The AV Access KVM Switch Dock lets two laptops share one pair of monitors, one keyboard and one mouse. Each laptop connects with a single USB-C cable. That cable handles video, data and charging of up to 60W.
This review draws on the brand’s spec details and its own port diagrams, not on hands-on testing. Everything below sticks to what the brand states, plus a few general buying habits.
The short verdict: it is a strong all-in-one choice for a Windows desk with two laptops. It is a poor match for Mac owners who want two extended screens.
What this dock does
Think of two products fused into one box. The KVM half lets several computers use a shared keyboard, mouse and display setup. The dock half supplies laptop charging, a wired network connection and extra USB ports.
Two laptops would normally each need their own dock, plus a switch to hand the screens from one to the other. This unit replaces that stack with one box that both laptops plug into.
- Laptop inputs: two USB-C ports, one per laptop, each with 60W power delivery
- Display outputs: two HDMI ports for a dual-monitor setup
- Network: one Gigabit Ethernet port
- USB ports: two USB-A ports at 5Gbps and two USB 2.0 ports
- Switching aids: EDID emulation and automatic PC wake
- Display ceiling: 2K at 144Hz or 1080p at 240Hz per monitor
The display figures are the brand’s stated maximums for each screen. Your monitors and your laptop’s USB-C video output both have to support a mode before you can count on it.
The ports, front and back
The brand’s own port diagram shows how wide the unit’s scope is. Up front you get keyboard and mouse connections, a headphone jack and an SD card slot, plus a push button for changing laptops. LEDs beside the button show which laptop is active.
The rear panel handles the heavier connections: Ethernet, two 5Gbps USB-A ports, the pair of HDMI outputs and a USB-C input for each laptop. Together the two panels cover a whole desk, which a bare switch with a couple of added ports would not.
What stands out
By design, one cable per laptop takes the place of a separate charger, display cable and USB lead.
The brand points to two features behind its quick changeovers between machines: automatic PC wake and EDID emulation. It also says its docks are designed to be plug and play on Windows, macOS and Linux, so you should not need to install anything on the dock itself.
Another point in its favor is candor. AV Access prints its limits on its own product images, including the Mac note covered in the next section. The company has been in the extender and KVM business since 2015, and it holds contributing membership in the HDBaseT Alliance.
To see the brand’s range and compare ports for yourself, you can browse AV Access’s storefront on Amazon. The link opens Amazon in a new tab.
Limits to know first
Check these points before you order, because they decide whether the dock fits your gear.
- Mac laptops: through the dock’s USB-C MST feature, macOS offers mirror mode only, according to AV Access, so you cannot extend your desktop across two screens. Mirror mode shows the same picture on both. The restriction sits in macOS rather than in the dock’s hardware, and Windows laptops are free of it.
- Monitor sizes: 5K monitors are not supported, and a 49-inch ultrawide runs at 3840×1080 instead of its native resolution.
- The USB-C port on your laptop: it has to handle DP alt mode and DP MST mode together, and some laptops cannot. A Windows laptop is the lower-risk choice.
- Heat: AV Access notes that charging a laptop through the dock nonstop can make the laptop run warm. The brand does not call it a defect, but it is worth weighing if the laptop sits plugged in all day.
A quick look at your laptop’s manual or spec page will tell you whether its USB-C port can output video at all.
Who it suits and how it compares
Who it suits
Developers, consultants and anyone who splits a desk between a work laptop and a personal one get the most from it. You change machines without unplugging anything.
Who should skip it
Mac users who need true extended dual monitors should look at other models. So should anyone running a 5K display. The AV Access lineup includes options built for other setups.
How it compares
TESmart is a rival KVM brand worth setting beside AV Access. It tends to build a more traditional switching box, with less docking and charging folded in. AV Access leans toward one device that does all of it.
Neither route is objectively better. If you already own a dock you like, a plain switch can make sense. If you are building a desk from scratch, the all-in-one approach saves you from buying both.
Inside the AV Access range, a few other models cover different needs.
- 8K KVM Switch: two computers on one monitor, with HDMI 2.1 aimed at gaming
- 8K KVM Switch Docking Station: a step up with 100W power delivery, a four-port 10Gbps USB-C hub and an SD card reader
- Triple-monitor models: two computers sharing three screens
- Extenders: for runs that are too long for a normal cable
Returns, warranty and care
The brand’s policy gives eligible orders a 30-day window from delivery for a free return or exchange. A return for any reason other than a defect comes with return shipping at your expense. Where a defect is confirmed inside the window, AV Access picks up that shipping cost in eligible regions.
A one-year warranty applies to the main unit. Cables, remotes and power adapters fall outside that term, and a retailer may set its own terms, so check the policy wherever you buy.
Care is mostly about habits. Keep the supplied power adapter in use, since a generic charger may not deliver enough for both laptops. Leave open space on at least one side of the unit rather than shutting it in a drawer. If a screen starts to flicker after weeks of normal use, update the laptop’s USB-C, graphics and display drivers before suspecting the dock.
Common questions
Does it work with a Mac?
Partly. Mirror mode works through the dock’s USB-C MST feature, but an extended desktop across two monitors does not. Windows laptops are free of that limit.
Do I need to install drivers?
The brand designs its docks as plug and play, so the dock itself needs nothing. Your laptop’s own drivers still matter, so check for pending updates if a screen flickers.
Will my laptop’s USB-C port work with it?
Only if it can handle DP alt mode and DP MST mode together. Look up your laptop’s specs before ordering.
How do I confirm I’m buying the real thing?
Check the byline beneath the product title on Amazon. A listing sold by the brand reads “Visit the AV Access Store” and leads to a storefront carrying the AV Access logo. If a seller with a generic name shows up instead, pause and look at the seller before you order.
Will it charge both laptops?
Each USB-C input supplies up to 60W. Compare that with the output of your laptop’s own charger before you rely on the dock as the only power source.
Who is behind AV Access?
AV Access calls itself a Pro AV manufacturer. It reports over 5,000 partners spread over 50-plus countries and regions, with local sales and technical support in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. Extenders came first, and switches and docks followed.
The Verdict
For a Windows desk with two laptops and two monitors, this is a complete single-box setup. One cable per laptop, plus charging, Ethernet and extra USB ports, covers most of what a shared desk needs.
It is the wrong pick for Mac owners who need extended screens and for anyone with a 5K display. The brand states those limits openly, and the 30-day return window leaves room to try it with your own gear.
If your laptops pass the USB-C check, this dock is an easy one to recommend. To check the current price on Amazon, browse AV Access’s storefront on Amazon and look for the dock there. The link opens Amazon in a new tab.
