Once you have chosen the right music for your business, you will need to decide how your customers hear these great tunes. That means you will need to invest in some kind of speaker system, so the notes flow through your office in just the right way. And few companies understand the importance of good quality music like Bose.
Bose exclusively focused on sound systems, and according to some, this is the best company working in the sound industry right now. The company has produced sound systems that enhance music for all listeners, from individual stereo systems to large companies with huge retail spaces. Their expertise can benefit your customers and employees.
Here's what you need to know about choosing and using a Bose system for your office.
What Components Do You Need?
Playing music in a large space or office typically means investing in three types of components:
- A receiver that can connect to radio signals, a CD player, or a Bluetooth device (such as a phone)
- A mixer that allows you to change the volume from one location to another or turn up the bass or the treble within the music
- Speakers that transmit the sound into the room
Bose combines some of these elements, so you really only need two different kinds of devices in order to fill the office with sound.
The first is an amplifier/mixer combination. Bose provides many of these in the FreeSpace line that are appropriate for business settings. One model, the DXA 2120, can accept four different types of sound signals, and it offers technology that allows you to page with this system and transition back to music. Mixing functions are built in, so there is no need for another element. And it is made to work with and control Bose speakers, so setup is quick and easy.
There are several different types of speakers to choose from, including those that can be embedded within the ceiling and those that can be hung from walls. According to Bose, people who choose a system like this can mix and match the speakers they want, so they can cover the room with sound using different speaker types.
If you'd like to include music in an outdoor area, such as an external office picnic area or an exterior courtyard, Bose offers additional options. FreeSpace speakers made for outdoor areas are built to be installed either underneath porches and eaves, or on the ground.
In an office environment, it is vital to buy multiple speakers to spread the music throughout the room equally. While it is true that Bose speakers are made to spread music across a wide space, someone sitting very close to a speaker (even if it is well designed) will hear the music more acutely than someone who is sitting far from that speaker. The person sitting close may feel as though the music is too loud while the person sitting far away may feel as though the music is too quiet.
Most Bose products made for home use come with just one or two speakers, and that is unlikely to be effective in an office environment. Office owners will be wise to purchase products from the professional line, so they can get the coverage they need.
You can buy all of the components you need from Bose, or you can use a secondary retailer to get the pieces. The benefit of working with a retailer involves information and packaging. With one call, you could find out how many speakers you need, and with one click, you could make the purchase.
How to Install Your Bose Sound System in an Office or Business
If you get a Bose sound system for your home, you can typically set this up yourself. However, if you get a larger Bose sound system for your office or business, you should hire an electrician to install it for you.
Larger systems are more complex, and typically involve wiring several devices together rather than using remote technology like Bluetooth connections. This installation process is best completed by a professional.
Before you have this system installed, here are some steps to consider:
- Ensure the measurements of your office are accurate, either for the specific room where music will play or for the entire office. Knowing the dimensions of your space will help you know where to place speakers.
- Determine whether you want to play music in multiple rooms of your office, in just one room, or if you want to play different playlists in different rooms. Your employees may need silence in one room, like a conference room, while they want to enjoy tunes in another room, like the break room.
- Decide where you want volume and other controls located. These might be accessible to everyone, so employees can adjust the sound as they need, or they might be best under your control as the business owner or manager.
- Contact Bose for help finding a recommended or licensed Bose installer.
Once you have decided where speakers and other parts of the sound system should reside, you should contact a recommended Bose sound system installer or electrician for a quote. While their professional experience will not be cheap — typically, electricians charge $50 to $100 per hour — having the satisfaction of a safe, secure, professional sound system can benefit your office.
Q: How long does it take for an electrician to install a sound system in a business?
A: An average office needs a mix of ceiling and wall speakers, and an electrician typically needs between six and eight hours to do the job properly. If your office is larger and requires many speakers spread across many floors, the job will take longer.
Things to Consider About Your Bose Sound System
While many personal Bose products are designed for Bluetooth technology, allowing you to stream from a phone or tablet, professional sound systems are designed differently.
1. Complexity
Professional sound systems installed in offices and businesses usually require more wiring and hardware to ensure the best quality sound for multiple listeners. The benefit of this, for you, is not needing to remove Bluetooth speakers from their nooks or shelves every night to recharge the batteries, as you might with a personal Bluetooth system. The downside is that you cannot easily adjust the placement of speakers once they are installed.
Considering speaker location, and even getting a professional consultation from a Bose specialist, can help you determine the best placement for your sound system.
2. Control
Once your system is installed, it should be easy to operate. You will have only one control panel to deal with and one set of knobs to fiddle with. Turning the system on and off, and controlling the volume, should be easy.
When music is playing in the background, hearing conversation can be difficult. For example, in a study by the BBC, researchers found that reducing the background music volume by just four decibels in a television program made it easier for people to hear the dialogue.
A similar issue could happen in an office. Watching that volume will be important, so your employees can work efficiently while also receiving the subliminal benefits of music. Get feedback from your employees about volume and adjust accordingly.
Q: Are there legal requirements regarding music volume in a business or office setting?
A: Per rules from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, workers can’t be exposed to sounds louder than 85 dBA. If your workers must raise their voices to be heard by someone standing 3 feet away, it’s too loud.
Costs
The cost of each component in a professional Bose sound system can vary, depending on where you purchase it.
It is recommended that you buy directly from the Bose company, as you can get a new, high-quality product with an associated warranty, but you can also find products for sale on eBay or similar secondhand sites. While secondhand sites might be a great way to get a Bose sound system for your personal use, it is not as beneficial for business owners or managers seeking a professional sound system.
When purchased new, with a warranty, a Bose system might cost:
Clearly, to get the best sound system for a professional setting, you should budget several thousand dollars, not including the cost of the electrician. However, you should note that this will be a cost you incur roughly once every 10 years.
Bose systems are designed to last for many years of use, especially in a professional setting. With service warranties and professional installation services, Bose proves that they offer the best deal for businesses.
Best Bose Systems for Your Business Based on Square Footage
Whether you have a small office space, a large retail space, or an outdoor restaurant area, Bose has a sound system solution for you.
Here are some of the top options as bundled by Pro Acoustics (contact for quote):
Q: Can Bose systems support paging and music playback simultaneously?
A: Commercial-grade Bose systems often include the ability to play music and messages simultaneously. Components within the system allow for different audio routing and prioritizing, so everything sounds crisp and clear.
What Should You Play?
At Pandora CloudCover, we can help you determine what types of music you should play in your office, and we can give you the legal right to play those songs.
We provide a 14-day free trial (no credit card required), so you can try our service for yourself. Terms and conditions apply.
References
Why Bose Speakers Are So Expensive (A Detailed Study). (December 2017). Medium.
How Amar Bose Used Research to Build Better Speakers. (March 2016). CNBC.
FreeSpace DXA 2120 Digital Mixer/Amplifier. (2013). Bose.
Free Space 51 Environmental Speakers. Bose.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire an Electrician? HomeAdvisor.
Is the Background Music Too Loud? (March 2011). BBC.
Warranty. Bose.
Bose Professional. PlanetDJ.
Bose Retail Store Sound Systems. Pro Acoustics USA.
Occupational Noise Exposure. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
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