UK - Polar recently returned to the Old Savoy Theatre in Northampton to stage Polar Expo, a day-long event where integrators, AV consultants, rental companies and sound engineers were able to see, hear, and explore the full Polar catalogue.

Previous Polar demo days, focused on specific brands, had proved to be a popular draw for a wide range of technology professionals, prompting the company to expand the formula to stage its largest such event to date. According to sales manager Andy Plunkett, who coordinated the event, the Savoy Theatre takeover was another valuable exercise in giving visitors a close-up, hands-on experience of the Polar portfolio:

“We showcased the entire portfolio across morning and afternoon sessions in the Theatre and adjoining Dore Suite. There’s just no substitute for hearing our high-performance loudspeaker ranges in a r

France - When Alpexpo recognised that event organisers needed something between Grenoble’s massive arena and intimate live venue, they devised a 'box in a box' concept that carves out a 3,389sq.m auditorium within their existing Greater Hall, powered by an L-Acoustics L Series professional sound system.

This transforms what was once a traditional exhibition space into a venue that adapts seamlessly between intimate seated concerts for 1,495 and energetic standing shows for 2,100.

"Our challenge was creating an adaptable system that could be everything to everyone – pristine audio whether hosting a morning keynote or an evening concert – and the transformation had to be instant," recalls Antoine Maurel, sales & installation manager at L-Acoustics certified partner M+ Equipment, part of M Group. "They wanted to build a complete auditorium ins

UK - Celebrating three decades of partnership between The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) and Sennheiser, the global audio specialist continues its commitment to nurturing emerging talent through the Sennheiser Student Scholarship programme.

This long-standing collaboration provides students with access to world-class audio expertise and industry resources, and Josh Dooley, a BA (Hons) Sound Technology student whose remarkable journey demonstrates extraordinary resilience and passion for audio engineering, has been selected as the 2025 scholarship recipient. His inspiring story of overcoming significant personal obstacles to pursue his musical ambitions captivated the judging panel, featuring Tim Sherratt, strategy manager at Sennheiser, and acclaimed theatre sound designer, Ben Harrison.

Growing up in a disadvantaged area of

UK - The PLASA Awards for Innovation are back for 2025, and entries are officially open.  

Celebrating the most forward-thinking technology across lighting, audio, AV, staging, rigging and beyond, the awards recognise products that bring something genuinely new to the table, whether it’s a technical step forward, a sustainability breakthrough, or a clever commercial edge. 

Run in partnership with LSi, the awards are independently judged by a panel of experts who know what real innovation looks like. All shortlisted ent

The Netherlands - A new addition to Amsterdam's vibrant nightlife, SHU has quickly established itself as a premier destination for evening entertainment. The exclusive, guest-list-only venue transitions nightly from relaxed cocktail lounge to energetic dance floor. SHU was created by experienced venue owners who identified an opportunity to serve professionals seeking a more refined nightlife experience.

When developing the venue's sound concept, SHU's owners approached L-Acoustics certified partner Audio Solvation via production company, Air Light Holland, with a specific challenge: deliver sophisticated audio that could transform the space each night while respecting the urban location, which includes residential apartments directly above the venue. Having successfully implemented L-Acoustics systems in their other establishments, the owners knew this tech

Australia - Dating back to 1824, St. John’s Anglican church in Launceston, Tasmania is the oldest church in the city, having recently celebrated its 200th anniversary. To mark the bicentennial the church committee commissioned a major upgrade, largely to enhance speech intelligibility. Guz Box design + audio, headed by founder Tim Kuschel, were tasked with overseeing the acoustic and electroacoustic design works.

This was back in 2020, but hampered by Covid restrictions and a lack of data, it wasn’t until March 2021, in the post-Covid era, that the Canberra-based consultant fully realised the overwhelming number of architectural constraints he would be facing in this heritage-listed building – not least the demanding acoustics, with multiple reflections created by a 22m-high dome.

The reason intelligibility was such a concern was because a larg

UK - With its origins in the celebrated MiNT Club in Leeds, MiNT Festival is Yorkshire’s biggest dance music event. The festival, which evolved from a collection of local gatherings, takes place near the city on a purpose-built arena at the 130-acre Newsam Farm, attracting thousands of Leeds music lovers to its multiple stages.

Now a prominent event in the UK festival calendar, MiNT’s reputation was further enhanced by this year’s edition which featured Josh Baker's You&Me, Morgan Seatree's Unfussy, plus Patrick Topping, Kettama, East End Dubs, and more. East Anglia-based Audio Plus provided sound across the site.

More than 30 years in the business has seen Audio Plus become a widely trusted partner for touring, festivals, special events, and installations, and the company has taken care of MiNT since its inceptio

UK - On 4 June, the Association of British Theatre Technicians hosted its Annual Awards after a busy first day of the ABTT Theatre Show at Alexandra Palace, London. This event is a cornerstone of the ABTT, dedicated to honouring outstanding contributions to the theatre and live events sector and recognises the achievements of those who are shaping the future of the industry.

Ted Moore, director at sponsors TAIT, said of the Awards: “TAIT is really proud to be here once again to sponsor the ABTT Awards, which I truly believe are the best award presentations anywhere in our industry. We wish all the nominees good luck and give congratulations to whoever the winners may be.”

The five Product Awards recognise the achievements of products which are substantially new to the market during the last 12 months and are available now for purchase, immediate

USA - PPDS, provider of Philips Professional Displays has announced a global alliance with Shure to deliver an advanced range of full room audio visual solutions.

Announced during a live launch event on Philips booth at InfoComm 2025 in Orlando, this collaboration sees PPDS enter into a global alliance with Shure, combining the power of Philips Professional Displays with Shure’s premium audio systems.

This development sees PPDS enter a global alliance with Shure, who provides integrated, easy-to-deploy IntelliMix Room Kits for Microsoft Teams Rooms, bringing audio visual together for total solutions in conferencing and collaboration in corporate, government, and educational environments.

Speaking at the official signing, Ron Cottaar, director of global marketing at PPDS, said: “Our collaboration with Shure further extends our commitment t

Spain - Warner Music Spain and Warner Chappell Music are behind a creative hub in Madrid called The Music Station, an artist-friendly complex combined with a new, non-traditional working environment for the company's employees.

Designed and built within Madrid’s former Príncipe Pio North Station, the facility houses several music production spaces, all outfitted with equipment from Solid State Logic, including an Origin 32-channel analogue mixing console in the flagship tracking and mixing room, and U Series controllers and SSL 2+ interfaces in breakout production spaces.

“We have five studios; one is equipped for Dolby Atmos where the Origin is installed, then we have two production suites and then two additional rooms with vocal booths for songwriting and small recording sessions,” says Álvaro Marin, lead audio engineer, one of three in-hou

USA - RCF has unveiled its latest innovations in installed audio at InfoComm 2025. This year’s showcase features a comprehensive lineup of solutions engineered for performance, durability, and versatility in both indoor and outdoor fixed installations.

Taking centre stage is the X Series, a line of high-power speakers built to deliver intelligibility and reliability. Housed in IP55-rated, UV-protected, and corrosion-resistant polyurethane enclosures, the X Series is purpose-built for stadiums, sports venues, and large outdoor environments. These systems offer precise, powerful audio even in the most challenging conditions.

Drawing on RCF’s legacy in concert sound and large-scale installations, the X Series integrates Precision Transducers and the XPS 16K DSP-powered four-channel amplifier, delivering sound quality tailored for high-energy sports

USA - TT+ Audio has unveiled a new lineup of professional touring solutions at InfoComm 2025. Highlights include the GTX 7C cardioid line array, the GTS 16C flyable cardioid subwoofer, the versatile GT 8 point‐source speaker, and the high-power GTS 19G single 19″ subwoofer. Built on the XPS 16K amplification platform, the GTX series delivers precision engineering and electro-acoustic performance for even the most demanding live-sound applications.

“The new GTX series embodies our philosophy of integrating cutting-edge technology with best-in-class performance,” says Alessandro Manini, R&D director at TT+ Audio. “At InfoComm, we are introducing significant additions to the GTX line, including the no-compromise performance of our new DSP-controlled cardioid line array, with a must-attend Demo at RCF demo room.”

The compact GTX 7C cardio

USA - Back in the year 2000, RMB Audio - one of Martin Audio’s longest serving global partners - installed a Wavefront W0.5 miniature high performance speaker solution in Heritage Baptist Church in Zebulon, NC.

The splayed array was designed to provide coverage of a church seating 600 with a balcony, below a vaulted pentagonal roof. Audience seating on the floor in the sanctuary formed a 200° fan from the pulpit, which required some angle separation between the cabinet hangs to provide an overlap from the 100° horizontal pattern.

Due to Martin Audio’s advanced engineering and build quality, this gave the church an excellent return on investment. But when it came to refreshing the speakers, a cell defect was detected. Realising that components for this vintage system were no longer available, an alternative was required.

Cooper Cannady,

Germany - Sennheiser has announced a new cloud-based platform designed to empower AV and IT teams with secure, flexible, and scalable device control across a wide range of environments. The solution is set to transform the way teams configure, monitor, and manage Sennheiser devices - from small meeting rooms to high-impact spaces, says the company. The platform will officially launch in early 2026.

Built with remote oversight and flexibility in mind, the platform centralises control in a future-ready, intuitive interface - simplifying workflows and enabling efficient device management across multiple locations. Created for IT and AV managers and system integrators, the platform streamlines device management across enterprise, education, and corporate settings. Whether managing large-scale installations or optimizing remote operations, the solution will keep

UK - Liverpool-based event production services and AV technology specialists MSP Global deployed their full inventory of Nexo Geo M at a special post-match ceremony as Everton’s senior men’s team said farewell to its home of 133 years, Goodison Park.

Next season, the team takes up residence at the Hill Dickenson Stadium at Liverpool’s Bramley-Moore Dock, a new 52,000-seat stadium which is also equipped with a Nexo sound system installed by T.G.Baker Sound.

Taking place immediately after the 2-0 Premier League win over Southampton, the ceremony featured current players and Everton legends, along with live music and specially curated big-screen content, all hosted by television presenter Gethin Jones and former world champion boxer Tony Bellew.

For a veteran of many events, this one was particularly special for MSP Global founder and MD C

UK - Somerset-based Production & Touring is a one-stop shop for all aspects of live event production and management. With a client list of leading artists including Snow Patrol, Calvin Harris, Sasha, David Gray, Declan McKenna, and many more, the company relies on its experienced team to meet the demands of a wide range of projects.

When Production and Touring director and FOH engineer Graham Pattison was recently looking to source a Radial JDX 48 Guitar Amp Direct Box, he was directed by Radial to its UK distributor Polar, who swiftly met his requirement. The JDX 48 is a direct box designed to capture the sound of an electric guitar amplifier by connecting between the amp head and speaker cabinet, providing a balanced feed for the PA system emulating the sound of a well-placed microphone.

During the course of his Radial purchase, Graham discover

Europe - KV2 Audio has announced the launch of the ESD312 loudspeaker that offers versatility, performance, and precision monitoring for DJs and sound professionals. 

Joining KV2’s ES, ESR and SL systems, which have gained popularity with DJs and live performance venues for their low latency, high intelligibility, and improved audio clarity, the new ESD312 delivers a purpose-built, high-powered passive solution tailored for these exacting audio requirements. 

Equipped with dual 12” bass reflex-loaded woofers, a 6” horn-loaded midrange, and a 1” compression driver, the ESD312 delivers 3-way versatility whilst utilising just one amplifier channel, combining high output with exceptional clarity. Designed to cover a variety of audio applications, it can function as a DJ Monitor system – providing clear monitoring for the most accurate mixes,

USA - Danley Sound Labs has announced the release of its new Wireless Link System, a technology that allows high-quality audio to be sent wirelessly from one location to another.

“We’ve always said that we would never compromise on audio quality,” said Mike Hedden, chief steward in charge at Danley Sound Labs. “The Wireless Link System was the first thing that we’ve ever measured where the wireless chain looks like a straight wire.”

Developed and manufactured in the United States, the Wireless Link System operates in the 2.4 GHz ISM frequency band and delivers low-latency, high-fidelity audio across long distances. Whether working in a stadium, arena, or any location where pulling cable is a challenge, the Wireless Link System offers an innovative and professional solution for audio delivery.

“What Wireless Link does is see what

UK - Midwich has announced the launch of Live, a new division created to serve the needs of the live events industry through specialist distribution and trade rental services in the UK&I. Backed by the legacy, expertise, and energy of Sound Technology and PSCo, Live is designed to help partners ‘deliver extraordinary live events’.

Under the Live banner sit two independent specialist businesses – each focused on delivering excellence in their own area:

Live Technology – the distribution arm, formerly Sound Technology, providing market-leading brands in audio, lighting, video, and control to the live events community, supported by expert pre- and post-sales teams.

PSCo and Dry Hire Lighting – the trade rental arm, continuing to deliver exceptional service and specialist rental solutions through trusted teams and existing account s

UAE - Powersoft is expanding its distributor network with the appointment of Dubai-based AVAIL Distribution as its newest distributor for Central Asia and the Caucasus. The strategic partnership marks a significant expansion of AVAIL’s portfolio and will solidify Powersoft’s footprint in the region, delivering its audio solutions for touring and installed audio across Central Asia and Caucasus.

Pavel Shemiakin, business development director at AVAIL Distribution comments, “Powersoft’s innovative solutions and diverse product range for both installed and live sound applications are a valuable addition to our pro-AV portfolio. System integrators will appreciate the high efficiency, broad model lineup and seamless integration options with modern control and cloud-based systems, whilst rental companies will benefit from outstanding audio performance, pow

Poland - From 7 to 9 February 2025, the 24 best esports teams in the world met at the ESL Intel Extreme Masters in the Spodek Arena in Katowice.

In cooperation with Audio-Technica, organiser ESL Faceit Group developed a new recording concept for the livestream broadcast, employing immersive, stereo and shotgun microphones to reproduce the excitement in the arena for an online audience.

In order to offer viewers an engaging audio experience, Audio-Technica’s BP3600 immersive microphone played a key role in delivering the atmosphere in the arena. Located in the venue’s ceiling, the microphone’s eight hypercardioid capsules allow for capture of realistic, three-dimensional sound in an easy-to-deploy package.

The BP3600 was complemented by the use of a quartet of Audio-Technica’s respected AT4050ST stereo large diaphragm condensers (also

USA - Bose Professional is celebrating their two-year anniversary as an independent company with their return to InfoComm 2025. The company is showcasing their best-selling hardware and software solutions and providing a first look at new releases at Booth 6361 in the Audio Hall.

Newly available solutions featured at the show include the award-winning Veritas line of smart mixer amplifiers and the Forum series of performance loudspeakers. Veritas - recently recognised with Best New Audio Product and Best of Show awards at ISE 2025 - delivers clarity and intuitive operation for background music, paging, and multimedia applications. The new Forum series offers surprisingly high fidelity and output from a compact, install-friendly form factor.

Visitors to Bose Professional’s booth will also be able to preview the DesignMax Luna DML88P, an extended-ran

UK - Bolton-based TVC Technology Solutions has announced the successful completion of a sophisticated audio-visual installation at King Street Social Tap, a new flagship hospitality venue by Amber Taverns in Huddersfield. This latest project adds to TVC’s growing portfolio in the sector, reinforcing the brand’s position as a premier AV integrator of choice for the hospitality industry.

“We know what it takes to make a good hospitality venue great: Impressive sound, visually dynamic video and engaging entertainment options like karaoke that increase customer dwell time, average spend, and repeat custom.” Says Chris Whitlock, technical director at TVC Technology Solutions. “All tied together through the seamless interface that is easy for employees to use.”

Building on previous successful collaborations with Amber Taverns, including the pop

Germany - The Adam Hall Group has announced its strategic partnership with Powersoft. With immediate effect, the German manufacturer of event technology will be utilising the amplification and processing technology of the Italian pro audio manufacturer in selected LD Systems amplifiers. The partnership starts with the new ADA series 4-channel DSP touring amplifiers with Dante integration.

The LD Systems ADA series, comprising the ADA 8 K4 and ADA 12 K4 models, offers maximum power, precise sound and highest reliability for professional touring and installation applications. For the first time ever, these touring amplifiers seamlessly marry LD Systems’ renowned sonic accuracy with Powersoft’s energy-efficient Class-D topology, advanced DSP and network control. Thanks to its two Dante ports and ArmoníaPlus integration, the ADA series can be seamlessly int

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