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For decades, the Leverkusener Jazztage has been one of Germany’s leading jazz festivals. It is known for a high-quality international programme and acclaimed performers. For its 46th edition, the organisers introduced a new sound reinforcement concept at Forum Leverkusen. They based it on dBTechnologies audio technology and tailored it specifically to the venue’s demanding acoustic conditions.
A custom-designed VIO system from dBTechnologies was planned and deployed exclusively for the event. The objective was to address the Forum’s complex spatial geometry, characterized by asymmetry, reflective surfaces, and varying room depths. The goal was to achieve consistent, transparent sound coverage for all audience areas.
Technical Concept and System Architecture
“One key advantage of the VIO Series is its consistent acoustic character throughout,” explains Jochen Gotzen, Technical Director at dBTechnologies. “This enables different system types to be combined and adapted to the specific room without tonal inconsistencies. At Forum Leverkusen, we deliberately used a flown rigging solution to direct acoustic energy at the audience and minimise excitation of reflective surfaces.”
The main PA consisted of flown VIO L1610 line-array modules, positioned on PA towers to the left and right of the stage. These were supplemented by additional loudspeakers from the VIO Series to cover nearfield, edge, and special audience zones, including VIO X206 and VIO X310 models. Low-frequency reproduction was handled by VIO S218 subwoofers arranged in a cardioid configuration. System control, monitoring, and fine-tuning were carried out entirely via Aurora Net, allowing targeted access to individual loudspeaker signal paths.
"The active systems and Aurora Net integrated seamlessly," Gotzen continues. "Each networked loudspeaker has its own DSP and consistent phase response across the VIO family. This delivers clean transitions between main, nearfill, and outfill speakers, so the audience perceives a single, coherent sound source."
VIO technology was also deployed on stage. Coaxial VIO W12T and VIO W15T wedges were used for stage monitoring, supplemented by VIO S118 subwoofers in selected positions. For controlled, even sidefill coverage, C Series loudspeakers were also employed to minimise spill into the audience area.
Feedback from Artists, Engineers, and Audience
The organisers also report overwhelmingly positive feedback. Fabian Stiens of Mecky Events, organiser of the Leverkusener Jazztage, comments: “We received excellent feedback from all sides — from the artists, the FOH engineers, and the audience alike. Many people noticed that the sound had changed significantly, but couldn't pinpoint why. That, in itself, is a strong indication of a well-balanced overall concept.”
Alongside this press release, dBTechnologies is publishing a video documenting the sound reinforcement concept at Forum Leverkusen, the venue's acoustic challenges, and impressions from the festival’s live operation.
