Time for a Dante AVIO Install adapter on test. It has been more than 7 years since Audinate launched their first series of AVIO endpoint adapters. This was at the NAMM show in California. Handy tools with analog input/output versions as well as Bluetooth, USB and AES3. Recently, in January 2025, Audinate announced two new additional AVIO adapters, named the “AVIO Install”. Let’s see what they add to the AVIO spectrum.
What caught my eye
Looking at them and you know it: these adapters are made for a fixed installation environment. Both AVIOs can be easily mounted in a rack or on rails. Audinate developed a special ClickGrid system. With this ClickGrid you can snap multiple AVIOs together. This is handy when you want to organize the mess behind your studio racks a little bit.
The Install design comes with a price; there are no cables included. The audio cable with XLR connector that comes with the other AVIO models, has been replaced by a simple terminal block. No problem if you make your own studio cables but for others a bit of an issue. The good news is that soldering is not needed, a screwdriver will do.
The audio functions of the AVIO Install adapter
The AVIO Install adapter is available in two versions, a 2-channel (stereo) analog output (DA converter) and a 2-channel (stereo) analog input (AD converter). The supported sample rate is 44.1, 48,88.1 and 96kHz. The bit depth is 16, 24 and 32 bit PCM. I would say nowadays a standard spec. It is also very similar to the already existing AVIO adapters. Beside the USB version that only supports 48kHz sample-rate, no clue why).
So: “Are the new AVIO Install models internally the same as the cabled AVIO Input and Output models?”. So, do they use the same chipset for control and audio conversion? Well no, the AVIO Install has the new pro S1 chip onboard. This is a small format chip with a high performance. This new pro S1 chip will provide a base for future options like encryption (AES 256) etc.
Let’s start this time with a comparison of the specification sheets. Oops there is one thing shouting out loud at me! The new AVIO Install have a maximum output and input signal of +4dBu. This means an expected average RMS output of -16dBu(?). Oh no, I don’t hope so. In comparison, the 2018 models AVIO Output and AVIO Input support +24dBu and 18dBu respectively. This spec looks strange. Is it a paper mistake?
Another difference: the new AVIO Install does not support the AES67 mode for integration with non-Dante AoIP networks. Why not? After requesting Audinate about this they confirmed that it has been taken out in this model on purpose. They also stated that Audinate in general is moving in the opposite direction by opening up to more complex application scenarios using AES67 and ST2110 for their modern software and hardware products.
The AVIO Install adapter in use
Based on the specifications I was for sure curious how loud the output of the AVIO Install will be. As mentioned, the AVIO Install does not ship with an audio cable. So, time to get my knife and create my own cable by cutting an existing cable into half. I agree my cable does look a bit awkward, but it does the job.
Now let’s start with the output signal measuring. There you go, the output signal is indeed at +4dBu peak level. In Dante Controller you can change the peak level to the consumer -10dBV or 0dBV. But not louder. This limitation makes it from my point of view not usable in a studio environment. Here we have peak levels of +18dBu or +24dBu. But maybe if you just want to feed a consumer amplifier it should be fine.
Next test is the AVIO Install 2-channel input version. As expected, the same signal level restrictions apply with an input clipping level at +4dBu. This is from my knowledge far too low for any dynamic sound. I’m used to hardware where +4dBu equals -18dBFS and not 0dBFS as is with this unit.
Thinking a bit longer about this level issue. I’m wondering if someone at Audinate confused the RMS and peak values during the design of the units? Or maybe in the AV installation world they only use very low signal levels? Update: Off course I requested Audinate about this behavior and they stated that: “the low output level is demanded by the target user group for the AVIO Install. This user group are AV system owners that have no digital connection yet and want to make a first step into digital integration by getting a few channels of Dante into their system. According to Audinate their AV amps are happy with this kind of signals levels at the output and input.”
Maybe someone from the AV world that fits this shoe can comment on this?
Conclusion
While the installation design of the AVIO Install is innovative and ticks all the boxes the audio part disappoints when you are in the recording or studio realm. Main issue for the recording and studio world is the low output signal level of +4dBu peak on the Output version. And the extreme sensitive input level with 0dBFS at +4dBu peak in the AVIO Install Input version. According to Audinate this level is chosen to fit the demands of the target AV user group.
If you consider buying a AVIO Install please check first the specification sheet. But doing so you can decide if the AVIO Install fits into your system design.
The product sheet of the AVIO Install adapter can be found here.
Latest update: 05-11-2025, 12:10, feedback Audinate added regarding chipset and audio levels.
