The Roxy Theatre on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood, currently celebrating its 50th anniversary, has been outfitted with a new sound reinforcement system incorporating JBL Professional VTX A8 line arrays and supporting components in a project by Camarillo, CA-based Rat Sound Systems.
In 1973, a new landmark opened in the heart of West Hollywood’s Sunset Strip. The venue was founded in 1973 by Lou Adler and Elmer Valentine along with partners including David Geffen, Elliot Robert, and Peter Asher.
“The ultimate impetus for installing a new sound system was the Roxy’s 50th anniversary in 2023,” explains musician and co-owner Cisco Adler, son of founder Lou Adler. “We asked ourselves how we could bring back the best of the Roxy’s spirit of the last 50 years. When my father opened the room, he wanted it to be the preeminent venue in terms of sound for the artist, as well as the audience, and we wanted that to still be the feeling to this day.”
A requirement was that the new system couldn’t impede views of the stage, be it floor space or VIP balcony seating, with the VTX A8 helping address this issue with its stated 110-degree coverage area in a package measuring 30 inches wide. The final design includes 12 A8 cabinets for left-right mains, four VTX B28 dual 18-inch subwoofers and a selection of AE Compact speakers for fills. Crown I-Tech 4X3500HDS DriveCore four-channel amplifiers drive the loudspeakers.
“JBL was involved in the system design, and we put a little spin on things, mostly with the sub deployment,” says Adam Figueroa, Rat Sound head of sales and installations. “The stage is an odd size and requires some unique sub processing to get the coverage and response we were looking for.
“The fact that the stage is in a corner presented its own set of challenges, including sightlines and availability of rigging points,” Figueroa continues. “We were able to do some infrastructure and rigging above the ceiling prior to needing the venue dark, and I really believe that led us to be able to get the rig installed in only four days with minimal crew.”
Through a cooperative effort, the system went into place in an efficient manner. “Our project lead, Greg Binkard, was able to finesse the hangs into a position that satisfied all the considerations. The VTX rigging hardware was very user-friendly, and the integration team of Greg, Aaron Silvey, Kevin Hamabata, and I enjoyed the ease of installation,” Figueroa states.
