Editor’s Note: This article stems from Commercial Integrator’s annual AV-over-IP Deep Dive report, which Genelec contributed to.
The debate over whether AV belongs on the network has ended. IP adoption is accelerating, with many clients now being willing to allow AV products on their own networks. Meanwhile, integrators keep leveling up their networking skills. Genelec has been building toward that shift for years.
A Market Moving Toward Fully Networked AV
Anthony Berry, sales support engineer, installed sound, at Genelec, sees the direction clearly. “More and more, to have a fully network-based solution is just where the industry is going, and we see it growing and growing and faster and faster in installations around the world,” he says.
That momentum rewards companies that planned ahead. As integrators grow more confident with IP, they expect audio that drops cleanly into the network rather than fighting it. Genelec designed for exactly that reality.
Smart IP and a Partnership-First Approach
Genelec launched Smart IP in 2019 and has expanded steadily since, adding on-wall, ceiling and pendant models plus the 3440A Smart IP Active Subwoofer, which supports PoE and PoE+ power alongside Dante and AES67 audio streams. The goal is simple: whatever the system requirement, there’s a product to meet it.
Just as important is how the line plays with others. Rather than building a walled garden, Genelec chooses to open its control and management to third-party platforms, including QSC, Crestron, AMX and Lightware, among others. Standardized Dante lets integrators pick the DSP and control they prefer, with interoperability treated as a core strength rather than an afterthought.
Where Genelec Goes Next With AV-over-IP
As more commercial AV systems converge on enterprise IP infrastructure, the ability to interoperate across manufacturers may become just as important as the performance of any single device. Genelec’s philosophy aligns well with this vision. The company is adding ongoing software and tuning updates and adhering to a consistent strategy: being open, being flexible and building for how integrators actually work.
Watch the full interview with Anthony Berry, embedded below, to learn more about Genelec and its AV-over-IP strategy.
