AV Case Study: Chandler Theatre
A JBL VTX A6 subcompact line array brings new life to this Brisbane 1500-seater.
18 August 2025
Text:/ Christopher Holder
The Chandler Theatre was built in the late ’70s to stage the weightlifting competition at the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games. Many aspects of the original design and build remain and contribute to the character and utility of the theatre. I mean, who doesn’t want a stage area that can handle two tonnes of weights and beefy Dean Lukin-esque lifters?! The seats are original, comfortable, and with (what seems like) twice the legroom of a contemporary theatre.
The original loudspeaker spec isn’t documented, but some time in the ’90s the theatre inherited a hefty point source system from another venue owned by Stadiums Queensland. After 25-plus years of service, the system reached end of life.
High Noon Stage Productions is the preferred AV service provider for the Chandler Theatre and watched on with some consternation as the audio situation turned dire. High Noon hired an interim system to the Chandler Theatre while the powers that be counted the beans, realising a new PA was not only desirable but required.
Alex Hutchison, General Manager of the Sleeman Sports Complex (in which the theatre resides), explains the challenge: “The right system had to meet our budget. We manage a large precinct and need to stretch that budget across the whole site. But we also had to balance that with securing a high-quality system, which we believe we’ve done. It’s a system we’re proud to present to the market, especially when it comes to promoters and hirers.”
ABOUT THE SPACE
Glenn Thompson from XConnect Professional Services consulted on the project. Glenn is well known in these parts as a PA systems specialist, having been instrumental in the audio upgrades at Suncorp and Cbus Super Stadiums in and around Brisbane.
“Acoustically, the venue is actually quite good. It’s fairly tame compared to other theatres, with lots of soft surfaces such as carpet and fabric, and a ceiling that doesn’t reflect too much sound. So we had a really nice canvas to work with.
“The seating is arranged in three blocks, which naturally lends itself to an LCR loudspeaker configuration. From the beginning, we were leaning towards a compact line array system, augmented with subs.”
VTX SUBCOMPACT
The design went out to tender with three vendors having a serious crack. A JBL design based on VTX A6 subcompact arrays won the day for its combination of price, performance and form factor. The design comprises three arrays of 8 x A6 elements, each with a corresponding hang of three VTX B15 subs (in a cardioid configuration) tucked in behind. The entire front-of-house PA is powered by 5 x Crown I-Tech HD 4x3500W amplifiers, with a sixth in the rack as a hot spare. As many as four A6s can run off a single Crown amp channel, but in this case there are two boxes per channel to provide the necessary gain-shading control.
A number of factors militated in favour of a subcompact line array-based design, such as the VTX A6. First up were sightlines. The theatre has a high rake and truss that can only be raised ‘so’ high. A longer hang would interfere with sightlines to the projection screen. Secondly, with such a steep rake, a minimum number of line array elements would be required for adequate vertical coverage. Again, that would require the minimum complement of boxes to be small enough to avoid sightline interference. Weight was another factor. The truss is hung from a cantilevered section of the grid, lowering the load capacity. The PA couldn’t hog the lion’s share of the load, as capacity needed to be retained for other occasional elements on a needs basis.
“The VTX A6 subcompact system allowed us to keep the hang height short enough to avoid blocking sightlines, keep weight down, while still delivering the required SPL (105dB),” Glenn Thompson summarised. “In the same way, we chose the B15s because of their size and hang height suitability. We wanted to run the subs in a cardioid configuration to keep low frequencies off the stage and push them into the audience area. We installed them in hangs of three, and they’ve been commissioned and tuned accordingly.”
The new Chandler Theatre PA comprises three hangs of 8 JBL VRX-A6, two elements per circuit for more dispersion control, backed by three hangs of three JBL VTX-B15 subs arrayed in cardioid mode.
Five Crown I-Tech HD 4x3500W amplifiers power the PA, with a sixth in the rack as a hot spare.
IN THE DRAWINGS
Australian JBL distributor, MadisonAV, was involved early on, providing Glenn Thompson with a number of models in Venue Synthesis using VTX A6, A8, in combination with either the B15 or B18 subs.
Glenn Thompson: “The software also produced mechanical drawings, which helped us assess drop heights, angles, and weights. I was keen on the VTX A8s but that’s how we determined they were too large and heavy for this application. The modelling gave us complete confidence to move from design into deployment.
“Those predictions proved to be remarkably accurate. Our first hang, done exactly according to the simulation’s mechanicals, didn’t require any adjustment. It was spot-on right from the start.”
High Noon Stage Productions handled the installation, with Operations Manager Locky Young keeping an eye on things: “Benjamin Page and Peter Kubow from MadisonAV were on site for the install and were fantastic – incredibly knowledgeable. We hadn’t worked with them before, but their input was invaluable. Peter Kubow tuned the PA for us and really made it sound great for our hirers.”
The Venue Synthesis prediction. The aim was to get ~105dB to every seat.
FRESH OUTLOOK
JBL VTX is gradually making a name for itself. More riders (especially emanating from the States) are including VTX. What’s more, Australian sound engineers are happy to give VTX a go – they’ve heard good things and are often happy to leave their PA in the truck. This has been Locky’s experience since the VTX installation: “We’re seeing the JBL VTX A Series on more and more riders. The acts that use it here have been really pleased – some were excited to mix on VTX as it’s not yet widely available, and this is one of the first permanent installs. So far, the feedback has been entirely positive.
“We’re also heading into the busy end of the year with a calendar loaded with repeat business – schools, dance academies, awards nights – and looking forward to the challenge of miking up 40-odd orchestra inputs or 20-plus headsets through the VTX PA.”
General Manager Alex Hutchison can also see the possibilities: “Thanks to our new state-of-the-art JBL loudspeaker system, the venue can now attract new, fresh content while retaining the diverse programming we already host month-to-month. We’re genuinely excited about what lies ahead.”
Chandler Theatre: sleemansports.com.au/facilities/chandler-theatre
MadisonAV (JBL, Crown): madisonav.com.au
XConnect Professional Services: [email protected]
High Noon Stage Productions: highnoon.com.au
RESPONSES