Test Drive: Ultimate Pal

Concert halls and auditoriums have sound systems designed to optimize acoustics. But what about classrooms? From the earliest grades, which teach phonics, to high schools and beyond, students learn by listening. Recent research indicates that classroom acoustics may be more critical to student achievement than we had previously thought. Audio Enhancement's Ultimate Pal, designed specifically for the classroom, is a sound-amplification system designed to ensure that all students clearly hear what is being said, played, and performed.

The Ultimate Pal is Audio Enhancement's top-of-the-line product. This complete package comes with an infrared sound amplifier, a wireless collar microphone with a transmitter for teachers, an additional handheld wireless microphone for students, and four speakers. The amplifier not only picks up infrared signals from the two separate microphones, but it also has inputs to connect TVs, VCRs, CD/tape players, and computers. In other words, the Ultimate Pal enables you to clearly distribute sound throughout the classroom.

Although all those knobs on the front of the amplifier may seem intimidating, the Pal is simple to use once it has been set up. Just turn on the amplifier, adjust the microphones, and you're ready to teach. Setting up the system, however, is time-consuming and will involve your custodian or maintenance staff. It's necessary to install the ceiling or wall speakers, mount the amplifier on the wall, and run cables to all of the speakers and input devices. Plus, the volume of each speaker and the input level for each microphone must be fine-tuned.

As with any new technology, teachers need to learn how to use it to its best advantage. The collar mount, a flexible tube that drapes around the neck with the microphone at one end, makes positioning the microphone comfortable, regardless of what you're wearing. However, the volume may diminish when users turn their heads. To prevent that from happening, it's best to position the microphone just below the chin.

Teachers also need to remember to switch off the transmitter when they don't want to broadcast their voices, such as when working with small groups. Finally, changing and recharging the Pal's batteries may become a regular part of your daily chores.

Audio Enhancement systems range from $1,195 for the Mini FM system to $1,795 for the Ultimate Pal system, which I examined. Using infrared signals, Pal systems can be used in adjacent classrooms without interfering with one another—although interference may be a problem with FM-based systems. During my tests, the Ultimate Pal broadcasted uniform sound to all corners of the classroom.

Audio Enhancement offers a spectrum of tools that can enhance the classroom acoustic environment. If you are looking to improve student achievement in your classroom, remodeling, or planning new facilities, I recommend taking a look at Audio Enhancement's products.