Concert kit for up to 500 people (line array)
The concert kit for up to 500 people is a passive line array system for a band concert in a large cultural centre hall, a town square or a festival stage, where the audience stands and stretches far back. Six JBL VTX A8 elements, three per side ground-stacked on base plates, cover the room evenly from the first row to the last, two VTX B28 subwoofers deliver concert bass and four VTX M22 monitors let the whole band hear themselves. All of it is run from a Yamaha QL1 with a stage box, connected by a single network cable.
Unlike the kits with powered speakers, this one has separate amplifiers: one Crown I-Tech for the line array, one for the subwoofers and one for the monitors, plus speaker cables from the amp rack behind the stage to every element. On the day that means a couple of hours of build before the band's sound check, heavier equipment and three-phase power by the stage. The kit also includes the band's microphones, DI boxes and stands, so only instruments and amps are needed on top. We set up, tune and mix this kit with our technicians; agree this when you order.
What is in the kit
| Sound equipment | pcs | Price per 24 h rental | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | JBL VTX A8 Line array elements (3 per side) Passive Line-Array speaker HF/MF/LF 2×2″/4×3,5″/2×8″, 990 W, 139 dB, 49Hz – 19kHz | pcs: 6 | 360 € / 24 h 6 × 60 € |
 | JBL VTX A8 BP Base plates for ground stacking Base Plate VTX A8 ground stack | pcs: 2 | 40 € / 24 h 2 × 20 € |
 | JBL VTX B28 Passive 2×18" subwoofers Passive subwoofer 2×18″, 2600 W Continuous, 141 dB, 25Hz – 80Hz | pcs: 2 | 200 € / 24 h 2 × 100 € |
 | Crown I-Tech 4×3500HD Four-channel amplifier (line array) 4ch amplifier 4x4000W | pcs: 1 | 100 € / 24 h |
 | Crown I-Tech 12000HD Two-channel amplifier (subs) 2ch amplifier 2x4500W | pcs: 1 | 80 € / 24 h |
 | JBL VTX M22 Stage monitors Passive stage monitor 2×12″ + 3″, 1500W, 138dB | pcs: 4 | 200 € / 24 h 4 × 50 € |
| Crown I-Tech 4×3500HD Four-channel amplifier (monitors) 4ch amplifier 4x4000W | pcs: 1 | 100 € / 24 h |
 | Yamaha QL1 Digital console 48-input Digital Mixing Console, Local I/O: 16 in, 8 out (w/o RIO rack), DANTE | pcs: 1 | 120 € / 24 h |
 | Yamaha RIO1608-D2 Stage box (16 inputs, Dante) I/O rack features 16/8 analog in/out, DANTE | pcs: 1 | 60 € / 24 h |
 | Shure SM58 Vocal mics Vocal Microphone, cardioid, 50-15,000 Hz | pcs: 3 | 12 € / 24 h 3 × 4 € |
 | Shure SM57 Instrument mics Instrument Microphone, cardioid, 40-15,000 Hz | pcs: 2 | 8 € / 24 h 2 × 4 € |
 | Shure BETA 52A Kick drum mic Kick Drum Microphone, supercardioid, 20-10,000 Hz | pcs: 1 | 5 € / 24 h |
 | Sennheiser e904 Drum mics Drums, Percussion Microphone, cardioid, 40-18,000 Hz | pcs: 3 | 15 € / 24 h 3 × 5 € |
 | Shure SM81 Overhead mics Instrument Microphone, cardioid, 20-20,000 Hz | pcs: 2 | 20 € / 24 h 2 × 10 € |
 | BSS AR-133 DI boxes Active mono DI-Box | pcs: 3 | 12 € / 24 h 3 × 4 € |
 | K&M 210/9 Mic stands, tall Microphone stand, long | pcs: 8 | 16 € / 24 h 8 × 2 € |
 | K&M 259/1 Mic stands, short Microphone stand, short | pcs: 3 | 6 € / 24 h 3 × 2 € |
| Kit total per 24 h rental:1354 € / 24 h | |||
Why these items
- 1.Six JBL VTX A8 line array elements, three per side, give the same level in front of the stage and fifty metres back, which point-source speakers cannot do for the same audience.
- 2.Two JBL VTX A8 BP base plates allow the elements to be stacked on the stage or on top of the subwoofers without rigging and angled correctly.
- 3.Two JBL VTX B28 passive 2×18-inch subwoofers give the concert the bass a 500-person outdoor ground or large hall needs, and belong in the same system as the A8 elements.
- 4.One Crown I-Tech 4×3500HD four-channel amplifier drives the line array elements and holds the factory presets for the A8, so the system sounds the way JBL designed it.
- 5.One Crown I-Tech 12000HD two-channel amplifier drives the two B28 subwoofers from separate channels, so their level and delay can be set independently of the array.
- 6.Four JBL VTX M22 passive stage monitors give four separate monitor mixes, for example for the lead singer, the guitarist, the bassist and the drummer.
- 7.A second Crown I-Tech 4×3500HD drives the four monitors each from its own channel, so every musician's mix is amplified and processed separately.
- 8.The Yamaha QL1 digital mixer holds the whole band and the monitor mixes, stores scenes and talks to the stage box over Dante, so the mix position can be in the middle of the room.
- 9.The Yamaha RIO1608-D2 stage box takes sixteen microphones and DI boxes on stage and sends them to the mixer over one network cable, so no multicore with dozens of cables runs through the room.
- 10.Three Shure SM58s are for the lead singer and two backing vocals.
- 11.Two Shure SM57s go in front of the guitar amps or on other loud instruments.
- 12.One Shure BETA 52A takes the kick drum, whose punch the B28 subwoofers carry on.
- 13.Three Sennheiser e904 clip-on mics are for the snare and two toms, without stands.
- 14.Two Shure SM81s are the overheads for the cymbals and the stereo image of the drum kit.
- 15.Three BSS AR-133 active DI boxes are for the bass, the keys and a third line signal, such as an acoustic guitar or a laptop.
- 16.Eight K&M 210/9 tall mic stands are for three vocals, two overheads and three extra instruments or guest performers.
- 17.Three K&M 259/1 short stands are for the kick drum mic and the two guitar amp mics.
Setup and preparation
The line array is stacked on the base plates at the stage edges, three elements per side, aimed so the top element covers the back of the audience and the bottom one the front rows. The subwoofers go in front of the stage, the amp rack behind or beside it, within reach of the speaker cables. The stage box sits on stage, all mics and DI boxes connect to it, and one network cable runs to the mixer. Then come system tuning, a line check and the sound check.
The organiser provides a stage or a solid base for the speakers and monitors, three-phase power by the stage for the amplifiers and separate power at the mix position, a covered mix position in the middle of the room, and at least half a day before the concert. In rain the stage, amplifiers and mixer must be under cover; speaker and network cables across the audience area need cable ramps or protection. This kit comes with setup, tuning and mixing by our technicians, agreed when you order together with transport.
Suited for
- Concert in a large cultural centre hall for up to 500 listeners
- Town festival or festival stage outdoors
- Large company event or anniversary with a band
- School or university anniversary concert
Not included
- –Stage, roof and rigging structures
- –Stage lighting and video screens
- –Power distribution and three-phase cables to the stage
When to choose another kit
If the audience is up to 200 and the venue is an ordinary club or function hall, the Live band kit for up to 200 people with powered speakers is far easier to transport and set up. If a singer or speaker moves around the stage, add the Four wireless handheld microphone kit, which connects to the same system over Dante. If the band prefers earphones, add the In-ear monitor kit for four musicians, and for recording the concert with a separate stereo pair see the Concert recording kit.
Frequently asked questions
Similar kits
Conference kit for up to 300 people
Live band kit for up to 200 people
In-ear monitor kit for four musicians
Guides that help you choose
How big a sound system do you need for 50, 100, 200 or 500 people
Sizing a PA by audience: speech or music, indoors or outdoors, when a subwoofer is needed and which kit fits 50, 100, 200 or 500 people.
Read the guideActive or passive speakers: which to rent
Active vs passive speakers for renters: amplifiers, cabling, venue power, weight and setup time. When PRX or SRX is simpler and when a line array fits.
Read the guideRenting sound equipment: set it up yourself or with a technician
What you can set up yourself when renting sound equipment and when a technician is needed. Real risks, time required and a simple rule for deciding.
Read the guideAnalogue or digital mixer: how many channels do you actually need
How to choose a rental mixer: count the inputs, pick analogue (Signature 10, Notepad) or digital (Ui24R, DM3, Wing Rack, QL1), and decide who operates it.
Read the guideSound equipment by event type
Concert kit for up to 500 people (line array)
Prices are per 24 hours of rental. Longer rentals, delivery and setup are quoted on request.