Quick answer: Bad call audio has three common causes. A hollow, distant sound is room echo: fix it with acoustic panels. A muffled or quiet voice is the mic: move closer or use a headset. Robotic, cutting-out audio is the internet: check your connection. Test each one to find which it is.

Key takeaways

  • Hollow sound = room echo.
  • Muffled or quiet = mic.
  • Robotic or cutting out = internet.

Hollow, distant, bathroom-like

That sound is room echo. Your mic hears your voice plus its bounce off bare walls. Panels on the walls behind and beside you fix it. See echoey video calls.

Muffled or quiet

This is usually the mic. It may be too far away, covered, or pointing the wrong way. Use a headset or move the mic closer to your mouth.

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.

Diagnose bad call audio infographic
What your audio problem means diagram

Robotic or breaking up

This is your internet connection. Plug in a cable or move nearer the router. Close other apps that use a lot of data.

Echo of other people

If others hear their own voice back, your speakers are feeding into your mic. Wear headphones to stop it. This is a gear problem, not a room problem.

Test

Record a short clip in your call app and listen back on headphones. Hollow means room, muffled means mic, and choppy means internet. Then fix the right thing.

Meeting rooms

Treat the room first, then upgrade the gear. An expensive mic in an echoey room still picks up the echo. See meeting rooms.

Laptop mics

Built-in laptop mics pick up the whole room, echo included. A headset puts the mic near your mouth, so the room matters less. For group calls in a meeting room, treat the room.

Quick fix

Close the door, add a rug, and sit facing a soft wall or bookshelf. Hang a heavy curtain over bare glass if you can. These help a little until panels go up.

What we see on real jobs

Offices often blame the mic first. If the sound is hollow, the room is the cause.

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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