Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: more on soundfield systems

[Lisa Kuntz (lisa.kuntz]

Tips regarding passing the mic and the effect on meeting dynamics:

We don't pass the mic from person to person, which would take too long, but
we have a "runner" that carries the mic from person to person. It's so
automatic, that someone usually steps up and everyone would notice if there
were no runner!

We love our sound system so much that I can't imagine anyone objecting.

Another benefit of the few seconds that it takes the runner to keep the mic
moving between those who raise their hand to speak is that it creates a
tiny pause between speakers. Those pauses are barely noticeable, since we
are so acclimated to waiting for the mic, but they have a positive effect
on the dynamics of the meeting.

People relax, because they can "see" their turn coming. If someone
impulsively interrupts, the facilitator addresses them with the full
support of the participants. If there are many hands raised to speak, one
of the facilitators keeps track of the "stack," that is who is waiting to
speak and in what order.

What does this have to do with acoustics and meeting dynamics?


   1. We have an established norm that people will wait for the mic to
   speak, so there's rarely cross-talk or frustration. The room is quieter and
   people are more relaxed, so less tension.
   2. If people don't speak directly into the mic and others can't hear
   them, it's okay to give them feedback on how to hold the mic for optimal
   transmission.
   3. These strategies require that participants wait respectfully for the
   mic.  We have only one person who habitually interrupts and the facilitator
   redirects them.

This won't directly affect the faulty acoustics in your CH, Allison, but
the ways our meetings are conducted and how we use the mic is truly an
accommodation. Maybe your community would be more supportive of waiting for
the mic if they realized that it is a simple and compassionate way of
accommodating their neighbors.

Lisa K
Daybreak Cohousing







On Sun, Mar 8, 2026 at 7:21 AM Allison Tom via Cohousing-L <
cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org> wrote:

> I thought I would offer an update on my personal decisions after reading
> all of this thoughtful information and speaking with my (excellent)
> audiologist.  I'm going to press my community to always use the microphone
> & speaker system we already own.  AND I'm going to ask that we address
> acoustic upgrades (mainly introducing strategically placed "soft" surfaces)
> we've been talking about for years.
>
> I have excellent hearing aids and I can't stand meetings in our CH.  My
> audiologist has made a very persuasive, disability-advocacy, argument that
> using our existing system more regularly (people resent the hassle of
> passing the mic) and increasing soft surfaces is the solution that will
> benefit me and the rest of the community (with their known & unknown
> hearing problems) most easily.
>
> Thank you for all of this excellent information!  I feel really helped and
> encouraged to seek a solution to my inability to deal with the acoustics of
> our CH!
>
> Allison Tom
>
> On Fri, Mar 6, 2026 at 9:22 AM Lisa Kuntz via Cohousing-L <
> cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org> wrote:
>
> > Thanks, Laura, for all of the detailed info on nuances of sound systems.
> >
> > I wear a hearing aid in one ear and have a cochlear implant in the other.
> > Before we got our soundfield amplification system I struggled to hear and
> > participate fully in plenaries. As Laura said earlier, it turns out that
> > was true for many of our members, they just weren't aware of it until we
> > got our system and they *could *hear with ease!
> >
> > I think of it as an essential accommodation for any community that has
> > business meetings or presentations in a space like a Common House that
> is a
> > good sized area.
> >
> > Laura noted that our sound system is portable and easy to store. We keep
> > ours locked up in our technology closet when it's not in use. AND we keep
> > the microphones plugged in and charging, so they're fully charged for the
> > next meeting. Our system fits into a soft-sided case with a handle and
> > shoulder strap that contains the speaker, cords, and microphones.  It's
> > about 20" x 30" and weighs less than 10 pounds. My quick research shows a
> > range of prices under $2,000.
> >
> > Our sound system has transformed our meetings! We can use our energy on
> > content and communication, instead of struggling to hear and asking our
> > neighbor to repeat what was said.
> >
> > Thanks to Laura's expertise, we got exactly what we needed. If you don't
> > have an audiologist in your community, I hope that everything she has
> > shared will encourage you to choose a soundfield amplification system for
> > your cohousing community.
> >
> > Lisa Kuntz
> > Very grateful for Laura!
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Fri, Mar 6, 2026 at 4:05 AM Laura Polich via Cohousing-L <
> > cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org> wrote:
> >
> > > I would just like to clarify that the Soundfield amplification systems
> in
> > > use in classrooms and other group settings is not the same as the old
> > > Public Address (PA) systems. There are kids in classrooms with severe
> and
> > > profound hearing loss using hearing aids and cochlear implants, and
> they
> > do
> > > fine with soundfield systems. Soundfield systems improve the
> > > signal-to-noise ratio, not just make the signal louder.  I think the
> > > problem you pointed to is a hearing aid issue, not a soundfield
> > > amplification issue. At Daybreak we have members who use hearing aids
> and
> > > cochlear implants and no one has ever complained  that it is too loud.
> I,
> > > myself, have complained about some settings being too loud, but that is
> > > because those settings result in feedback (high-pitched squeal that is
> > > definitely unpleasant) when the microphone gets too close to the
> speaker.
> > > Adjusting those settings makes the squeal all go away. Also, we do not
> > > limit our soundfield's use to lectures or presenter before an audience.
> > We
> > > use it for every plenary. It comes with two microphones. The
> facilitator
> > > uses the main one, and the other one, the pass-around microphone, is
> used
> > > by any one wanting to comment or make an announcement or ask a
> question.
> > It
> > > means you have to have a "runner" to get the microphone to the next
> > person
> > > who wants to speak, but that is not difficult to organize. The
> soundfield
> > > system also has a way to be plugged into a television or a computer so
> a
> > > movie or video presentation can be heard easily by everyone.
> > >
> > > Another thing about hearing aids: today's hearing aids are ALL digital
> > > (i.e. two little computers sitting behind your ears). No one fits
> > analogue
> > > hearing aids any more. That means there is a lot of signal processing
> > > available, but the hearing aids have to be programmed to use those
> signal
> > > processing algorithms. All hearing aids nowadays have multiple
> "limiters"
> > > so that a ceiling can be set at which the hearing aid stops increasing
> > the
> > > amplification (usually an individual tolerance, so the aids have to be
> > fit
> > > taking the individual's needs into account -- you can't use a
> > > "one-setting-for-everyone" process.) Also, another sound processing
> > > algorithm called "compression" will improve speech understanding by
> using
> > > various compression strategies to keep the speech in a comfortable
> range
> > > for the individual. There are bunch more signal processing algorithms
> > > available in modern hearing aids, but the person programming the aids
> has
> > > to know their stuff and also has to be told what problems the listener
> is
> > > having. When I was fitting hearing aids, I always told my clients: "if
> > you
> > > aren't happy with your aids, please come back, explain what you don't
> > like,
> > > and let me try to improve the programming of your aids".
> > >
> > > I also want to add to this topic and point out a difference in
> soundfield
> > > systems that many in cohousing are probably not aware. There are
> infrared
> > > soundfield systems where the signal is sent over light waves out into
> the
> > > listening area. I have seen them mostly in movie theaters or
> performance
> > > venues where the overhead lights are turned off during a performance
> and
> > > where there are no windows.. The problem with these are that the
> listener
> > > has to wear a device (go to a service desk, request a device, leave ID
> to
> > > keep you from running off with that device, and then return it at the
> end
> > > of the performance to get your ID back), and no hearing aids/CIs have a
> > way
> > > to use the light signal. A listener has to use the provided receiver
> > They
> > > only work if the receiver device has direct line-of-sight access to the
> > > signal. If you are sitting next to a barrier (a column that blocks the
> > > light from the transmitter) you'll have to move or cannot use the
> device.
> > > They also do not work well in daylight because the daylight interferes
> > with
> > > the light being sent by the transmitter. So, just a caveat to
> communities
> > > thinking about this: please do not get infrared systems.
> > >
> > > A problem with loop systems is that they are usually hardwired into a
> > room
> > > (the proper cable has to be put into the walls or floor or ceiling) so
> > the
> > > cost is upfront, best to do when building or doing major renovations.
> > > Soundfield systems can be added anytime without any need to open walls,
> > and
> > > they very portable so they can be set up in different rooms for
> different
> > > purposes and moved around easily. Ours has a carrying case so it is
> easy
> > to
> > > transport the system from place to place. I believe there have been
> > > industry  attempts to come up with a portable loop, but since few
> people
> > > have telecoils, manufacturers are probable loathe to put in much R&D
> > money
> > > into that project. The biggest selling point to me when I was
> researching
> > > Daybreak's option is that with a loop only people with hearing aids or
> > > people willing to put on a neckloop benefit from the loop. Soundfield
> > > systems benefit every listener in the room: those with normal hearing,
> > > those with normal hearing but difficulty hearing in background noise,
> and
> > > those with hearing aids/CIs. The strain of listening is reduced for
> > > everyone -- less fatigue, less annoyance at people who don't talk loud
> > > enough, less annoyance at people who simply must hold a conversation
> with
> > > their neighbor during a meeting.
> > >
> > > Laura
> > > Audiologist on the verge of retiring
> > > _________________________________________________________________
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> > > http://L.cohousing.org/info
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > _________________________________________________________________
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> >
> >
> >
> >
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