AUSTRALIA: Harry the hirer Productions has expanded its audio inventory with a JBL Professional VTX A Series system, following comparative listening tests at its Victorian warehouse and a live production trial at the Hyrox fitness race in Sydney. Supplied by MadisonAV, JBL Professional’s official Australian distributor, the investment adds a second line array brand to the production company’s inventory rather than replacing its existing system.

The purchase comprises 24 JBL VTX A8 line array elements, 20 VTX B18 subwoofers and four Crown VRack amplifier systems, each equipped with three I-Tech 4x3500HD amplifiers. MadisonAV also provided HARMAN-approved training for six Harry the hirer Productions staff and supported commissioning at the system’s initial deployments.

The evaluation began after Harry’s audio team identified VTX A Series as a potential addition to its inventory. MadisonAV’s Head of Tour Sound, Peter Kubow, arranged for a demonstration rig to be delivered to the company’s Victorian warehouse, where it was set up alongside an existing line array system familiar to the team. Both systems were tuned for a direct comparison.

“Within the space of two days, he’d arranged for MadisonAV’s VTX A demo rig to come down to our warehouse in Victoria,” said Rob Nickels, Senior Account Manager at Harry the hirer Productions. “He flew down and tuned it with us, basically flat out of the box, so we could hear what we would be buying. We set up and tuned an existing rig next to it. We were both surprised and happy to hear the overall performance when comparing both systems.”

The warehouse comparison was followed by a practical trial at Hyrox at Sydney Showground, a five-day event spanning six halls and the Dome, with more than 28,000 visitors. In Halls Five and Six, where Hyrox House featured live music, food and a Recovery Lounge, the trial system comprised eight VTX A8 elements per side, with one flown B18 and three ground-stacked B18 subwoofers per side in cardioid mode. Kubow supported the deployment.

The system’s rigging also made an impression on the crew. “The JBL design team have taken the time to ask themselves if there’s a better way to hang a PA,” Nickels said. “They’ve really thought about it and made it as simple as possible, which is a massive benefit. The rigging is next level; it’s so quick and easy to use.”

Following the successful trial, Harry placed the order. The new inventory was subsequently deployed at the 2026 AFL Grand Final Toyota Footy Fest, held around Yarra Park and the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The event attracts around 65,000 people on game day and also serves as the start and finish point for the AFL Grand Final Parade.

As the event’s production requirements expanded late in the planning process, MadisonAV supplemented Harry’s inventory with a VTX A12 and A8 system for the main stage. Harry’s own equipment covered the parade’s main stage at Grand Slam Oval and a further site along the route at Birrarung Marr.

The main-stage configuration at Footy Fest comprised eight VTX A12 elements per side, four A8 front fills, 14 B18 subwoofers and eight A8 elements in a delay hang behind front of house. At the parade start, the system comprised six VTX A8 elements per side and three B18 subwoofers per side. The Birrarung Marr location used the same A8 and B18 configuration. The two parade sites handled announcements, presentations and a performance by The Wiggles.

The main-stage system was installed on the Monday, with Kubow joining Harry’s crew for testing and tuning. According to Nickels, the complete system was up within two hours, with a further hour and a half spent on testing and tuning before it was operational.

Front-of-House Engineer Will Petts, who had mixed the event previously but was using VTX A Series for the first time, reported no issues across background music, announcements, MCs and roaming microphones positioned beneath the arrays. He also highlighted the system’s throw during listening checks around the site. “It has held up extraordinarily well. I have been shockingly impressed at just how much above its weight class it punches. The biggest standout for me is that the throw is incredible. Without the delay array on, we went for a walk, and how far it carried was beautiful.”

MadisonAV’s role extended beyond supplying the equipment. The distributor arranged the initial demonstration, supported the Hyrox trial, prioritised delivery, trained six staff members to become JBL VTX A certified, and provided on-site commissioning support at Footy Fest. Its supplementary A12 and A8 equipment also helped accommodate the expanded main-stage brief.