Quest Goes Full DIVA

The Australian Musuem of the Performing Arts opens in Melbourne

Australia’s newest museum, The Australian Musuem of the Performing Arts (AMPA), located in Melbourne’s Hamer Hall, opened with a bang on the night of December 10, 2025 with a grand opening party themed ‘Divas Through the Ages’. The theme was inspired by their first exhibition, DIVA, opening to the public the next morning.

Hundreds of famous and fashionable guests walked the red carpet and embraced the theme of the evening, with standout looks from notable Australian divas including Courtney Act and Reuben Kaye. Our very own Kate Miller-Heidke performed with her band, as her legendary dress atop a swaying pole from her 2020 Eurovision entry ‘Zero Gravity’ loomed above the crowd.

AMPA was created to showcase the Australian Performing Arts Collection, an incredibly culturally important collection of almost 850,000 items collected by Arts Centre Melbourne over the last half-century. We’re talking items like Peter Allen’s maracas, Nick Cave’s visual journal, Kylie Minogue’s gold hot pants, and a cloak worn by Dame Nellie Melba. There’s something for everyone in the collection, with every major performing arts discipline represented, from Dame Joan Sutherland to Chrissy Amphlett, from AC/DC to the Australian Ballet.

It was totally appropriate to open the museum with DIVA, an exhibition developed by London’s Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A). The exhibition features more than 250 objects including 60 items drawn from the V&A’s Collection, items from Arts Centre Melbourne’s Australian Performing Arts Collection, and items loaned from across the world.

Running until 26 April 2026, the exhibition showcases legendary divas including Maria Callas, Judy Garland, Joan Crawford, Grace Jones, Cher, Prince, Tina Turner, Elton John, Madonna, Adele, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Whitney Houston, P!nk, Bjork, Billie Eilish, and more.

Representing Australia’s contributions to diva-dom are Dame Nellie Melba, Peter Allen, Marcia Hines, Kylie Minogue, Olivia Newton-John, Kate Miller-Heidke, Chrissy Amphlett and Dame Edna Everage. Other more recent trailblazing Australian divas include Jessica Mauboy, Amy Taylor of Amyl and the Sniffers, Reuben Kaye, and Meow Meow.

The voice of the diva is amplified by a sonic experience designed by legendary London-based sound designer Gareth Fry. Which brings me to the technical heart of AMPA, and their partnership with manufacturer Quest Engineering, born and headquartered in Melbourne. Quest are the official Technology Partner of AMPA, and worked closely with Arts Centre Melbourne and engineering consultants Aston Consulting to ensure that the museum was provided with audio infrastructure that could accommodate any requirement as it reconfigures for every exhibition.

“Quest are an Australian company, and it feels right for the brand to be the Technology Partner of the Australian Museum of the Performing Arts,” says Shane Cannon, Director of Sales at Quest distributor Group Technologies. “We’re part of the Australian arts community, involved with Arts Centre Melbourne, and this is a stage we want to be on.”

With Aston Consulting in charge of the technology overview, Arts Centre Melbourne staff determined how many audio channels the space would need, how signal would be patched and distributed, and how many speaker outputs would be built into the space.

They had to bear in mind that the museum is a completely open space; the walls, divisions, and sections of DIVA are specific to that exhibition, and will change completely in six months. That will be the ongoing technical reality of running audio in the venue.

The backbone of the audio system is a Dante network, designed to carry 64 channels. 16 four channel Quest QXD-2KD Dante-enabled power amplifiers with DSP provide enough amplification channels for the whole network. In addition, two Quest QXD-5KD Dante-enabled power amplifiers are available to run subwoofers.

All of the amps sit in a central rack, with a physical patching system of outputs similar to a lighting patch bay. “On the back of the rack, you’ve got connections for the outputs of each amplifier channel,” explains Shane. “And then there’s all these speaker leads connected to the speaker patch points throughout the space – you just physically patch up which channel you want to go to each point.” Exhibitions are typically run on industry standard software QLab, but the Dante network can accommodate input from pretty much any other kind of set-up.

While there are 64 Dante channels and 64 speaker outputs, AMPA knew they would almost never actually need that many loudspeakers. Their initial stock consists of 24 Quest Qi5 2-way

5″s, eight Qi25 2-way dual 5″s, and eight Qi12S 12” subwoofers. All Quest loudspeaker processing is run in the QXD amps.

The grand opening party was even run on a Quest PA, with Kate Miller-Heidke’s stunning operatic range more than handled by the system. “We provided Arts Centre Melbourne’s Events Team with a Quest HPI system,” confirms Shane, “There were six HPI110s 10” 2-ways handling front of house through the space, along with two HPI12S subwoofers.”

Attending the opening with Shane, Quest co-founder Mark Ladewig, and a group of engineering consultants and audio pros, we were a very conservatively dressed group among the many divas, drag queens, performing arts legends, and celebrities. Really, we’re all more used to working with divas than actually being them! Being there for the tech, I can report the HPI system cut through the full Hamer Hall foyer with assurance, and the audio in the exhibition itself was excellent without ever attracting attention to itself, in the best possible way. AMPA is an asset to the Australian performing arts community, and Quest are the perfect partner.

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Main Pic: Opening Night. Photo Credit: Mark Gambino

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AUDIO TECH SPECS

Amplification and Processing

Quest QXD-2KD

Compact 1RU, 4 x 500W Class-D amplifier designed for high-output installations, capable of operating at 8Ω, 4Ω, 70V, or 100V. It utilises UMAC Class-D technology for ultra-low distortion, high efficiency, and precise full-bandwidth performance. It includes an onboard 32bit/96kHz DSP with FIR/IIR filtering, RMS and peak limiters, and integrated Quest custom speaker libraries.

For control and monitoring, the QXD-2KD features a front-panel TFT display with a rotary encoder, alongside RJ45 (network port) and GPIO for external control and monitoring. The RJ45 port allows for integration into networked AV systems, providing comprehensive remote monitoring and control.

Reliable operation is ensured through universal mains compatibility and fan-assisted temperature-dependent cooling.

Quest QXD-5KD

A high-powered, 2RU, 4 x 1250W Class-D amplifier delivering up to 2500W per channel in bridged mode and supporting 70V/100V operation. Built on UMAC Class-D architecture, this amplifier offers exceptional dynamic range, ultra-low distortion, and highly efficient power delivery. It includes an integrated 32bit/96kHz DSP for precise signal management, featuring FIR/IIR filters, peak and RMS limiters, and onboard Quest speaker presets.

For control, a high-resolution TFT display and LED-illuminated encoder are available on the front panel. Network control and GPIO are accessible via the RJ45 port, allowing for remote management and integration into broader AV systems.

The amplifier features Neutrik speakON outputs and powerCON mains connections for professional-grade reliability.

Key Specifications:

• Channels: 4 x 750W (Low-Z), 2 x 2500W (bridged), 2 x 1500W (70V/100V)
• DSP: 32bit/96kHz FIR/IIR Filters, limiters, speaker libraries
• Mounting: 2RU rack
• Control: RJ45 and GPIO, front TFT display

Loudspeakers

Quest Qi5

A premium 5-inch loudspeaker designed for installations. Its crafted timber cabinet enhances acoustic integrity by minimising resonance, while advanced driver technology ensures precise reproduction of both vocals and music. Versatile mounting options and a subtle, refined design allow the Qi5 to blend seamlessly into various environments such as bars, restaurants, and intimate commercial spaces.

Key Specifications:

• Impedance: 16 Ω
• Transducers: 1″ HF and 5″ LF
• Dispersion: 120° x 80°
• Horn: Rotatable
• Power: 135W RMS
• Mounting: horizontal and vertical brackets

Quest Qi25

A dual 5-inch configuration in a two-way passive design engineered for balanced and efficient sound reproduction. Its architectural integration features a smooth front acoustic grille and a rotatable waveguide that provides consistent directivity. Designed to deliver robust output with extended mid-bass performance, the Qi25 is ideal for applications where both visual appeal and superior acoustics are paramount.

Key Specifications:

• Impedance: 8 Ω
• Transducers: 1″ HF & dual 5″ LF
• Dispersion: 120° x 80°
• Horn: Rotatable
• Power: 250W RMS
• Mounting: horizontal and vertical brackets

Quest Qi12

The Qi12S subwoofer delivers controlled low-frequency reinforcement in a discreet, compact form factor. Its proprietary long-excursion 12-inch driver and hybrid horn-loaded enclosure provide high output and extended bass response, ideal for small to medium-sized installations. The low-profile hardwood cabinet allows for hidden placement under stages, within joinery, or in ceiling cavities, ensuring minimal visual impact. Designed to integrate seamlessly with Qi Series loudspeakers and QXD amplifiers, the Qi12S offers dedicated DSP presets and control for consistent, high-performance system operation.

Key Specifications:

• Impedance: 8 Ω
• Transducers: 12″ LF
• Power: 300W RMS