Classroom Voice Amplification Systems

[JazzFlute]

Anyone had a Classroom Voice Amplification System installed or purchased any solutions.

 

I bought a cheap one quite a while back that wasn't great and i need a mute/unmute button on the lapel mic/wireless headset so teachers can quickly mute the mic without lowering the volume or turning off and on again as that can then take seconds to connect again to a speaker.  Currently looking at company's who professionally can do this, any recommendations?

 

Previosuslly purchased this

ZOWEETEK Voice Amplifier Wireless with 2 Microphones,Voice Amplifier for teachers,Portable Voice Amplifier small,Personal Microphone and Speaker for Classroom,Meetings,Promotions Yoga and Outdoors: Amazon.co.uk: Musical Instruments & DJ

 

 

[dhicks]

35 minutes ago, JazzFlute said:

Anyone had a Classroom Voice Amplification System installed or purchased any solutions.

 

We've not got anything installed, but we've looked at Lightspeed in the past (confusingly, different company from the one that does network filtering):

 

https://lightspeed-tek.com/

[JazzFlute]

6 minutes ago, dhicks said:

 

We've not got anything installed, but we've looked at Lightspeed in the past (confusingly, different company from the one that does network filtering):

 

https://lightspeed-tek.com/

Looks exactly what I'm looking for but US based and no UK resellers

[dhicks]

3 hours ago, JazzFlute said:

Looks exactly what I'm looking for but US based and no UK resellers

 

Ah, odd - I had a demo from them a few years (might have been 10...) ago at BETT (yearly UK education IT exhibition), I guess they didn't sell so well in the UK.

[Chris_Cook]

We've got Frontrow Juno Soundfields in a number of our rooms. Expensive, but not too bad when compared to a pair of decent radio mics + bits, and its much neater.

 

We also looked at Connevans Swift Soundfields. I'm not sure the panel system sounded quite as good, but the speaker based system was good.

 

Don't be put off by the infrared transmitters, they are better than your TV remote, and also cut of when Mrs goes to the Loo, unlike the radio versions.

[Mixed]

We have Connevans Soundfields with the pendant mics in each of our classrooms, which have been installed for at least six years without any faults. The teachers who actually use them love them. I've never had any issues reported to me with the speakers or the microphones, which are rechargeable. But we have fairly small classrooms, so they definitely don't get daily use.

 

Quite expensive, but these were donated by a former parent, thankfully. If it were on my budget, I probably wouldn't have had them in every room.

 

https://www.connevans.co.uk/product/3109896/45SWPKF/Swift-Digital-classroom-soundfield-with-SwiftTX-pendant-mic

[JazzFlute]

18 hours ago, Chris_Cook said:

We've got Frontrow Juno Soundfields in a number of our rooms. Expensive, but not too bad when compared to a pair of decent radio mics + bits, and its much neater.

 

We also looked at Connevans Swift Soundfields. I'm not sure the panel system sounded quite as good, but the speaker based system was good.

 

Don't be put off by the infrared transmitters, they are better than your TV remote, and also cut of when Mrs goes to the Loo, unlike the radio versions.

 

Who done your installation, have you got a contact?

Didn't think they would cost this much as looks about nearly £1,500 per classroom

[JazzFlute]

23 minutes ago, Mixed said:

We have Connevans Soundfields with the pendant mics in each of our classrooms, which have been installed for at least six years without any faults. The teachers who actually use them love them. I've never had any issues reported to me with the speakers or the microphones, which are rechargeable. But we have fairly small classrooms, so they definitely don't get daily use.

 

Quite expensive, but these were donated by a former parent, thankfully. If it were on my budget, I probably wouldn't have had them in every room.

 

https://www.connevans.co.uk/product/3109896/45SWPKF/Swift-Digital-classroom-soundfield-with-SwiftTX-pendant-mic

Looks good and might organise a free trial as its about £800 per room.  The main "feature" we need is the mic having a "mute" button so it can instantly be muted rather than turn the volume down/take mic off etc. for instance if the teacher leaves the room or wants a quiet word with a student at the back of the room.

[Mixed]

6 minutes ago, JazzFlute said:

Looks good and might organise a free trial as its about £800 per room.  The main "feature" we need is the mic having a "mute" button so it can instantly be muted rather than turn the volume down/take mic off etc. for instance if the teacher leaves the room or wants a quiet word with a student at the back of the room.

The on/off button on the mic is also a mute switch with one click rather than holding down.

[JazzFlute]

Is the speaker rechargeable or does it need to be plugged into a power socket?

 

 

 

 

[Mixed]

4 minutes ago, JazzFlute said:

Is the speaker rechargeable or does it need to be plugged into a power socket?

 

 

 

 

The speaker just plugs straight into a socket using a standard IEC lead

[Chris_Cook]

Connevans demoed there own system, I think the people looking at the room acoustics did the Juno, but I can't remember the names. They had a small AV company do the installs. The Juno just uses a 100mm Vesa mount arm, or a desk mount. They are fairly easy to install apart from the cabling for power and if you want to connect up to your PC for sound.

 

The desk mounts were popular as they can be moved between rooms with specific groups if you have specific students with hearing issues.

 

They recommend putting them at the opposite end of the teaching wall from the teachers desk to balance out the sound. They have really good feedback suppression if this isn't possible.

 

Mine and others experience with wireless mics is that cheaper ones are a lot more faff than the expensive ones, and cost (within reason) is worth it to reduce problems and call outs.

[aydee]

We use the Juno system from Frontrow too. Works really well on its own, but we have also tied it into the other wall mounted speakers from the old system and I havent ever experienced any feedback/interference. We also use them as external speakers for the PC's, so no need for extra speakers on teachers desks etc.

 

Wall Mounted, and wall mounted the mic docks next to the speakers. Requires a double wall socket avaliable nearby, but keeps it all tidy and out of the way.
Expensive yes, but as a school with a lot of hearing impaired students, well worth the use.

[Bionic]

Don't mean to sound dismissive, but couldn't the classroom teacher just talk louder? Feels like a poor use of, ever decreasing, school funds.

[aydee]

8 minutes ago, Bionic said:

Don't mean to sound dismissive, but couldn't the classroom teacher just talk louder? Feels like a poor use of, ever decreasing, school funds.

 

Its not just about just volume tbh for us. Its about consistancy, for our hard of hearing students its really important. And also for the staff who are ill or for our supplys who are often less confident and queiter.
Being able to be heard above the hubub of 30 children or for youtube videos from the PC input, it all adds to the useful funcionality that otherwise would make classroom management harder. (yes i know the old adage, "dont technology your way out of Classroom management issues", but still, i personally cant fault this one)

[Andrew_C]

15 minutes ago, Bionic said:

Don't mean to sound dismissive, but couldn't the classroom teacher just talk louder? Feels like a poor use of, ever decreasing, school funds.

Look up the DDA.  There's probably lots you should be doing...