AVB vs Danta vs AES50 vs AES67
The audio industry has long sought to standardise the audio distribution and synchronisation process across devices and platforms. Various protocols have been developed to address this need, and today we'll compare some of the most widely-used ones: AVB, Dante, AES50, and AES67.
AVB (Audio Video Bridging)
AVB is a set of technical standards developed by the IEEE. AVB allows for precise synchronisation and low-latency transmission of audio and video streams across an Ethernet network. It operates on a layer-2 level of networking and requires AVB-compatible hardware, making it highly reliable but somewhat restrictive in compatibility.
Dante (Digital Audio Network Through Ethernet)
Developed by Audinate, Dante has become very popular in the professional audio industry. Dante uses standard IP networks to run on existing network infrastructure without specialised hardware. It's user-friendly, scalable, and offers a high-channel count with ultra-low latency. However, it requires a license, and while it supports AES67, it doesn’t support AVB.
AES50
AES50 is a high-resolution multichannel audio interconnect protocol. It operates over Cat-5e Ethernet cable and supports up to 48 bidirectional channels at 48kHz and 24 bits. The main advantage of AES50 is its extremely low latency, making it ideal for live sound applications. However, it needs more flexibility and scalability than network-based systems like Dante or AVB, as it operates point-to-point.
AES67
Developed by the Audio Engineering Society, AES67 is a standard for high-performance audio-over-IP interoperability. Its goal is to enable compatibility between various AoIP systems, including Dante and AVB. AES67 provides specifications for synchronisation, media clock identification, network transport, encoding and streaming, session description, and connection management. However, some functionalities specific to particular systems (like Dante's discovery and routing services) are not covered by AES67.
In Conclusion
When choosing between these protocols, it's crucial to consider the specific requirements of your project. AVB provides robust synchronisation and Quality of Service but requires specialised hardware. Dante's wide acceptance and compatibility with existing networks make it a strong contender, especially for larger systems. AES50's minimal latency is advantageous for live sound, but its point-to-point nature restricts scalability. AES67, on the other hand, helps bridge the gap between different AoIP systems but doesn’t offer some of the higher-level functionalities.
At LondonElectricals Ltd, we understand the complexities of audio distribution and are ready to guide you through choosing the most suitable protocol for your needs. With us, rest assured that you're in expert hands regarding audio synchronisation and distribution.