Akuvox Intercom Buying Guide
Akuvox Intercoms
For Australian buyers, Akuvox is relevant when the entry point needs more structure. That might mean app-based answering, a proper indoor monitor, a keypad or reader at the door, a front gate relay, a 2-wire apartment retrofit, or a multi-tenant entry station that still looks presentable once the job is finished.
It is also one of the brands people look at when an older intercom system needs to be upgraded without pulling the whole building apart. Akuvox has a genuine 2-wire pathway for that type of retrofit. That does not mean every old cable run will work, but it does mean some jobs can be modernised without a full recable.
Akuvox is not the cheapest option on the shelf, and that is part of the point. It is usually chosen because the buyer wants a more polished user experience, better monitor options, a proper SIP or IP architecture, stronger apartment pathways, and more flexibility than a one-off consumer doorbell can offer.
What this guide covers
- The main Akuvox system types: standalone door stations, monitor-based systems, 2-wire retrofits, and IP or PoE systems
- Where current Security Wholesalers product lines such as E12W, R25K, R20K-2, R20A-2, C313W-2, NS-2, NC-2, and S563W fit
- How to choose between a gate, front door, office entry, apartment entry, or larger multi-tenant design
- What to check before buying door release hardware, app calling, and remote unlock options
Quick verdict
- Choose Akuvox if you want a modern smart intercom system with app-based answering, indoor monitor options, access control crossover, and a more polished user experience.
- Choose Akuvox if the site may grow from one entry point into extra doors, extra users, more monitors, or a larger apartment or commercial layout later.
- Choose a simpler system if the site only needs a very basic call button and cost matters more than app workflow, monitor quality, or long-term flexibility.
- Be cautious with app-only design where the site really needs a fixed answer point such as reception, elderly residents, or a building manager.
What types of Akuvox systems are available?
Standalone door station systems
This is the simplest Akuvox path. A compact door station can suit a front gate, front door, reception entry, or warehouse pedestrian entry where the visitor needs to call a mobile app, a fixed monitor, or another SIP answer point before the lock or gate is released.
In the current Security Wholesalers range, examples include compact door phones such as the Akuvox E12W, the black version of the E12W, and keypad or wider-view models such as the R25K. The physical entry decides which one makes sense. A narrow door jamb, a gate post, a recessed wall cavity, or a site wanting keypad access all pull the decision in different directions.
Door station with indoor monitor
Many buyers still want a fixed answer point inside the building. That often matters more than people expect. In homes, a wall-mounted monitor is easier for children, older residents, and visitors who are not relying on the right mobile app being open. In offices, clinics, and receptions, a monitor gives staff a dedicated point for visitor handling rather than hoping one person sees a mobile notification every time.
Security Wholesalers carries Akuvox monitor families such as the smart indoor monitor range, including models like the S563W and the 2-wire C313W-2. The right screen depends on the entry type, whether the site is retrofit or new-cable, and whether the users need a simple answer point or something more premium.
2-wire retrofit systems
Akuvox 2-wire is designed for older buildings where existing 2-wire intercom cabling may still be usable. This is where models such as the R20A-2 and C313W-2 kit, the R20K-2, the NS-2, and the NC-2 become relevant. It can be a very practical answer for townhouses, villas, older homes, and apartment retrofits where opening walls and recabling every dwelling would be painful and expensive.
IP or PoE systems
Where Cat6 can be run, Akuvox IP and PoE systems are usually the cleaner long-term design. This path suits new builds, renovations, office suites, warehouses, commercial gates, and higher-spec homes where the owner wants a structured-cabling approach and room to expand later.
Larger apartment and multi-tenant systems
Akuvox is also relevant on body corporate and multi-tenant jobs because it has more headroom than a basic villa intercom. Once the job involves apartment lists, multiple entrances, lifts, fobs or cards, resident onboarding, manager accounts, and staged commissioning, a more structured platform becomes important.
Akuvox product examples
R20A-2
A compact 2-wire door station often used on retrofit jobs where the site needs a proper SIP-style upgrade over existing cable.
C313W-2
A 7-inch 2-wire indoor monitor that often appears in townhouse, villa, and apartment retrofit pathways.
NS-2
The 2-wire switch that helps carry network and power in appropriate Akuvox retrofit layouts and gives the system room to scale.
Akuvox system selection table
| Customer type | Recommended Akuvox path | Typical hardware | Best cabling method | Why it suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single home front gate | Compact IP door station with app or monitor | E12W or R25K, optional monitor, gate relay interface | Cat6 / PoE where possible | Good where the owner wants a smart gate answer path with room for remote unlock and a cleaner appearance |
| Home front door with monitor | Door station plus indoor monitor | Door phone plus S563W or similar monitor | Cat6 / PoE or 2-wire if retrofit | Better user experience for families and visitors who are not relying on a phone |
| Large home with gate and front door | IP intercom system with multiple answer points | Gate station, door station, indoor monitor, app users | Structured Cat6 | Lets the site treat gate and front door as one coordinated system |
| Small office or clinic | Door station plus reception monitor or app | E12W or R25K, reception monitor, strike or maglock hardware | Cat6 / PoE | Useful where staff need a proper visitor workflow and controlled release |
| Townhouse retrofit | 2-wire retrofit | R20A-2 or R20K-2, C313W-2, NS-2 | Existing 2-wire if tested and suitable | Can avoid unnecessary recabling where the old cable still has value |
| Older apartment retrofit | 2-wire or staged IP redesign | R20A-2, R20K-2, C313W-2, NS-2, NC-2 | Existing cable subject to testing | Practical where disruption must be controlled and the building stays occupied |
| New apartment building | Purpose-designed IP intercom | Entrance station, indoor monitors, credentials, management platform | Structured Cat6 and risers | Best for scale, administration, and long-term building management |
Situation: large home with a gate, front door, and delivery traffic
Solution used: An Akuvox IP layout with a gate station, a second door station at the front door, an indoor monitor in the kitchen, and app answering for the owners.
Why this was chosen: A consumer doorbell could have answered the front door, but it would not have handled the gate, the second entry point, or the fixed indoor answer point well. The owners also wanted guests and deliveries handled without leaving the kitchen every time.
Installation notes: Cat6 was run to both stations and to the indoor monitor location during renovation. The gate release and the pedestrian gate latch were treated as separate outputs during planning.
Situation: older apartment block with a tired intercom and no appetite for major recabling
Solution used: A staged 2-wire retrofit path built around the R20A-2, C313W-2, and NS-2 after cable testing.
Why this was chosen: The committee wanted mobile-app convenience and a more modern system, but opening common walls and unit walls would have pushed the project cost and disruption much higher.
Installation notes: The final design was only confirmed after the installer checked cable condition, joins, and the way the existing riser was laid out. That avoided guessing based on building age alone.
What to be careful with
- The intercom is only part of the job. The lock, gate motor input, exit method, power, and any access credentials need to be planned with it.
- Do not assume every old 2-wire cable can carry a modern intercom reliably. Cable testing matters.
- App calling is helpful, but some sites still need a fixed indoor monitor or reception answer point.
- Apartment jobs need administration planning as much as hardware planning.
Useful next pages
- Akuvox 2-Wire Retrofit Guide
- Akuvox IP Intercom Systems Guide
- Akuvox for Apartments and Multi-Tenant Buildings
- Replacing an Old Intercom with Akuvox
- Akuvox vs Hikvision, Dahua and Aiphone
- Akuvox Intercom FAQs
- Intercom Buying Guide
- Access Control Buying Guide
- CCTV Buying Guide Australia
- Akuvox Intercoms
- Akuvox Access Control
- Akuvox Indoor Monitors
- Akuvox Door Phones
FAQs
Is Akuvox a good intercom brand?
Akuvox is a strong option when the buyer wants a smart intercom platform rather than a basic consumer doorbell. It tends to suit customers who want app calling, indoor monitors, cleaner hardware, access control crossover, and a system that can grow beyond one simple entry point.
What is Akuvox best suited for?
Akuvox is commonly a good fit for modern homes, gated entries, offices, clinics, warehouses, apartment buildings, and older intercom upgrades where either structured cabling or a proper 2-wire retrofit path is available.
Can Akuvox work with a mobile app?
Yes, depending on the system design, SmartPlus or related service setup, network configuration, and the way the site handles remote unlocking. App features should be configured and tested properly rather than assumed.
Can Akuvox replace an old apartment intercom?
Often yes. Many older sites can be redesigned around either Akuvox 2-wire equipment or a fresh IP approach. The right answer depends on the existing cable, the building layout, and how much disruption the site can tolerate.
Is Akuvox a cheap doorbell option?
No. Akuvox usually sits above that part of the market. It is better viewed as a mid-to-higher-end smart intercom platform for buyers who care about presentation, user experience, app workflow, monitors, and future expansion.
Need help choosing the right Akuvox path?
Send us a photo of the entry, the lock area, any indoor monitor, and any existing intercom cable or cabinet. That usually tells us whether the job suits a simple IP door station, a proper monitor-based system, or a 2-wire retrofit using equipment such as the R20A-2, R20K-2, C313W-2, NS-2, and NC-2.