Managed AV-over-IP switches use features such as Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) snooping and multicast routing to direct video and audio streams only to the ports that request them, helping limit unnecessary traffic. Many also support VLAN segmentation and quality-of-service prioritization, which helps separate AV traffic and give time-sensitive streams appropriate network handling.

Choose a switch with Power over Ethernet (PoE) when AV-over-IP endpoints, such as encoders, decoders, wireless access points, or control devices, can receive power through their network cables. PoE can simplify installation by reducing the need for separate power supplies, but confirm the switch’s PoE standard, per-port output, and total power budget match the connected equipment.

Compare the switch’s access-port speed, such as 1 Gigabit Ethernet, multi-gigabit, or 10 Gigabit Ethernet, along with uplink options such as 1G SFP, 10G SFP+, 25G SFP28, or expandable higher-speed interfaces. Choose speeds that match endpoint bandwidth and compare uplink capacity, stacking support, and the distance or fiber requirements between switches, racks, and core network equipment.

AV-over-IP switches support expansion by providing high-speed uplinks, including SFP, SFP+, and higher-speed optical interfaces, that connect multiple racks or network segments while preserving bandwidth for media traffic. Managed features such as stacking, VLAN segmentation, multicast routing, and link aggregation help integrators organize larger systems and extend AV distribution across rooms, floors, buildings, or remote locations.