Video Bars vs Full Room Kits for Huddle Rooms

For a huddle room of two to six people, choose an all-in-one video bar: it combines camera, microphones and speakers in one device, installs quickly and costs less to set up. Choose a full room kit, with separate camera, microphones, speakers and a touch controller, when the room is larger, longer or needs several cameras.

What is the difference between a video bar and a room kit?

A video bar puts everything in one box under or over the display. A room kit splits the job: a camera, microphones, speakers, a controller and often a mini PC. The bar is simpler and faster to fit. The kit is more flexible, because each part can be placed where it works best and replaced on its own. Neither type is better in general. The room and the platform decide.

Which bars suit small rooms?

Small rooms suit bars with a wide-angle camera and a compact microphone array. The Yealink MeetingBar A10 has a 4K camera with a 120 degree wide-angle field of view and an 8 microphone array. The Poly Studio R30 gives 4K Ultra HD video with a 120 degree field of view and 5x digital zoom. Check the field of view against the width of the room, and make sure the camera can see the people at the end of the table.

When do you need a bigger bar?

Medium rooms and longer tables need more camera and microphone range. The Yealink MeetingBar A30 uses a dual camera system with optical 10x hybrid zoom plus an 8MP digital camera and a 120 degree field of view. The Yealink MeetingBar A50 has a 16 MEMS microphone array with a 10 metre voice pickup range and four built-in speakers. Our guide to choosing a video conferencing system compares pickup ranges.

What does a controller add?

A touch controller starts meetings with one touch and controls the room. Some bundles include one. The Logitech Rally Bar Huddle plus Tap IP bundle combines a 4K PTZ camera with a 120 degree field of view and a 6 microphone beamforming array with a Tap IP 10.1 inch touchscreen controller, and it connects with Power over Ethernet for a single-cable installation. If your platform expects a controller, plan for one in the quote.

When does a room kit make sense?

A room kit suits larger or longer rooms, rooms with a platform standard and rooms where the camera cannot sit at the display. The Yealink MVC860 Teams Rooms system uses a UVC86 dual-eye 4K camera and a single CAT5e cable that combines data and power. Kits also allow several microphones and a second camera. For the platform choice, read Microsoft Teams Rooms vs Zoom Rooms.

What about all-in-one meeting boards?

A meeting board puts the display, camera and microphones in one unit, which removes the need to choose and mount a separate screen. The Yealink MeetingBoard 65 Pro combines a 65 inch 4K multi-touch LCD screen with a triple 50MP camera system. A board suits rooms where wall space is limited and you want a single device to fit and manage.

How are bars mounted?

Most bars mount above or below the display. A mounting kit such as the Poly Studio X52/V52 VESA mount mounts the video bar above or below a display using standard VESA patterns. Put the camera as close to eye level as the room allows. Our guide to choosing a TV mount, cart or stand covers the display side.

What should you check in the room first?

Check the room before choosing equipment. Measure the length of the table and the width of the room, and note where people will sit. Look for windows behind the display, because strong light behind the screen darkens faces on camera. Find the power and network points, decide the display size and mounting height, and listen for echo and noise from air conditioning. These checks take an hour and prevent most huddle room problems.

How do you decide?

List the room length, the number of people, the platform and whether a controller or a second camera is needed. Corporate AV designs huddle rooms across India. See our huddle room solutions and video bar room solutions, and the Yealink, Logitech and Poly ranges. Request a quote with the room sizes.

For a room-by-room choice, our AV consultancy services team can assess the space, and our AV installation services and AV programming and configuration services teams mount, connect and configure the bar or kit.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a video bar and a room kit?

A video bar combines camera, microphones and speakers in one device. A room kit uses separate parts, such as a camera, microphones, speakers and a touch controller, so each can be placed and replaced on its own.

Which is better for a huddle room?

A video bar is usually better for a small room, because it is quick to fit and keeps cabling simple. A room kit suits larger rooms, rooms with several cameras and rooms with a platform standard.

Do I need a touch controller?

Platform rooms usually need one for one-touch joining. Some bars work from the laptop, and some bundles include a controller, such as the Logitech Rally Bar Huddle plus Tap IP bundle.

How wide should the camera field of view be?

Match it to the room width. Small-room bars such as the Yealink MeetingBar A10 and the Poly Studio R30 offer a 120 degree field of view.

Can I upgrade a video bar later?

Some systems accept expansion microphones or extra cameras, so check the product page. If you expect the room to grow, a room kit gives more room to expand.