A Classroom Designed for Speech Clarity
In a newly constructed 180-seat lecture hall at a leading medical institution in Gujarat, the project team faced a clear objective: deliver outstanding speech clarity across the entire space. The administration wanted every student to hear lectures and discussions clearly—without investing heavily in acoustic treatments.
To meet this challenge, Audio Acoustic Arena, an Ahmedabad-based consultancy specializing in professional audio and acoustics, designed and implemented a cost-effective system centered around the SoundTube Soundsphere 110B loudspeaker powered by an MSE SA-502 amplifier.
Balancing Simplicity, Performance, and Value
Consultant Kiran Mavadia (pictured with his team), who has nearly five decades of experience in audio design, calibration, and system integration,
compared multiple options for the space, including the Bose DM5SE and Yamaha VXS5W.
“I selected the SoundTube Soundsphere 110B for three key reasons,” explained Mavadia. “Its 93 dB sensitivity delivers high output with low power. Its frequency response is ideal for the speech range between 200 Hz and 5 kHz. And its consistent polar response up to 8 kHz ensures clear, uniform coverage throughout the room.”
Because the Soundsphere 110B provides wide, even dispersion, the design required fewer speakers than competing systems — a major advantage for budget-conscious projects that still demand high intelligibility. A single speaker was able to cover the entire
Confidence Built on Data and Experience
Before final approval, Mavadia used EASE 4.4 modeling to predict the system’s Speech Transmission Index (STI) and verify coverage. The modeling results supported his choice, but what ultimately secured the project was confidence.
“The admin team didn’t understand the EASE report,” said Mavadia, “but they could see I believed in the SoundTube solution. That confidence convinced them it was the best choice for the project.”
SoundTube’s regional representative Mitul Soni supported the project from the early planning stages through installation, providing product insight and ensuring the system was optimized for the space.
The Result: Natural Speech and Happy Students
Even without full acoustic treatment, the system achieved excellent clarity and balanced sound across the tiered classroom. Faculty and students noticed an immediate difference compared to other lecture halls on campus.
“This is the largest classroom at the college, and everyone is happy with the sound,” said Mavadia. “Speech is clear and natural everywhere in the room.”
With three additional classrooms under construction in the same four-story building, the college plans to replicate the SoundTube design for consistent performance across its learning spaces.
Why This Project Matters
For the pro AV industry, this project underscores how the SoundTube Soundsphere 110B can achieve professional-grade intelligibility in acoustically challenging, cost-sensitive environments. It’s a prime example of how integrators and consultants can deliver exceptional speech reinforcement using thoughtful design and trusted products, even without high-end acoustic treatments or complex DSP.
About the Products
SoundTube Soundsphere 110B Pendant Speaker
The SoundTube Soundsphere 110B is a full-range pendant loudspeaker engineered for speech clarity and even coverage in large, open spaces. Featuring a 10-inch coaxial driver with a wide 110° dispersion pattern, it delivers intelligible, natural sound across classrooms, retail spaces, and public venues without requiring extensive acoustic treatment. Its spherical design minimizes shadowing and phase issues, allowing fewer speakers to cover more area—making it an ideal choice for educational environments where clarity and value are both essential.
SoundTube SA-502 Amplifier
Paired with the Soundsphere 110B, the SoundTube SA-502 amplifier provides clean, stable power and reliable performance for installed sound systems.
Designed for long-term operation in commercial settings, it offers simple integration, consistent gain structure, and low noise, ensuring lectures and presentations remain clear and distortion-free. Together, the amplifier and speakers form a dependable, high-performance solution for speech reinforcement applications.
Project Photos & Videos: Courtesy of Audio Acoustic Arena
Product Photos: provided by SoundTube Entertainment
About the Consultant
With over 48 years of experience in professional audio design, manufacturing, and calibration, Kiran Mavadia has completed more than 300 auditoriums and 95 commercial cinema projects across India. His firm, Audio Acoustic Arena, specializes in turnkey audio and acoustic consultancy and performance verification.
SoundTube Entertainment. Ingenious. By Design.
SoundTube Entertainment is at the forefront of end-to-end Dante-enabled audio systems for everyday applications. SoundTube’s goal is to provide a simple, cost-effective path to advanced audio networking without the typical complexity. SoundTube offers the world’s broadest assortment of IP-enabled PoE speakers, along with a full range of Dante-enabled components. Our hallmarks are easy programming and operation without specialized training; affordability for everyday applications such as restaurants, retail, corporate, and residential spaces; and centralized monitoring and control of all Dante-enabled components.
With over 70 years of innovation in commercial and residential audio, SoundTube continues to pioneer industry-standard categories like pendant speakers and 360° sound. As one of the few vertically integrated U.S. manufacturers, SoundTube continues to build many of its speakers at its facilities in Florida and Kansas.
