A sound masking system, comprising sound masking speakers and sound masking generators, emits low-level, non-distracting masking noise designed to reduce speech intelligibility and thereby improve speech privacy. This improvement in speech privacy is valuable in open-plan offices, outside board rooms, in doctors’ examination and waiting rooms and other environments where confidentiality is important.

Sound masking can also reduce the distraction caused by traffic, business equipment, and other common office sounds.