AV networks in theaters and other professional AV environments are becoming increasingly large and complex. Distances grow, available bandwidth is under pressure, and infrastructure needs to be used more efficiently—without compromising predictable and reliable network behavior.
At the same time, protocols such as Audio Video Bridging (AVB) have imposed clear architectural boundaries for many years. That is precisely why it becomes interesting when well‑known limitations begin to shift and new design options emerge for scalable AV networks.
So, some good news for everyone working with professional AV networks
NETGEAR M4250 and M4350 AV switches support AVB audio/video over an LACP trunk between switches.
That may sound like a small detail, but in practice it is a step that significantly expands design flexibility.
Where AVB (Audio Video Bridging) was traditionally deployed mainly in relatively compact networks, there is now more room for scalable and future‑proof AV infrastructures. This is particularly relevant in theaters, stages, conference centers, and larger meeting environments, where distances increase, bandwidth becomes more critical, and infrastructure must be used efficiently.
Why AVB and LACP normally do not go together
AVB is designed around a number of clear principles:
- guaranteed bandwidth
- predictable, low latency
- time synchronization via IEEE 802.1AS (gPTP)
- reservation of network resources per stream
This also implies an important characteristic:
AVB streams expect a deterministic path through the network.
And that is where the challenge arises with LACP (Link Aggregation Control Protocol).
An LACP trunk bundles multiple physical links into a single logical connection. In traditional IT networks, this is a proven way to increase capacity between switches. Traffic is distributed across multiple physical links, typically using hashing mechanisms.
For standard data traffic, this is not an issue. For AVB, however, timing, synchronization, and reserved resources depend on predictable network behavior, making this approach far more sensitive.
As a result, for many years the practical rule was:
AVB between switches ideally ran over a single physical link.
Functional, but also limiting.
The limitation of AVB in larger installations
In small networks, a single uplink between switches is often manageable. In larger AV environments, however, it quickly becomes a bottleneck.
Consider situations where:
- only a limited number of network cables are available between FOH and the stage
- technical rooms are spread across multiple floors
- multiple network services must run over the same infrastructure
In these environments, it is desirable to do more with the uplinks that are available, without immediately having to deploy additional physical connections or separate network structures.
What changes now
With the M4250 and M4350 series, it becomes possible to transport AVB audio over an LACP trunk between switches.
This is relevant because it makes the design of larger AV networks more practical—not because AVB itself has fundamentally changed, but because a well‑known architectural limitation becomes less dominant in the overall design.
The impact is felt most clearly in environments where capacity, distance, and fiber availability are decisive factors in network architecture.
What this means in practice
✅ More capacity between FOH and stage
Where a single physical uplink previously defined the limit, multiple links can now be combined into a single trunk. This increases the available capacity between network segments, for example between FOH and stage or between central technical rooms.
This is particularly attractive in larger productions and installations where multiple traffic flows converge.
✅ More efficient use of existing infrastructure
In historic theaters, listed buildings, and temporary productions, cabling is often scarce, costly, or difficult to modify.
In these situations, being able to make better use of existing uplinks is valuable, without immediately having to reserve additional fibers or dedicated physical connections for every network layer.
✅ Greater design freedom in larger AV networks
By allowing AVB over an LACP trunk, more flexibility is introduced when designing larger, structured, and manageable networks.
For designers, this means more freedom in defining core, distribution, and edge connections—especially in buildings with long distances and where central technical spaces are not located close to endpoints.
What this explicitly does not mean
This development should not be confused with full AVB network redundancy at the protocol level.
For applications where true redundancy is required, a separate secondary audio network remains the appropriate design choice. AVB over LACP primarily affects capacity and design flexibility, not the fundamental way redundancy is implemented in critical AV networks.
Significant impact for Biamp installations
For projects using Biamp, this development is particularly interesting.
Where AVB was traditionally applied mainly within compact segments, it now becomes more practical to deploy AVB audio over greater distances and across multiple network segments. Examples include:
- AVB audio across multiple floors
- centralized DSPs with distributed endpoints
- larger, building‑wide installations
As a result, the AVB network can scale more naturally with the size of the project, without immediately making the design unnecessarily complex. This aligns well with projects where Biamp solutions form part of a broader, building‑wide AV concept.
One network platform for the entire theater
Perhaps the biggest advantage is that it becomes easier to integrate multiple disciplines into a single, coherent network platform.
With NETGEAR AV switches, it becomes more realistic to deploy one manageable infrastructure for, for example:
- AVB audio
- Dante / AES67
- digital signage
- lighting and show control
- SMPTE ST 2110
- management and monitoring
This not only simplifies network design but also results in more consistent day‑to‑day operation.
Operational advantage: training people instead of relying on specialists
For theaters and other professional AV environments, this is a significant benefit.
A logically structured network running on a single platform is easier to explain, manage, and maintain. This makes it more realistic for technical teams to build in‑house knowledge of:
- the network structure
- design boundaries
- fault diagnosis
- secure operation
As a result, the AV network becomes not only more powerful but also more manageable in daily practice.
In summary: why this is an important step
AVB over LACP trunks means:
- ✅ more capacity between switches
- ✅ more efficient use of existing uplinks
- ✅ greater design freedom in large AV networks
- ✅ broader applicability of AVB in complex installations
- ✅ a single network platform for multiple AV disciplines
What was long considered a fixed limitation of AVB no longer has to constrain network design to the same extent.
Finally: Biamp as an example, not a limitation
In this article, Biamp is mentioned as a concrete example of a manufacturer using AVB in professional installations. This example was chosen for its recognizability and practical relevance—not because this development is limited to a single vendor.
Other manufacturers who make use of AVB and see how AVB over LACP trunks creates new opportunities for their solutions and applications are explicitly invited to contact me.
Together, we can explore how this development translates to their platforms and real‑world use cases, and jointly publish a more in‑depth follow‑up article.
In this way, a broader and more realistic picture emerges of what this step means for AVB in professional AV networks.
Eric Lindeman, NETGEAR ProAV Staff Systems Engineer Benelux
For more information about NETGEAR AV Switching, please contact the NETGEAR Pro AV Design Team via email: ProAVdesign@netgear.com
If you’d like to delve deeper into AV over IP switching, I invite you to check out our Online Academy via the link: https://academy.netgear.com/
On our training portal, you can find both AV and IT-related training courses. These courses are free to attend after registration, and at the end of each course, you can take an exam to earn a certificate.
