Audio is the most important part of a conference room because communication depends on it, not displays, not cameras. Video conferencing platforms actually prioritize audio over video when bandwidth gets tight, reducing video quality first to protect voice clarity, because a meeting can survive a pixelated picture but not a garbled voice. Despite that, most organizations still spend more on displays and cameras than on microphones, DSP configuration, and acoustic treatment. That mismatch is where most audio problems come from.
Blog 3 of 8 in the series: What AV Topics Should I Be Paying Attention to in 2026?
- Video conferencing platforms reduce video quality before audio when bandwidth is tight, because communication depends on being heard.
- Speech intelligibility is measured using the Speech Transmission Index (STI); a score of 0.60 is the minimum acceptable threshold for professional meeting environments.
- Ceiling array microphones with beamforming, such as the Shure MXA920 and Biamp Parle TCM-XA, are the current standard for medium to large rooms.
- DSP configuration has as much impact on final audio quality as microphone selection: a poorly configured DSP will make any microphone underperform.
- Acoustic design should happen at the same time as AV design, not as a correction after complaints start.
How Did Audio Get Deprioritized in the First Place?
Through most of the 2010s, AV investment chased video. Cameras improved, displays got bigger, collaboration platforms got slicker, and rooms became more visually impressive. Audio was treated like a solved problem, handled with a conference speakerphone or a ceiling mic dropped in at the end of a project almost as an afterthought.
Hybrid work blew that up. When half the participants are remote and half are in the room, microphone quality, room acoustics, and speaker placement determine whether the meeting actually works. Remote participants hear everything the room mic picks up, including HVAC noise, keyboard clicks, and speech bouncing off glass walls. Organizations that had ignored audio for years suddenly had a very visible, very embarrassing problem on every call.
What Is Speech Intelligibility and Why Does It Matter?
Speech intelligibility is the percentage of spoken words a listener can actually understand under real room conditions. It is measured using the Speech Transmission Index (STI), which scores from 0.0 to 1.0.
STI Thresholds to Know
- 0.60: Minimum acceptable threshold for a professional meeting environment
- Below 0.50: Measurable listener fatigue: people have to work harder to follow the conversation, which kills focus over the length of a meeting
- 0.65 to 0.75: Typical result after adding ceiling array microphones and a well-configured DSP, even in an untreated room
Most conference rooms that have never had an acoustic evaluation score somewhere between 0.45 and 0.60. You do not always need to tear up the walls to make a real difference.
What Microphone Technology Is the Current Standard for Conference Rooms?
Ceiling array microphones with beamforming and automatic gain control have replaced tabletop speakerphones and boundary microphones as the standard for medium to large conference rooms.
Ceiling Array Options for Medium to Large Rooms
- Shure MXA920: Ceiling array with built-in IntelliMix DSP processing, automatic speaker tracking, 8-foot coverage diameter.
- Biamp Parle TCM-XA: Ceiling array with beamforming and automatic coverage, integrates directly with Biamp Tesira DSP.
- Sennheiser TeamConnect Ceiling 2: Ceiling array with Dynamic Beamforming, 9-meter square coverage area, Dante audio networking built in.
Options for Smaller Rooms
For rooms under 150 square feet, tabletop conferencing units like the Shure MXA310 or Biamp Devio give you near-ceiling-array quality without the ceiling installation complexity.
What Does a DSP Processor Do, and Why Does It Matter So Much?
A DSP handles all audio routing, mixing, equalization, noise gating, automatic gain control, and echo cancellation in the room system. It is the most critical component in determining final audio quality. The best microphones in the world will underperform in a room with a poorly configured DSP.
Commonly Specified DSP Platforms
- Biamp Tesira: Industry standard for medium to large rooms. Extensive I/O options and deep configuration flexibility.
- QSC Q-SYS: Software-defined DSP that scales from single rooms to enterprise-wide deployments with centralized remote management.
- Shure IntelliMix P300: Built specifically for conferencing, integrates directly with Shure MXA microphones, supports AEC, noise reduction, and automatic mixing.
How Much Does Room Acoustics Actually Affect Audio Performance?
More than most people expect. The physical space has as much impact on audio quality as the equipment you put in it. Modern conference rooms love hard reflective surfaces: glass walls, polished concrete floors, and open ceilings. All of them drive reverberation time (RT60) above acceptable thresholds.
RT60 Targets and Treatment Options
The target for a professional meeting room is an RT60 of 0.3 to 0.5 seconds. Above 0.7 seconds, acoustic treatment is necessary to hit acceptable speech intelligibility. Treatment options:
- Fabric-wrapped acoustic panels: Most cost-effective wall treatment. Typical NRC rating of 0.85 to 1.0.
- Ceiling clouds and baffles: Address ceiling reflections without touching the walls. Critical in rooms with exposed concrete or hard tile ceilings.
- Carpet and soft furnishings: Surprisingly impactful floor treatment.
- Acoustic glass: For rooms with glass walls where thermal performance also matters.
When to Design Acoustics
Acoustic design should happen at the same time as AV design, not as a fix-it project after the complaints start rolling in. Explore DGI's Sound & Acoustic Solutions for how we approach this.
Why Does Microphone Placement Matter More Than People Think?
Placement determines what the system actually captures. A ceiling array microphone positioned more than 8 feet from a participant picks up reduced direct speech and amplified room noise, which even the best DSP cannot fully clean up. Speaker placement that does not provide even coverage creates zones where some participants hear clearly and others are constantly struggling.
Placement decisions should be based on seating layout, room dimensions, ceiling height, and the specific coverage specs of the microphone being used, not on where it is convenient to run cable.
For the full 2026 AV trends picture, see What AV Topics Should I Be Paying Attention to in 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of microphone is best for a conference room?
For medium to large conference rooms, ceiling array microphones with beamforming are the current standard. The Shure MXA920, Biamp Parle TCM-XA, and Sennheiser TeamConnect Ceiling 2 are widely specified. They cover the full room without table clutter, track speakers automatically, and integrate cleanly with DSP platforms.
What is speech intelligibility and why does it matter in meetings?
Speech intelligibility is the percentage of spoken words a listener can actually understand under real room conditions. Measured using the Speech Transmission Index (STI), a score of 0.60 is the minimum acceptable threshold for a professional meeting environment. Below 0.50, listeners start working harder to follow the conversation, which drains focus over time.
How much reverberation is acceptable in a conference room?
This is a placeholder answer. Replace it with the real response.
What does a DSP processor do in an AV audio system?
A DSP manages all audio routing, mixing, equalization, noise gating, automatic gain control, and echo cancellation in the room. Common platforms include Biamp Tesira, QSC Q-SYS, and Shure IntelliMix P300. The DSP is usually the single most important component in determining how good the audio actually sounds.
Can acoustic treatment be added after an AV system is put in?
Yes, but it is much more effective and less expensive when designed in from the start. Acoustic panels, ceiling clouds, and carpet can be added after the fact. But fixing structural issues like glass walls and concrete floors after construction is a costly headache. Design acoustics alongside AV, not after.
How do I know if my conference room has an audio problem?
The most reliable signs: remote participants frequently asking people to repeat themselves, people at the far end of the table being harder to hear, audible echo or reverb on calls, and HVAC or keyboard noise showing up in recordings. An STI test gives you an objective score to work from.
