3 Reasons to Avoid DIY Distributed Audio
Protect Your Brand and Bottom Line with Professional Sound Integration
The best businesses know that while efficiency is important, cutting corners usually comes at a high cost. Hiring an inexperienced bartender at a lower salary will cost when they constantly overpour. Low-quality computers for employees in a corporate setting result in wasted billable hours due to IT downtime.
The same is true of the distributed audio. Most New Orleans business owners understand that high-quality sound is important. It sets the atmosphere in a historic French Quarter bistro and prompts better collaboration in your high-rise corporate office. There’s often a temptation to use off-the-shelf consumer speakers to save money, but you’ll end up with amateur sound and pay the price for it.
SEE ALSO: The Hidden Cost of Outdated Conference Room Technology
The Physics of Failure
You might notice many businesses with DIY audio systems have inconsistent sound, with dead zones where bass disappears entirely or the audio becomes muddy and hard to understand. Since the easiest solution is to raise the volume, some customers deal with ear-piercing volume, and others still can’t make out the details.
When troubleshooting, people also think more speakers will solve the problem. But the problem is quantity, not quality. The issue is usually phasing caused by incorrectly wired or placed speakers canceling each other out.
We use phase-testing tools and DSP (digital signal processing) in our commercial AV installations to calibrate your speakers and layout to create a high-quality, uniform blanket of sound.
The Unique Challenges of New Orleans Architecture
Few areas of the country have as distinct a look as New Orleans. But those beautiful historic buildings weren’t made for modern technology. The thick masonry, plaster-over-lathe walls, and high ceilings are acoustic nightmares. Even renovated spaces often feature hard surfaces like exposed brick or hardwood that create echoes and reverberations.
And unless you’re happy with exposed wire, you have to deal with how to run wire in 100-year-old structures without damaging historic structures or violating strict preservation codes. Our New Orleans-based technicians have the specialized tools and knowledge to fish wires through these problematic cavities.
The Biggest Pitfalls of DIY Distributed Audio
Because of the challenges we’ve outlined, many DIY setups end up with messy exposed wiring and bulky consumer receivers tucked under cabinets. The resulting unprofessional look ruins your brand’s aesthetics and turns off customers. There may also be additional liabilities. In commercial spaces, speakers must be secured with safety cables and use premium, fire-resistant wiring to meet New Orleans building codes.
We know all the local building codes and will keep you out of trouble. We keep all wiring within walls and ceilings and use wireless speakers and receivers when wiring is not possible. Our small-aperture, trimless architectural speakers provide a clean look and blend into the surroundings.
While DIY may seem cheaper upfront, the costs of troubleshooting issues, code violations, and brand damage are far more serious. A professional distributed audio system is an investment in the customer experience and enhanced worker productivity. Contact Campo Better Living to start your professional audio consultation.
