Best Ceiling Microphones for Conference Rooms in 2023
Today’s conference rooms are no longer just a place for company executives to meet and plan strategy for the upcoming quarter, or a place where the sales staff can meet with potential clients. Instead, they often serve as a communications hub, facilitating meetings with employees or customers across town or on the other side of the world.
Because of that, outfitting a company conference room involves more than purchasing a boardroom table and a set of fancy leather chains. Although that furniture may still be a requirement, the modern conference room is just as likely to require teleconferencing equipment including digital displays, sound bars, speakerphones, and other audio accessories.
There’s one component of that setup that can go a long way in determining how well the rest of the pieces perform: the microphone. And today, as part of an effort to minimize conference room clutter, many room designers are opting for ceiling microphones. Instead of having microphones scattered across the table and wires running along the floor, the microphones and cabling are safely stowed away above the ceiling tiles.
But when choosing conference room ceiling microphones, one can be confronted with a dizzying array of choices, many of which may not be suitable for the task at hand. With that in mind, what are the best ceiling microphones for conference rooms in 2023 and beyond?
What to consider when choosing a ceiling microphone
Although there are dozens of brands of microphones on the market, choosing ceiling microphones for conference rooms comes down to a few basic considerations.
The first issues to consider are the height of the conference room ceiling and the size of the room itself. If the ceilings are very high, an omnidirectional microphone suspended from the ceiling, either by wire or bracket, might be in order. Omnidirectional microphones pick up sound equally well from all directions.
And of course, the larger the room the more microphones will be required.
The best ceiling microphones of 2023
If the room is of average height, microphones that install into the ceiling tile itself is the move to make. Here are two of the best options for ceiling microphones in 2023.
One of the best options for ceiling mics in 2023 is the ADECIA ceiling microphone and line array speaker solution offered by Yamaha Unified Communications. The Microsoft Teams-certified ADECIA solution automatically detects components, configures devices, and optimizes audio performance for the room environment - adjusting for reverberation characteristics, echo behavior, speaker/mic position, and more.
The ceiling microphones that are part of ADECIA are available in either white or black and include dynamic beam tracking technology that utilizes four beams to automatically track voices within the room, allowing for every participant in the conversation to be heard clearly even if they are moving around.
Complementing those microphones are the line array speakers included as part of the solution. The speakers use a slim line-array configuration that accurately reproduces the human voice while creating a constant volume level throughout the room.
Yamaha UC’s RM-CG Ceiling Microphone features dynamic multi-beamforming technology in a unique way. With four dynamic beams, the RM-CG can pick up sound from anywhere in the room, making another great solution for 2023. Dynamic beamforming technology eliminates the need to program fixed lobes which can often lead to dead spots within the meeting space.
And as an added benefit, both the ADECIA and RM-CG solutions incorporate Dante connectivity. Dante, developed in 2006 by the Australian company Audinate, stands for Digital Audio Network Through Ethernet. Instead of traditional audio cables, a Dante network transports digital signals via Cat 5e or fiber optic cables. Because data is digital, there’s no deterioration in the quality of audio on a Dante network no matter how far the signal travels. Dante-capable microphones are a perfect solution for large spaces that may require long cable runs. 
Dante devices on the same network automatically detect each other, making it a breeze to set up a new system or make changes to an existing one. There is no need to configure devices; just plug them in and you’re ready to go.
Finding the perfect conference room ceiling microphone
The choice of ceiling microphone, like anything, will be dependent on factors including the layout of the conference room, what that room is primarily used for, and of course, your budget. When making that choice, it only makes sense to work with a company that has extensive experience in the field.
If you're considering deploying a communication platform for your conference room, auditorium, or lecture hall and want clear, consistent audio, check out our microphone offerings or reach out to the experts at Yamaha Unified Communications. We're here to help!
Curious about the RM-CG's sensitivity range? Check out this video for more info!