Harman expands Soundweb Omni with AV-over-IP video and touch panels

This expansion transforms BSS from a specialized audio DSP brand into a comprehensive AV-over-IP ecosystem, positioning Harman to compete directly with integrated platforms like Q-SYS and Crestron. By embedding video, USB routing, and touch control into a single architecture, Harman reduces hardware silos and simplifies deployment for enterprise and higher education campuses. For the streaming industry, the Omni 300’s native dual-stream capability highlights a growing requirement for simultaneous high-quality local distribution and lower-bandwidth cloud-bound streaming. Watch for the global release of all three Omni series in late summer 2026 to see if this unified branding accelerates consolidate purchasing from enterprise IT managers.

The introduction of video and control capabilities under the BSS Soundweb Omni brand represents a strategic shift for Harman Professional Solutions. According to an Inavate interview in June 2026, Phillip Scobee, Director of Product Management, noted that the 'Omniverse' strategy aims to solve consultant pain points by unifying formerly isolated engineering silos — video, control, and DSP — into a single performance-first system. While touchpanels were traditionally branded under AMX, moving them to the BSS Soundweb Omni line is intended to simplify the user experience and procurement process for integrators while retaining AMX-pioneered technologies in background coding and streaming, as reported by AV Network in June 2026.

This move aligns with broader 2026 industry trends where the 'orchestration layer' — the software that manages and secures networks — is becoming more valuable than the transport hardware itself, per ISE Insights in December 2025. By leveraging Dante AV-A and AV-H, Harman capitalizes on Audinate's dominant market position, which holds over 70% share in networked audio products according to RH Consulting data cited by AV Network in late 2023. Additionally, reports from InfoComm Asia in June 2026 project the professional AV market will reach $151.4 billion by 2030, driven largely by the convergence of AI, AV-over-IP infrastructure, and the hybrid work requirements that Soundweb Omni targets.