Setup guide for AV integrators

This guide describes how to configure the TC Bar to use external Dante-enabled speakers via the ExternalSpeakerOut Dante channel.

Follow these steps to route FarEnd audio from the TC Bar to external Dante-enabled speakers using the ExternalSpeakerOut channel.
Prerequisites
  1. Verify the prerequisites before enabling the External Dante Speaker Output feature:
    • Dante is enabled on the TC Bar.
    • A Dante-enabled loudspeaker is present on the network.
    • Dante Controller or Dante Domain Manager is available for routing.
    • Network infrastructure supports Dante (Gigabit recommended, no blocking of mDNS or Dante multicast).
    • Firmware versions of the TC Bar, Sennheiser Control Software, and Dante interface are up to date.
Dante channel overview
  1. Review the Dante channels exposed by the TC Bar.

    The following Dante channels of the TC Bar are relevant for external speaker routing in Conference Mode:

    Channel name Content (Conference Mode) Notes
    ConferenceOut NearEnd + FarEnd mix Unchanged behavior
    LocalMicrophoneMixOut NearEnd only Used for external DSP or recording
    FarEndRefOut FarEnd reference (100% fixed level) For connected TeamConnect Ceiling 2 or TeamConnect Ceiling Medium
    ExternalSpeakerOut FarEnd (mono) Used for Dante loudspeakers
    CAUTION
    When the ExternalSpeakerOut feature is enabled, the internal TC Bar speakers are muted automatically to prevent multiple acoustic echo paths and to maintain AEC performance.
Configure Dante routing
  1. Identify the TC Bar and Dante loudspeaker in Dante Controller:
    1. Open Dante Controller.
    2. Locate the TC Bar device.
    3. Locate the target Dante loudspeaker.
  2. Assign the ExternalSpeakerOut routing in Dante Controller:
    1. Connect the TC Bar ExternalSpeakerOut channel to the receive input of the Dante loudspeaker.
    2. Verify that the subscription status turns green, indicating valid routing and clock synchronization.
  3. Verify Dante clocking stability:
    1. Ensure that the network has a stable Dante clock master; this is usually assigned automatically.
    2. TC Bars are not designed to become clock leaders.
    3. Avoid WLAN bridges or non-Dante switches in the critical audio path.
    CAUTION
    Configure the Dante routing before enabling the External Dante Speaker Output feature, as the TC Bar will mute its internal speakers and the room may otherwise fall silent.
Enable External Dante Speaker Output in Sennheiser Control Software
  1. Open the TC Bar device page in Sennheiser Control Software.
  2. Verify that Dante is enabled:
    1. Navigate to the Dante section.
    2. Confirm that Dante is switched ON.
    If Dante is OFF, the External Dante Speaker Output cannot be activated.
  3. Enable the External Dante Speaker Output:
    1. Locate the toggle switch External Dante Speaker Output.
    2. Toggle the switch to ON.
    • The TC Bar internal speakers mute.
    • FarEnd audio is sent to the ExternalSpeakerOut channel.
    • Volume is controlled via the TC Bar (hardware volume keys or Sennheiser Control Software).
Verify volume control behavior
  1. Check the volume and reference signal behavior.
    • The TC Bar acts as the master volume for the external Dante speaker.
    • The Dante transmission level itself is not controlled; the TC Bar adjusts output gain instead.
    • The FarEndRefOut signal remains at a fixed 100% level for correct AEC operation.
    • No independent internal and external speaker volume control is available; they are mutually exclusive.
Consider AEC and acoustic aspects
  1. Optimize the acoustic setup when using external Dante speakers:
    • Place the Dante speakers so that they avoid strong acoustic coupling into the TC Bar microphones.
    • The internal AEC of the TC Bar automatically adapts to the changed playback location.
  2. Avoid the following conditions:
    • Large delay loops in the audio path.
    • External DSP processing that introduces additional latency.
    • Room speakers placed very far away from the TC Bar.
    Tip
    If you use Dante speakers with built-in DSP, disable additional echo cancellation or room correction algorithms that change the signal path delay.
Automatic deactivation when Dante is disabled
  1. Understand how the ExternalSpeakerOut behavior changes when Dante is disabled.
    • If Dante is turned OFF on the TC Bar (via Sennheiser Control Software or a remote interface), ExternalSpeakerOut is automatically deactivated.
    • The internal speakers are re-enabled.
    • No additional user action is required.
Notes on Microsoft Teams certification and disclaimer
  1. Review certification implications and the deployment disclaimer.

    The External Dante Speaker Output is not part of the official Microsoft Teams certification, as this configuration is proprietary and has not been tested within the certification scope. When you use this feature, the meeting room setup no longer complies with the Teams certification, which applies only to a standalone TC Bar.

    NOTICE
    Because installations and device combinations vary, Sennheiser cannot guarantee the same audio performance as in a standalone TC Bar configuration. Use this feature at your own risk and only in setups designed and verified by experienced AV integrators.