A conference camera with a built-in microphone is usually called a video bar: one unit with a camera, a beamforming mic array and speakers that mounts on or under the TV. Video bars cover most rooms up to about 20 to 33 feet deep; beyond that, or with a long table, add expansion mics or use a separate PTZ camera with ceiling or table mics. All the options below work with Teams and Zoom.
All-in-one vs separate camera and mics
| All-in-one video bar | Separate camera + mics | |
|---|---|---|
| Install | One device, one or two cables | Camera, mics, speakers, sometimes a DSP |
| Mic position | At the screen | Spread over the table or ceiling |
| Best for | Huddle to medium rooms, some large | Large rooms, boardrooms, long tables |
| Cost | Lower | Higher |
| Flexibility | Limited to what the bar supports | Mix and match |
Mics at the front of the room work well until the farthest person is past the bar's rated pickup. After that, voices sound distant and echo-prone.
Camera + mic options by room size
| Room | Device | Mic pickup | Camera | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huddle | Logitech MeetUp 2 | 6 mics, up to 7 m (23 ft) | 4K, 120° | $1,079 |
| Huddle | Poly Studio R30 | 3 mics, up to 15 ft | 4K, 120° | $456 |
| Huddle | AVer VB150 | 5 mics, 5 m (16 ft) | 4K, 120° | $999.99 |
| Small/medium | Jabra PanaCast 50 | 8-mic array | 180° panoramic | $1,117 |
| Small/medium | AVer VB342 Pro | 10 mics, 8 m (27 ft) | 4K PTZ, 15x zoom | $1,753 |
| Medium | Poly Studio V52 | up to 20 ft | 20 MP 4K | $4,559 |
| Medium/large | AVer VB350 | 14 mics, 10 m (33 ft) | Dual-lens 4K PTZ, 18x | $2,949 |
| Medium/large | Logitech Rally Bar | 6 mics, up to 7 m; add Mic Pods | 4K PTZ, 15x zoom | $3,704 |
| Large | Poly Studio V72 | up to 25 ft | Dual 4K | $4,444 |
| Large | Neat Bar Pro | 16 mics, 10 m (33 ft) | Dual 50 MP, 16x hybrid | $5,456 |
Prices can change. Specs are manufacturer-published.
Kits: PTZ camera plus speakerphone
If you want optical zoom and a mic that sits on the table, a kit gives you both in one box:
- Logitech GROUP: 1080p PTZ with 10x zoom and a speakerphone hub; 6 m pickup, 8.5 m with expansion mics.
- AVer VC520 Pro3: 1080p60 PTZ, 12x optical / 36x total zoom, plus speakerphone.
- Logitech Rally Plus: 4K PTZ, two speakers and two Mic Pods, expandable to seven pods.
360° camera and microphone
A 360° device sits in the middle of the table, so it sees faces instead of profiles and hears everyone at an even distance. In our range, Neat Center (three cameras, 16 mics, 5 m pickup) and Logitech Sight (315° view, 7 mics) work as companions to a front-of-room bar. See 360 conference cameras and Meeting Owl alternatives.
Extending a bar's mic range
Many bars accept expansion mics:
- Logitech Rally Bar, Rally Bar Mini: Rally Mic Pod.
- Logitech Rally Bar 2 and Rally Board 65: Rally Mic Pod 2.
- Poly Studio X52/X72/V52/V72/USB: Poly Studio Table Microphone.
- AVer VB342 Pro and VB350: AVer 20m Expansion Microphone.
See how to use multiple microphones in a conference room.
Conference room camera without a microphone
Sometimes you want a camera with no mic, for example in a room with ceiling mics already installed. PTZ cameras such as the AVer CAM520 Pro3, Poly Studio E60 or Logitech Rally AI Camera are camera-only for meeting audio (the Rally AI Camera's mics are used for framing). Pair them with a mic system; see ceiling microphones.
For Teams and Zoom
Almost every device above is certified for Microsoft Teams and Zoom over USB, and several also run Teams Rooms or Zoom Rooms natively. See best conference cameras for Teams and best conference cameras for Zoom.
More combos are in best conference camera and mic combos.
Tell us your room size and table layout and we'll match a camera and mic setup to it.
Related guides
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