New zero-configuration, zero-hassle IP-Audio switch is a winner with clients, award judges
25 April 2013, Cleveland Ohio, USA
Broadcast pros who came to the Axia Audio display at NAB 2013 were wowed by the brand-new Axia xSwitch, the new compact AoIP network switch just introduced. And so was the judging panel assembled by Radio magazine, who gave xSwitch a coveted "Pick Hit" award as the Las Vegas show closed.
"IP-Audio studio technology has become a favorite of broadcasters around the world," says Clark Novak, Axia's marketing manager. "Over 4,500 Axia-powered studios testify to that. But Axia engineers are never satisfied; they are always looking for ways to improve the operation and installation of IP-Audio networks. Our R&D crew thought that a pre-configured switch that requires almost no setup would be a big improvement over the complicated, fussy procedure of programming off-the-shelf gear — I guess the Pick Hit judges agreed!"
xSwitch allows broadcasters to place 8 Livewire® device ports and dual network trunking ports, each with redundant copper and SFP connections, into a unit that only takes half a rack space. Four of xSwitch's Livewire ports supply PoE (Power over Ethernet) to run Axia xNode AoIP interfaces, Telos VSet phones, or other PoE-capable equipment.
According to Novak, "Axia clients told us that they were most impressed by the ability for xSwitch to virtually configure itself. There's a one-button setup process; it only takes about 15 seconds to have an xSwitch connected to your Axia network and ready to route audio. That's a big improvement over the old days, when you could easily spend an hour programming a third-party switch."
"Clients also liked the fact that xSwitch allows them to add network ports a la carte, eight at a time, rather than buying a big, expensive switch and then leaving a dozen ports unused," Novak added. Some other xSwitch features that helped win the judges' favor:
- Fanless, convection cooling and auto-switching internal power supply – no "wall warts".
- Compact size: an xSwitch and xNode can fit side-by-side in just 1RU of space.
- Built-in redundancy: xSwitch includes two Gigabit Ethernet ports with SFP (Small Form-Factor Pluggable) interfaces for redundant, auto-switching copper or fiber trunking connections.
- xSwitch supports 2,000 Multicast groups and 2,000 ARP table entries, which gives xSwitch 8 times more routing capacity than other small-form Ethernet switches.
- PoE ports allow "stacking" an xSwitch with up to 4 Axia xNodes to create a 32x32 router that
- requires just one AC power cable.
Axia xSwitch ships to clients in the third quarter of 2013, with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price of $1,295 USD.
Axia Audio is the world's most popular IP-Audio networking system for broadcast. Over 4,500 studios are on-air using Axia Livewire technology; more than 50,000 connected devices, such as codecs, audio processors, phone systems, and digital delivery systems, are in the field. Axia networks have a total system capacity of more than 10,000 audio streams, and can carry hundreds of digital stereo channels (plus machine logic and PAD) over a single CAT-6 cable, eliminating much of the cost normally associated with wiring labor and infrastructure.
Over 40 Axia partners, including companies such as Nautel, AudioScience, International Datacasting, 25-Seven Systems, and Studer, now make broadcast equipment that connects using Livewire. For a complete list of Axia Partners, visit AxiaAudio.com/partners/ . Axia also supports the high-performance RAVENNA IP-Audio standard, which is backed by companies like Genelec, Neumann, Sonifex, Merging Technologies and Lawo. For further information please visit ravenna.alcnetworx.com .
For more information about Axia Audio, contact Clark Novak via email at cnovak@AxiaAudio.comor by phone at +1-216-241-7225.
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