Today, many users still use analog audio solutions which have several disadvantages, including insufficient security and poor sound quality. Hikvision has launched their network audio system that seeks to address those challenges.
Today, many users still use analog audio solutions which have several disadvantages, including insufficient security and poor sound quality. A leader in AIoT solutions, Hikvision has launched their network audio system that seeks to address the above-mentioned challenges. This article takes a closer look, based on a
report by asmag.com.cn.
It’s hard to imagine that in today’s networked world, many conference audio systems still rely heavily on analog solutions. Yet analog audio technology, invented in the last century, now faces three major challenges:
Unprotected signal transmission: Analog systems transmit through analog signals. Yet these signals are “naked” electromagnetic waves that are easy to intercept. With the right equipment, anyone can easily eavesdrop from remote locations.
Zero barrier to physical intrusion: Typically, analog signals and transmitting/receiving devices lack encryption. By physically accessing transmission paths, anyone can directly hear audio signals or inject noise/misinformation into them.
Weak interference resistance: Ubiquitous electronic devices generate electromagnetic noise that directly distorts the original waveform of analog audio signals. Over long transmission distances, signal-to-noise ratio drops, degrading sound quality. Aging cables and other issues may further reduce system stability.
These vulnerabilities in analog audio systems can easily lead to security incidents and poor user experience. Leveraging their deep expertise in digital products and technologies, Hikvision has launched their network audio system that, compared with analog solutions, offers better security, audio quality and usability. Below we take a closer look at each point.
Better security: Forming a robust ‘sound shield’
The network audio system converts sound into digital signals and applies multi-layer encryption protection. From audio capture at the microphone to playback at the speaker, all data packets remain encrypted during transmission. Even if intercepted, attackers only get unreadable encrypted data.
In addition, Hikvision’s network audio system integrates multiple cybersecurity technologies such as user authentication, access control lists (ACLs) and encrypted data transmission (TLS/SSL). Devices must authenticate before connecting, ensuring only authorized users can access and control audio content.
Unlike analog systems, which transmit signals transparently without built-in encryption, Hikvision’s network audio system achieves end-to-end, hardware-to-software security, forming a robust “sound shield.”
Better sound: Network interference resistance with AI-enhanced quality
By nature, analog signals are highly susceptible to electromagnetic interference. In contrast, digital signals transmitted through a network are inherently resistant to noise. For Hikvision’s solution, even when interference occurs, built-in error detection and retransmission mechanisms in network audio devices (like network speakers) can correct or resend lost data – ensuring continuous and stable playback.
Furthermore, Hikvision’s network audio system features a complete intelligent audio processing chain – from sound capture to processing to playback. With AI-powered noise reduction, de-reverberation, beamforming, and constant-beamwidth array technologies, the system enhances speech clarity in complex environments and maintains consistent sound quality. Compared with analog systems, digital network audio is better suited to work with AI and emerging technologies, delivering superior audio quality and user experience.
Better usability: ‘Upgrade as needed, expand on demand’
Thanks to the natural advantages of IP-based solutions, Hikvision’s network audio system streamlines deployment, management, and expansion. With Hikvision’s proprietary audio assistant software, users can centrally manage the entire system with visualized tools – monitoring device status and operations remotely. This eliminates the need for repeated on-site checks common with analog systems.
Additionally, the system simplifies expansion and scalability. When adding new devices, only network configuration is required – no extra cabling or hardware matrix are needed. For example, in a 100 m² conference room, replacing a traditional analog setup with Hikvision’s network audio solution can reduce cable usage by about 70 percent and improve deployment efficiency by 55 percent. This truly enables the “upgrade as needed, expand on demand” concept.
In conclusion, security in audio communications isn’t optional – it’s a must-have. Only by prioritizing audio cybersecurity can every meeting be held with peace of mind, and every broadcast delivered with reliability. In this regard, Hikvision’s network audio system integrates security capabilities and advanced audio algorithms into its architecture, transforming audio security from passive defense to proactive protection, while ensuring stable and superior sound quality. This not only overcomes the multiple pain points of the analog era but also lays a solid foundation for the future of intelligent audio applications.