Hikvision Network Speakers: Live Announcements, Background Music and Automatic Warnings
Hikvision has added network speakers to its range: horn, ceiling, cabinet and column speakers that can broadcast live announcements, scheduled messages, background music and automatic warnings triggered by CCTV alarms. Announced in January 2024, the line brings sound into Hikvision's security systems. Here's what network speakers do and how "audio plus video" improves security.
What is a network speaker?
A network (IP) speaker connects to your network like an IP camera, usually powered by PoE. There's no separate amplifier or speaker cable run, and each speaker can be addressed individually or in groups from software.
The Hikvision range
- Horn speakers for outdoor areas, car parks and yards.
- Ceiling speakers for shops, offices, corridors and receptions.
- Cabinet (wall) speakers for rooms and halls.
- Column speakers for larger spaces needing directional sound.
Broadcast modes
- Live broadcast: speak to an area directly.
- Scheduled broadcast: bells, opening and closing announcements, reminders.
- Alarm linkage: a pre-recorded warning plays automatically when a camera detects an intruder.
- Emergency mustering: evacuation and assembly messages.
- Background music for retail and hospitality.
Why audio plus video works
A camera records an incident; a speaker can stop it. When perimeter detection spots someone climbing a fence at 2am, an automatic "You are being recorded. Leave the site now" message, or a live warning from a monitoring operator, often sends them away before any damage is done. Hikvision's speakers work with HikCentral Professional, Hikvision NVRs and third-party platforms, with batch set-up, upgrades and remote configuration.
Where network speakers help
- Yards, depots and construction sites: deterrence after hours.
- Shops and shopping centres: background music, promotions and announcements.
- Schools: bells, announcements and lockdown messages.
- Hospitals and care settings: paging and notifications.
- Warehouses and factories: shift announcements and evacuation messages.
Audio in cameras, too
For smaller sites, many Hikvision cameras have a built-in speaker and siren. Live Guard models such as the DS-2CD2387G3-LIS2UY/SL and the 16MP DS-2CD23166G3-IS2UY/SL can play warnings with a strobe light. Read our ColorVu guide for more on Live Guard and Audio 2.0. For dedicated network speakers, contact us with your site details, and we'll also check the PoE budget on your network switch.
Our take
Sound is one of the most effective and least used parts of a security system. Adding network speakers that can be triggered by the same AI that drives your cameras turns CCTV from a recorder into a deterrent, and gives businesses paging and background music on the same network.
Planning audio for a site? Call 01902 902251. As an authorised Hikvision partner, we ship nationally to England, Scotland and Wales.
Quick questions
What is a network speaker?
A speaker that connects to an IP network, usually powered by PoE, so it can be controlled from software without a separate amplifier.
Can a speaker play a warning when a camera detects someone?
Yes. Hikvision network speakers support alarm-linked broadcasts with Hikvision NVRs and HikCentral Professional.
Can I play background music?
Yes. Background music is one of the supported modes, alongside live, scheduled and emergency broadcasts.
Do network speakers work with other brands?
Hikvision says they are compatible with third-party platforms as well as its own.
