Located within Melbourne’s Hamer Hall on the banks of the Birrarung (Yarra River), the Australian Museum of Performing Arts (AMPA) is a new exhibition space centred around Australia’s rich theatrical legacy. The newest offering from Arts Centre Melbourne, AMPA has been designed to accommodate international touring exhibitions as well as showcase the Australian Performing Arts Collection – an unmatched archive of over 850,000 objects spanning circus, dance, music, opera, theatre and popular entertainment.
To meet the technical demands of the venue and its high-profile exhibition schedule, Arts Centre Melbourne engaged a number of leading technology-focused companies, including partnering with Melbourne-based Quest Engineering as a preferred audio supplier. With AMPA’s strong focus on Australian art, it was fitting that an Australian audio brand was selected to meet the venue’s loudspeaker and amplification requirements.
In collaboration with Arts Centre Melbourne’s Technical team and a system design specified by Aston Consulting, Quest supplied a comprehensive set of the brand’s DANTE-enabled QXD amplifiers and a fleet of Qi5 and Qi25 loudspeakers, along with Qi12S installation subwoofers.
Part of Quest’s recently launched Qi Series, the Qi5 is a 5” two-way passive loudspeaker designed for permanent installation audio. Representing a sophisticated evolution in Quest’s integration-forward engineering, the Qi5 offers high-fidelity performance from a low-profile timber cabinet with smooth acoustic grille. Made for discreet integration into architectural spaces, the Qi5 is augmented by rotatable waveguides and accessories for flexible configuration. The Qi25 combines all the advantages of the Qi5 with a dual 5” speaker design engineered for extended mid-bass performance with robust output- ideal for applications where both visual appeal and superior acoustics are paramount.
Powering these loudspeakers are Quest’s recently launched QXD amplifiers: feature-rich Class-D 4-channel systems with DSP, which feed the venue’s customised speaker patch system. Integrated by Lume Electrical Solutions, this setup allows for the connections between speaker runs and amp channels to be rapidly reconfigured for the unique requirements of each exhibition. Show control software feeds external sources to Quest’s QXD amplifiers via DANTE, with the amplified signal then being sent on to the patch system.
Collaborating with Arts Centre Melbourne as a Technology Sponsor for the opening night of AMPA’s inaugural exhibition DIVA, Quest supplied additional PA equipment for a temporary stage. This stage was used for speeches and musical performances by special guests, including Victorian government representatives and leading Australian artists. The loadout included Quest HPI110 loudspeakers and HPI12S subs, powered by Quest’s industry standard QX Series of amplifiers.
Just as AMPA celebrates the excellence and ingenuity of the nation’s creative works, Quest’s locally engineered audio solutions reflect the same commitment to craft and performance. In support of the vision behind AMPA, Quest’s role extends beyond technical delivery to a shared cultural purpose: supporting Australian stories with Australian ingenuity.
For more on Quest, visit the official Quest website.
