A microphone selection process uses combination values derived in a manner which provides an indication of which one of a plurality of microphones (220-1...220-5) that provides area coverage for a conference room best receives the speech signal. The process selects the microphone which best receives the speech signal by comparing a signal energy value received in each one of the microphones to that received in each of the other microphones. More specifically, pairs of microphones are examined, to determine the direction of origin for the speech, by seeking a microphone pair where the speech is strong in the microphone directed toward the source of speech, and weak in an associated microphone directed away from the source of speech. A null, which is located at the back of each microphone, is narrower than a main beam or sensitivity pattern, which is located at the front of each microphone, is more sensitive to and therefore a better indicator of the direction of origin for the speech than is the main beam.