SSOUNDS System Networking: How Our Amplifiers Connect
Modern professional sound reinforcement demands more than just loudspeakers and amplifiers — it requires a seamless, intelligent network that transports audio, control, and monitoring data reliably. SSOUNDS amplifiers are engineered to form the backbone of a fully networked ecosystem, integrating Dante/AES67 audio transport, redundant control paths, and deep integration with our System Designer software and third-party consoles.
Key takeaways
- SSOUNDS amplifiers use separate networks for audio (Dante/AES67) and control, ensuring reliable performance.
- Dante and AES67 support provides broad interoperability and ultra-low latency audio transport.
- System Designer software enables offline design, real-time monitoring, and remote control of all amplifiers.
- Redundant audio and control paths ensure failover protection for critical events.
- Amplifiers integrate with digital consoles and legacy analog sources, with onboard DSP for loudspeaker presets.
- The network scales from small venues to large festivals using standard Ethernet switches.
The Networked Amplifier Architecture
Every SSOUNDS amplifier is built with a dual-network architecture: one primary network for audio transport (Dante/AES67) and a separate, dedicated network for control and monitoring. This separation ensures that audio streams remain unaffected by control traffic, and vice versa, providing deterministic performance even in large-scale deployments.
The amplifiers feature two Gigabit Ethernet ports on the audio network, supporting redundant daisy-chain or star topologies. The control network uses a separate Ethernet port, allowing system technicians to monitor and adjust amplifier parameters without interfering with audio routing.
Dante and AES67 Audio Transport
SSOUNDS amplifiers support both Dante and AES67 audio-over-IP protocols, ensuring broad interoperability with digital consoles, stageboxes, and other networked audio devices. Dante provides ultra-low latency (typically 0.25 ms per hop) and sample-accurate synchronization, while AES67 allows connection to non-Dante devices that support the standard.
Audio routing is configured via Dante Controller or directly within SSOUNDS System Designer software. Each amplifier can receive up to 64 channels of audio, with flexible mapping to individual amplifier channels. This enables complex multi-zone systems, where different loudspeaker groups receive distinct mixes from a single network.
Control and Monitoring via System Designer
SSOUNDS System Designer is the central software platform for configuring, monitoring, and controlling the entire loudspeaker system. It communicates with amplifiers over the dedicated control network using a proprietary protocol, providing real-time status of amplifier temperature, output power, limiter activity, and fault conditions.
The software allows offline system design and simulation, then pushes presets and routing configurations to the amplifiers over the network. During live events, engineers can monitor all amplifier parameters from a single interface, and even make adjustments to EQ, delay, and crossover settings on the fly.
Redundancy and Failover
For mission-critical applications, SSOUNDS amplifiers support redundant audio and control paths. On the audio side, Dante's redundant network mode allows two separate network paths — if one fails, the amplifier seamlessly switches to the backup within milliseconds. The control network can also be configured with a secondary Ethernet connection, ensuring that monitoring and control remain available even if a network switch fails.
Additionally, amplifiers can be configured with automatic failover to a local backup audio source (e.g., analog input) if the network audio stream is lost. This ensures uninterrupted sound reinforcement in scenarios like broadcast or live performance where downtime is unacceptable.
Integration with Digital Consoles and DSP
SSOUNDS amplifiers integrate directly with major digital console brands via Dante/AES67. For example, a Yamaha CL5 or DiGiCo SD console can send audio directly to SSOUNDS amplifiers without additional conversion. The amplifiers also accept analog and AES3 inputs for legacy compatibility.
The onboard DSP in each amplifier provides loudspeaker-specific presets, EQ, delay, and limiting. These presets are developed by SSOUNDS engineers and can be loaded via System Designer. For advanced users, the DSP can be fully customized, allowing integration with external system controllers or room EQ systems.
Scalability from Small Venues to Large Festivals
The network architecture scales effortlessly from a single amplifier driving a small PA to hundreds of amplifiers in a festival deployment. Using standard Gigabit Ethernet switches, audio and control networks can be extended over long distances with fiber optic converters. SSOUNDS amplifiers support daisy-chaining for simplified cabling in smaller systems, while larger systems benefit from a star topology using managed switches with QoS (Quality of Service) settings.
System Designer includes tools for network discovery, latency management, and clock synchronization, ensuring that all amplifiers operate in phase and with consistent delay across the entire coverage area.
Frequently asked
Can I use a single network cable for both audio and control?
No, SSOUNDS amplifiers require separate networks for audio and control to maintain performance and reliability. The audio network carries Dante/AES67 streams, while the control network handles monitoring and configuration. This separation prevents traffic congestion and ensures deterministic audio delivery.
What is the maximum number of amplifiers I can control with System Designer?
System Designer can manage hundreds of amplifiers on a single control network. The practical limit depends on network switch capacity and IP addressing, but the software is designed for large-scale deployments typical of festivals and touring productions.
Does SSOUNDS support AES67 for interoperability with other brands?
Yes, SSOUNDS amplifiers support both Dante and AES67. AES67 allows connection to non-Dante devices that support the standard, such as certain mixing consoles and audio interfaces, ensuring flexibility in mixed-brand environments.
How do I set up redundant audio networks?
In Dante Controller, enable redundant mode and connect the primary and secondary Ethernet ports of the amplifier to separate network switches. The amplifier will automatically switch to the backup network if the primary fails. Ensure both networks are properly configured with unique IP subnets.
Can I use analog inputs alongside Dante?
Yes, each SSOUNDS amplifier has analog inputs that can be used as a backup or primary audio source. The amplifier can be configured to automatically fall back to analog if the Dante signal is lost, providing an additional layer of redundancy.
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