Canberra Institute of Technology Woden Campus JBL VTX upgrade

Art of Glass

Audio Systems Logic, the AV consultant on the project, specified a JBL VTX A6 line array system for the venue, with the design driven primarily by the room’s acoustics and physical constraints.

“The most important aspect was pattern control,” explains ASL consultant Sam Dockrill. “Using more sub-compact line array elements allowed us to better manage vertical dispersion and minimise reflections from the rear glass surfaces.”

The venue features extensive floor-to-ceiling glazing and decorative ceiling treatments, limiting loudspeaker placement options and increasing the importance of controlled coverage.  A flown centre cluster of JBL VTX B15 subwoofers was deployed in a cardioid configuration to reduce low-frequency spill into neighbouring areas. M Series monitors complete the system, with everything powered by Crown I-Tech amplifiers.

Expectations Exceeded

Dockrill notes that the results exceeded expectations given the room’s acoustic limitations.

“On paper, it looked particularly challenging, with extensive glazing and very limited flexibility in loudspeaker positioning,” he says. “The JBL VTX system, combined with a careful acoustic approach, delivered an outcome that works exceptionally well for both speech and live performance.”

The project also highlighted the value proposition of the VTX platform in education and multipurpose applications requiring high-performance reinforcement without the cost typically associated with large-format touring systems.

“JBL VTX represents excellent value,” says Dockrill. “Anyone looking for tier-one line array performance without a tier-one budget would be surprised by how capable the system is.”