Sound Masking 101: The Fastest Way to Improve Speech Privacy, Focus, and Productivity

Open offices, smaller workstations, glass walls—today’s spaces look great but sound carries. That’s why modern acoustic design uses a blend of Absorb, Block, and Cover strategies—and sound masking (the “Cover”) is often the most cost-effective lever to reduce distractions and protect privacy. 

Why workplaces need sound masking

Open plans and hard surfaces mean fewer materials to block or absorb sound, driving down satisfaction with noise and privacy—especially for people in cubicles and open areas.   

Speech privacy—the inability of unintended listeners to understand conversations—is the #1 source of dissatisfaction among workplace environmental factors, based on a survey of 25,000+ workers across 2,000+ buildings.  

The cost of distraction

Employees are interrupted about every 11 minutes, and it can take up to 23 minutes to refocus. Studies estimate ~21.5 minutes lost per person per day to conversational distractions (≈ 4% of an 8-hour day). For a 100-person company at a $50,000 average salary, that’s ~$200,000 per year in lost productivity. Sound masking measurably helps: short-term memory recall improves +7.8% (words) and +8.7% (numbers) in masked environments. 

How sound masking works (and why spaces feel quieter)

Adding a very low-level, engineered ambient sound reduces how far and how clearly speech carries—the radius of distraction shrinks, so conversations become less intelligible (and less distracting). A simple analogy: when the faucet turns on, it becomes harder to make out words from across the kitchen; masking uses a more sophisticated version of that effect.   

Compliance & confidentiality

Sound masking helps organizations reduce risk when sensitive conversations occur. Regulations and frameworks that encourage or require safeguards include HIPAA, HCAHPS (quietness scores), FERPA, LEED, and GLBA. 

Who benefits—and where to use it

From business owners and facility managers to HR/compliance leaders, sound masking boosts comfort, productivity, and privacy. It’s widely applicable—corporate open offices and huddle rooms, banks and call centers, classrooms and libraries, clinics and pharmacies, hospitality and government spaces, and more.   

Technology options (Biamp Cambridge)

• QtPro® (direct-field): pre-tuned masking dispersed directly into the workspace for consistent, comfortable coverage; compact emitters and simple components. Zoning allows different volume levels per area and works with virtually any ceiling type.   

• DynasoundPro™ (indirect/networked): speakers above the ceiling (or under raised floors) with per-speaker remote control via software (DS8000), enabling highly uniform coverage and integrated paging/music at the individual speaker level.   

Both approaches are scalable, retrofit-friendly, and designed to meet diverse architectural needs. 

Considering sound masking for your workplace?

PSI can design a solution tailored to your floorplan, ceiling types, and privacy goals.

Contact us at 232-7745 or info@precisesystems.bm to schedule a walkthrough and recommendation.