BSS BLU-103 – Conferencing DSP with AEC and VoIP

Product Overview

The BSS BLU-103 is a fixed-I/O Soundweb London conferencing processor designed for commercial AV installations where acoustic echo cancellation and VoIP telephone integration are both required in a single rack-mount unit. With 8 analog inputs, 8 analog outputs, 8 independent AEC algorithms with AGC and Noise Cancellation, and a dual-line SIP v2.0 VoIP interface, the BLU-103 addresses the complete conferencing signal chain for boardrooms, conference rooms, and UC-integrated meeting spaces. It connects to the Soundweb London ecosystem via a 48-channel BLU link digital audio bus, is configured in HiQnet Audio Architect, and provides GPIO and RS-232 ports for control system integration. For installations where dial-in conferencing runs over VoIP infrastructure — rather than traditional POTS lines — the BLU-103 provides the direct SIP interface without requiring a separate VoIP gateway.

Product Description

The BSS BLU-103 is a purpose-built conferencing processor in the Soundweb London family, designed for meeting rooms and conferencing environments where VoIP telephony is the primary dial-in method. Its fixed configuration of 8 analog inputs and 8 analog outputs covers the typical microphone and speaker requirements of small-to-medium conference rooms, while the onboard VoIP port enables direct connection to two simultaneous SIP v2.0 (or later) lines, providing a complete integrated conference room signal processor without requiring a separate VoIP gateway or codec. Dedicated AEC processing supports up to 8 independent acoustic echo cancellation algorithms, each with its own reference signal. The AEC engine processes audio from local analog inputs or from the BLU link digital audio bus, enabling a single BLU-103 to serve multiple conferencing zones. Per-algorithm Automatic Gain Control (AGC) maintains consistent microphone send levels automatically, adapting to varying talker positions and room acoustics without manual intervention. Per-algorithm Noise Cancellation (NC) removes steady-state background noise — HVAC systems, projector fans, laptop cooling — from the microphone signal before transmission to the far end. Analog inputs provide software-configurable gain in 6dB steps up to +48dB per channel, with per-channel 48V phantom power for condenser microphones, both managed within HiQnet Audio Architect. The BLU-103’s 48-channel BLU link digital audio bus operates over Cat5e at up to 100m between devices, with fiber media converters extending range to over 40km. When integrated with larger Soundweb London devices such as the BLU-806, BLU-805, BLU-800, BLU-326, BLU-325, BLU-320, BLU-160, BLU-120, BLU-BIB, or BLU-BOB, the BLU-103’s 48 channels map to channels 1–48 of the 256-channel bus. Front panel LEDs indicate phantom power, signal present, and clip per channel without a connected PC, and the bi-directional locate function simplifies device identification during commissioning. Twelve GPIO control inputs and 6 logic outputs support integration with room control systems and wall panels, and the Soundweb London Interface Kit documents Crestron, AMX, and RS-232 control integration. BSS provides Cisco CallManager and Avaya Aura configuration guides specifically for the BLU-103 VoIP interface, supporting deployment in enterprise UC environments. The BLU-103 is configured entirely in software within HiQnet Audio Architect using a drag-and-drop processing object library.

Key Features

• 8 Analog Inputs with 48V Phantom Power — Per-channel software-configurable gain in 6dB steps to +48dB; per-channel 48V phantom power for condenser microphones.
• 8 Analog Outputs — Fixed output configuration for driving amplifiers, ceiling speakers, near-field monitors, and recording or streaming feeds.
• Dual-Line VoIP Interface (SIP v2.0) — Onboard VoIP port connects to two simultaneous SIP telephone lines, enabling direct IP PBX and UC platform dial-in without a separate VoIP gateway.
• 8 Independent AEC Algorithms — Each algorithm has a dedicated reference signal for independent echo cancellation across 8 microphone zones or inputs simultaneously.
• Automatic Gain Control (AGC) — Per-algorithm AGC maintains consistent microphone send levels automatically, compensating for varying talker distances.
• Noise Cancellation (NC) — Per-algorithm NC removes steady-state background noise from each microphone signal before transmission to the far end or recording output.
• 48-Channel BLU link Digital Audio Bus — Low-latency, fault-tolerant bus over Cat5e; maps to channels 1–48 of the Soundweb London 256-channel bus for compatibility with BLU-806, BLU-160, and other Soundweb London devices.
• Enterprise UC Integration — Cisco CallManager and Avaya Aura Aura configuration guides available from BSS Audio for deployment in corporate IP telephony environments.
• GPIO Integration — 12 control inputs and 6 logic outputs for direct connection to room control processors, wall panels, and relay devices.
• HiQnet Audio Architect Configuration — Fully software-defined with no hardware jumpers. Drag-and-drop DSP, routing, and logic objects for complete conference room signal processing.
• Third-Party Control Integration — Soundweb London Interface Kit included; Crestron, AMX, and RS-232 modules available for volume, mute, routing, and preset control.
• Single Rack Space Form Factor — Standard 19" 1U chassis for installation in conference room AV racks, server closets, or head-end equipment rooms.

Typical Applications

• Boardroom
• Conference room
• Huddle room
• Commercial meeting space
• Government space
• Training room
• All-hands room
• Multi-purpose room

Technical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What type of VoIP service does the BLU-103 support?

A: The BLU-103 supports SIP v2.0 (or later) VoIP telephony and can connect to two simultaneous SIP lines. It is compatible with enterprise IP PBX platforms including Cisco CallManager and Avaya Aura Communication Manager. BSS Audio provides specific configuration guides for both platforms, available from the BLU-103 downloads page.

Q: What is the difference between the BLU-103 and the BLU-102?

A: Both units provide 8 AEC algorithms with AGC and Noise Cancellation, and both are single-rack-space Soundweb London fixed-I/O processors. The key difference is the telephone interface: the BLU-102 provides an RJ-11 POTS hybrid for analog telephone lines and analog PBX, while the BLU-103 provides a VoIP port for SIP-based IP telephony. The BLU-102 also has 10 analog inputs versus 8 on the BLU-103. Choose based on whether your facility’s telephone infrastructure is analog (BLU-102) or SIP/VoIP (BLU-103).

Q: Can the BLU-103 handle two conference calls simultaneously?

A: The BLU-103’s VoIP port supports two simultaneous SIP lines, enabling two independent telephone connections at the same time. How those two connections are routed, mixed, and processed within the conference room signal chain is controlled through the HiQnet Audio Architect configuration, giving integrators full flexibility over the audio routing.

Q: Is the BLU-103 compatible with BLU-160, BLU-806, or other Soundweb London devices?

A: Yes. The BLU-103’s 48-channel BLU link bus maps to channels 1–48 of the Soundweb London 256-channel bus. It operates on the same Cat5e BLU link network as the BLU-806, BLU-805, BLU-800, BLU-326, BLU-325, BLU-320, BLU-160, BLU-120, BLU-BIB, and BLU-BOB. All devices in the system are configured within a single HiQnet Audio Architect project.

Q: Does the BLU-103 support integration with Crestron or AMX?

A: Yes. BSS provides the Soundweb London Interface Kit, Crestron Series 3 and Series 4 modules, and AMX NetLinx and HPro Gateway Comm modules for third-party control system integration. These allow room control processors to manage volume, muting, input routing, and preset changes on the BLU-103 via RS-232 or IP commands.

Q: Does the BLU-103 require any special network configuration for VoIP?

A: The VoIP port on the BLU-103 requires standard SIP v2.0 registration and configuration through HiQnet Audio Architect or via the BSS VoIP Setup Sheet (available from the BSS Audio downloads page). BSS provides configuration guides specifically for Cisco CallManager and Avaya Aura environments. For other IP PBX platforms, standard SIP v2.0 compatibility applies.

Q: Where can I purchase the BSS BLU-103?

A: The BSS BLU-103 (SKU: BSSBLU103-M) is available at Creation Networks. Contact our team for project pricing, system design support, and assistance with VoIP integration planning.