JD’s Sound and Lighting Turns to RCF for a Spicy Sonic Overhaul at Saigon Rex

At the vibrant crossroads of Springvale’s cultural and commercial hub, Saigon Rex has built a reputation that far exceeds its modest footprint. Renowned for its authentic Vietnamese and Chinese cuisine, the venue has also evolved into one of Melbourne’s most dynamic destinations for contemporary Vietnamese events and premium private functions.

Formerly known as Maxim Saigon, the venue boasts a rich entertainment legacy, having hosted everything from live music and weddings to social gatherings and corporate events. With its stage backed by a floor-to-ceiling LED screen and an expandable dance floor, Saigon Rex has long blurred the line between restaurant and performance venue. Following its recent rebrand, the management decided to lean into that heritage—investing heavily in a professional AV upgrade featuring advanced lighting fixtures, décor lighting, and a new high-end audio system from RCF.

Group Technologies Australasia – the official distributors of RCF in the region – confirm that the installation was supplied by Melbourne-based specialists JD’s Sound and Lighting, who provided a complete professional audio, lighting, and staging solution. At the heart of the new setup is an RCF HDL 26-A line array system, expertly designed by JD’s Sales and Project Manager, Mike Nikitiuk, with support from Managing Director, Jeff Drabik. The result is a meticulously tuned, high-performance system that brings both clarity and muscle to Saigon Rex’s diverse entertainment offerings.

“Saigon Rex were looking for a big, bold sound that really turns heads, with substantial coverage in a room where space is at a premium,” explains Mike Nikitiuk. “As reliability and longevity are always core priorities for us, we suggested an RCF line array to tick all those boxes. The HDL 26-A’s deliver perfectly within the room. They sound fantastic—even a little excessive—but that’s exactly what the client wanted: a serious amount of power to really impress, with the added benefit of all that extra headroom for different kinds of events. RCF’s Italian-made solutions come from a 75-year legacy of audio equipment manufacturing—so the build quality and performance really stand out.”

The Front of House system comprises four units of the HDL 26-A modules per side, supported by two units of the RCF SUB9006-AS subwoofers delivering tight, powerful low-end reinforcement. To extend coverage across the venue, six units of the RCF NX 32-A loudspeakers have been wall-mounted, while a custom circular truss—supplied by JD’s—frames the stage and houses key lighting fixtures, creating a striking visual centrepiece. For onstage monitoring, two units of the RCF NX 15-SMA monitors provide precise and reliable foldback for performers.

The installation was carried out by Canh Le, one of JD’s trusted installers. A respected figure in Melbourne’s Vietnamese entertainment community, Canh brought not only technical expertise but also a deep cultural understanding to the project—ensuring that the system was finely tuned to deliver exceptional performance across Saigon Rex’s varied event calendar.

With its bold new RCF audio system, Saigon Rex continues to redefine the live dining experience in Springvale—offering guests immersive sound, vibrant entertainment, and the unmistakable energy of a venue that knows how to perform.