Auckland’s Bruce Mason Centre sought to modernize its main audio system to meet the evolving demands of touring productions and its diverse performance schedule. Operated by Auckland Live on behalf of Tataki Auckland Unlimited, the 1,100-seat theatre hosts music, comedy, dance and community events, with seating that converts from a tiered auditorium to an open-floor configuration. After two decades of service, the previous sound system no longer provided the output, flexibility or consistency required for contemporary productions. The venue needed a scalable solution capable of adapting to multiple seating layouts while maintaining even coverage and clarity throughout the space.
Working with distributor JPRO, the theatre selected a JBL Professional VTX A6 line array system as the foundation of the upgrade. The installation includes two flown arrays of 12 JBL VTX A6 speakers per side, supported by 12 JBL VTX B18 arrayable 18-inch subwoofers configured in cardioid mode and deployable as flown or ground-stacked depending on event requirements. Eight JBL AC18 compact loudspeakers provide under-balcony coverage to maintain consistent sound in shaded seating areas.
All loudspeakers are powered by Crown I-Tech 4×3500HD amplifiers, with BSS BLU-806 processors managing signal distribution across the networked system. System modeling and prediction were completed using JBL Venue Synthesis 3D Acoustic Simulation software, enabling precise angle prediction, delay optimization and coverage planning across multiple room configurations. To streamline day-to-day operations, the team implemented JBL’s ArrayLink app to create six configuration presets, allowing the arrays to be scaled and repositioned in less than 30 minutes.
The upgraded JBL Professional system delivers improved clarity, balanced low-frequency control and consistent coverage across the theatre’s various seating layouts. The combination of VTX A6 arrays, B18 subwoofers and AC18 under-balcony fills ensures even sound distribution from front to back, while Crown amplification and BSS processing provide reliable control and repeatability.
With faster reconfiguration and more predictable tuning, the technical team can efficiently support touring acts and local productions alike. The completed transformation positions the Bruce Mason Centre with a flexible, networked audio infrastructure designed to meet the performance requirements of its evolving program schedule.
