What is the best speaker for an office in Addis Ababa?

Offices need consistent, low level audio coverage rather than high SPL. The priority is intelligibility for paging, even distribution for background music, and sound masking to reduce distraction in open plan areas. Ceiling loudspeakers are the correct tool because they place sound close to listeners, which keeps levels low and speech privacy high. SSOUNDS CL6 and CL8 ceiling loudspeakers are designed for this duty, with wide, smooth coverage and 70/100 V line operation for simple, long cable runs.

For meeting rooms and enclosed spaces, SSOUNDS LC8.2 and LC16.2 slim column loudspeakers provide tight vertical control and even coverage without visual intrusion. Where a space needs more output or directional coverage, such as a reception or a large boardroom, SSOUNDS P4, P5, P6T, P10T and P12T install loudspeakers are available, with the T models running on a 70/100 V line. SSOUNDS M series point source boxes and subwoofers can be added where full range music is required. All of these are driven by SSOUNDS A series networked amplifiers with DSP and Dante, which allow zone control, paging priorities and remote monitoring over the network.

Selection and sizing follow a simple process. First, define zones: open plan areas, meeting rooms, reception, corridors and any private offices. Second, set the target SPL and coverage for each zone, typically 70 to 75 dBA for background music and 75 to 80 dBA for paging, with sound masking set just below speech level. Third, choose loudspeaker spacing based on ceiling height and coverage angle: in a typical 2.7 to 3 m ceiling, CL6 or CL8 ceiling loudspeakers on a 4 to 6 m grid give even coverage. Fourth, calculate amplifier channels and power using the 70/100 V line tap settings, leaving headroom for future zones. Fifth, use the DSP in the A series amplifiers for EQ, limiting and delay, and Dante for flexible routing and paging integration.

SSOUNDS designs and installs across Addis Ababa. Our engineers can survey your office, model the coverage, specify the correct mix of ceiling, column and point source loudspeakers, and commission the system so that paging, music and masking all work together. We ship and support internationally from our bases in the United Kingdom, the United States, Nigeria and Ghana, and we work with local partners on the ground in Addis Ababa to deliver a complete installed system.