Two-Way Audio Switcher for Bank and Pharmacy Counters: How It Works
Short answer: a two-way audio switcher is a counter intercom. A small audio unit with a speaker and microphone sits on the customer side of the glass, a switcher box sits at the staff desk, and the two are joined by cable so staff and customer can talk clearly through a closed window. The switcher lets one staff member talk to 2, 4 or 8 counter positions. On our store a complete set costs ₹2,499 for one counter, ₹3,900 for two and ₹5,950 for four. Prices include GST and delivery across India is free.
What is a two-way audio switcher?
Banks, pharmacies, ticket windows, hospital billing desks, jewellery shops and petrol pump night windows often serve customers through glass. Glass is good for security and hygiene, but voices do not carry through it, so people end up shouting or opening the window. A counter intercom solves this. The customer speaks into the audio unit on their side; staff hear them at the desk and reply through the same path.
The AS-4C listing puts it simply: it is a two-way audio switcher that lets a person talk with another person in another place, and its receiver units can be placed at four different positions. The "channels" are those positions. A 4-channel switcher can serve four counter windows from one desk.
How does it work?
- Audio unit at the counter. Mount one audio unit (model AS-AU in our kits) at each window, on the customer side or set into the glass partition.
- Cable back to the desk. Run cable from each audio unit to the switcher. The kits include connectors, and a spare AS-CBL1 pair of cable costs ₹299 if you need another run.
- Switcher at the staff side. The switcher box connects all the counter units. Staff choose which counter to talk to. On the 2-channel AS-2C, the title notes "1 side audio at a time", so plan to speak with one counter position at a time.
- Power. The switcher is the powered part of the system, so plan a power socket near the staff desk.
Where should you fit the audio unit and switcher?
- Audio unit: at face height for a standing or seated customer, close to the window opening or speech hole, so the microphone picks up a normal speaking voice.
- Switcher: within reach of the cashier or pharmacist, away from water and heat, near a power point.
- Cable: keep it in conduit or under the counter, away from mains wiring, so it does not get cut or pick up hum.
- Test before you seal: speak from the customer side at normal volume with the shop's usual background noise, and adjust the position before you fix the unit permanently.
How many channels do you need?
Count the windows one staff desk must talk to.
- One window (a pharmacy hatch, a night window at a petrol pump): a 2-channel switcher with one audio unit, leaving one spare channel.
- Two windows (cash and enquiry): a 2-channel set with two audio units.
- Three or four windows (a bank branch, a hospital billing row): a 4-channel set.
- Five to eight windows: the 8-channel switcher. It is sold without audio units, so message us on WhatsApp to arrange the units for your count.
Audio switchers and kits on our store
| Product | What is in the box (from the listing) | Counters served | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combo-CN68 | 2-channel switcher + 1 audio unit | 1 | ₹2,499 |
| Combo-CN84 | AS-2C switcher + 2 AS-AU audio units | 2 | ₹3,900 |
| Combo-CN141 | AS-4C switcher + 4 AS-AU audio units + 4 connectors | 4 | ₹5,950 |
| AS-2C | 2-channel switcher only; one side audio at a time | Up to 2 (units extra) | ₹2,399 |
| AS-4C | 4-channel switcher only | Up to 4 (units extra) | ₹3,999 |
| AS-8C | 8-channel switcher only | Up to 8 (units extra) | ₹4,999 |
| AS-CBL1 | Pair of cables for an audio unit | Spare or extra run | ₹299 |
The kits are the better buy: the 4-channel kit with four audio units costs ₹5,950, while the AS-4C switcher alone is ₹3,999. The loose switchers suit someone replacing a faulty switcher who already has audio units. Stock on the date below was low on the loose switchers (2 to 3 each) and on Combo-CN141 (5), with about 20 each of CN68 and CN84.
Example setups
- Pharmacy with one glass hatch: Combo-CN68, ₹2,499.
- Clinic with cash and enquiry windows: Combo-CN84, ₹3,900.
- Bank branch or hospital billing with four counters: Combo-CN141, ₹5,950, plus one AS-CBL1 (₹299) as a spare cable: ₹6,249.
How is this different from an EPABX or door phone?
An EPABX connects telephones in different rooms, and a door phone connects a gate to the house. A counter audio switcher is for face-to-face talk across a window, where both people can see each other and nobody wants to pick up a handset. If your bank or clinic also needs phones between cabins, see the EPABX price guide; for the gate, see the video door phone guide.
For the rest of a counter setup, our shop and showroom security checklist covers panic buttons and alarms, and the note counting machine price guide covers cash counters. Browse all models in two-way audio switchers, or see the shop and showroom solutions page.
FAQ
What is a two-way audio switcher used for?
It lets staff and customers talk clearly through a glass counter or window. It is common in banks, pharmacies, ticket counters, hospital billing desks and petrol pump night windows.
Does a counter intercom need wiring?
Yes. Each audio unit is cabled to the switcher at the staff desk, and the switcher needs a power socket. The kits include connectors, and extra cable pairs are ₹299.
How much does a bank counter intercom cost?
On our store, a one-counter set costs ₹2,499, a two-counter set ₹3,900 and a four-counter set ₹5,950, including GST.
Can one switcher serve several counters?
Yes. That is what the channels are for: a 2-channel switcher serves two counter positions, a 4-channel serves four and an 8-channel serves eight.
Are audio units included with the switcher?
Only in the combo kits (CN68, CN84 and CN141). The AS-2C, AS-4C and AS-8C switchers are sold without audio units.
Prices are NavKar Systems website prices on 27 October 2026, inclusive of GST, and may change.
