The Roxy Theatre, a landmark venue located in the heart of West Hollywood’s Sunset Strip, was founded in 1973 by entertainment giants Lou Adler, Elmer Valentine, and a group of stellar partners including David Geffen, Elliot Roberts, and Peter Asher. Known for hosting some of the most iconic performances and live recordings, the Roxy has been a cultural touchstone for five decades. In 2023, in celebration of its 50th anniversary, the Roxy sought to upgrade its sound system to provide concertgoers with an even more epic live music experience. To achieve this, the theatre turned to its long-time partner, Camarillo-based Rat Sound Systems, to install a state-of-the-art system based on JBL Professional’s VTX A-Series.
Rat Sound Systems selected JBL’s VTX A-Series to meet the Roxy’s demands for fidelity, power, and coverage, while ensuring the system did not obstruct views from any spot in the venue, including the VIP balcony seating. The solution included 12 VTX A8 three-way line array cabinets for the main left/right coverage, four VTX B28 dual 18-inch subwoofers for deep bass, and a selection of AE Compact speakers for fills. Crown I-Tech 4X3500HDS DriveCore™ four-channel amplifiers were used to power the system, ensuring consistent, high-quality sound performance.
One of the key challenges was the layout of the Roxy stage, which is positioned in a corner, posing sightline and rigging challenges. Rat Sound and JBL worked closely together to resolve these issues, particularly with the unique subwoofer deployment and the limited availability of rigging points. Rat Sound’s team, led by Greg Binkard, along with Adam Figueroa, Aaron Silvey, and Kevin Hamabata, expertly finessed the installation, completing the rigging in just four days. JBL’s user-friendly VTX rigging hardware and their hands-on application support were instrumental in the successful installation.
The new sound system was met with excitement and satisfaction from both the Roxy team and concertgoers. “We’re thrilled, first and foremost, with how the system sounds,” said Cisco Adler, musician and co-owner of the Roxy and son of founder Lou Adler. “Beyond that, we are thrilled with the partnership with Rat and JBL, who helped us in keeping the Roxy the best-sounding room in the world.”
The system debuted with a historic performance by Neil Young and Crazy Horse, exactly 50 years after they first opened the Roxy in 1973. Adler added, “You don’t come to the Roxy to see a show, you come to be part of the show.” The new JBL sound system ensures that this legendary venue continues to deliver an unforgettable, immersive experience for artists and audiences alike, further cementing the Roxy’s place as a premier live music destination.