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Quick answer: Sound masking plays a soft, steady background sound (like gentle air) through ceiling speakers, so nearby speech is harder to understand, which helps privacy. Acoustic panels do the opposite job: they soak up echo so the room is calmer. Offices often use panels first, and add masking for privacy in open plans.
Key takeaways
- Masking adds soft background sound.
- Panels soak up echo.
- Panels first, masking for privacy.
What sound masking is
Speakers above the ceiling play a soft, even sound, a bit like gentle air. It covers distant speech so words are harder to make out. It does not remove any sound; it adds a little.
What panels do
Panels soak up sound so voices do not bounce around the room. That lowers the build-up of noise in a busy office. See reduce office echo.
Not sure what your room needs? Send us a photo on WhatsApp or request a free quote. We'll tell you how many panels, where they go and the price. See our office acoustic panels and recent projects.
Why use both
Panels calm the room by cutting echo. Masking then makes nearby speech less distracting. With echo under control, masking does not need to be loud.
When masking helps
It suits open plans where privacy matters, like HR, finance or legal teams. It also helps outside meeting rooms. Panels alone do not make speech private.
When panels are enough
Meeting rooms and small offices mostly suffer from echo. Panels fix that on their own. For privacy in these rooms, seal doors and run walls to the slab.
Cost
Masking needs a system and speakers, quoted by a masking supplier. Panels are S$185 each installed. See office treatment cost.
Getting it right
Masking that is too loud becomes annoying. It needs careful setup and testing on a working day. Start low and raise it slowly until nearby speech is less clear.
Meeting rooms
Masking in the corridor outside meeting rooms helps cover talk that leaks out. It works best when doors are sealed and walls reach the slab. Panels inside the room still handle the echo.
What we see on real jobs
Masking added without panels first has to be turned up louder to work.
Get a straight answer for your room
Send a photo of the meeting room or floor on WhatsApp (+65 8930 1905), with the rough size. We'll tell you how many panels, where they go and the price, and we can prepare documents for your building management.
WhatsApp us a photo · Request a free quote · See prices
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