Dante, an audio transport solution for the pro AV industry that utilizes AV-over-IP technology, is now increasingly being utilized in residential AV systems with manufacturers like SoundTube, AudioControl, AVPro Edge, Crestron and more offering devices that cater to the platform.
With the platform still unknown among members of the industry, Joshua Rush Vice President of Marketing for Audinate, the developers of Dante, sat down with CE Pro to explain the technology further.
What is Dante?
Developed back in 2006 by Audinate, Dante replaces all physical cable connections with a computer network, allowing multiple audio channels to be transmitted over a single Ethernet cable. This adds flexibility and scalability for whole-home audio systems due to the nature of digital infrastructure while also expanding the ability for homeowners to control their audio distribution.
With all devices sharing the same network, signals can be sent between any devices, regardless of their location in a home or on the network, with no change to the wiring.
Over the course of nearly 20 years Dante has largely seen success in the commercial AV industry, though in recent times, it has begun to appear more in the residential market, especially on larger projects where its scalability and lack of physical infrastructure is far more welcome.

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The technology has also been seen as useful in spaces like home theaters or multi-purpose entertainment rooms, where the ability to manage multiple audio channels with ease.
The Benefits to Using Dante Over Physical Platforms
Understanding how Dante functions, the platform offers several benefits over analog counterparts.
In many residential setups, different rooms have different AV needs—home theater, living room audio, and kitchen environments for example. Using Dante, integrators can centralize their AV sources, including media players and streaming devices, in a single location and then distribute those sources to different rooms to eliminate the need for individual devices in every room.
With Dante, each room can receive different audio content or the same content can be streamed throughout the house, all controlled from a central point.
Another benefit is that Dante operates over standard IP networks using Ethernet cables (Cat5e/Cat6) commonly installed in modern homes, which simplifies the cabling requirements compared to traditional analog AV installations that might require separate cables for audio, video, and control. This also allows integrators to add or modify zones on Dante without significant rewiring.
Dante additionally provides extremely low latency, ensuring the audio is synchronized across all devices, which can be critical in high-end residential AV systems, where maintaining synchronization across rooms (so there’s no echo effect when moving between spaces) and ensuring high-fidelity sound is a main priority.
Further complementing smart home applications, Dante can be seamlessly integrated into smart home ecosystems. Smart home controllers like Control4, Crestron, or Nice (formerly ELAN) can manage Dante-enabled devices.
Moreover, integrators can automate their AV system, installations scheduling different audio in different rooms based on time of day, or linking AV functions with lighting, security, and climate control.
Additional Food For Thought When Developing Whole-House Audio Systems
Designing an efficient and reliable whole-house residential AV system that delivers quality audio requires careful planning and an in-depth understanding of the homeowner’s current and future needs, regardless of the platform being used. When making Dante, Audinate viewed centralized audio distribution as the key to efficiency.
When working with Dante, integrators can use a multi-zone AV receiver or matrix switcher to manage and route audio signals to different zones. Integrators can also opt for high-quality in-ceiling or in-wall speakers that blend seamlessly into the home’s decor while delivering excellent sound quality.
Modern AV systems also tend to rely on streaming services and app-based controls, so a robust network infrastructure with sufficient bandwidth is essential.
Dante is inherently operable across 4,000 audio and video products and growing from more than 600 manufacturers, many of whom focus on the residential market, which gives integrators plenty of options to work with if they choose to leverage the Dante platform.
Integrators can further augment these systems through integrations with user-friendly control systems that provide interface options such as universal remotes, touchscreens, and mobile apps to allow seamless control of audio sources and zones.
Joshua Rush is chief marketing officer for Audinate.
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