For most meeting rooms, the best "sound bar" is a video conferencing bar: one unit with a camera, mic array and speakers tuned together, so echo cancellation works out of the box. Consumer TV soundbars aren't designed for two-way calls. Larger rooms add separate speakers, such as the two included with Logitech Rally Plus, or ceiling speakers driven by a DSP.
Your options
| Option | What it is | Room size | Echo cancellation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video bar (camera + mics + speakers) | All-in-one, mounted at the display | Huddle to medium | Built in |
| Video bar + expansion speaker | Bar plus an add-on speaker for far seats | Medium to large | Built in |
| Modular kit | Camera, separate speakers, mic pods, hub | Large, boardroom | Built in |
| Ceiling speakers + DSP | Amplified speakers in the ceiling | Large, training, divisible | In the DSP |
| Consumer TV soundbar | Home theater speaker | Not recommended for calls | None |
| Speakerphone | Mic and speaker in one table unit | Focus, huddle, small | Built in |
Video bars: camera and sound bar in one
A video bar's speakers sit next to its mics, and the bar knows exactly what it's playing. That makes acoustic echo cancellation reliable. Good examples:
| Bar | Room size | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Poly Studio R30 | Focus, huddle, small | $456 |
| Logitech MeetUp 2 | Huddle, small | $1,079 |
| Jabra PanaCast 50 | Small, medium | $1,117 |
| Poly Studio X52 | Small, medium | $3,598 |
| Logitech Rally Bar | Medium, large | $3,704 |
| Poly Studio X72 | Medium, large | $5,879 |
Prices can change. See what is a video bar and best video bars.
Why not use a TV soundbar?
If the room audio plays through the TV or a consumer soundbar while a separate mic listens, the mic hears the far end's voices and sends them back. Remote participants hear their own echo. Some setups work if the conferencing device controls both mic and speaker over one USB connection, but a consumer soundbar adds HDMI delay that confuses echo cancellation. Keep call audio on the conferencing device. See how to fix echo.
Larger rooms: more speakers, not louder ones
In rooms deeper than about 20-25 ft (6-7.5 m), people at the back struggle to hear a single front speaker. Options:
- Logitech Rally Plus with two speakers, or add a Rally Speaker to a single-speaker Rally system.
- A Poly G7500 with ceiling or wall speakers through an amplifier.
- A DSP with ceiling speaker zones, designed by an integrator for training rooms.
Does surround sound help?
No. Voices on a call are mono, and placing remote talkers "in" the room needs a front-centered sound source near the screen. That's where people look. Surround speakers mainly add reflections and echo-cancellation problems. Spend the budget on acoustic treatment instead. See conference room acoustics.
Small rooms: a speakerphone may be enough
For 1-6 people with a laptop, a USB speakerphone like the Jabra Speak2 75 or Poly Sync 60 gives clear audio for very little cost. See best speakerphones.
More: conference room audio guide, best conference room audio systems, large conference room audio.
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