History was made 30 years ago when the Prolight + Sound event and entertainment technology show took place for the first time from March 8 to 12 1995 in Frankfurt Germany. The show started out as an independent product group within the Musikmesse show in the focused on pro gear Halls 10 and 11, at the far end of the massive Messe Frankfurt tradefair complex. Since then, Prolight + Sound has developed into one of the world’s leading trade fairs for technologies and services in the fields of entertainment, live shows and events.
Now in its 30th year, Prolight + Sound 2025 (held April 8-11 in Frankfurt) proved it’s still the place to catch what’s next in live production. With over 23,000 attendees from 108 countries, the show spotlighted how far the industry has come — AI-assisted control, sustainable touring practices, modular gear and smarter workflows were front and center.
From FOH consoles to energy-efficient lighting rigs and automated camera systems, the show floor, workshops and educational sessions felt less like a product parade and more like a preview of how live shows will run in the next decade. Whether you’re mixing front of house, designing a touring rig or running power onsite, Prolight + Sound 2025 offered plenty to take home and apply in real-world situations.
Speakers Reign Supreme
As expected, much of the focus was on speaker systems, yet a relative non-transducer newcomer was CrewBrain software (www.crewbrain.com) that makes staff planning for your events fast, easy, and efficient, via a quick overview of upcoming events, rehearsals and other jobs for band members and company staff alike.
The Prolight + Sound outdoor area in front of Hall 11 continued the tradition of showcasing stage constructions and sound reinforcement systems under realistic conditions. Audio companies offering ongoing demos included Amate Audio, CELTO Acoustique, DAS Audio, HK Audio, KV2 Audio RCF, TW Audio, Voice-Acoustic and Wharfedale Pro — among others.
Covering all the new product launches could fill several magazines, but on the speaker side, here are a few P.A. product debuts that caught our attention.
Portugal’s Amate Audio showed its X82FD, a high-performance, Dante-equipped powered point-source design, in a lightweight 50-pound, dual-8″ format (with rotatable center horn), based on its best-selling 2×10″ X102FD. A stage wedge version is also offered. www.amateaudio.com
dBTechnologies demoed Aurora Net 2025.1.0, the latest system control software for its speaker systems, which now can automatically update firmware and preset libraries. It also provides full support of all A2NET products. www.dbtechnologies.com
Due to ship this summer, Electro-Voice’s EVOLVE 70 and EVOLVE 90 column loudspeakers are designed to meet pro user demand for lightweight, large format members of the EVOLVE family of portable powered column loudspeakers. They feature 15” and 18” subwoofer options and larger MF/HF drivers, large voice coils and subwoofer laminar vent design, for more output and deeper bass performances. Other features include neodymium column drivers, aluminum distance pole, and lightweight materials throughout along with a design that allows for quick assembly. www.electrovoice.com
K-array expanded its Dragon Series with the KXT12P and KXT18P models. Featuring advanced tri-axial technology, these are available in 12” and 18” models and promise an impressive combination of SPLs and clarity, well suited for clubs and sports venues. Other K-array product innovations include an MKI edition of the KX12, in two versions: the KX12 I and the KX12F I. Also new: the KGEAR GT12, the KSCAPE Rail S system and the Dolomite Series. www.k-array.com
LD Systems’ ICOA PRO models ICOA PRO 12 A and 21” ICOA PRO SUB 21 A are now available. The ICOA PRO 15 A will be available shortly. All top cabinets are high-performance coaxial P.A. speakers for pro applications, with wireless Bluetooth 5.1 control of EQ, delay, gain and preset selection. www.ld-systems.com
Available in two sizes, with 12-inch and 15-inch woofers, RCF’s special waveguide design on its new Compact C speakers allows for accurate control of the directional characteristics, so in difficult acoustic environments, intelligibility is significantly increased. The speaker also features a 100° x 50° rotatable constant directivity waveguide. Optional speaker horns can change directivity to 100° x 25° or 60° x 25°. www.rcf.it
Voice-Acoustic’s Score 6 passive 2-way system is equipped with two 6,5” transducers in a D’Appolito arrangement and a 1” compression driver coupled to a rotatable CD horn with either 60° x 40°, 90° x 60° or 120° x 40° dispersion. The 120° horn is ideal for listeners who are far away from the main dispersion center. The narrow 40° beam angle in the vertical axis, offers a very good long distance high-frequency response with this horizontally wide-radiating horn. The Score-6 has a 55° and 25° monitor angle, and its low design — when positioned horizontally — makes it ideal in front stage near-fill applications. White speakers and special colors are available. www.voice-acoustic.de
More to Come
The next Prolight + Sound Frankfurt will take place from 24 to 27 March 2026. For more info about this and other event and entertainment technology shows, including expos in Guangzhou, China (May 27-30, 2025) and an upcoming Prolight + Sound Middle East in Dubai, visit www.prolight-sound.com/worldwide
