The SW5E connection.
PreSonus' SW5E AVB switch supplies five AVB ports with secure. locking XLR Ethernet jacks. This, along with its robust construction, makes the SW5E an especially good choice for live sound systems. Network Link/Activity indicators help you ensure that network data is flowing properly.
What is an AVB network?
Audio networking is much more than just a way to connect a digital snake. With an AVB network, you can connect digital audio devices over long distances using CAT5e or CAT6 Ethernet cable and route your audio anywhere on the network with extremely low latency. AVB offers several unique benefits that make it a better choice for audio than other networking protocols. For example, AVB provides a high-precision clock that significantly reduces harmonic distortion and phasing, ensuring your audio stays clear and clean. AVB ensures you always have enough bandwidth to carry your low latency audio-even when your intern starts streaming a movie. These important benefits are an inherent part of AVB; you don't need to do anything special to your devices or AVB switch. And you can only get them with AVB.
PoE: Remote power for networked devices.
Power over Ethernet (PoE) is a technology that enables network cables to carry electrical power to compatible devices. With PoE, a single cable delivers both network data, such as digital audio, and electrical power. You can locate a PoE-enabled device anywhere you can run an Ethernet cable because you don't need a local power source. Four of the SW5E's five ports can provide PoE, a rare feature in the current generation of AVB switches. The SW5E's fifth port is non-PoE, which is useful for linking to additional switches to create a larger network.
Tough enough for live sound.
Live sound gigs are hard on gear, and if your network fails, the show could be over. That's why the SW5E is built to stand up to the rigors of live sound and perform reliably every time. In addition to using rugged, locking XLR Ethernet connectors, the SW5E is housed in a heavy-duty, all-metal chassis and can be rack mounted using a rack tray (not included). The unit also employs an internal power supply with standard IEC connector-not a clumsy "wall wart" supply that could easily get bumped loose.