What is the recommended speed for managed switches to ensure efficient performance with Dante?

The recommended speed for managed switches in a Dante network is 1 Gbps or faster. This speed is crucial for supporting the high data bandwidth that Dante requires for transmitting multiple channels of audio with low latency and high reliability.

Dante provides uncompressed, high-quality audio over standard Ethernet networks, and the typical configuration can handle many audio streams simultaneously. A speed of 1 Gbps allows ample bandwidth to accommodate the necessary data throughput for these streams. This ensures that audio can be transmitted without interruptions or degradation in quality, which is essential for live sound and professional audio applications.

Faster speeds, such as 10 Gbps, may offer even more capacity, but they are not a necessity for typical Dante use cases. Meanwhile, speeds lower than 1 Gbps could lead to network bottlenecks and compromise performance, particularly when dealing with multiple devices or high channel counts. Therefore, ensuring that switches operate at a speed of 1 Gbps or faster is vital for optimal Dante performance and system stability.