NEP Australia redefines its RF streams with Sennheiser Spectera

Spectator of Sennheiser lands on NEP Australia to simplify RF workflows and improve audio quality in sporting competitions such as AFL or the NRL; top-level boxing events, and television entertainment productions such as 'The Chase'.

Over the years, audio equipment NEP has faced challenges typical of an environment of RF increasingly congested. Spectrum coordination has become especially difficult in cities like Sydney, where heavy RF traffic limited flexibility, as explained Alex Wong, Senior Supervising Director of Audio at NEP Australia: “It's a pretty hostile world for frequency management, we need something agile and easy to set up.

To address this new audio context, NEP implemented the wireless system Sennheiser Spectera which integrates microphones, IEMs and control data into a single RF channel. The solution includes a compact 1U base station, SEK bi-directional bodypacks and DAD antennas, with remote monitoring via LinkDesk and the browser-based Spectera WebUI.

Getting started in Spectera

Initially attracted by its compact size and simplified wiring, NEP deepened its knowledge through an in-depth RF session led by Volker Schmitt, director of technical applications engineering at Sennheiser. “That session really helped us understand how Spectera could solve our spectrum issues and enable more efficient remote monitoring,” says Wong.

Today, Spectera is used in several key productions, like The Chase, Fox Footy and AFL coverage, improving audio and streamlining workflows. Since adopting the system, NEP has reduced setup time from several hours and resources to less than 40 minutes.

The remote management It is also now more effective. With WebUI spectrum y LinkDesk, engineers can remotely monitor battery levels, RF performance, and package status, reducing the need for on-site adjustments and supporting NEP's shift toward a centralized and remote production model.

The deployment of the Sennheiser solution has also changed the internal workflows from NEP Australia. Spectera enables A1s in central control rooms to take on more responsibilities, easing the burden on A2s working in the field and paving the way for scalable, multi-site deployments.

Spectera deployment is combined with monitors Neumann and the Merging Anubis audio interface, “a very powerful configuration” that allows the team to “easily transport, configure and commission the system,” says Wong. “Our customers were impressed by the small footprint, ease of use, versatility and, of course, the sound.”

Spectera, in NEP mobile units

By mid-2025, NEP has begun preparations to bring Spectera to its mobile units. Starting from hybrid configurations, the Australian company hopes to combine the system with the Sennheiser 6000 Series Handheld Microphones.

Recently, NEP conducted a test during the live broadcast of the boxing match between SBW and Gallen, an event that took place at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney. This covered venue, with capacity for 20,000 people, offered a valuable opportunity to test Spectera on a large scale.

Despite the complexity of the environment, the system worked perfectly together with him existing NEP RF equipment: "Although this was a new type of setup, there were no unpleasant surprises and I was able to do most of the assembly myself. Once the system was up and running, our field team, who had not seen Spectera before, were able to quickly familiarize themselves with it and get it up and running live. The sound was excellent and the talent was very happy," explains Wong.

Following the success of this trial, NEP is considering broader use of Spectera in live sporting events high profile, including upcoming NRL events, where the combination of flexibility, quick setup and reliable coverage could transform referee communications and IEM deployment: "We are trialling Spectera for referees and IEMs in live matches. The idea of putting a base station on the mobile unit and running antennas is a new opportunity for us."

On the horizon is the integration of Spectera in contexts SMPTE 2110. This jump will allow Spectera to connect directly to mixing consoles, intercom systems and commentary units remotely. Wong considers that this evolution will mark a before and after: "If we can transmit signals from anywhere to anywhere, we will no longer be limited by geography. That is the future (...) Spectera is not just another RF system. It is a change in our way of conceiving broadcast audio."