Ubiquiti UniFi USW-48-PoE – 48-Port L2 Managed PoE Switch
High-capacity, PoE-capable switching for serious AV and smart home networks. The Ubiquiti UniFi USW-48-PoE is a 48-port Layer 2 managed Gigabit switch with integrated PoE on selected ports and SFP uplink options. Designed for UniFi-based installations, it provides the wired backbone for demanding hi-fi, home cinema and whole-house networks where reliability and structured cabling are essential.
- 48 × Gigabit Ethernet ports for AV, control and general network devices
- 802.3af/at PoE on a subset of ports for access points, controllers and peripherals
- L2 managed switch with VLANs, port profiles and monitoring via UniFi Network
- Compact rackmount 1U chassis ready for AV and network racks
Product Overview
The UniFi USW-48-PoE is designed as a central distribution point for medium to large UniFi deployments. With forty-eight Gigabit RJ45 ports and additional SFP uplink capability, it becomes the core switch that ties together streaming devices, media servers, access points, smart TVs, controllers and more.
Power over Ethernet on selected ports (802.3af/at) allows you to feed UniFi access points, controllers and compatible peripherals directly from the switch, reducing the need for separate power supplies and simplifying cabling in AV racks and technical cupboards. As part of the UniFi ecosystem, configuration, firmware updates and status monitoring are handled centrally via the UniFi Network application.
Network Performance
In a hi-fi and home cinema context, the USW-48-PoE acts as a stable, high-throughput backbone for all wired AV devices. Compared to relying on a router’s limited built-in ports or unmanaged switches scattered around the home, a dedicated managed core switch helps:
- Maintain smooth 4K/UHD streaming to TVs, projectors and media players
- Provide clean, low-latency links to network streamers, music servers and Roon cores
- Support multiple control processors, IP-based remotes and smart home hubs
- Isolate AV traffic from general household data using VLANs and port profiles
For systems with many networked components—streamers in multiple rooms, NAS storage, UniFi access points, IP cameras and smart home devices—the USW-48-PoE offers the structured connectivity and headroom needed for long-term reliability.
Quiet, Rack-Friendly Design
The USW-48-PoE is housed in a 1U rackmount chassis that integrates easily into standard AV and network racks. While it uses active cooling and is best located in a ventilated technical space rather than the main listening room, its layout and front-panel status LEDs make it straightforward to install, cable and service alongside amplifiers, processors and other rack equipment.
Recommended Use & System Layout
This switch is particularly well suited to:
- Acting as the main core switch in a central rack for the entire home
- Feeding secondary UniFi switches over SFP uplinks to remote rooms or floors
- Providing PoE to UniFi access points, controllers and low-power network devices
- Consolidating all AV-related Ethernet connections—TVs, media players, streamers, control processors—into a single managed device
Typical deployment sees one or more SFP uplinks connected to a UniFi gateway (such as a Dream Machine Pro) and other core infrastructure, while the 48 RJ45 ports serve local AV gear, room switches and PoE endpoints.
Ideal Applications
- High-end home cinema and multiroom audio installations with many wired clients
- Homes using multiple UniFi access points and cameras alongside AV equipment
- Smart homes where audio, video, lighting, security and automation share one IP backbone
- Studios and workspaces combining production workstations with hi-fi listening setups
Technical Overview
- Product type: Layer 2 managed Gigabit Ethernet switch with PoE
- Ports: 48 × RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet ports (10/100/1000 Mbps)
- PoE: 802.3af/at PoE available on a subset of RJ45 ports (exact count and power budget as per manufacturer specification)
- Uplinks: SFP ports for fibre or copper uplink/downlink to other switches or the core router
- Switching features: VLANs, port profiles, QoS and per-port statistics via UniFi Network
- Management: UniFi Network application (local controller, Cloud Key or UniFi OS console)
- Form factor: 1U rackmount metal chassis suitable for AV and IT racks
- Cooling: Actively cooled; recommended installation in a ventilated technical space
- Power: Internal AC power supply sized to support switching and PoE budget (as rated by Ubiquiti)
- Environment: Indoor use, residential or light commercial
- Integration: Seamless operation with UniFi gateways, switches and access points
Why Choose the Ubiquiti UniFi USW-48-PoE?
The Ubiquiti UniFi USW-48-PoE is an excellent choice if you need a robust, centrally managed switch to anchor a serious AV and smart home network. With 48 Gigabit ports, PoE on selected ports, SFP uplinks and full UniFi controller integration, it offers the capacity, organisation and reliability required for complex hi-fi and home cinema systems—ensuring that streaming, control and everyday connectivity remain smooth and dependable.
