Meyer Sound PANTHER Powers Montreux Jazz Festival

The second annual Montreux Jazz Festival Miami made a triumphant return this March, selling out its three-day run at The Hangar at Regatta Harbour and serving up a mix of world-class performances. With a dazzling lineup led by Jon Batiste, Janelle Monáe, Chaka Khan, WILLOW, Cimafunk and an all-star Afro-Cuban jam session, the festival reportedly transported the essence of Montreux to the shores of Biscayne Bay - this time with an expanded audience and a new benchmark of sonic performance, courtesy of Meyer Sound’s PANTHER large-format linear line array loudspeaker system.

As the longtime Global Official Sound Partner of the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland and the Official Sound Partner of Montreux Jazz Festival Miami, Meyer Sound provided an audio experience that met the high expectations set by the festival’s storied legacy. This year’s festival also marked the Miami debut of PANTHER, which delivered powerful sound throughout MJF Miami’s official venue, The Hangar.

Originally built in 1918 as the first continental naval air station, The Hangar is a vast, 20,000-square-foot building with corrugated metal walls, concrete flooring and expansive windows, which all present acoustical challenges. For the second year, Pete Diaz Productions collaborated closely with Meyer Sound’s technical team to design and install a sound system that would overcome reflections, manage bass and optimise coverage throughout the venue.

“We tend to use PANTHER for larger or outdoor venues, but in this case, it really let us push the system harder with fewer boxes while maintaining full clarity,” said Peter Diaz, owner of Pete Diaz Productions. The main system was anchored by six PANTHER loudspeakers per side, with two cardioid arrays of three 2100‑LFC low-frequency control elements providing deep, controlled bass. Nine ULTRA‑X40 loudspeakers were strategically placed as down fills and delays to ensure full-room coverage, including VIP areas. Meyer Sound’s new ULTRA‑X80 versatile point source loudspeakers made their MJF Miami debut, serving as side fills, supported by 900-LFC low-frequency control elements used as side fills and drum fills.

The festival’s outdoor patio area showcased vinyl-only DJ sets hosted by local vinyl listening bar Dante’s Hi-Fi; the stage was supported by twin stacks of four LEOPARD compact linear line array loudspeakers and two 900-LFC low-frequency control elements. “And, we scattered four clusters of 900-LFC low-frequency control elements paired with ULTRA-X40s around the venue,” Diaz explained. “We passed the audio from the inside outside, and vice versa.” Both indoor and outdoor stages relied on MJF-210 and MJF-212A high-power stage monitors, and systems were managed by Galileo GALAXY 816 Network Platforms.

For visiting engineers, mixing on PANTHER was said to be a standout experience. Justin Niles, front-of-house engineer for Janelle Monáe, had the opportunity to mix on PANTHER in two vastly different environments, outdoors in Montreux and indoors at The Hangar in Miami. The system’s adaptability proved essential in delivering consistent, high-fidelity sound across both settings.

“In Switzerland, the environment was working in my favour, while The Hangar in Miami was a very reflective room. But the systems techs Meyer Sound provided made the transition from the two polar opposite environments easy and effortless,” he said.

Niles praised PANTHER’s clarity, linearity, and ability to deliver every nuance of Monae’s set. “From trap beats and rapping to horn solos, we offer just about everything you can expect in a show of its calibre - everything needs to be heard, from every 808 drop to every whisper Janelle puts in her mic. Having such a high-fidelity speaker offers the complete transparency and reinforcement I need for a show such as this; it made it effortless.

“PANTHER is such a small box, but the thing has so much gas I'll never see myself limiting,” he added. “Pair those with 2100-LFCs, and that P.A. is just insane. Of course, volume isn’t what makes a speaker sound good up close, but it helps ensure linearity over distance, which is everything if you want every seat in the room to sound the same.”

The sold-out success of the second Montreux Jazz Festival Miami highlights its growing momentum, with festival organisers looking ahead to 2026.

“Meyer Sound is integral to Montreux’s sonic identity, and their partnership ensures that every festival event meets the highest standards of audio excellence,” said Montreux Jazz Festival Miami co-chair Jeremy Arditi. “We’re thrilled with how PANTHER elevated the sound this year and look forward to continuing to push boundaries as the festival evolves.”

“Montreux has always been about extraordinary music and an uncompromising commitment to sound quality, and we’re proud to have been part of that tradition for nearly four decades,” said Meyer Sound’s executive vice president, Helen Meyer. “This partnership isn’t just about technology, it’s about creating moments where artists and audiences connect on the deepest level. We’re excited to see Montreux thriving in Miami and look forward to many more unforgettable performances ahead.”

The Montreux Jazz Festival will return to Miami in 2026. For more information, visit www.montreuxjazzfestivalmiami.com.