The Purchase
Most PA purchases in the rental market are made on reputation, a spec sheet and a demo in someone else’s room. Harry the hirer Productions did it the thorough way: a JBL VTX A Series rig set up in its own Victorian warehouse, directly beside a line array system the crew already knew well, tuned flat and listened to side by side.
The result is a significant addition to one of Australia’s largest event production inventories: 24 JBL VTX A8 line array elements, 20 VTX B18 subwoofers and four Crown VRack systems, each fitted with three Itech 4x3500HD amplifiers. The purchase adds a second line array brand to Harry’s audio offering rather than replacing an existing one — more tools in the box, not a changing of the guard.
MadisonAV, JBL Professional’s Australian distributor, ran the demo, supplied the system, delivered HARMAN-approved training to six Harry the hirer Productions staff, and was on site for commissioning at the first two deployments: the Hyrox fitness race at Sydney Showground and AFL Grand Final Toyota Footy Fest at the MCG.
Why VTX A Series: an A/B test, then a live trial
The conversation started inside Harry’s audio team, which had been weighing a new line array for the PA inventory and flagged VTX A Series as worth a proper look after meeting the MadisonAV team at ISE this year. Rob Nickels, Senior Account Manager at Harry the hirer Productions, called MadisonAV’s Head of Tour Sound, Peter Kubow.
“Within the space of two days, he’d arranged for MadisonAV’s VTX A demo rig to come down to our warehouse in Victoria,” Rob said. “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 test settled the sonic question. Harry’s then set a second condition before committing: “We agreed that if we’re going to proceed with this purchase, let’s first get it into a production environment where we can use it, hear it, and get to know it for real.”
That production environment was Hyrox at Sydney Showground — five days, six halls plus the Dome, and more than 28,000 visitors. In Halls Five and Six, Hyrox House ran live music, food and a Recovery Lounge, and Harry’s trialled a left/right system of eight VTX A8s per side with one flown B18 and three ground-stacked B18s per side in cardioid mode. Peter Kubow was on hand for deployment.
With the sound signed off, the crew’s attention turned to the practical side. “The JBL design team have taken the time to ask themselves if there’s a better way to hang a PA,” Rob observed. “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.”
The event was a success and the order was placed.
Straight to work: AFL Grand Final Toyota Footy Fest
A week after the PA and training were delivered, the new inventory was being bumped in at one of the biggest events on the Melbourne calendar. AFL Grand Final Toyota Footy Fest takes over most of Yarra Park around the MCG, hosts around 65,000 people on game day, and is the start and finish point for the AFL Grand Final Parade the day before.
Harry’s has provided production to Footy Fest for years. For 2026, the brief grew late in the planning process: more locations needing PA than in previous years. MadisonAV supplemented Harry’s new stock with a VTX A12 and A8 system for the Main Stage, while Harry’s own inventory covered the Parade main stage and a site along the Parade route.
Locations & Systems
Footy Fest Main Stage, Yarra Park
8 x VTX A12 per side, 4 x A8 front fill, 14 x B18 subs, 8 x A8 delay hang behind FoH
Parade start, Grand Slam Oval
6 x VTX A8 per side, 3 x B18 per side
Parade route site, Birrarung Marr
6 x VTX A8 per side, 3 x B18 per side
The two Parade sites handled announcements, presentations and a performance by The Wiggles. The Main Stage system went up on Monday. “Within two hours, the whole thing was up,” Rob said. “Pete Kubow from MadisonAV then joined our team to do some testing and tuning. That was around another hour and a half, and then the whole system was up and running. We had some of the Harry the hirer Productions Account Management team down here yesterday, so everybody could have a listen to the system. It got rave reviews!”
What the crew said
The frankest assessment came from the FoH position. Will Petts mixed the Main Stage, has handled Footy Fest before, and knows the top-end line arrays on the market well. This was his first time in front of VTX A Series.
“So far, we’ve had background music, a lot of announcements, MCs, and roaming microphones downstage right underneath the arrays,” Will reported. “We’ve had zero issues. I’ve left the system basically flat since deployment, and it’s been beautiful. Straight out of the box, it’s done exactly what we hoped it would and more. 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.”
On the purchase itself, Rob Nickels was equally direct. “The whole purchase process and service have been fabulous from start to finish.”
“Our A8 system fits into our inventory exactly where we need it. It’s a good-looking, neat and tight box. It’s very clean, and it’s very discreet, and it’s precisely the right price point.”
MadisonAV’s role
A rental company buying a new line array brand is taking on more than boxes. It needs the crew to trust the system, the riggers to know it, and the distributor to be reachable when the schedule tightens. MadisonAV’s involvement ran the length of the project:
- Demo on the customer’s terms. A VTX A demo rig delivered to Harry’s Victorian warehouse within two days of the first call, tuned flat by Peter Kubow for a direct A/B against existing inventory.
- A production trial before commitment. Deployment support at Hyrox Sydney so the crew could use the system in a live environment before the order was placed.
- Prompt shipping and delivery. With a heavy work calendar waiting on the new PA, MadisonAV prioritised getting the full order on the floor.
- HARMAN-approved training. Six Harry the hirer Productions staff became JBL VTX A certified, trained by Peter Kubow and Grant Embury.
- On-site commissioning. Testing and tuning at Footy Fest, with the Main Stage system running within roughly three and a half hours of bump-in.
- Supplementary inventory. A VTX A12 and A8 Main Stage system supplied to cover a late expansion of the brief.
Grant Embury joined MadisonAV as National Performance Audio Sales and Business Development Manager after relocating to Australia in December 2024 from a role as regional rep for L-Acoustics across 15 US states.
“As BDM, it’s up to me to get more JBL into the install market, the corporate market, the house of worship market, and into theatres and performing arts centres,” Grant said. “Harry’s approach is the one we’d recommend to anyone weighing a line array purchase. Put it next to what you already own, tune both flat, and listen. Then take it to a real show. VTX A Series holds up to that scrutiny, and our job is to make sure the customer gets to apply it.”
