AV over IP — sending audio and video over standard network switches instead of dedicated matrix hardware — has become the default way to build serious AV. Here is what it is and why it matters.
What changes with AV over IP
Instead of a fixed matrix with limited inputs and outputs, sources and displays become endpoints on the network. Adding a screen means adding a network node, not rewiring a rack.
Why it wins
It scales almost without limit, spans buildings over existing cabling, and is managed centrally — the reasons it now underpins large corporate and campus systems. It also unifies with networked audio like Dante and NDI.
What it demands
The network becomes the AV system, so it needs proper managed switches, bandwidth planning and VLANs. Get the network right and everything else follows; get it wrong and nothing is reliable.
When to choose it
For multi-room, multi-building and future-growth projects, IP is the clear choice — see IP audio vs traditional PA and our IP audio range.
Design a networked system or read the complete AV guide.