TOA bs-1030 User Guide
TOA Electronics Speaker Guide
System Applications
13
Background Music
Background music places different demands on a sound system than paging. Consider the fol-
lowing points when designing a background music system:
lowing points when designing a background music system:
•
Natural-sounding music reproduction requires a minimum frequency response range
of 100 Hz – 10 kHz that is wider than the basic speech range.
of 100 Hz – 10 kHz that is wider than the basic speech range.
•
Background music sources typically have limited dynamic range, and have a lower
peak volume requirement than foreground music or paging.
peak volume requirement than foreground music or paging.
•
Background music does not usually require the precise spectral balance and consistency of
coverage as speech; this allows wider speaker spacing in background music-only systems.
coverage as speech; this allows wider speaker spacing in background music-only systems.
Foreground Music
Foreground music plays a more prominent role in the space’s primary function (i.e., music in
a bar or fitness center) than background music and is generally louder and more dynamic. The
special demands of foreground music include the following:
a bar or fitness center) than background music and is generally louder and more dynamic. The
special demands of foreground music include the following:
•
At higher levels, the quality of the sound system is more noticeable. The frequency re-
sponse range should be wider and distortion levels lower than a typical background
music system.
sponse range should be wider and distortion levels lower than a typical background
music system.
•
Depending on the application and client taste, the bass response should extend down
to 60 Hz or lower, high frequency response to 16 kHz or higher.
to 60 Hz or lower, high frequency response to 16 kHz or higher.
•
One or more subwoofers may be needed to provide additional bass output.
•
The amplifier power and the sensitivity and power handling ratings of the speakers must
be adequate to reproduce the music’s peaks without distortion. This could mean using
five or even ten times more power than is used in a typical background music system.
See Power, Volume, and Decibels on page 17 for an overview of the relevant factors.
be adequate to reproduce the music’s peaks without distortion. This could mean using
five or even ten times more power than is used in a typical background music system.
See Power, Volume, and Decibels on page 17 for an overview of the relevant factors.
Voice/Music Combinations
Most installed sound systems are required to reproduce both speech and music. Therefore, they
must have both the smooth response and even coverage of a speech system and the wide frequency
range and continuous output capability of a music system. In a distributed speaker design,
this means using good quality speakers and relatively close spacing.
must have both the smooth response and even coverage of a speech system and the wide frequency
range and continuous output capability of a music system. In a distributed speaker design,
this means using good quality speakers and relatively close spacing.
Presentation Audio
Sound for video and audio-visual presentations should be treated as a combination speech and
foreground music application. To reproduce sound effects (i.e., movie sound or attention-
getting AV presentations), amplifier power and speaker power handling should be adequate to
handle the highest program peaks.
foreground music application. To reproduce sound effects (i.e., movie sound or attention-
getting AV presentations), amplifier power and speaker power handling should be adequate to
handle the highest program peaks.