Last week we discussed the anatomy of a network–what it’s made of, but what exactly is networked audio?

Simply stated, networked audio is the transporting of audio from one endpoint to another over an Ethernet network. The major benefits include:

• High quality, low latency, multiple channel count.
• Time syncing and data transfer management.
• Dynamic control over the routing of digital audio.
• Large distance connections.
• Large channel counts over a single cable.
• Dynamic routing of signals.
• Decentralizing of AV systems.
• The use of standard network equipment to decrease overall physical infrastructure.
• The possibility of running AV over existing networks.
• The use of network redundancy in mission critical installations.
• The bridging of audio transfer between different manufactures’ products using common networked audio protocols.

Why You’d Want to Network Your Audio

A networked audio system provides an easily-expandable solution as all data is sent and received over standard network infrastructure (cabling, network switches, etc). Having to purchase less equipment, deal with less infrastructure remodeling, and decreasing installation time are all fundamental reasons why adoption rates for networked media systems are increasing. The financial benefits of sharing physical resources and using existing Ethernet networks cannot be overstated.

Next week I’ll show you some real-world applications of networked audio. If you can’t wait until next week, explore our case studies page now.