Cost Vs. Quality in Audio Video Technology
When it comes to audio and video equipment, businesses often face the temptation to look for the cheapest option available. However, investing in quality audio equipment has several benefits that can make it well worth the extra investment.
Each month, one of our team gives a presentation on a topic related to AVG and how we can best serve our clients. This article is based on a recent presentation by Austin Woodall, AVG Sales Engineer.
This version of his talk will explain how to find the balance between price and quality and why trying to save every penny is not always the best approach. But first, let’s look at the vast commercial AV landscape and consider the options that you may have when building your new AV setup.
Grades of Audio-Video Equipment
Depending on the goals and applications, all AV equipment can be divided into several categories:
Consumer-Grade AV
The lowest tier is consumer-grade equipment. As the name implies, it is designed to be consumed, meaning it will generally fail outside the return period.
Its price is usually the lowest, and it often lacks advanced features. Consumer-grade AV is rarely if ever recommended for commercial, or business-grade, use.
Prosumer AV
Prosumer equipment is aimed at hobbyists and small operations as practice gear to build a resume or portfolio. Like consumer-grade AV equipment, prosumer equipment is meant to be replaced, but it may be more feature-rich and offers slightly higher quality.
Commercial AV
Commercial equipment is intended for high-volume applications. In this tier, the system’s overall reliability prevails over quality and feature sets. This is the type of audio and video equipment that would suit a less-frills business application.
Professional AV
Professional equipment combines quality, features, and reliability – which affects the price tag. Professional AV equipment is what you would expect to see used in a sound installation like a large conference room, or video for a similar application – where it’s got to work, and a few extra features help enhance the desired experience).
Premier AV
The highest tier is premier equipment. Besides being feature-rich and reliable, it is designed to impress an audience. However, its price is usually not less impressive. As with professional, the investment should be proportional to the experience you’re trying to create.
Sometimes, going premier is not necessary. The need and a product’s reliability and ability to meet that need matter more than the name on the product.
Which Category of Audio-Video Equipment Will Suit Your Business?
The quick answer: it depends on your business and its goals.
- If you run a restaurant and need a setup with some wireless speakers for background music and a few digital signage screens, commercial-grade or even prosumer equipment may do the trick.
- If you have a venue where live music is played, quality becomes the most important factor, and professional AV equipment will be the best choice.
- If you cater to the luxury segment, you will want to impress your customers with high-end, premier AV equipment.
While each business is unique and requires unique solutions, the main rule is to aim for the highest quality you can afford. And here’s why.
Why Audio-Video Equipment Quality Should Be Your Priority
When estimating a budget for your new AV system, keep in mind that higher-quality hardware, while being more expensive, offers numerous benefits that can directly affect your business:
- Improved Performance: Higher-quality AV equipment generally offers better performance, including higher sound and image quality and greater accuracy.
- Increased Durability: Higher-quality equipment is often built to withstand demanding and frequent use, making it more durable and longer-lasting.
- Increased Productivity: You can save time and increase efficiency by using higher-quality equipment. You won’t have to deal with malfunctions or breakdowns that can be time-consuming and costly to repair. These breakdowns often occur at the worst possible time. Quality AV equipment vastly decreases the frequency of these breakdowns, especially if you have your AV equipment regularly serviced.
- Professional Look: Higher-quality equipment can give your business a more professional look and image, which can help establish credibility and build trust with clients and customers.
- Better ROI: Although higher-quality equipment is often more expensive upfront, it can provide a better return on investment in the long run. It can save you money on repairs and replacements and increase your productivity and profits. There’s a difference between price (initial outlay of money) and cost (follow-up expenses, aggravation, repair/replacement, loss of trust or degradation to your professional image).
Looking for the cheapest hardware available may be tempting, but businesses should consider the long-term benefits of investing in quality equipment in addition to the price.
Quality AV enhances your reputation, reduces downtime, and repairs increases versatility and flexibility, and is an investment in your employees and customers.
By investing in quality audio equipment, businesses can ensure that they are constantly communicating at their best and delivering a professional image.
We are always ready to help you pick the best audio-video equipment for your business needs. Call us today, and let’s talk!