Posted by Nureva on Jul 10, 2026 2:16:25 PM
When IT teams budget for conference room audio, the hardware price is usually the starting point. It rarely ends there. A system that looks affordable on a spec sheet can carry significant costs in installation, programming, calibration, ongoing maintenance and support — costs that become visible only once the project is underway, or worse, once the system is already in place.
For organizations equipping multiple rooms across enterprise or higher education environments, the gap between sticker price and true cost adds up fast. Understanding the cost of a full conference room audio setup, from first installation through years of ongoing management, is the foundation for making a purchasing decision that holds up over time.
TL;DR: Cost of conference room audio
The sticker price of a conference room audio system rarely reflects what organizations actually pay once installation, programming, calibration and ongoing maintenance are factored in.
- A traditional multicomponent audio system for a large room typically costs around US$30,000 all in, with DSP hardware alone running at approximately US$5,000, plus recurring costs for service contracts, technician visits and reconfiguration.
- Nureva’s affordable audio conference solutions include all audio hardware, management software and a 2-year service plan in a single purchase price, with no separate DSP and no integrator fees, resulting in lower overall ownership costs.
- Nureva® systems are available for every room size from US$1,099* (MRSP in the United States), with installation that can be completed by your own IT staff in as little as 30 minutes and remote fleet management through Nureva Console included at no extra cost.
For IT directors and AV managers equipping rooms across enterprise and higher education environments, Nureva systems deliver lower upfront costs, predictable ongoing expenses and a faster deployment path for every room size.
Cost of a full conference room audio setup
The cost of a conference room audio system depends on several variables: room size, type of system chosen, installation complexity and whether ongoing management tools are included. For IT teams evaluating options, it helps to understand what drives cost before comparing specific products.
The main cost variables to consider are:
- Room size: Larger rooms require more coverage, which typically means more hardware components, more cabling and longer installation times.
- System type: Traditional multicomponent AV systems require separate microphones, DSPs, amplifiers and speakers, each priced and sourced individually. Integrated systems are designed to work together from the outset.
- Installation: Traditional systems require a certified AV integrator. Integrated systems designed for IT deployment can be installed by the purchaser’s own IT staff.
- Software and management tools: Some systems require separate management software purchases. Others include fleet management, APIs and a service plan at no extra cost.
- Ongoing maintenance: Traditional systems typically require a service contract or recurring technician visits. Integrated systems with remote management reduce or eliminate that cost.
Nureva’s affordable audio conference solutions are available in configurations for almost every room size, with management software included in the purchase price. Two years of Nureva Pro service plan coverage is also included, with the option to extend that coverage by 1 to 3 years. There are no separate DSP purchases, no management software fees and no specialist installation costs.
| Nureva system | Room size | Price (USD in the United States) |
| HDL200 | Up to 18' x 18' (5.5 x 5.5 m) | $1,099* |
| HDL310 | Up to 30' x 30' (9.1 x 9.1 m) | $4,399* |
| HDL410 | Up to 35' x 55' (10.7 x 16.8 m) | $8,499* |
| HDX 2 bar | Up to 30' x 30' (9.1 x 9.1 m) | $10,799* |
| HDX 2 bar + 1 pod | Up to 35' x 40' (10.7 x 12.2 m) | $13,599* |
| HDX 4 bar | Up to 40' x 60' (12.2 x 18.3 m) | $18,199* |
| HDX 4 bar + 1 pod | Up to 40' x 60' (12.2 x 18.3 m) | $20,999* |
| HDX 4 bar + 2 pod | Up to 40' x 60' (12.2 x 18.3 m) | $23,799* |
The hidden costs of traditional AV audio systems
The hardware price of a traditional multicomponent AV system is only part of what organizations actually pay. For IT and AV managers evaluating options, the costs that accumulate before, during and after installation are often what make the difference between a system that fits the budget and one that blows it.
Hidden costs that traditional AV deployments consistently generate:
Site survey and system design
Before a single component is ordered, a certified AV integrator must assess the space, design the system and produce a specification. This preinstallation work carries its own cost and timeline.
Project management and vendor coordination
Traditional systems require sourcing microphones, DSPs, amplifiers and speakers from multiple vendors, each with their own lead times, delivery schedules and technical requirements. Coordinating that process adds project management overhead that is rarely accounted for in initial budgets.
Room downtime during deployment
Multiday installations take rooms offline. For enterprise organizations and higher education institutions where meeting rooms and classrooms are in constant use, the operational cost of a room being unavailable for several days is real, even if it rarely appears on an invoice.
Reconfiguration costs
When a room layout changes, a traditional system typically requires a technician visit and manual recalibration. In organizations where rooms are regularly reconfigured, these costs recur throughout the system’s lifetime.
Ongoing operational overhead
Service contracts and recurring technician visits for firmware updates, setting adjustments and troubleshooting add costs that compound across a large fleet. Without centralized management, every issue requires someone on-site.
Immediate support
When audio fails before or during a meeting, IT and AV teams absorb the urgency cost of resolving issues quickly. Without remote diagnostics or management tools, that often means dropping everything to physically attend to the room.
For IT directors and AV managers responsible for equipping multiple rooms, Nureva’s integrated approach eliminates most of these costs entirely.
Total cost of ownership: Traditional audio vs. Nureva systems
Purchase price is one data point. Total cost of ownership is the number that actually matters when evaluating audio conferencing systems over their full lifetime.
A traditional multicomponent audio system for a large room typically costs around $30,000 all in, covering hardware, integrator fees, DSP programming and installation. A comparable Nureva system for the same space comes in at around $8,499* for the HDL410 or $13,599* for an HDX 2 bar + 1 pod system, with no additional costs for installation, DSP hardware or management software. Two years of Nureva Pro service coverage is included (with the option to extend it by up to 3 years).
The price gap widens further when ongoing costs are factored in. The table below breaks down where the difference comes from:
| Traditional multicomponent audio | Nureva integrated system | |
| Hardware | Microphones, DSP, amplifier, speakers sourced separately | All components integrated, one purchase |
| DPS hardware | ~US$5,000 depending on configuration | Not required |
| Installation | Certified integrator, multiday, billed separately | IT manager, as little as 30 or 60 minutes, no additional cost |
| Management software | Often purchased separately | Included at no extra cost |
| Service plan | Service contract required | 2-year Nureva Pro service plan included |
| Reconfiguration | Technician visit and recalibration required | Automatic, no additional cost |
| Ongoing maintenance | Recurring technician visits or service contract | Remote management through Nureva Console |
Beyond the per-room savings, Nureva systems deliver predictable costs at scale. Every room in the fleet is deployed using the same process, managed through the same platform and covered by the same service plan. There are no surprise costs from additional vendor coordination, unplanned technician visits or separate software purchases. For organizations equipping 10 rooms or 100, that predictability has real budget value.
Why Nureva delivers more value for less
The cost to equip a large boardroom with professional audio has traditionally meant accepting a significant investment in hardware, specialist labor and ongoing maintenance. For many organizations, that cost has been a barrier to equipping rooms properly, leading to compromises on coverage, performance or both.
Nureva offers more affordable audio conference solutions that change the equation. Full-room audio coverage powered by patented Microphone Mist™ technology, plug and play installation, automatic calibration and cloud-based fleet management are all included in the purchase price.
With Nureva systems, you don’t have to worry about:
- Separate DSP purchases
- Integrator fees
- Management software subscriptions
What would traditionally cost at least $30,000 for a large-room system costs $8,499* with the HDL410, with a faster deployment, lower ongoing overhead and great performance.
For IT teams responsible for equipping meeting rooms, classrooms and hybrid workspaces across growing organizations, that difference compounds with every room added. The savings on a single room become significant savings across a fleet, with the added benefit of a standardized, remotely manageable deployment that reduces IT overhead rather than adding to it.
See what full-room audio conferencing looks like when there are lower upfront costs, predictable ongoing expenses and faster deployment. Book a free 15-minute online demo and ask about an on-site evaluation in your own spaces.
*Price represents the manufacturer’s recommended selling price, in US currency, in the United States. Price excludes applicable taxes and shipping. Dealers may sell for a different price. Dealers may charge additional administration and installation fees, which may vary by dealer. Prices in other countries will differ. Please contact your local dealer or Nureva Inc. for a detailed quote. Equipment, specifications and price are subject to change without notice.
