How to Choose the Right AV Setup? Start with Experience, Not Specs

• by Admin
• /
• June 15, 2025

As organisations adapt to hybrid work, flexible collaboration and digitally enabled learning, audio visual (AV) technology has moved from being a support system to becoming the backbone of how people work, learn and connect.

But with the sheer number of products and platforms available, choosing the right AV setup can feel complex. Tech specs only tell part of the story. What works in one setting may fall short in another. User experience, space dynamics, and integration challenges often reveal themselves only after implementation.

So how do you select AV solutions that truly fit your needs? The answer lies in shifting the decision-making process from theory to experience.

This blog is a guide for AV, IT and facilities leaders on how to approach AV planning practically, and why real-time, hands-on experience is the missing piece in confident decision making.



The reality is, most hybrid meetings fail not because of poor technology, but because of poor meeting experiences. A study found that 43%¹ of remote employees feel excluded from hybrid meetings because they can’t fully participate or be seen in the same way as in- room attendees. If people feel disconnected, they check out.

Start with People, Not Just Products

The first step in AV planning is to think beyond devices. Start by understanding the people and interactions involved.

Ask yourself:

• Who are the users of this space?
• hat is the nature of interaction — meetings, training, content creation, remote collaboration?
• ow digitally fluent are the users?
• Will the space need to flex between different use cases?

Context is Everything

A camera may deliver crystal-clear video in a product demo but fail in a glass-walled boardroom. An intuitive control system might make sense in theory but cause friction during a live meeting.

In AV, context shapes performance. It is not just about how a product works but how it works in your environment.

This is where immersive experience centres come in — offering a practical way to simulate, explore and validate solutions in real-world conditions before deploying them in your workspace.



Why Experience Centres Matter

One of the most comprehensive AV experience centres in India is The Beyonders Centre, designed and operated by Office 2000 (O2K) at their Chennai headquarters. With over 25 years of experience in AV integration, O2K created this centre to bridge the gap between presentation and performance.

Unlike traditional showrooms, The Beyonders Centre is a dynamic, fully functional environment where organisations can walk through simulated workspaces and interact with a wide range of integrated technologies.

Here are some of the zones available for exploration:



Executive Cabin
A tailored setup designed for private discussions and seamless video conferencing. It features an all-in-one portable room kit that ensures clarity and control in every call.

Command and Monitoring Hub
Step into a simulation of a NOC or SOC environment with vertically oriented displays that support real-time dashboards, map visualisations and efficient data supervision from a centralised station.

Huddle and Lounge Areas
Casual does not mean basic. These informal spaces include BYOD-ready smart tables, interactive screens and flexible setups for quick huddles, idea sessions or impromptu updates.

Content Creation Studio
A dedicated production space for internal teams equipped with a green screen, lighting rig, microphones and a mobile teleprompter. Whether it's for training, marketing or communication, this zone is built for impact.

Immersive Projection Zone
See how spatial storytelling comes alive using advanced projection and mapping tools. This space is designed to deliver memorable narratives, product demonstrations or brand experiences.



Digital Signage Displays
Discover wall and door-mounted screens powered by cloud-based software. These displays allow real-time updates, remote scheduling and dynamic workplace communication.

MTR Meeting Room Setup
This room combines smart furniture, spatial audio and an intuitive room bar for larger group collaboration with seamless Microsoft Teams Room integration.



Compact Meeting Pod
Perfect for smaller spaces, this portable setup includes a unified display, embedded microphone, camera and sound bar to support high-quality hybrid meetings.

Mini Huddle Room
A plug and play table setup featuring a small screen and compact video bar. Ideal for informal discussions, stand-ups or one-on-one conversations without needing to book a room.



From Demo to Deployment
The Beyonders Centre isn’t just a showroom—it’s a working environment built for practical exploration and decision-making. Visitors can test real-world setups, experience how systems perform together, and refine their plans with guidance from O2K’s expert team.

In many cases, this process reveals smarter ways to achieve project goals. For example, a client originally planned to use multiple PCs as video inputs for a command centre. After visiting the Beyonders Centre and experiencing a live demo of our Command and Monitoring Hub, they opted for a more streamlined solution: a single PC streaming multiple sources to a large-format video wall. The result was a more manageable, cost-effective, and scalable system.

By giving decision-makers a space to simulate and validate AV solutions before deployment, the Beyonders Centre turns exploration into confidence—and ideas into impact.

Collaborative Decision Making Through Exploration

AV planning often involves multiple stakeholders across IT, administration, facilities, HR and leadership. Each has a unique perspective and set of priorities. Making aligned decisions becomes easier when everyone can experience the solution firsthand.

At The Beyonders Centre, decision makers can test usability, evaluate integrations, and see the impact of acoustics, lighting and room layout, turning abstract conversations into informed consensus. This shared experience builds clarity, confidence and collaboration across functions.

Experience Is the Most Honest Evaluator


In AV, performance isn’t guaranteed by specifications—it’s revealed in real-world use. Whether you're planning a smart boardroom, a high-impact training space, or a next-gen collaboration zone, the only way to truly validate a solution is to experience it as your teams would.

Before your next AV investment, ask:
Have you seen it work in an environment like yours?
Have you tried it the way your users would—day in, day out?

If the answer is no, you may be relying more on assumption than certainty.

The Beyonders Centre was built to change that—giving you the space to see, touch, and test every part of your AV ecosystem before it goes live. It’s where exploration becomes insight—and that insight leads to better decisions.