Methods and apparatus for alleviating sound-coupled feedback in conference room sound systems

A method of reducing sound coupling from at least one audio loudspeaker to at least one audio microphone in a conference room having a conference table for seating human participants, said loudspeaker reproducing amplified voice sound to be heard by said participants and said microphone sensing voice sounds emitted by said participants, said method comprising:

• locating said loudspeaker below the lower surface of the top of said table to direct its emanating sound waves along paths extending through the regions occupied by the heads of said participants seated at said table;
• and,
• locating the microphone in a region above the upper surface of the top of said table, shielded by said table from direct path sound propagation from said loudspeaker, and exposed to direct path sound propagation from the regions occupied by the heads of said participants,
• whereby voice sound coupling from the loudspeaker to the ears of seated participants and voice sound coupling from the mouths of the seated participants to the microphone is substantially optimized while sound coupling from the loudspeaker to the microphone is substantially reduced.