Quick answer: define the technology before the table is made. The cut-outs for connection boxes, microphones and monitors are machined into the top and the cabling runs inside the structure, so changing it later is expensive. Think in three levels: connectivity, microphones and screens.
Level 1: connectivity at every seat
A flush box with a flip-up lid for every one or two seats, with power, USB-C charging and, if people present from laptops, HDMI or USB-C with video. On long tables a cable tray under the top along the whole table works best, fed from one or two floor boxes.
Level 2: microphones
- Retractable gooseneck: they rise when used and disappear into the table. Common in boards and plenary sessions.
- Flush-mounted units: include voting and identification; used by institutions.
- Wireless: no cables between modules, a very good fit for modular tables.
- Ceiling microphones: keep the table clear, in exchange for an installation in the suspended ceiling.
From about 20 people we recommend a microphone at every seat: without it, conversation gets lost from one end of the table to the other.
Level 3: pop-up monitors
Monitors of 15 to 24 inches that rise from the top and hide away afterwards. They need enough depth under the top, so the design of the structure depends on the model chosen.
Video and data on long tables
A passive HDMI cable works well over short distances, but causes problems on tables of 10 m or more. For those distances, network-cable extenders (HDBaseT) or wireless presentation systems are used, which also remove cables from the table.
The technical plate
Our tables are designed with a standard technical plate at every seat or module: a fixed-size cut-out that takes a blank cover, a connection box, a microphone or a monitor. You can start without power and upgrade later without changing the table. We explain it on the modular boardroom table page.
Frequently asked questions
Can you integrate systems from any brand?
Yes. We prepare the table for the system chosen by the client or their AV integrator, using each manufacturer’s cut-out templates.
When does the power need to be decided?
Before the shop drawings are approved: the cut-outs and cable management are machined with the top.
Can an existing table be powered?
Sometimes, with desktop boxes or trays under the top, but the result is better when it is planned from the design stage.
Planning a room? Tell us what you need or try the options in the 3D configurator.
By the technical office of Eban Premium, manufacturer of bespoke boardroom tables in Silla (Valencia, Spain).