Speaker coverage calculation

Quick guide
Speaker coverage calculation

Introduction

This document describes how to estimate the number of speakers you need at a site. The method works for both indoor
and outdoor environments. For more information about the fundamentals of audio and acoustics, see the document
Introduction to audio — Acoustics, speakers and audio terminology.

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Speaker coverage calculation

Different demands on even sound levels

Axis recommends two different solutions depending on the customer requirements of the evenness of the audio level:

Basic The basic setup will give you the minimum number of speakers needed to cover a certain area.
Going below this number of speakers is never recommended, since the evenness of audio levels
would vary too much within the area.

Premium The premium setup will give you twice the number of speakers compared to a basic solution. A
more even audio level will be created throughout the area.

For announcements, a basic solution will be enough in most situations. If the ambient audio level is very high (like a noisy
manufacturing site), then a premium solution is recommended. For background music in retail (like a grocery or DIY store) a basic
solution will be enough. A retail business choosing a premium solution could be a high-end fashion store where the customer
experience is critical.

A certain installation might also require a combination of basic and premium. This could be a larger project with many different types
of areas, such as a school campus, shopping mall or manufacturing site.

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Speaker coverage calculation

Indoor placement

Speakers can be mounted in a ceiling or on a wall when used indoor.

Ceiling mount
All Axis network speakers can be mounted in the ceiling, which means that the sound is going from ceiling to floor. The preferred way
to get the most even coverage of audio levels is a ceiling-mounted solution. This means that if you play a message it can be clearly
heard at any position. However, sometimes a ceiling mounted solution is not possible due to a very solid material of the ceiling,
height of the ceiling or obstacles between the ceiling and the floor.

Wall mount
With wall-mounted speakers the direction of the audio is going from the speaker and straight out in the room. A wall-mounted
solution is more cost-efficient than a ceiling-mounted solution, due to the fewer number of speakers required. However, when
considering a wall-mounted solution we need to account for the distance the speaker can reach into the room. For a large room, the
audio levels in the center of the room might be too low if messages are to be clearly heard at any position.

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Speaker coverage calculation

Outdoor placement

Speakers can be mounted on a wall or pole when used outdoor. In an outdoor solution the spread of audio is better due to less
reflections and can often use a fewer number of speakers than an indoor solution.

Outdoor wall placement

Outdoor pole placement with two speakers

Outdoor pole placement with four speakers

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Calculate how many speakers you need

The calculations in this document are for basic solutions. A premium solution contains twice as many speakers as a basic solution.

Indoor ceiling mount (including the horn speaker)

h Mounting height
A The area that a single speaker covers on the floor
d The diameter of A

1. Calculate the diameter of the area that a single speaker covers on the floor:

d=hx3

2. Calculate the cover area for a single speaker:

A = 3.14 x (d / 2)2

3. Calculate the number of speakers needed:

Number of speakers = Total floor area of the room / A

Example: An office with a ceiling height of 2.5m (8ft) makes one speaker cover an area with a 7.5m diameter (3 x 2.5m), which makes
the cover area 44m2 (3.14 x (7.5/2)2). If the total floor area of the room is 700 m2, then you need sixteen (700/44) speakers.

Wall mount (indoor and outdoor)

1. Calculate the distance you need between the speakers:

Speaker distance = 6 x (Mounting height - 1)

2. Calculate the number of speakers needed:

Number of speakers = Length of wall / Speaker distance

Example: An office with a mounting height of 2.5m (8ft) requires the distance between the speakers to be 9m (6 x (2.5 - 1)). If the
wall is 45m long you need five speakers (45 / 9).

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Speaker coverage calculation

Horn speaker (outdoor)

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Quick guide Ver. M1.4
Speaker coverage calculation Date: October 2019
© Axis Communications AB, 2019 Part No. T10143183