Sound masking is one of the simplest ways to improve productivity, speech privacy, and overall comfort in the workplace. When it works well, employees barely notice it. When it doesn’t, it becomes a constant frustration that affects focus and confidentiality.
Whether you manage an office, medical facility, financial institution, call center, school, or any other environment where conversations must stay private, understanding common sound masking issues can help you quickly identify what’s wrong and how to fix it.
Below is a troubleshooting guide for the most common sound masking problems — and when to call the professionals at Building Systems Solutions for expert support.
1. Older Sound Masking Systems Perform Inconsistently
If your office noise levels rise and fall throughout the day, but your sound masking system doesn’t keep up, the issue is usually outdated technology.
Many older systems produce a static, unchanging sound that cannot adapt to fluctuating office noise, resulting in noticeable gaps in speech privacy.
How to Fix It
Upgrading to a modern adaptive sound masking system, like the Soft dB solutions we install, ensures the masking sound automatically adjusts to real-time noise levels.
This keeps privacy consistent, even during peak activity!
2. Some New Systems Struggle With Calibration
If you have a newer sound masking system but still experience uneven performance, the most likely cause is improper calibration.
Modern systems rely on precise measurements across your entire workspace. Even small changes can throw calibration off.
Common reasons calibration becomes inaccurate:
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Your office size has changed
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Cubicles or walls were added or removed
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Furniture layout or density shifted
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The space was renovated
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Additional people now occupy the same area
How to Fix It
Your system may simply need professional recalibration. In some cases, individual components may be faulty and require replacement.
Building Systems Solutions uses Soft dB adaptive technology, which automatically adjusts volume levels to ensure optimal performance over time — minimizing calibration drift.
3. If You Can Hear the Sound Masking System, Something’s Off
The best sound masking is subtle. If you can hear a noticeable hiss, tone, or localized noise coming from a speaker, something is off.
Possible causes include:
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Volume set too high
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Incorrect frequency settings
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Uneven speaker distribution
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Acoustic leakage due to poor placement
How to Fix It
Speakers may need to be moved, tuned, or reinstalled to achieve a uniform sound field that blends into the background.
4. Office Renovations Changed Your Acoustic Environment
As we touched on in #2, even small renovations can significantly impact how sound travels through a space — and how effectively sound masking performs.
Renovations that commonly affect sound masking include:
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Adding or removing carpet
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Changing ceiling tile types
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Rearranging desks or cubicles
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Adding furniture like couches or acoustic panels
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Removing or adding walls
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Moving conference rooms or collaboration areas
How to Fix It
Your system will need post-renovation recalibration. A professional acoustic assessment ensures the masking sound is properly distributed throughout the newly configured space.
5. An Uneven Sound Field Creates “Hold & Cold Spots”
If one area of your office feels private but another reveals every conversation, you’re dealing with an uneven sound field.
This is usually caused by:
Why this matters: Sound masking must be uniform to be effective. Even small gaps make conversations easier to overhear.
How to Fix It
A professional acoustic survey maps your entire space and ensures:
If needed, we’ll recommend optimized speaker placement or minor reconstruction to eliminate uneven coverage.
Trust BSS for Effective Sound Masking in Minnesota
From offices and medical clinics to call centers, government buildings, banks, and educational facilities, Building Systems Solutions specializes in designing and supporting custom sound masking solutions that improve privacy, productivity, and acoustic comfort.
Our expertise with Soft dB adaptive sound masking systems ensures your solution won’t just mask sound; it will intelligently respond to your environment.
If you’re experiencing issues or want to upgrade to a truly modern system, we’re here to help.
đź“ž Call our Blaine location at 763-502-1515 to schedule an assessment.