What’s a good low-cost camera and microphone setup for a 7×5 m meeting room?

For a lower-cost audio option, USB or Bluetooth speakerphones such as the Yealink SP96 are worth considering. They’re much better suited to picking up several people around a table than a basic desktop microphone.

A Zoom Q2n-4K is another camera to look at. Its audio quality is surprisingly good for the price, and it can be a cheaper alternative to a MeetUp. I’d still test it in the actual room first, since a 7×5 meter space may require a dedicated speakerphone or an additional microphone for consistent pickup.

Don’t overlook the room cabling. A USB-C dock built into or beneath the table can give the presenter power, wired network access, and display output through one connection. Keep a separate HDMI cable available for laptops that don’t support video over USB-C. For a room this large, a purpose-built meeting bar such as a Yealink or Neat unit will be easier to manage, but a camera plus speakerphone is the better budget route.

Whatever equipment you choose, plan for setup and user training. Meeting software can occasionally select the wrong camera or microphone, so label the cables, set the default devices in advance, and have someone responsible for helping during the first few meetings. That support is often more important than spending extra on hardware.

A Logitech MeetUp can work well, especially if you want an all-in-one camera and speakerphone. We’ve used one with a small computer and display in rooms that aren’t permanently equipped. It’s reliable, although a Yealink UVC40 provides noticeably better video and audio if the budget can stretch that far. Some Yealink systems also support wireless microphone pods.

We equipped several small meeting rooms with the same affordable USB conference camera and have been happy with both the picture and microphone pickup. It may be worth looking for a camera that combines a wide-angle lens, built-in echo cancellation, and a speakerphone rather than buying separate low-end devices. Test the pickup from the far end of the table before committing.