Lencore Spectra i.Net: Installation and Operations Manual - Manual (Page 8)

You’re a Crucial Part of a Sound Decision
WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA FOR PERFORMANCE?
section 1
1.1 | basic information on sound masking
HOW DOES SOUND MASKING WORK?
Sound masking works because it changes the ‘dynamic range’ of sound in an
environment. Typically, the dynamic range in most environments is large, meaning
that there is a great degree of difference between the lowest, or ambient, sound level
and the highest levels of sound, when people are actively speaking and working.
Work environments are perceived as noisy precisely because of this large dynamic
range. The higher dB sound of normal speech is easily heard in a backdrop of a lower,
ambient background sound. Sound masking works by subtly raising the ambient
background sound level, thereby reducing sound’s dynamic range. This effectively
“masks” unwanted noise, makes speech unintelligible (creating privacy), and makes
the work environment acoustically comfortable.
The sound from a masking system must accomplish two things:
It must mask speech (providing measurable speech privacy)
It must not be a distraction (must be a “comfortable” sound)
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How do you add sound with a masking system so that the system itself is not
distracting or annoying? The answer is by properly tuning the system to meet the
needs of the space. Lencore's system, when tuned properly, is very comfortable while
also creating speech privacy.
A sound masking system must be tuned so that the frequencies fall within the
preferred sound masking curve. The system should also utilize tight tolerances
for the decibel (dB) level within the space.
Spatial uniformity is also critical to a comfortable sound. Follow the tuning section
carefully and please call Lencore's main office if you have any questions.
GETTING A COMFORTABLE SOUND
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