AES Europe 2026

Audio-over-Ethernet (AoE) protocols have become fundamental
in modern live sound reinforcement systems, yet their
real-world synchronization behavior under diverse stress
conditions, both in terms of load; configuration, is not
accurately characterized. Microsecond-scale timing
mismatches between amplifier outputs can disrupt line-array
interference patterns, reducing directivity control;
spectral consistency. Ensuring robust timing accuracy
across large, mixed-traffic network topologies is therefore
critical for predictable system performance.
This paper presents a comprehensive, application-oriented
evaluation of Dante, AES67; Milan-AVB. A representative
multi-hop architecture typical of touring deployments has
been considered. A controlled measurement campaign,
combining eight daisy-chained switches, heavy concurrent
data traffic approaching link saturation,; sub-sampled
latency tracking, assesses each protocol under ideal
conditions, typical field situations,; common
misconfigurations.
Results reveal clear performance distinctions. Dante
exhibits substantial timing variations, exceeding
100~$\mu$s under load. AES67 provides tighter
synchronization but remains vulnerable to configuration
errors, which can induce latency drift or even audio packet
loss. Milan-AVB consistently maintains sub-microsecond
accuracy across all scenarios.