What is the difference between AES67 and Dante?
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Both AES67 and Dante are audio-over-IP (AoIP) standards that move uncompressed digital audio across a standard Ethernet network instead of analogue or proprietary digital cabling. Dante, developed by Audinate, is the dominant proprietary standard and is used in over 90% of pro AV deployments. AES67 is an open AES (Audio Engineering Society) interoperability standard that defines a common subset so equipment from different AoIP ecosystems can exchange audio. Most modern Dante hardware also supports AES67 mode, which is the practical way the two standards meet on real projects.
| Attribute | Dante | AES67 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Proprietary (Audinate) | Open AES standard |
| Market share in pro AV | 90%+ | Smaller, used for cross-vendor interop |
| Typical latency | 1ms (configurable down to 0.25ms) | 1ms+, depends on configuration |
| Channel count per link | Up to 512x512 on a 1Gb link | Comparable, vendor-dependent |
| Discovery and routing | Dante Controller (free, mature) | Manual SDP configuration or third-party tool |
| Network requirements | Managed switch, QoS, dedicated VLAN ideal | Same plus PTP (Precision Time Protocol) clock |
| Common kit | Yamaha, Shure, Audinate-licensed devices, Q-SYS NV series | Wheatnet, Ravenna, Livewire, Dante in AES67 mode |
| Setup effort | Low, drag-and-drop in Dante Controller | Higher, more manual configuration per device |
The practical answer for most UK commercial projects is "Dante, with AES67 turned on if and only if you need it". Dante's tooling is mature, its installer base is large, and Dante Controller's drag-and-drop routing is genuinely fast to commission. AES67 matters when a project has to bridge a Dante system to a broadcaster's Ravenna or Livewire infrastructure, or when an open-standards specification is a procurement requirement (sometimes seen in public-sector tenders). Turning on AES67 mode in a Dante device adds a few minutes of configuration but does not impair native Dante operation.
Network requirements are similar for both. You want a managed switch with QoS prioritising audio traffic, ideally a dedicated VLAN for AoIP, and PTP (IEEE 1588) clock distribution for AES67 specifically. A well-designed audio systems network treats AoIP as first-class infrastructure, not as a layer bolted onto general office traffic.
Quick reference: Dante = proprietary, dominant, easy commissioning. AES67 = open interop standard, used to bridge AoIP systems. Most Dante kit speaks both.
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