivity – Studies show productivity decreases by as much as 40 percent due to noise and distractions, and distracted workers are also more likely to make mistakes.
Enhance security and confidentiality – Speech privacy is enhanced by making what is being said indistinguishable.
Improve office comfort – Sound masking digitally creates sounds that are designed to match the frequencies of human speech and be pleasing to our ears. That sound flows throughout the space and blends into the natural background.
Increase employee well-being – In one UK survey, 44 percent of workers said noise at work made them stressed, and more than half said they were interrupted by noise distractions more than five times a day.

Most importantly, no longer will your coworkers’ conversation tempt you to eavesdrop rather than finish your work for the day; instead, they are just a muffled part of the office backdrop.

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What Are The Drawbacks of a Sound Masking System?

First and foremost among the problems with a sound masking system is that it will never completely eliminate background noise. It drastically reduces how many distracting sounds are bouncing around within your office but no system will be able to render your office totally silent.

Nor can sound masking systems eliminate particularly sudden or loud sounds. Even the best system is no match for car alarms, sirens or a coworker who is unable to refrain from yelling into their phone.

Finally, sound masking systems are a series of speakers run throughout your ceiling so if you are looking to retrofit a sound masking system into your current office you will need to ensure you have the ability to run wiring throughout your ceiling.

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How Much Does a Sound Masking System Cost?

A sound masking system’s price can vary depending on your facility’s layout and the difficulty of installation, but we find a decent average when working with our supplier, Softdb, of $4 to $8 per square foot.

You won’t normally install sound masking in stairwells, bathrooms, break rooms, or mechanical rooms, so be sure to use only actual office space when estimating the budget for your environment.

Let’s look at an example office that needs to install sound masking for 6,000 square feet of space. At the price of $4 to $8 per foot, that means the cost will likely fall between $24,000 and $42,000 for the project.

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Do you want our advice if a sound masking system is right for your space?

Our team of experts has evaluated hundreds of unique spaces and is armed with the experience to help you judge if this is the right investment for your business. Request a free consultation with one of our workplace experts today!