Cambridge Sound Qt X 300 + 8x Active Emitter (E-P-W-16-4) Kit – 3,200 SF Sound Masking, Paging & Music (TAA)

Product Overview

This Cambridge Qt X 300 sound masking kit gives a large office floor of up to about 3,200 sq ft a complete speech privacy system with paging and background music, using all three zones on the same controller as Creation Networks' smaller office-suite kits. It pairs one Qt X 300 three-zone controller with eight E-P-W-16-4 packs, for thirty-two white Qt Active Emitters with 16 ft patch cables. This is the largest deployment the Qt X 300 supports before stepping up to the 6-zone Qt X 600 — useful when a floor is large but still only needs three distinct areas rather than six. Actual coverage depends on ceiling height and layout, and the Qt X 300 scales to 36,000 sq ft as you add emitters.

What's Included

• 1 x Cambridge Sound Qt X 300 3-zone sound masking controller (911.0078.900)
• 8 x Cambridge Sound Qt E-P-W-16-4 Active Emitter 4-packs, white, each with 4 x 16 ft patch cables (911.0899.900) — 32 emitters total

Required, sold separately: Qt Active Emitters are powered through Cambridge PS-AE-3 Active Emitter Power Supplies and PI-AE power injectors installed next to the first emitter on each run — with 32 emitters across three zones, plan on at least two PI-AE units (each channel covers up to 25 active emitters).

Product Description

The Qt X 300 is a compact, networked sound masking controller with three controllable outputs, each with A and B cable runs, supporting up to 50 Qt Active Emitters per run. This kit is the largest Creation Networks builds on the Qt X 300 platform — 32 emitters spread across all three zones, roughly 10-11 per zone, well within each output's capacity. Each output can still be set to its own masking level, paging and music level, and spectrum, so three separate departments or areas can each be tuned independently. Two analog inputs bring in a paging source and a background music player, and the AVB network port lets multiple Qt X controllers share audio in larger commercial sound masking installations. The Qt Active Emitters are direct-field ceiling emitters: the driver faces the room, so masking spreads evenly and paging stays intelligible. Each emitter produces 30 to 60 dBA of masking and up to 74 dBA of paging or music at 1 meter. Emitters daisy-chain over Category UTP cable with RJ-45 connectors, and rear switches trim level in 1.5 dB steps for fine tuning during commissioning.

Why "active" matters: Cambridge's Qt Active Emitters are the powered version of the company's direct-field emitter line — each unit has its own integral amplifier, rather than relying only on the controller's output like the original passive Qt Emitter. Per Cambridge's own spec sheet, that integral amplifier delivers 17 dB more output than the original passive design. Masking level is unaffected either way (both stay in the same 30–60 dBA comfort range), but that extra headroom is exactly what lets a single ceiling emitter double as a paging and music speaker rather than a masking-only device — announcements and background music play back clearly at up to 74 dBA, a level a passive emitter isn't built to reach. The tradeoff is that active emitters need their own low-voltage power, which is why the PS-AE-3 supplies and PI-AE injectors are called out above as required, sold separately.

Qt X 300 or Qt X 600? At 3,200 sq ft, this is right at the edge of what makes sense on a 3-zone controller. If the floor genuinely breaks into three areas, this kit uses the less expensive Qt X 300. If it needs four or more independently tuned zones, the Qt X 600, 4-zone kit is the better fit even though its coverage figure is larger — zoning need, not raw square footage, should drive the choice at this scale.

Creation Networks offers several Qt Active Emitter kits built around the same emitter pack. Choose by coverage area and zoning:

*Coverage estimates assume roughly 100 sq ft per emitter; actual layout depends on ceiling height and type.

Key Features

• Sized for About 3,200 sq ft — Thirty-two active emitters cover the largest floor Creation Networks builds on a Qt X 300.
• Masking, Paging, and Music — One ceiling emitter network carries speech privacy masking, overhead paging, and background music.
• Three Independent Zones — Masking level, aux level, and spectrum are set per output so up to three distinct areas can be tuned separately.
• Active, Amplified Emitters — Integral amplifiers deliver 17 dB more output than Cambridge's original passive Qt Emitter, the headroom that makes paging and music intelligible from the ceiling.
• Lower Cost Than Qt X 600 — Uses the less expensive 3-zone controller for spaces that don't need more than three independently tuned areas.
• Expandable to 36,000 sq ft — Add E-P-W emitter packs on the same Qt X 300 as the space grows, or step up to Qt X 600 if more zones are needed.
• Networked Management — AVB networking lets multiple Qt X controllers share audio across larger deployments.
• Plenum-Rated Emitters — Emitters are ETL listed and evaluated to UL 2043 for installation in air handling spaces.
• Five-Year Warranty — Both the Qt X 300 and the Qt Active Emitters are covered by Biamp's five-year warranty.

Typical Applications

• Large office floor with up to three distinct areas
• Government space
• Large training facility
• Higher education department floor

Technical Specifications

Specifications sourced from Biamp/Cambridge Sound manufacturer documentation. Kit coverage is an estimate.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much area does this kit cover?
With thirty-two active emitters, the kit is sized for approximately 3,200 sq ft — the largest floor Creation Networks builds on the Qt X 300 platform. Beyond this size, or if more than three independently tuned zones are needed, the Qt X 600 is the better fit.

Should I choose this or a Qt X 600 kit?
If the floor breaks into three or fewer genuinely distinct areas, this kit uses the less expensive Qt X 300 controller. If four or more independently tuned zones are needed, choose a Qt X 600 kit instead — zoning need should drive the decision more than raw square footage at this scale.

What does "active" mean on these emitters, and why does it matter?
Active emitters have their own integral amplifier rather than depending only on the controller for output. Cambridge's own spec sheet documents 17 dB more output than the original passive Qt Emitter design — that headroom is what allows the same ceiling emitter to reproduce paging and music clearly (up to 74 dBA) rather than being limited to masking noise alone.

What else do I need to power the Qt Active Emitters?
Active emitters need PS-AE-3 power supplies and PI-AE power injectors installed next to the first emitter on each run. Each PI-AE channel covers up to 25 active emitters, so 32 emitters will need at least two injectors.

Can this system handle paging and background music?
Yes. The two analog inputs per zone accept a paging source and a music player, and the same active emitters reproduce both alongside the masking signal.

Can I expand the system later?
Yes, within limits. The Qt X 300 tops out at 300 emitters total (this kit uses 32), so there's room to grow on the same controller, but a major expansion needing more than three zones would call for a Qt X 600 instead.

What warranty and support are included?
The Qt X 300 and Qt Active Emitters carry Biamp's five-year warranty. Creation Networks provides sound masking design, installation, commissioning, and ongoing support nationwide.