What Is HDBaseT? Comparison with AV over IP, Which Technology Should You Choose?
Alongside AV over IP, which was introduced in the previous article, HDBaseT is another very popular AV signal transmission technology — and these two technologies often confuse newcomers because they appear to solve the same problem.
What Is HDBaseT
HDBaseT is a proprietary technical standard that uses a point-to-point transmission model or a dedicated matrix switcher — unlike AV over IP, which runs on standard Ethernet network infrastructure. HDBaseT can transmit 4K@60Hz signals up to 100m over Cat6/6a network cable with virtually no latency.
The Core Difference: The Expansion Model
This is the most important difference: with HDBaseT, every additional source and every additional display requires another port on the matrix switcher and its own cable — expansion is linear. With AV over IP, adding a new device is as simple as adding a device to a computer network — expansion is network-based and far more flexible when the number of sources/destinations is large.
When HDBaseT Is the More Reasonable Choice
For small and medium-sized projects — a few sources, a few displays, and a configuration that changes little over time — HDBaseT is often simpler to deploy, requires no complex network configuration, has virtually zero latency, and is suitable for a single meeting room or projection room.
When to Choose AV over IP
For facilities with many rooms, many sources/destinations that need flexible routing, or plans to scale over time, AV over IP offers clear advantages in scalability and in leveraging the building's existing network infrastructure.
You Don't Have to Choose One — You Can Combine Both
In practice, many large projects use a combination — HDBaseT for simple point-to-point connections within each room, and AV over IP for routing signals between different rooms/floors throughout the building.
AZ Technologies advises on the appropriate signal transmission technology based on the actual scale and expansion plans of each project, rather than defaulting to one technology for every project.