Open Forum

Hello museum folks,

I am searching for solutions for directional speaker(s) for a video monitor that is part of a new exhibit in our small museum. The exhibit is located in a room with other displays and some traffic flow, so the sound needs to be narrow-beam and highly focused. The audio is for a touchscreen monitor showing various in-depth videos guests can peruse, so primarily spoken word, and it will be for only 1-5 viewers at a time, so the sound area can be quite small.

As a small nonprofit museum with a limited budget, we are looking for solutions $500 or less. There are an overwhelming number of options out there, but many are much bigger in scope, capabilities, and price than we need. I see there was a thread about this in 2021, wondering if anyone has more updated solutions or suggestions?

Thank you!

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Ami Eckard-Lee
Creative Director
Kelch Aviation Museum
Brodhead WI
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Hi Ami, 

You might want to check out https://www.holosonics.com/?_gl=1*1tjphzo*_up*MQ..*_gs*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQiA7rDMBhCjARIsAGDBuEAg_7bi4gEQhtldC8yPqFIIvkOI4v-IKdfqEw-LODEKgL9YP6VKR_caAjupEALw_wcB&gbraid=0AAAAAD_Zue1y0uXVddOmwkbRBu5wm45my

We're installing one of their speakers in one of our introductory galleries and have been impressed with how they work in tests.

Good luck with your project

Best,

Stephen

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Stephen Wing
Manager of Installation and Preparation
RISD Museum
Providence RI
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Hi @Ami Eckard-Lee. Not a museum pro here, but I've worked with audio equipment over the years, often on a smaller budget. Here a few I've found that I think could work. 

• G-19 (AliExpress) for about $200-$450. 
• Lisn Sound Dome (Made-in-China) for around $400.
• Audfly/Tianpu DS100A (Alibaba) for $400.

I also want to plug Sweetwater. They're in Indiana, and they're very helpful. I don't know if they'd have exactly what you're looking for, but if it were me I'd call them. I've ordered other equipment from them and they were great. 

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Dan Moyle
Solutions Consultant
Digital Reach Online Solutions
(he/him/his)
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Hi Ami,

Not sure about your timing or facility constraints, but one of my AV systems engineers at the Seattle Art Museum helped install an overhead directional speaker setup to reduce sound bleed to other areas. This allowed for attendees to only hear the exhibit audio content if standing within the marked floor location in front of the exhibit. This created a really unique and personal experience for the visitor without speakers on the exhibit wall, disturbing other attendees and creating better immersion.

Let me know if you would like me to get the specific equipment details and install information.

Wishing the best of luck on your project! 

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Michelle Arkush
Associate Director of AV Services
Seattle Art Museum
Seattle WA
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Hi Ami and everyone,

You've already received some great suggestions for directional speakers, but I'd like to offer an alternative that a few museums have found helpful when speakers become problematic in shared galleries.

At Nubart, we developed Nubart Sync, which allows visitors to listen to audio content on their own smartphones by simply scanning a QR code placed beside the screen, while keeping the video monitor completely muted. The audio plays in perfect sync with the video and can be offered in multiple languages. Visitors don't need an app, Wi-Fi or any log-in or email registration.

I realise this isn't a directional speaker in the strict sense and it may not be the perfect fit for your specific case or budget. However, for colleagues who are struggling with sound spillover, conflicting audio in small rooms or multilingual versions of the same video, it could be a practical alternative.

If you would like to see how it works, there is a short online demo that you can try here: https://nubart-sync.com/#demo

I mentioned this solution in a previous Open Forum discussion on exhibit audio, but since the topic has been raised again, I thought it would be useful to share it as an additional tool.

I am happy to provide more information or answer any questions.

Best regards,

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Evelyn Crende
evelyn.crende@nubart.eu
+49 307 5669416
Business Development North America
NUBART
Berlin, Germany
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-17-2026 10:54 AM
From: Michelle Arkush
Subject: Directional sound solutions for exhibit video monitor

Hi Ami,

Not sure about your timing or facility constraints, but one of my AV systems engineers at the Seattle Art Museum helped install an overhead directional speaker setup to reduce sound bleed to other areas. This allowed for attendees to only hear the exhibit audio content if standing within the marked floor location in front of the exhibit. This created a really unique and personal experience for the visitor without speakers on the exhibit wall, disturbing other attendees and creating better immersion.

Let me know if you would like me to get the specific equipment details and install information.

Wishing the best of luck on your project! 

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Michelle Arkush
Associate Director of AV Services
Seattle Art Museum
Seattle WA
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