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SOUND
MASKING is the most cost
effective alternative for improving workplace comfort and
productivity.
What
is sound masking?
Sound masking is the addition of a familiar-sounding
air conditioning-like background sound to an environment,
intended to "cover-up" unwanted conversations.
Here's an analogy. Imagine you are in a darkened
room and a child is flicking a flashlight on and off.
The light is noticeable. Now imagine that the lights
are on. The same flashlight is now unnoticed; it has
been masked. This is how sound masking works.
Higher cubicles, rearranging your workspace and building full walls are solutions too, but the addition of a sound masking system is the most cost-effective path to improved workplace acoustics.
Who needs sound masking?
Workplace acoustics are often overlooked. Adding sound masking can improve acoustical comfort in just about every environment, but here are some workspaces that benefit the most:
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Cubicles where the conversation of co-workers is distracting and affects productivity. |
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Private offices and adjacent public spaces — when confidential speech privacy is desired. |
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Libraries and other spaces that are often too quiet — because of the lack of background noise, even the drop of a pen is distracting. |
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Qt Quiet technology™ sound masking vs. Competitive systems
Ours: A Qt Quiet technology™ sound masking system is direct-field and installed in the workspace. Miniature emitters, or speakers, uniformly disperse a pre-programmed, spectra-appropriate sound through four sequenced channels. The result is a sound far quieter than competing alternatives for the same level of masking speech.
Theirs: Competing sound masking systems are "in-plenum", meaning large paint can-like loudspeakers are installed above the ceiling tiles. Sound is bounced off the ceiling deck, through the ceiling tiles and into the workspace below. The sound is unpredictable and louder for the same level of speech privacy. These systems create "hot" spots and unwanted masking noise often spills into unintended spaces such as private offices. In-plenum systems have been around since the 1960's. It is time for a change.
Why Qt Quiet technology™ sound masking from Cambridge Sound Management?
Designed and invented by acoustical professionals with decades of combined experience, sound masking systems built with Qt Quiet technology™ share these features:
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Pre-programmed sound that is uniquely uniform, unobtrusive and pleasant |
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Straightforward and uncomplicated installation and specification |
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Flexibility for installation in just about any environment |
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Paging and music distribution capabilities |
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Next-generation technology |
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Cambridge
Sound Management is a product spin-off of world-renowned
acoustical consulting firms Acentech and
Bolt, Beranak and Newman (BBN).
What are the ABCs of Workplace Acoustics?
There are three ways to improve workplace acoustics and solve your sound problems – the ABC's.
A = Absorb (usually via ceiling tile)
B = Block (via workstation panels, wall placement and workspace layout)
C = Cover-up (via electronic sound masking)
While
all three of these are recommended to achieve optimal results,
C = Cover-up by increasing background sound produces the
most dramatic improvement in speech privacy ––
with the least disruption and the lowest cost.
In
your role as facility manager, you are the expert; you anticipate
problems with your work environment and respond to complaints.
In this valued role, you need to know about SOUND MASKING
and you need to know about Cambridge Sound Management!
Workspace
Trends Reduce Acoustical Comfort
“It’s too noisy.” “It’s too
quiet.” “Co-workers can hear my private conversations.”
These are common complaints and indications of a sound problem
due to poor workplace acoustics.
Lower cubicle heights, increased density in smaller and
smaller workspaces, and trends such as open ceilings, lightweight
modular walls and exposed beams have worsened workplace
acoustics. While positive contributions have been made by
sound-absorbent and sound-isolating building materials,
highly sound absorbent ceiling tiles, quieter office machines,
and quieter HVAC systems – by and large, current trends
in the workspace have had a detrimental effect on speech
privacy and acoustical comfort.
Pressure to increase productivity at the lowest cost possible
is constant. Pressure to ensure speech privacy in a variety
of settings—from private and executive offices, to
financial services and healthcare environments—is
at the forefront.
Improving workplace acoustics is the solution.
Improving
Workplace Acoustics, The ABC’s
There are three ways to improve workplace acoustics and
solve your sound problem—the ABC’s. A=Absorb
(usually via ceiling tile); B=Block (via workstation panels,
wall placement and workspace layout); and C=Cover-up (via
electronic sound masking). While all three factors are needed
to achieve optimal results, C=Cover-up by increasing background
sound produces the most dramatic improvements in speech
privacy, with the least disruption and the lowest cost.
Sound
Masking: The Best Solution to Your Sound Problem
Sound masking is the addition of a familiar sounding air
conditioning-like background sound to an environment, intended
to “cover-up” unwanted conversations. It may
seem counter-intuitive to add sound to eliminate sound,
but it works. Here’s an analogy. Imagine you are in
a darkened room and a child is flicking a flashlight on
and off. The light is noticeable. Now imagine that the lights
are on. The same flashlight is now unnoticed; it has been
masked. This is how sound masking works.
Any sound can mask speech, if it is loud enough. Rain, water
flow, background music, HVAC systems, and locally controllable
sources like radios, “white noise” devices you
can buy for $50, or background music all can be used to
mask unwanted sound. However, as in the light analogy above,
you can mask the child's flashlight with a floodlight or
you can raise the light in the room only to a level where
it simply dims the impact of the flashlight.
This is how a dedicated sound masking systems works. The
sound produced with a Qt Quiet
technology™-based sound masking system mirrors
the spectrum of the human voice.
Your
Sound Masking Choices
You have two main alternatives for commercial sound masking
systems: “direct-field” and “in-plenum.”
The best systems are “direct-field” systems.
They are far simpler and less expensive to install, provide
more uniform, unobtrusive sound in a targeted space and
don't overflow into adjacent spaces or offices.
Cambridge Sound Management's patented Qt Quiet
technology™-based sound masking system is direct
field, installed in the workspace. Miniature emitters uniformly
disperse a pre-programmed, spectra-appropriate sound through
4 sequenced channels. As a result, the sound is far quieter
and less intrusive than competing alternatives, while creating
the same level of speech privacy.
With competing “in-plenum” systems, large paint
can-like loudspeakers are installed above the ceiling tiles,
sound is bounced off the ceiling deck, through the ceiling
tiles into the workspace below. The sound is unpredictable
and louder for the same level of speech privacy. These systems
create “hot” spots, while unwanted masking noise
spills into unintended spaces such as private offices. These
systems have been around since the 1960’s.
“In-plenum” systems used to be the only option
for sound masking. This is no longer the case. Cambridge
Sound Management has upgraded the technology and moved sound
masking a generation ahead
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