Choosing between a ceiling array or table microphones in a new room

Ceiling gives a clean table and long lifetime, table mics are cheaper and easier to replace. Choice depends on ceiling height, room use and budget.

Try this first

1. 1Measure the ceiling height, a Shure or Sennheiser ceiling array works best between 2.4 and 3.5 meters, above that sensitivity drops fast.
2. 2Check if the ceiling is a system ceiling, otherwise you need a suspension bracket or surface mount, that is an install cost.
3. 3List how the room is used, a changing table layout calls for a ceiling array, a fixed table can do with table mics.
4. 4Cost is not only the device, a ceiling array adds install plus DSP, a table mic adds itself plus a hole in the table or a loose placement.
5. 5Ask the supplier for a coverage drawing, how far the array still picks up speech, that is measurable.
6. 6Test in a comparable room before you decide, suppliers and partners have demo setups.

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