Why is the AV over IP solution so popular in the audiovisual industry?

More and more companies are choosing AV over IP products for presentations, advertising, information dissemination, and other tasks. Since traditional AV products perform poorly in scalability and flexibility, many companies are seeking alternatives to improve efficiency. This is why AV over IP products are currently in high demand in the market.

What is AV over IP?

AV over IP (short for Audio-Visual over Internet Protocol) refers to the technology of transmitting audio, video, and control signals over network infrastructure (e.g., WAN, LAN, 4G/5G networks, or the public internet). Unlike traditional point-to-point transmission methods using HDMI/SDI cables, the AV over IP architecture can increase data throughput by adding network switching equipment and is not limited by the number of physical interfaces on devices. In fact, AV over IP technology has been around for a long time, evolving from the audiovisual industry to the broadcasting industry, gaining popularity in IP-based distributed projects, and gradually forming a "hybrid" workflow.

What are the advantages of AV over IP?

Generally, when distributing more than 8 signal sources to more than 8 display devices, AV over IP solutions are more cost-effective and scalable than traditional AV products. They offer the following benefits for your AV setup:

Cost-Effectiveness

AV over IP products can leverage your existing network infrastructure, breaking the physical distance limitations of signal transmission. When used with network switches, audio and video signals can be effectively delivered anywhere the network reaches. They connect via Ethernet ports and can simultaneously handle input/output tasks. In large-scale projects, integrators or installers do not need to deploy additional signal cables to extend transmission distances. Additionally, web-based management software allows flexible control and maintenance of devices distributed across different locations on the network, improving deployment efficiency while keeping costs under control.

High Scalability

It is well known that traditional AV products often have fixed input/output ports, making them inflexible and unsuitable for various scenarios. In contrast, AV over IP achieves complete flexibility in the number of devices, enabling switching and distribution to different endpoints and displays—something traditional AV cannot accomplish. For example, distributing camera and microphone signals across a 10-floor office space can be easily adjusted with the click of a button.

AV over IP products can work with network switches using Cat5e/6/7 cables, solving problems with just a single network cable while keeping the existing network infrastructure intact. Moreover, Cat cables are cheaper than traditional physical cables. From a deployment perspective, AV over IP maintains compatibility with existing network systems while simplifying project implementation compared to traditional AV products.

Long-Distance Transmission

Long-distance transmission has always been a challenge for traditional AV equipment because the required physical cables are more expensive than Cat5e or Cat6 cables, and their transmission distance is limited.

In small-scale projects, the difference between AV over IP and traditional AV products is minimal. However, in large-scale projects, especially those with transmission distances exceeding 100 meters, costs increase due to the need for Ethernet switches to achieve long-distance transmission.

Is AV over IP secure?

Transitioning from hardware-based traditional AV to IP-based solutions inevitably raises security concerns. There is a common misconception that IP-based methods introduce more security risks than traditional methods. In reality, encryption technologies are ubiquitous in IP products, addressing various security issues in AV systems.

Some IP products encrypt encoder and decoder devices to prevent hacking attempts (including turning streams on/off or switching signal sources). Another measure is encrypting video streams, ensuring that even if intercepted, they cannot be easily decoded and viewed.

For interoperability, some manufacturers support third-party devices with digital key exchange or encryption, such as HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection), which is a major concern for most AV users. HDCP aims to protect copyrighted content during transmission between devices. For example, cable receivers or media players with HDMI outputs can play protected HD or 4K content. Such content is locked and can only be viewed by HDCP-compliant devices after authentication. Any extension, modification, or viewing of protected content is restricted.

If you are looking for a high-quality plug-and-play AV over IP solution, the Kensence XMS 7500S is an excellent choice. The HDMI encoder/decoder works seamlessly with any standard managed or unmanaged switch on the market.

The Kensence XMS 7500S AV over IP solution features matrix switching, video wall support, intuitive visual control, efficient video codec technology, fast seamless switching, and other powerful functions. It is an ideal choice for bars, restaurants, shopping malls, retail stores, casinos, colleges, universities, and other venues.