PoE speakers are becoming increasingly popular in commercial establishments. But can a single cable really ensure power and solid audio signal transmission at the same time? Bluesound Professional uses PoE+ and PoE++ technology in its BSP200, BSP500, and BSP1000 speaker models, and from this experience has identified the three myths about PoE technology that are punctually debunked with each installation.
Myth 1: PoE speakers are of no use in commercial establishments.
Fact: Why buy commercial speakers when you can continue to use the wireless speakers you picked up from the nearby HiFi store? The truth is that home speakers are not suitable for use inside commercial establishments. The home speaker is usually designed to support small systems in small spaces and requires an AC outlet, which can often be the cause of the high-pitched sound. First and foremost, PoE technology ensures that the speakers have a power supply suitable for the voltage required by the individual speaker (PoE for 15 watts, PoE+ for 30 watts, PoE++ for 60 watts), providing a single Cat5e or Cat6 Ethernet cable for the same output as a wired system.
In addition, for a public address system in a large room, one needs many speakers and consequently additional electrical outlets, the cost of which is eliminated with a simple PoE switch. For outdoor installations, one can rely on the BSP500 and BSP1000 speakers, which are IP65-certified and thus designed to cope with all weather conditions, a feature unknown to any commercial or HiFi alternative. Finally, larger speakers such as the BSP500 and BSP1000 have the PoE++ option (60 watts) for more power in case you need wider coverage (3dB SPL boost). Bluesound’s wide selection of speakers, from the smallest BSP200 model to the largest BSP1000, can be combined to create the perfect audio ecosystem for any installation in commercial, even multi-zone, environments.
Myth 2: PoE speakers require a lot of hardware
Fact: Did someone mention cable? The truth is that many home speakers even when considered “wireless” require a power outlet and must be charged regularly. They also rely on a wireless transmission that is too unreliable to be used in a store. Conversely, Bluesound Professional PoE speakers are specifically designed for commercial spaces, ensuring high-quality audio through a single Cat5 or Cat6 cable that offers a more robust Ethernet connection and power capability that helps lower costs. In fact, it is a streamer and an amplifier in one, effectively halving the hardware component.
Myth 3: PoE Speakers Sound Awful.
Fact: Bluesound Professional PoE speakers are specifically designed to provide exercises with high-quality sound. Each speaker includes a high-resolution music streamer inside, equipped with BluOs, the platform that enables multi-zone streaming and system interfacing with major commercial music streaming services such as Sound Machine, Custom Channels, QSIC, SiriusXM Music for Business and Tunify. Bluesound Professional is preferred not only for its crystal-clear audio but also for its countless royalty-free, legal and licensed music libraries.
