Syskonics / Application
Classroom Audio Systems
Making a teacher clearly audible at the back of the room, whether or not the building has an installed PA system.
Classroom audio is a narrower problem than campus-wide PA, and it has a specific goal: every student should hear the teacher at a comfortable, consistent level, without the teacher having to raise their voice for six hours a day.
There are two routes to that, depending on whether the building has an installed system to build on.
Route one: a self-contained teaching microphone
Where there is no installed PA, a teaching microphone is the practical answer. It packages a microphone, an amplifier and a speaker into one portable unit, needs no installation, and can move between rooms.
The choice comes down to whether the teacher stays at the front. The wired SYS-16L runs directly from mains power with no battery to manage, which suits a fixed teaching position. The wireless SYS-16WL runs about four hours on a rechargeable battery and lets the teacher walk between desks — which matters in coaching centres, practical classes and any room where the teacher circulates.
Both accept AUX input, and the wireless model adds MP3 playback, so recorded material plays through the same speaker as the voice.
Route two: an installed classroom system
Where the school has a 100V line system, the classroom becomes another branch of it. Rooms with a false ceiling take ceiling speakers — two per classroom at a 10W tap gives even coverage without any desk being uncomfortably close to a speaker. Rooms with hard ceilings take wall mount speakers such as the SYS-105 or SYS-205, mounted above head height and angled down at the desks.
The advantage of the installed route is that the same speakers carry campus announcements and emergency instructions. The advantage of the standalone route is that it needs no cabling and can be redeployed.
- Two ceiling speakers per classroom at 10W is a good starting point
- Wall mount at 15W to 20W where there is no ceiling void
- Keep the speaker away from directly above the teaching position to reduce feedback risk
Microphone choice for teaching
A headset microphone is the right answer for sustained teaching. Because it holds the capsule at a fixed short distance from the mouth, the level stays consistent regardless of head movement, both hands stay free, and the system needs far less gain — which means far less risk of feedback.
The SYS-60CC, SYS-HM60 and SYS-370Q are condenser headsets on 5 to 6 metre cables for fixed positions. Where the teacher moves, the SYS-W10 terminates in mini XLR for a wireless bodypack, or the SYS-222 provides a complete 32-channel UHF headset system with a 30 to 50 metre range.
Lavalier models such as the SYS-30 and CPT-10DX are less visible, which some presenters prefer, but level varies more as the wearer turns their head.
Avoiding feedback in a small room
Classrooms are small, hard-surfaced and often have the speaker within a few metres of the microphone — all of which make feedback more likely. Three things help most: keep the microphone close to the mouth, avoid placing a speaker directly above or behind the teaching position, and set microphone gain high with master level low rather than the other way round.
If a particular room remains difficult, a DSP feedback suppressor on the shared system will notch the offending frequencies automatically.
Recommended products
SYS-16WL
Teaching Microphone
- Classroom
- Presentation
- Fitness
SYS-16L
Teaching Microphone
- Classroom
- Office
SYS-60CC
Wired Microphone
- Classroom
- Presentation
- Live Stage
SYS-222
Wireless Microphone
- Classroom
- Presentation
- Live Stage
CLS-406
Ceiling Speaker
- 100V Line
- Conference
- Office
SYS-105
Wall Mount Speaker
- 100V Line
- Industrial
- Commercial
Common questions
01What is a teaching microphone?
A self-contained voice amplifier — microphone, amplifier and speaker in one portable unit. It needs no installation, which is why it suits classrooms and training rooms that have no built-in PA system.
02Wired or wireless teaching microphone?
Wired if the teacher stays at the front: it runs continuously from mains power with nothing to charge. Wireless if the teacher moves between desks — the SYS-16WL gives about four hours per charge.
03How many speakers does a classroom need?
Two ceiling speakers at a 10W tap covers a standard classroom evenly. One speaker at a higher tap will be loud at the front and weak at the back, so two lower-level points is the better arrangement.
04Which microphone type is best for a teacher?
A headset condenser. It keeps a constant distance from the mouth, frees both hands, and needs the least system gain — which is also what makes it the most feedback-resistant option.