A ceiling microphone array is a panel or disk of many small microphone elements mounted on or hung from the ceiling. It uses beamforming to aim pickup beams at people talking around the table and ignore other sound, so the table stays clear of mics and cables while every seat is still heard.
How it works
| Function | What happens |
|---|---|
| Multiple capsules | Dozens of elements, or a few clusters, capture sound from all directions |
| Beamforming | The array's processor combines elements to form directional "beams" toward talkers |
| Steering | Beams follow the active talker automatically, or point at fixed zones you set |
| Echo cancellation | AEC removes far-end audio from the room speakers so remote people don't hear themselves |
| Noise reduction | Filters HVAC hum and keyboard noise |
| Connection | PoE network cable (Dante, AES67 or brand-specific) or a cable to a hub or DSP |
See beamforming microphones and acoustic echo cancellation.
Why use one
- Clean table. No mic pods, cables or mute buttons to move or steal.
- Flexible layouts. Training and multi-purpose rooms where tables move.
- Large rooms. Covers areas a front-of-room video bar can't reach.
- Looks. Flush or tile-style arrays blend into the ceiling.
Trade-offs
| Consideration | Detail |
|---|---|
| Distance | Ceiling mics are farther from mouths than table mics, so room acoustics matter more |
| Ceiling height | Most work best with ceilings around 8-12 ft; higher ceilings may need pendant drops |
| Installation | Ceiling access, cabling, sometimes an electrician or integrator |
| Mute | No physical mute at each seat; mute from the controller |
| Cost | Usually more than table mics |
If your room is very reverberant, treat it first. See conference room acoustics.
Coverage and placement
- Check each array's rated coverage area and plan overlap between arrays.
- Mount over the table, not over the display or speakers.
- Keep arrays away from HVAC diffusers and projector fans.
- Set exclusion zones for doors and the display area.
Ceiling microphones in our catalog
| Mic | Key specs |
|---|---|
| Yealink CM20 | 16-mic beamforming array, 8 beams, PoE, AES67; about 30 m² (323 sq ft) at full-duplex quality, up to 60 m² (646 sq ft) |
| Poly IP Ceiling Microphone | White 360° PoE array for the Poly G7500, adjustable drop height; three arrays cover up to 1,200 sq ft |
| AVer FONE700 | Ceiling speakerphone + DSP hub, 360° pickup up to 3.5 m radius per unit, daisy-chain up to 4 |
The Logitech Mic Pod Pendant Mount hangs a Rally Mic Pod from the ceiling, a lower-cost overhead option for Rally systems.
Ceiling vs table vs video bar mics
| Option | Best for |
|---|---|
| Video bar mics | Huddle to medium rooms |
| Table mics | Medium to large fixed tables, when you want per-seat mute |
| Ceiling arrays | Large rooms, boardrooms, flexible layouts, clean tables |
See how to connect a ceiling microphone to a video bar, ceiling microphone for conference rooms and best ceiling microphones.
Thinking about ceiling mics? Send us your ceiling height and room size and we'll plan coverage.
Related guides
- How to Connect a Ceiling Microphone to a Video Bar
- What Is a Beamforming Microphone? How It Works in Rooms
- Ceiling Microphones for Conference Rooms
- Poly IP Ceiling Microphone alternatives compared
- Poly IP Ceiling Microphone vs Yealink CM20: which to buy?
- Yealink CM20 Ceiling Microphone alternatives compared
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