New location expands HARMAN Professional’s global network of experience centers; Multi-functional facility will serve as new headquarters for EMEA region and showcase cutting-edge technology offerings

(NORTHRIDGE, Calif. & LONDON) —HARMAN Professional Solutions, the global leader in audio, video, lighting and control systems, including networked AV, today announced the grand opening of the HARMAN Experience Center – London. The new facility expands the growing global network of HARMAN Professional Solutions Experience Centers, including locations in Los Angeles, Singapore and Shanghai, and will serve as the new headquarters for the EMEA region.

Designed to showcase how HARMAN solutions uniquely address customer needs across a variety of entertainment and enterprise market applications, the 25,800-square-foot (2,400-square-meter), multi-functional facility including EMEA headquarter offices, demonstrates the integration of brands including JBL Professional®, AKG Acoustics®, AMX®, BSS Audio®, Crown International®, dbx Professional®, DigiTech®, Lexicon Pro®, Martin®, Soundcraft® and Studer®.

“The opening of the experience center in London represents a major investment in the EMEA region, enabling us to deepen relationships with our customers and greatly expand our presence across critical markets,” said Chris Smith, Vice President, EMEA, HARMAN Professional Solutions. “Not only will the facility offer customers the opportunity to experience HARMAN innovation firsthand, it provides our staff with a state-of-the-art headquarters that will allow us to pursue new opportunities with greater speed and efficiency.”

The HARMAN Experience Center—London is comprised of several dedicated spaces along with the EMEA office space and meeting rooms.The Product Showroom is filled with HARMAN solutions including HARMAN’s Connected Retail Experience, Huddle Space, Connected Hotel Room, Home Recording, Networked AVoIP, and much more. The Foyer, Boardroom and Auditorium are not only practical-use spaces, but also areas that demonstrate HARMAN solutions for restaurant, corporate, education, corporate, and theatre environments.

“By opening this HARMAN Experience Center in London, we expanding our robust global network of experience centers and enabling our customers around the world to experience the One HARMAN Solution proposition firsthand,” said Mohit Parasher, Executive Vice President and President, HARMAN Professional Solutions. “From JBL Professional sound and Martin lighting to AMX controllers and Samsung displays, the entire facility is a brilliant demonstration of what HARMAN products can do when deployed seamlessly together in enterprise and entertainment environments.”

The HARMAN Experience Center—London is open by appointment only to HARMAN and Samsung customers, employees, distributors, sales representatives, dealers, artists and other industry professionals for meetings, performances, productions, hospitality events, and more.

The HARMAN offices and Experience Center is located at Westside, London Road, Hemel Hempstead, HP3 9TD. For more information, contact European.Marketing@Harman.com.

Ba Sao Investment installs solutions by JBL, Crown, Soundcraft and dbx in Nguyen Van Dao Hall to optimize coverage and clarity for lectures and on-campus events

HANOI, VIETNAM—Ba Sao Investment recently installed a complete HARMAN Professional Solutions audio system in Vietnam National University’s Nguyen Van Dao Hall.

Founded in 1945, the state-owned academic institution currently offers graduate and undergraduate degrees in 131 Master programs, 126 Bachelor programs and 107 PhD programs in fields such as natural sciences, multi-industry technologies, social sciences and humanities, economics, education, foreign languages and more. In order to provide world-class audio for lectures, student activities and on-campus events, university leaders hired Ba Sao Investment to upgrade Nguyen Van Dao Hall’s aging sound system with a comprehensive HARMAN audio solution.

“Vietnam National University is one of the most prestigious schools in Vietnam,” said Nguyen Khac Anh, CEO, Ba Sao Investment. “VNU officials asked us to design a sound system that would enhance the clarity and coverage in the hall, while minimizing early reflections and unwanted reverberation. We surveyed the venue and determined the specifications required to achieve the university’s goals. The HARMAN system we installed met all those specifications, while staying within their budget.”

The HARMAN system installed in Nguyen Van Dao hall includes a main hang of JBL VRX932LA-1 line array speakers, supplemented by VRX918S subwoofers. VRX915M two-way speakers provide lecturers and performers with accurate, low-profile stage monitoring. The entire system is powered by Crown MA9000i tour-grade amplifiers, while a Soundcraft GB4-32 analog console ensures a clean, professional-sounding mix at each event.

One of Ba Sao Investment’s biggest challenges was designing a system that would deliver proper coverage and clarity, despite the hall’s traditional architecture and high ceilings. Ba Sao Investment relied on a dbx VENU360 loudspeaker management system to tune and optimize each speaker’s performance in the room. Additionally, a dbx AFS224 processor delivers advanced feedback suppression to eliminate microphone feedback during lectures and events. 

“The biggest obstacle we faced was working within the acoustic constraints of the existing architecture of the hall,” continued Mr. Khac Anh. “Fortunately, HARMAN Professional Solutions provided all the necessary tools and processing power to achieve proper sound coverage in the hall, and all of the equipment worked together seamlessly—making it that much easier to optimize the system.”

“We are proud to see our solutions being used by Vietnam National University,” said Ramesh Jayaraman, VP & GM, HARMAN Professional Solutions, APAC. “We believe the students and faculty will now enjoy a world-class audio experience in Nguyen Van Dao Hall. We thank Ba Sao Investment for their confidence in HARMAN’s products and their dedication to customer satisfaction.”

Ba Sao Investment installs JBL and Soundcraft solutions to provide maximum coverage and legendary sound quality at the radio station’s historic theater

HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM—Ba Sao Investment recently installed a state-of-the-art audio system by HARMAN Professional Solutions at VOH Music One Theater.

The Voice Of Ho Chi Minh City’s People (VOH) is the official radio station of Ho Chi Minh City. For over 40 years, the radio station has hosted program broadcasts and live performances from its VOH Music One Theater. In addition to station-organized concerts and tapings, VOH Music One Theater hosts receptions, state delegations, business meetings, private events and more. In order to keep up with the increasing demands of modern live productions and strict broadcast standards, VOH hired Ba Sao Investment to upgrade its aging sound system with a complete HARMAN audio solution. 

“We wanted to upgrade from the previous system to better meet the latest production standards for audio, lighting and video,” said Mr. Le Cong Dong, Director, Voice of Ho Chi Minh City’s People. “The new HARMAN system that Ba Sao Investment installed ensures the station’s rich legacy remains relevant now and into the future.”

The HARMAN system installed in VOH Music One Theater includes a main hang of three JBL VRX932LAP powered line array speakers per side, joined by one VRX918SP subwoofer per side. Two JBL PRX710 two-way speakers serve as center down fills, while two additional PRX710 front fills are grouped on the floor with two PRX718XLF subwoofers. Two JBL PRX715 speakers are installed as under-balcony fills, while JBL PRX715 and PRX712 powered speakers provide clear on-stage monitoring. To ensure optimum system performance and top-notch audio mixes for both on-the-air and live audiences, Ba Sao Investment selected the Soundcraft Vi3000 digital live sound console. A Soundcraft Compact Stagebox supplies the Vi3000 console with 64 audio inputs from the theater’s stage. Together, the HARMAN system delivers the power and precision needed to achieve perfect coverage in the 350-seat theater.

“One of the major challenges we faced was installing the new system without altering the existing structure,” said Nguyen Khac Anh, CEO, Ba Sao Investment. “The grandstand was built before 1975, and the previous speaker placements weren’t ideal. The HARMAN system we installed is seamlessly integrated into the existing facility, and delivers improved sound distribution and quality throughout the 350-seat theater.” 

“We are extremely pleased with the upgrade to our system,” said Mr. Nguyen Duc Thinh, Manager/Composer, VOH Music One Theater. “I’ve visited various theaters associated with different television and radio stations in Vietnam, and I don’t think any of them can compete with the experience provided by the HARMAN system in our theater.”

“It’s a privilege to be associated with the Voice of Ho Chi Minh City’s People radio station,” said Ramesh Jayaraman, VP & GM, HARMAN Professional Solutions, APAC. “We’re thrilled to see our solutions being used in the historic VOH Music One Theater. We’re happy that our products have helped preserve the historic nature of the venue, while improving the audio quality for audiences during broadcasts and live recordings. Thanks to Ba Sao Investment’s expertise and attention to detail, audiences will continue to enjoy performances whether they choose attend the theater or tune in over the airwaves.”

Audiophile Components selects JBL, Crown and Soundcraft solutions to create a premium live sound system for high-energy salsa performances

MANILA, Philippines—Audiophile Components recently upgraded Café Havana Greenbelt’s aging sound system with a state-of-the-art live audio solution by HARMAN Professional Solutions.

Founded by hospitality pioneer Larry J. Cruz, Café Havana is a traditional Cuban restaurant located in the Makati district of Manila. In its quest to celebrate all things Cuban, Café Havana features a nightly lineup of live salsa music for standing room only crowds. When the restaurant’s previous sound system began to show signs of wear and tear after extensive use, management hired Audiophile to install a dependable, high-quality audio solution. In order to ensure a premium live music experience for guests, Audiophile selected a complete HARMAN live sound reinforcement system comprised of JBL speakers, Crown amplifiers and Soundcraft mixing consoles.   

“We’re very pleased with the new HARMAN audio system installed by Audiophile,” Commented the Operations Manager at Café Havana. “The HARMAN system is a huge improvement over our previous system and enhances the energy of the salsa bands, bringing the rhythms and textures of Latino music to life. We appreciate Audiophile’s technical expertise and look forward to partnering with them for future upgrades to our other franchise locations.”

With Café Havana’s nearly around-the-clock hours of operation, Audiophile faced a very limited timeframe to install the new HARMAN system and rewire the existing audio and power cables. The seamless design of HARMAN’s audio solutions enabled Audiophile to overcome this challenge in a timely manner, ensuring the new system was installed and ready for the next day’s live music schedule without missing a beat.

For the main house system, Audiophile installed four JBL VRX932LA-1 compact line array speakers with JBL’s exclusive lightweight neodymium magnet Differential Drive® woofer for high-power capacity. Each VRX932LA-1 features three 2408J annular ring diaphragm HF drivers and a constant curvature waveguide for unprecedented array coherence. The VRX932LA-1 speakers were paired with two JBL SRX828SP dual 18-inch subwoofers, which utilize powerful onboard 400MHz Sharc DSP and V5 tuning presets to tailor their low-frequency performance to Café Havana’s physical dimensions.

The JBL speakers were powered by Crown XTi 6002 amplifiers, delivering reliable, uninterrupted power for performances night after night. For mixing, Audiophile included a Soundcraft Si Expression 1 digital mixing console, which incorporates decades worth of digital audio advancements and the newest DSP technology to ensure great-sounding mixes and intuitive control.

“We are privileged to be associated with the iconic Café Havana in Manila,” said Ramesh Jayaraman, VP & GM, HARMAN Professional Solutions, APAC. “Our legendary brands help Café Havana bring Cuban music and culture to its patrons and enhance their listening experiences. We thank Audiophile for their strong support and customer-first approach, and we look forward to partnering with them to provide better sounding live music to other Café Havana locations throughout the Philippines.”

Live sound provider Gamung Productions experiences considerable growth after upgrading their inventory with JBL Professional speakers, Crown amplifiers and Soundcraft consoles

JAKARTA, Indonesia—CSA Indonesia recently supplied Gamung Productions with a complete inventory of live audio solutions by HARMAN Professional Solutions.

Founded in 1996, Gamung Productions provides full live sound production services for conventions, conferences, concerts, trade shows and more. In order to better serve an impressive client list that includes television stations and international corporations, Gamung Productions decided to upgrade its inventory with a more robust selection of audio systems to support events of any size or scale. The HARMAN systems supplied by local dealer CSA Indonesia include JBL, Crown and Soundcraft solutions, and have propelled Gamung Productions to become Indonesia’s leading sound system provider.

“Tour sound and event audio vendors need a versatile set of solutions that consistently deliver reliable performance in any venue,” said “An inventory of high-end products is essential to supplying performances with exceptional sound quality and coverage—no matter the size of the event. With the addition of JBL line arrays, Crown amplifiers and Soundcraft consoles, Gamung Productions gained an advantage over its competitors competition, establishing a reputation for versatility and reliable service.”

For large high-profile events, Gamung deploys JBL VTX V25-II line arrays and G28 subwoofers. The VTX system enables Gamung to deliver powerful sound reinforcement and coverage in a compact and lightweight footprint. For medium-sized events, Gamung relies on JBL VT4888 line array speakers to provide high-quality audio for a variety of concert audio and corporate AV applications. The JBL speakers systems are powered by tour-grade Crown I-Tech HD Series amplifiers. 

Gamung also added JBL SRX Series and PRX Series self-powered speakers to their inventory to provide smaller events with premium audio quality and coverage. JBL PRX speakers are Wi-Fi enabled and give Gamung’s engineers sophisticated DSP control over system tuning and real-time performance via the free PRX Connect app, allowing them to optimize systems faster than ever.

For mixing, CSA Indonesia supplied Gamung with new Soundcraft Vi3000 audio consoles. In addition to providing excellent sound quality and comprehensive I/O, the Soundcraft Vi3000 helps Gamung’s engineers effortlessly create great sounding mixes using advanced features like automated microphone mixing, VM2 wireless monitoring and Vistonics II™ touchscreens. When an event’s floor plan does not allow the consoles to be operated from an ideal listening position, ViSi remote control gives Gamung’s staff wireless mix control capability using the Soundcraft ViSi iPad app. 

“We’re proud to be the first company in Indonesia to own a Soundcraft Vi3000 and offer complete HARMAN tour sound solutions,” said . “Whether we’re faced with a ballroom presentation or an outdoor concert, HARMAN’s comprehensive audio solutions bring these events to life, ensuring that every word, musical note and sound effect is delivered with absolute clarity and dynamic range. We trust JBL, Crown and Soundcraft products to provide seamlessly integrated live sound systems that meet the needs of our valued clients with reliability and efficiency.”

“We’re happy to see our products being used by Gamung Productions, a leading touring and rental solution provider in Indonesia,” said Ramesh Jayaraman, VP & GM, HARMAN Professional Solutions, APAC. “We thank CSA Indonesia for trusting HARMAN products to provide Gamung Productions with a reliable and versatile inventory of live sound solutions, and ensuring satisfaction by following up with excellent customer support.”

JANDS NZ supplies FOH engineer Kevin Bennett with a complete JBL VTX A12 audio system on the Drive 20^th Anniversary Tour

AUCKLAND, New Zealand—Veteran FOH engineer Kevin Bennett recently mixed Bic Runga’s Drive 20^th Anniversary Tour on a complete JBL by HARMAN VTX A12 sound system, provided by distributor JANDS NZ.

Released in August 1997, Bic Runga’s debut release “Drive” is regarded as one of the most iconic albums in New Zealand music history. In addition to winning “Album Of The Year” at the 1998 New Zealand Music Awards, “Drive” sold more than 70,000 copies and catapulted Bic Runga to international success in Australia, Ireland, the United Kingdom and more. To celebrate the 20^th anniversary of the album’s landmark release, Bic Runga recently embarked on a series of concerts in which she performed “Drive” in its entirety, along with a selection of greatest hits from her subsequent multi-platinum albums.

To ensure exceptional live sound for performances of an album that won an award for its audio engineering, JANDS NZ provided FOH engineer Kevin Bennett with a complete JBL by HARMAN VTX A12 sound reinforcement system for the Auckland stop of the tour at the Civic Performance Art Theatre. Featuring a revolutionary dual 12-inch line array speaker purpose-built for mid- to large-size touring applications and high-end fixed installations, the A12 was perfectly suited for a concert at the Civic Performance Art Theatre.

“When I was given the opportunity to mix with the VTX A12, it was a no-brainer,” said Bennett. “I’ve never received as many compliments from an audience as I did after this performance. Sonically, the A12 is incredibly smooth and provides excellent coverage, both on- and off-axis. The A12 sounds so great right out of the box, it didn’t require much tweaking to optimize the system’s performance in the theater.”

Bic Runga also took note of her fans’ reaction to the exceptional sound quality provided by the JBL VTX system.

“The audience’s response to this show was even greater than I expected,” said Bic Runga. “Kevin Bennett’s experienced mixing combined with the sound system to give the show an extra clarity and presence that translated to a special listening experience for the audience. A lot of fans commented that they were particularly moved by the excellent sound quality of the music.”

The array was comprised of four ground-stacked VTX A12 speakers per side to cover the floor area, six flown A12 speakers per side to cover the balcony, and four VTX G28 dual 18-inch subwoofers deployed on the ground to supply deep and punchy bottom end. VTX-M Series monitors provided clear and accurate monitoring for the musicians onstage, and Bennett relied on a Soundcraft Vi2000 digital console for mixing.

“We’re thankful for the opportunity to help Bic Runga bring her classic album “Drive” to life with a world-class JBL VTX sound system,” said Tim Robertson, Tour Sound Manager, JANDS NZ. “We’ve seen a tremendous amount of interest in the VTX A12 since the concert, and our goal is to have it requested on more technical riders in the New Zealand market.” 

VTX A12 features a completely redesigned rigging system that allowed the College Hill Productions team to deploy the entire rig with unprecedented speed and efficiency, while the Soundcraft Vi2000 digital console enabled Bennett to craft a spectacular live mix that delivered all the sonic nuances of the expertly engineered album.

“The system was amazingly quick to deploy—when I arrived to set up the console, the PA was nearly flown and ready to sound check before I was,” said Bennett. “I’ve worked previously with Soundcraft Vi consoles, and their straightforward, analog-like workflow provides an intuitive and enjoyable mixing experience. The Vi2000 is now my go-to console, thanks to its superior sound quality and tour-grade reliability. And I love that it features the BSS DPR901ii Dynamic EQ.”  

“It is a privilege to see JBL and Soundcraft products supporting a truly special performance by Bic Runga,” said Ramesh Jayaraman, VP & GM, HARMAN Professional Solutions, APAC. “For decades, we’ve worked with artists and touring personnel to better understand their challenges and provide best-in-class solutions. We thank our partners JANDS NZ for their expertise and loyalty, and we look forward to working together to facilitate more incredible live music experiences in New Zealand’s touring community.”