Visionary has launched the XB5, a USB-C conferencing bridge designed to simplify BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) integration in AV-over-IP environments. The device combines video, audio, Ethernet and charging over a single USB-C connection and integrates directly into Visionary’s 1GbE AV-over-IP ecosystem.
Aimed at conference rooms, classrooms and other professional AV spaces, the XB5 allows users to connect laptops to room systems using one cable. It delivers bi-directional 4K60 4:4:4 video, high-quality audio, wired ethernet access and up to 100 watts of charging—all without requiring software installation or driver setup. The XB5 supports plug-and-play operation through UVC and UAC protocols, making it compatible with Windows, macOS and ChromeOS.
For AV integrators, the XB5 consolidates multiple system components—such as USB extenders, switchers and audio interfaces—into one compact device. The unit is fully compatible with Visionary’s 5-Series endpoints and runs over standard 1GbE network switches. Support for AES67 and Dante audio allows easy integration with DSPs and networked audio systems, including audio embedding and de-embedding with AEC processing.
The XB5 features PoE+ power and a fanless design, which reduces installation complexity and potential failure points.
For end users, the XB5 is designed to remove barriers to collaboration. Users can walk into a room, connect a USB-C cable to their laptop, and immediately start a meeting using their preferred soft codec, such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams or Webex. The laptop gains instant access to the room’s cameras, microphones, speakers and displays, creating a consistent, plug-and-play conferencing experience. The XB5’s virtual matrix routing enables far-end participants and local content to be shared across the network with minimal latency, helping improve communication quality and meeting efficiency.
