Cisco Codec EQ CS-CODEC-EQ-K9 – Standalone Integrator Codec

Product Overview

Cisco Codec EQ CS-CODEC-EQ-K9 is the standalone version of the codec at the centre of the Room Kit EQ solution, sold on its own so an integrator can specify the camera, displays and audio separately. It drives three HDMI 2.0 outputs at up to 3840 x 2160 at 60 fps, takes three HDMI inputs plus a USB-C input, and carries four 802.3bt PoE++ ports sharing a 90W budget for cameras, the Room Navigator and AV-over-IP peripherals. Cisco positions the platform for large conference rooms, boardrooms, training rooms and auditoriums, and names this part number as the recommended replacement for the end-of-sale Cisco Codec Plus. Codec EQ is a current product with no Cisco end-of-sale notice published.

Product Description

The standalone codec exists for rooms that do not fit a bundle. Where a Room Kit ties the codec to one camera and one control surface, CS-CODEC-EQ-K9 lets a designer bring existing displays, a house audio system and a chosen Cisco camera to the same platform. Cisco documents the Quad Camera, Room Vision PTZ, PTZ 4K and Precision 60 with this codec, so the camera can be selected against room depth and sightlines rather than against the part number.

Video capacity is the first thing to size. Three HDMI 1.4b inputs accept up to 3840 x 2160 at 30 fps including 1080p60, with HDCP 1.4 on one input; a USB-C input adds a fourth source at up to 4K30; and the four PoE++ Ethernet ports carry up to three video-over-IP streams at 1080p60 or one at 4K30. Output is three HDMI 2.0 ports at up to 4K60 with CEC 2.0, which supports dual-display video plus a dedicated content screen, or an interactive touch screen connected over HDMI plus USB-A.

Audio is where the codec earns its place in an integrator's rack. Three analog mini-jack inputs, three HDMI embedded inputs, USB-C and USB-A inputs for a DSP or USB microphone, and four PoE++ ports for audio over IP feed a processing chain with acoustic echo cancellation, AI-powered noise removal and automatic gain control. Up to eight Cisco IP microphone units or third-party AES67 digital microphones are supported, with more than three IP microphones requiring the Room Kit EQ AV Integrator license. Rooms with existing conference audio systems can keep their DSP and use AES67 to connect it.

Physically the codec is 18.6 x 1.7 x 8 in. and 5.1 lb, mounting on a wall, on rack ears (CS-CODEC-EQ-RCK) or free-standing, with a Kensington lock slot. It requires RoomOS 11.1.2 or later and registers to Webex, to Cisco Unified CM 12.5 or later, to Cisco Expressway, or runs Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android. Pair it with Cisco camera hardware and see large room solutions for the surrounding build. Cisco publishes no standalone Codec EQ data sheet; all Codec EQ specifications appear inside the Cisco Room Kit EQ and Room Kit EQX data sheets.

Key Features

• Three 4K60 HDMI outputs — Codec EQ drives up to three external displays at 3840 x 2160 at 60 fps from a single codec, which lets an integrator build dual-display video plus a dedicated content screen without an external scaler.
• Seven video inputs across three transports — Three HDMI inputs, one USB-C input and four PoE++ Ethernet ports carrying up to three 1080p60 video-over-IP streams give an integrator multiple simultaneous camera and content sources on one codec.
• 90W PoE++ power budget on four ports — The four 802.3bt PoE++ ports power and control cameras, the Room Navigator, an audio amplifier and AV-over-IP peripherals from the codec itself, reducing the number of local power outlets required at each device location.
• AES67 audio networking — Codec EQ interoperates with third-party audio systems and digital microphones over AES67, so it can be dropped into rooms that already have a networked DSP infrastructure.
• Up to eight Cisco IP microphones — The codec supports up to eight Cisco IP microphone units or third-party AES67 digital microphones, with more than three IP microphones requiring the AV Integrator license.
• USB-C BYOD passthrough — A single USB-C cable passes camera, microphone and speakers to a laptop while also carrying content sharing and 4K30 display extension, which removes the need for a separate BYOD switching box.
• Rack, wall or free-standing mounting — Optional rack ears (CS-CODEC-EQ-RCK) and a wall-mount kit (CS-CODEC-EQ-WMK) mean the same unit fits a credenza, an equipment rack or a wall behind the display.
• Multiple registration modes — The same hardware registers natively to Webex, to Cisco Unified Communications Manager 12.5 or later, to Cisco Expressway, or runs Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android, so one part number covers cloud, on-premises and Microsoft-first deployments.
• Four documented camera options — Cisco documents the Quad Camera, Room Vision PTZ, PTZ 4K and Precision 60 with Codec EQ, so the camera can be matched to room geometry without changing the codec.
• AV Integrator license audio customization — The AV Integrator pack adds flexible mixing of physical and software-defined audio I/O, eight assignable equalizer curves with six parametric sections, and macro-scriptable VU meters for checking levels pre or post AEC.

Typical Applications

• Boardroom — three 4K60 HDMI outputs and support for up to eight IP microphones suit a fixed executive room with a long table.
• Large conference room — video over IP on four PoE++ ports plus three HDMI inputs cover multi-camera and multi-source front-of-room builds.
• Training room — PresenterTrack with a Room Vision PTZ or PTZ 4K camera follows an instructor inside a defined zone.
• Multi-purpose room — 90W of PoE++ powers cameras, the Room Navigator and AV-over-IP peripherals as a divisible space reconfigures.
• Auditorium — Extended Speaker view with an additional PTZ camera and IP microphones covers rooms deeper than nine meters.

Technical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What call control platforms does Codec EQ register to?

Cisco lists native registration on Cisco Unified Communications Manager v12.5 or later, native registration with Cisco Expressway, Webex, and third-party H.323 gatekeepers and standards-based SIP proxies. The codec also runs Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android, with native Webex meetings available when it is registered in Control Hub.

How many displays can it drive?

Three HDMI 2.0 outputs, each supporting formats up to 3840 x 2160 at 60 fps, with CEC 2.0. An interactive touch screen connects using an HDMI output plus USB-A.

Which cameras are supported?

Cisco documents the Cisco Quad Camera, Cisco Room Vision PTZ, Cisco PTZ 4K Camera and Cisco Precision 60 Camera (CTS-CAM-P60=, listed as a priced option). PresenterTrack is available with the Room Vision PTZ, the PTZ 4K using digital cropping, or the Precision 60 using digital cropping.

How many microphones can I connect?

Up to eight Cisco IP microphone units or third-party digital microphones over AES67. Cisco states that connecting more than three IP microphones requires the Room Kit EQ AV Integrator license (L-KITEQ-AV, under L-ROOM-PAK). Three analog mini-jack inputs and a USB-A input for a DSP or USB microphone are also available.

Does it power room peripherals?

Four PoE++ (802.3bt) 10/100/1000 ports share a total budget of up to 90W for camera control, the Room Navigator touch controller, an audio amplifier and AV-over-IP peripherals. Cisco notes one PoE++ port is available for Cisco IP microphones and cameras and that the count can be expanded with an optional PoE-compatible switch.

How is the codec mounted?

Cisco lists wall mounting, rack ear mounting and free-standing placement. The optional kits are CS-CODEC-EQ-RCK rack ears and CS-CODEC-EQ-WMK wall-mount kit, with spares CS-CODEC-EQ-RCK= and CS-CODEC-EQ-WMK=. The codec measures 18.6 x 1.7 x 8 in. and weighs 5.1 lb.

Can Codec EQ replace an end-of-sale Codec Plus?

Cisco's Room Kit Plus end-of-life notice names CS-CODEC-EQ-K9 as the recommended replacement for the end-of-sale Cisco Codec Plus. Note that the two codecs differ materially in I/O, so re-check display counts, microphone inputs and cabling against the Codec EQ specification before reusing an existing room design.