UK rental firm SSE Hire now operates of 24 JBL VTX V25-II line array elements, 24 JBL VTX V20 line array elements and Crown I-Tech HD systems.
Now the exclusive JBL VTX V25-II rental service in Europe, SSE Hire has partnered with Sound Image in the US, another VTX V25-II operator, to form United Audio Companies (UAC). Aiming to support clients intercontinental touring, UAC provides international tours with standardised rider support for North America and Europe.
SSE Hire and Sound Image first collaborated on the recent Neil Diamond tour that visited 36 cities in North America and 26 cities in Europe. A long-time Sound Image client, the tour sought to match the sound quality for the European leg with what the team achieved in North America.
‘The Neil Diamond team finished its US tour in Colorado and arrived at the next show in the UK to find an identical PA system without having to freight it or program extensively,’ says SSE Hire Hire Project Manager, Dan Bennett. ‘We quickly realised that other elite tours appreciate the sound quality, consistency and general efficiency gained by mirroring riders on both sides of the Atlantic. We’re very pleased to align with Sound Image and believe there is a shared culture of going the extra mile to provide tours with exceptional service!’
Bennett cites the VTX V25-II’s build, portability and audio quality as reasons for his team’s investment in them and the VTX V20s. But it was the system synchronisation with Crown DSP that made it an especially potent weapon in SSE Hire’s arsenal for the Neil Diamond tour and several upcoming festivals in 2016.
‘We expect to support major concerts and festivals this summer, delivering high-performance sound to crowds of 50,000 to 80,000 fans,’ Bennett says. ‘And as a partner in UAC, we’ll be the European welcoming party for several Sound Image clients, and we’ll naturally reciprocate.’
Bennett’s team also usewd 16 JBL VTX S28 subwoofers for the Neil Diamond tour.
More: www.uac.global
