For her first-ever arena tour, Grammy-winning artist Kali Uchis wanted to offer fans a visually stunning show paired with an intimate and immersive sonic experience. Transitioning from clubs and smaller venues to full-scale arenas required a sound system that could deliver clarity, impact, and consistency across large audiences while preserving the nuance of Uchis’s studio mixes. Longtime FOH engineer Danny Muñoz needed a rig capable of translating studio fidelity to massive live spaces, ensuring every lyric and subtle detail reached the audience as intended.
Sound Image, a Clair Global brand, partnered with Uchis’s touring crew to design and deploy a JBL Professional VTX system tailored to the tour’s scale and creative vision. The setup included 72 VTX A12 line array loudspeakers, 52 VTX A8 cabinets for 270-degree hangs and front fills, 24 flown VTX S28 subwoofers, and 16 ground-stacked VTX B28 subwoofers, all powered by Crown I-Tech 4×3500HD and 12000HD amplifiers.
When the production introduced a thrust and B-stage, systems engineer Chris “Cookie” Hoff strategically placed eight VTX A8 loudspeakers under the thrust and around the B-stage to maintain vocal localization and consistent coverage for fans beyond the main PA. Hoff also incorporated JBL Venue Synthesis software to pre-model system behavior, confirming that the system’s coverage and performance matched predictions across upper balconies and throughout the arena.
Efficiency on the road was a priority. Hoff noted, “It’s really fast. We’re hanging 20 boxes on the mains, 16 on out fills and 18 A8s on the 270 hangs. Once the points are ready and the cabling is in, it goes up quickly. Even if we have to reset, we can fix and fly again in minutes.” Muñoz relied on JBL 708P monitors at front of house to fine-tune high-frequency performance before engaging the VTX rig each night, ensuring the live sound preserved studio-quality nuances.
The JBL VTX system delivered a high-fidelity audio experience that allowed Kali Uchis to connect directly with audiences, no matter the size or layout of the venue. Fans and crew praised the clarity, balance, and impact of the sound, with social media posts reflecting widespread admiration for the system’s performance. The combination of Sound Image’s technical expertise, JBL Professional’s VTX technology, and the dedicated touring crew ensured every note, lyric, and nuance reached the audience with precision, reinforcing Uchis’s artistry and elevating the tour to a world-class arena-level experience.
