Vivotek AU-004 Indoor Network Horn Speaker

We've deployed the Vivotek AU-004 across retail storefronts, office lobbies, and secured facility perimeters — it's a solid choice when you need operator-initiated two-way audio without the complexity or cost of a dedicated intercom system. The real value is simplicity: single PoE cable, ONVIF endpoint, no external amplifier box to commission. On a Vivotek NVR or any ONVIF-capable VMS, setup is plug-and-play. We've seen integrators use it for gate-entry intercom (visitor announces arrival, security responds), emergency paging (facility-wide alert button in the VMS UI), and post-incident voice-over annotations during forensic review. Against purpose-built IP intercoms from vendors like Axis or Hikvision, the AU-004 trades some industrial ruggedness and outdoor IP rating for lower cost and easier integration into an all-Vivotek ecosystem. If your deployment is primarily indoor, network-connected, and already standardized on Vivotek cameras, the AU-004 is a no-brainer. If you're in a mixed-vendor environment or need outdoor speakers with IP66 rating, you'll want to evaluate alternatives.

Technical Highlights:

• PoE 802.3af Power Budget: At <13W draw, the AU-004 operates on entry-level PoE infrastructure — no need for PoE+ injectors or dedicated power supplies. On a typical 48-port 802.3af switch, you can power 40+ cameras plus 10+ speakers without oversubscription concerns.
• Full-Duplex Audio Path: Two-way conversation is simultaneous, not half-duplex toggle. This matters operationally: if a visitor is speaking at a gate, security can interrupt or respond in real time, not wait for them to pause.
• ONVIF Profile S / T Compatibility: Works with every major VMS platform. We've tested it on Milestone Xprotect, Genetec Security Center, Avigilon Control Center, and ExacqVision without custom drivers or protocol translation.
• Codec Flexibility: H.265 support reduces WAN bandwidth if audio is streamed to a remote office or cloud VMS. H.264 and MJPEG fallback keep compatibility high on legacy systems that can't decode H.265.
• Audio Failover Logic: If network drops and reconnects, queued announcements resend automatically. Useful in environments with intermittent cellular or WAN jitter.

Deployment Considerations:

• Indoor use only — the AU-004 has no IP67 or IK rating for weather, splash, or impact. Placement in sheltered lobbies or control rooms is ideal; exposed outdoor entry doors require a weather enclosure or alternate speaker selection.
• Audio range is 50–100 m² in typical indoor ambient noise. For large auditoria or noisy factory floors, you'll need multiple speakers or a higher-wattage solution. Test coverage during site survey before committing.
• Volume is adjustable via VMS software, but there's no hardware override knob. Training ops staff on the remote volume control is worth 10 minutes of onboarding — prevents "I can't hear it" calls later.
• Integrates cleanly on wall or in a rack, but requires stable 12V/24V PoE delivery. If your switch is 60+ meters away, verify PoE voltage at the speaker end during commissioning — long cable runs can drop voltage below the speaker's minimum.
• Audio codec selection is typically set at the VMS level, not per speaker. Standardize on H.264 or H.265 network-wide to avoid transcoding overhead on multi-speaker deployments.

The AU-004 is the right pick for security teams and integrators who want to add voice capability to a Vivotek or mixed-ONVIF camera system without adopting a separate intercom platform. It's economical, simple to integrate, and performs reliably in controlled indoor environments. For further options and related access-control audio products, see the Vivotek catalog.