A More Versatile Cafeteria Sound System for an Elementary School

A school cafeteria serves many purposes. In addition to daily meal service, the room may host assemblies, presentations, rehearsals, performances, and community events. Each activity places different demands on the audio system.

This elementary school needed a system that could provide clear sound throughout its cafeteria without becoming difficult for staff to operate. W&L Sound Consulting designed and integrated a new system around the room’s acoustical requirements and the school’s day-to-day needs.

Designing for Consistent Coverage

Covering a large cafeteria with only a few loudspeakers can create noticeable differences in volume. People close to a speaker may hear the program clearly while listeners elsewhere in the room struggle to understand it.

W&L developed a distributed ceiling design using 16 JBL loudspeakers arranged evenly throughout the space. Loudspeaker placement was calculated using the room dimensions, ceiling height, typical listener position, and the coverage characteristics of the selected equipment.

The resulting design predicted approximately 2 dB of level variation across the listening area. Announcements, speech, and music can remain at a similar level throughout the room without relying on excessive volume from a small number of loudspeakers.

Four JBL ceiling subwoofers extend the system’s low-frequency response. They add depth to music and performances while remaining visually integrated into the ceiling.

Simple Control for Daily Use

Routine operation should not require a trained audio technician. Staff need to select a source, adjust the volume, and use a microphone without working through an unnecessarily complicated interface.

An Allen & Heath audio matrix handles everyday signal routing, processing, and control. A custom touchscreen gives staff access to the functions they use most often. Daily announcements and presentations can be managed without opening the main mixing console.

For events that require additional control, an Allen & Heath digital mixer connects to the system through a digital audio link. The console supports performances, assemblies, and programs involving several microphones or audio sources. A protective case and extended data connection allow it to be positioned where the operator can hear the room properly.

Microphones and Program Sources

The microphone package accommodates several types of school programs.

Shure digital wireless systems provide handheld and bodypack microphone options for speakers and performers. Hanging Audix choir microphones support ensembles and group presentations without placing microphone stands throughout the performance area.

A rack-mounted media player provides Bluetooth, CD, and radio playback. Staff can use several common sources without adding temporary equipment each time the room is used.

Amplification and Equipment Management

A four-channel Crown amplifier powers the distributed loudspeaker system. The amplifier and supporting components are housed in a wall-mounted equipment rack designed for the project.

The rack also contains the audio processor, wireless microphone receivers, media player, storage, and a Furman power sequencer. Sequenced power starts and shuts down the components in the correct order, helping prevent unwanted noise and reducing unnecessary stress on the equipment.

W&L prepared rack elevations, wiring diagrams, cable schedules, and connection documentation for the installation. Spare inputs were retained to accommodate future sources or system changes.

One System for the School’s Daily Schedule

The completed system supports routine announcements, presentations, assemblies, music playback, choir programs, and larger productions.

Its distributed loudspeaker layout provides consistent coverage across a wide multipurpose room. The touchscreen keeps ordinary operation manageable for school staff, while the digital mixing console and expanded microphone package remain available when an event calls for more control.

A successful educational audio system has to do more than perform well on paper. It must fit the way the room is used by staff and students. This installation provides the school with a practical system for both daily communication and special events.

W&L Sound Consulting designs and integrates audio, video, and control systems for educational facilities. Contact our team to discuss a new system, an upgrade, or an existing space that is no longer meeting your school’s needs.