by Brianna Crandall — December 4, 2015—In a move that indicates the direction of the sound-masking industry, K.R. Moeller Associates Ltd. (KRM), a global developer and manufacturer of sound-masking technology, just announced that it has discontinued its AccuMask Sound Masking System, a decentralized product introduced in 2005. Moving forward, the company will concentrate solely on its networked system, the LogiSon Acoustic Network.
Approximately 95 percent of KRM’s business shifted to the LogiSon line within its first year on the market. However, the company launched and continued to maintain the AccuMask line for the past decade, primarily to provide support for the company’s original decentralized product, the SCAMP Sound Masking System, which had a large international installation base.
However, through research, the gulf in performance between networked masking technologies and all others has become increasingly apparent, particularly with the introduction of the company’s latest offering, LogiSon TARGET, which precisely tunes the masking sound to the specified spectrum.
Niklas Moeller, vice president, K.R. Moeller Associates Ltd., explains:
We firmly believe the time has come for all centralized and decentralized sound masking systems to be shelved. From testing performed with LogiSon TARGET, we know that even small variations in the masking sound have a great impact on performance — in some cases even halving speech privacy.
Any possible savings gained from using older masking architectures aren’t worth these performance sacrifices. After all, clients are investing in the benefits of improved speech privacy and noise control, not the pleasure of owning equipment.
Throughout KRM’s 37-year history, the company says it has consistently led the sound masking industry because of its commitment to offering only the very best performing sound masking technologies. Its numerous advancements to decentralized technology (e.g. truly random sound generation, spectrum control, variable volume control, satellite speakers, and timer functions) are reportedly well known in the industry.
Most noteworthy, in 2003, KRM claims to have completely revolutionized the industry when it launched the world’s first networked sound masking system, the LogiSon Acoustic Network.
Moeller continues:
Since we launched the LogiSon line, the writing has been on the wall. While the AccuMask System provided advantages over the centralized style of masking and other decentralized sound masking systems, it was far outpaced by the new networked technology we introduced with our LogiSon Acoustic Network. At this point, the market has spoken, opting against older and less flexible technologies in favor of modern capabilities.
In an industry that too often continues to provide outdated technology, we hope to set an example through our decision to discontinue the AccuMask System — to continue to lead. We look back with both pride and fondness at a technology that supported our company and our clients for so many years, but know that it’s time to move forward.
In accordance with the five-year warranty offered with the AccuMask Sound Masking System, KRM will continue to provide replacement parts for existing installations until November 30, 2020. “The End of an Era,” on the company’s Sound Masking Blog, explains the changes in more detail.
For more information about the LogiSon Acoustic Network, visit the company’s Web site and see FM-specific information on the company’s FMLink ad.
