Video vs. Audio Intercom Systems: Which Is Right for Your Condo?
Entry phone systems are one of the first things a resident and every one of their visitors interacts with, and one of the most visible signals of how well a building is run. Choosing between a video and an audio intercom system — or deciding whether it's time to upgrade from one to the other — comes down to a few practical factors: budget, building type, and how much verification residents actually want before buzzing someone in.
How Audio Intercoms Work
An audio intercom connects a visitor at the entrance to a resident's suite by voice only. The visitor selects a suite from the panel, the resident answers on their in-suite station or a connected phone line, and releases the door remotely if they recognize the voice. It's a mature, reliable technology with a lower up-front cost, and for many low-rise buildings and smaller developments it remains a perfectly sound choice.
How Video Intercoms Work
A video intercom adds a camera at the entry panel, so the resident sees the visitor before deciding whether to grant access — on an in-suite monitor, or increasingly, on their smartphone through a connected app. Condoplex's Telephone Entryphone systems support VoIP and mobile app calling, so a resident who's out at the time of a delivery or a guest's arrival can still see who's at the door and release it remotely, with a missed-call video capture if they can't answer in time.
Where Audio Still Makes Sense
Audio intercoms cost less to install and maintain, which matters for smaller buildings or associations working with a tighter capital budget. They're also a reasonable fit for buildings with an on-site concierge or guard station already screening visitors in person, where the intercom is a secondary layer rather than the primary point of verification.
Where Video Pays for Itself
Video earns its higher cost in buildings without a staffed lobby, where the intercom is the only verification a resident gets before granting access. It also matters for package and delivery-heavy buildings, where seeing a courier before releasing the door reduces both theft risk and the number of "who was that?" calls to property management. And for buildings marketing themselves on modern amenities, a video intercom with mobile app calling is a visible, tangible upgrade that residents notice immediately.
It Doesn't Have to Be All or Nothing
Because Condoplex's systems run on one platform and one database, a building doesn't need to replace its entire entry system to add video capability, and a mixed rollout — video at the main entrance and parking gate, audio at secondary or service entrances, for example — stays on the same credential and event log as everything else. That flexibility lets a board phase in the upgrade that matters most first, rather than committing to a full-building replacement in one budget cycle.
Talk to a Certified Dealer
The right answer depends on your building's layout, staffing, and budget, and a certified Condoplex dealer can walk through those specifics as part of a site assessment. If you're weighing an upgrade or a new installation, request a quote and we'll connect you with a dealer in your region.