Best Ethernet Switch for Audio 2024

(Last Updated On: November 24, 2023)

You may be wondering, why do people still use Ethernet Switches in the age of wireless networking devices? Well, the answer is pretty simple. Ethernet switches work flawlessly (if you have bought the right one). A router has a small number of Ethernet ports, so to increase them, we use Ethernet switches. We have compiled some of the best Ethernet switches for audio in the article. We suggest you have a look at them.

Also, they provide a much faster and stabler connection than a Wi-Fi. Ethernet switch connections are also quite easy to manage if they are connected properly. That also makes them much more suitable for bigger homes, offices, small businesses, or any place that requires a large number of devices to be connected with the router.

Although there are many more uses of an Ethernet switch, this is the most common one. They are mostly use for professional purposes but if you want to use them for a large house, it is a great idea too. Ethernet switches work like USB Hubs for the routers and allow more devices to be connected to it. This type of Ethernet switch is called “Unmanaged Switch”.

The features and working of an Ethernet Switch can be quite complex, especially for newbies. Let’s take a look at the most important features that you need to check when you are buying an Ethernet switch.

PoE: If you have a little bit of experience in this field, you may have heard people asking if the switch is PoE compatible or not. But what exactly is PoE? Well, let us explain. PoE technology allows the network cables to carry electrical power.

Look at it this way. If you have a networking device, it would require two connections. One would be the power cable and other would be network cable. However, if that device is PoE compatible, you would only need to insert the network cable in it as it would have the electrical power in it.

PoE is modern tech that saves you from a lot of troubles of wires. You can simply connect one cable and get the use of both cables. That is why it is recommended to buy a PoE switch. However, the devices you want to use with that switch must also be PoE-compatible.

Speed: What factor does the speed play in an Ethernet switch? To keep it simple, just consider if the switch supports your Internet speed or not. If it doesn’t, then it would be inefficient and would not provide you good results.

If you are buying the Ethernet switch for your office, always think about the future. It means that even if your internet has less speed, look for an Ethernet switch that supports at least twice than that Internet speed. Why you may ask, well, it would keep you safe from the worries in future if you consider adding more devices to the switch or you consider to increase your Internet speed.

You wouldn’t have to worry, as your Ethernet switch will already be supportive of that. Also, it would provide you with efficient results that are much needed in professional fields.

AVB: AVB, or Audio Video Bridging is a modern technology that allows your Ethernet switch to provide efficient results when dealing with audio or video data. It helps send these types of data faster and allow you to create a new network for audio and video.

Best Ethernet Switch for Audio (Comparison)

Name Dimensions Weight
MOTU AVB Switch 11.42 x 7.48 x 3.54 inches 1.06 Pounds

Check Price

PreSonus SW5E AVB Switch 7 x 8.5 x 1.7 inches 4 Pounds Check Price
TRENDnet 10 x 20 x 3 inches 6.45 Pounds Check Price
NETGEAR 10-Port 4.02 x 1.06 x 9.29 inches 1.63 Pounds Check Price

 

MOTU AVB Switch Five-Port AVB Ethernet Switch

MOTU AVB Switch

If you are a beginner and buying your first Ethernet switch for audio, look no further than MOTU AVB Switch Five-Port AVB Ethernet Switch. It has a pretty simple design that is easy to use for both newbies and experienced individuals.

It has five Ethernet connectivity ports and deals efficiently with all kinds of audio and video data types. Simple to use, the Ethernet switch allows easy plug and operate. It does not require any special kind of cabling, only the standard cables would work with MOTU AVB Switch Five-Port AVB Ethernet Switch.

Also, it offers standard IEE 802.1 compliant for Audio and Video networking. The AVB technology of this ethernet switch is up to the mark. It allows fully synchronized stream for Audio and Videos over Ethernet, with very low latency.

MOTU AVB Switch Five-Port AVB Ethernet Switch is highly recommended for Audio and Video compliances as it provides very efficient results. The five 1 GB of Ethernet switch allows users to connect audio and video devices as well as other switches. The sixth port is used for connecting to a standard Ethernet network.

The switch is very easy to use and you can create a network for audio and video handling with just a few simple steps. MOTU AVB Switch Five-Port AVB Ethernet Switch automatically detects device by the device discovery option which provides further ease of operating it.

Also, the management of a network bandwidth has never been easier as it is with MOTU AVB Switch Five-Port AVB Ethernet Switch.

View all the devices and the bandwidth speed they are using, then simply remove those devices which are using the most data and are of no use. Plug and play operation, self-regulating network management, and guaranteed quality of service make this Ethernet switch, one of the best in its category.

Pros Cons
Standard IEE 802.1 technology Lesser known by the audience
Simple setup, easy management Lack of Ethernet ports as compared to other Ethernet switches
Plug-and-play operation
Auto device discovery

Conclusion:

All the features that are mentioned above and many more make MOTU AVB Switch Five-Port AVB Ethernet Switch, the ideal Ethernet switch, especially for beginners. That is because it allows all the operations with easy steps that can be done by those who have no experience at all.

Not only the setup is easy, but also its management is quite convenient. It delivers all the essential features that an AVB Ethernet switch must have. Also, it allows connecting five Ethernet devices.

 

 

PreSonus SW5E AVB Switch with PoE

PreSonus SW5E AVB Switch

One of the most used and positively-reviewed AVB Ethernet switches is PreSonus SW5E AVB Switch. It is one of the most efficient networking switches for Audio and video data-handling.

The main highlight of the PreSonus SW5E AVB Switch with PoE is that it is PoE compatible. It has four ports that allow connection of four PoE compatible devices with the switch.

Also, it has one port for bridging to a standard Ethernet network. AVB switch PoE ports is one of those features that are not available in many Ethernet switches in the market.

With PoE available, this Ethernet switch is much easier to manage than other switches as it requires no connection for the electrical power cables. It only requires connecting devices and other Switches as well. You can easily toggle the PoE by simply pressing the PoE button on the back of its switch.

If it glows blue light, the PoE is ON and it can turn OFF if the light is white. PreSonus SW5E AVB Switch with PoE provides pole indications and easy ON and OFF options.

Along with pole indicators, the switch also features activity indicators as well as network links, which allows you to manage the flow of network data.

The simple design of PreSonus SW5E AVB Switch with PoE also makes it much more convenient for new users and shows all the useful information. It displays all the ports with lights that glow when the device is connected in that port. Beside the link port lights, the PoE lights are also available for each port separately.

PreSonus SW5E AVB Switch is a powerful Ethernet switch that provides all the features for StudioLive digital mixers. It is used for live gigs as it is reliable and allows locking XLR Ethernet connections. PreSonus SW5E AVB Switch allows connecting multiple StudioLive digital mixers to create even a better AVB network.

Pros Cons
PoE-compatible Its professional features can be overwhelming for new users
Very easy to use Less number of ports
Allows connection of more than one StudioLive digital mixers Users have faced issues with gPTP implementation sometimes
Very reliable, efficient for AVB

Conclusion:

PreSonus SW5E AVB Switch with PoE is a feature-rich AVB Ethernet switch that has options, which are available in most of its competitors. Not to forget, the Ethernet switch is highly reliable and can even be used for live performances.

The easy setup and use are also other plus points to the Ethernet switch. But the main advantage it has over many other Ethernet switches is its PoE-compatibility. It is safe to say that will all its features, PreSonus SW5E AVB Switch with PoE is one of the best Ethernet switches available in the market.

 

 

TRENDnet TPE-2840WS 28-Port Gigabit Switch

TRENDnet

TRENDnet TPE-2840WS 28-Port Gigabit Web Smart Switch is one of the most popular AVB Ethernet switches among people.

As its name suggests, it provides a number of Smart options that are unavailable in most of the other Ethernet switches. The main highlight of TRENDnet 28-Port Gigabit Web Smart Switch is availability of ports.

It has 28 Gigabit Ethernet ports and 4 shared gigabit ports that are used for RJ-45 an SFP. It easy to use and offers a web-based management interfaces.

The GUI web interface of switch’s management and configuration makes it suitable for beginners as well as experienced users.

Also, the large number of available ports make TRENDnet 28-Port Gigabit Web Smart Switch much suitable for bigger homes, small business, or offices. The Ethernet switch supports VLAN, QoS (Quality of Service), IPv6, IGMP Snooping, and LACP.

TRENDnet 28-Port Gigabit Web Smart Switch allows bandwidth control per port. It means you can manage the bandwidth speed of all 28 ports individually. This feature allows you to get the best results out of your internet as you can easily terminate the devices that are consuming the most data and blocking the traffic.

The Ethernet switch supports the standard IEE 802.1p QoS configuration and delivers efficient results. TRENDnet 28-Port Gigabit Web Smart Switch is an easy-to-use Ethernet switch that allows voice control VLAN. The high-speed SFP ports allow the Ethernet switch to communicate with devices over large distances with fiber optic connections.

The design of TRENDnet 28-Port Gigabit Web Smart Switch is also quite simple as it shows the connectivity of each port separately. Easy usage, simple set up and management make TRENDnet 28-Port Gigabit Web Smart Switch one of the most effective Ethernet switches out there that can be understood and used by those with no experience at all.

Pros Cons
28 Ethernet ports available The web-interface can be a little complex for beginners
4 high-speed SFP ports Has a very noisy fan
Smart Switch features
GUI-based web interface for configuration of the switch

Conclusion:

It is one of those few Ethernet switches that are easy to use for experienced users as well as beginners. TRENDnet 28-Port Gigabit Web Smart Switch has a large number of available ports that are much required in professional fields to connect more devices and other Ethernet switches as well.

It supports a number of standard Internet technologies that give it another plus point. Overall, it is safe to say that TRENDnet 28-Port Gigabit Web Smart Switch is one of the best Ethernet switches out there and definitely deserves a spot on our list.

 

 

NETGEAR 10-Port Gigabit/10G Ethernet Unmanaged Switch

NETGEAR 10-Port Gigabit Unmanaged Switch

NETGEAR 10-Port Gigabit/10G Ethernet Unmanaged Switch is excellent in supporting seamless roaming support for all those with the compatible NETGEAR Max-Stream router. You can use this extender switch to be compatible with any router model if you want to extend your Wi-Fi reach successfully.

It is also included with a helpful spot finder with which the user can quickly look for the optimal plug-in location for an excellent performance if possible.

Regarding the closer proximity, NETGEAR 10-Port Gigabit/10G Ethernet Unmanaged Switch outperforms with various Wi-Fi extenders, but somehow it lacks in range performance.

It allows you to enjoy MU-MIMO streaming fully and yet easy installation through the NETGEAR 10-Port Gigabit/10G Ethernet Unmanaged Switch.

In addition, this device is also available with the 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz dual bands. You will be better able to reduce all your dead spots in-home or office and extend the existing wireless AC coverage.

The best thing about this extender is that it can work with all Wi-Fi routers or gateway, such as all those routers that the service provider supplies.

No doubt, this extender is the next-generation wireless AC technology that is equally compatible with all a/b/g/n devices. It has some detachable antennas which you can adjust according to your basic needs and daily requirements for better coverage.

It allows your Wi-Fi router to easily connect with multiple devices all at once to speed up your whole network. The entire performance of the internet testing in this extender has been excellent.

This device has a coverage range of 10,000 square feet. With the help of an audio jack, you can easily connect any stereo system wirelessly for streaming your favorite video or music. It even brings for you 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports to have the fastest wired connections.

Pros Cons
Easy to setup Mid-range performance
Excellent proximity throughput
MU-MIMO great support

Conclusion:

Thus, to end with, NETGEAR 10-Port Gigabit/10G Ethernet Unmanaged Switch is easy to use with the excellent range of proximity. Its only drawback is its mid-range performance. Otherwise, it is a worthwhile investment to consider right now.

 

 

Final Verdict:

To sum it up, AVB is one of the main highlights of the Ethernet Switches nowadays. It is a feature that people usually check before buying a switch.

That is why to save your time from going through a number of options on the Internet, we presented you the list of the best Ethernet switch for audio. It will surely help you choose the most suitable one that fits all your requirements.

 

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