Sennheiser Spectera at the Centre of NEP Australia’s Audio Evolution

18 November 2025

NEP Australia adopts Sennheiser’s Spectera to simplify RF workflows and boost audio quality across major broadcasts like the AFL, NRL, The Chase, and more

Sydney, Australia, 19 November 2025 - Having led the charge in broadcast innovation for over 30 years, NEP Australia continues to deliver premium sports and studio content to the region’s major networks and streaming platforms. From the AFL and NRL to netball, international football, and entertainment hits like The Chase and headline boxing events such as SBW vs Gallen, NEP has built a reputation for quality, agility, and technical leadership.

As the broadcast landscape evolved, NEP identified growing challenges in managing limited RF spectrum, reducing setup times, and enabling more effective remote production. To address these needs, the team turned to Sennheiser’s Spectera wideband wireless ecosystem, a compact and bidirectional solution that uses software control to simplify and modernise traditional RF workflows.

"We provide broadcast facilities for the majority of sporting codes in Australia, as well as a wide range of studio shows. We've been looking forward to using Spectera across all of them," explains Alex Wong, Senior Supervising Audio Director at NEP Australia.

“NEP’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of broadcast workflows made them the ideal partner for Spectera’s rollout in Australia,” says Peter Hall, Sales Manager, Pro Audio, Sennheiser Australia. “They had a clear vision for how it could work across their productions, and it was great to help shape that from the ground up.”

*NEP and Anubis in action*
*Photo Credit: Alex Wong/NEP*

The Challenge: RF Congestion and Logistical Headaches

NEP’s audio team faced challenges with an increasingly congested RF environment and the logistical burden of deploying multichannel systems. Spectrum coordination became especially difficult in cities like Sydney, where dense RF traffic limited flexibility.

“It’s a pretty hostile world out there for frequency management. We need something agile and easy to set up,” says Wong.

The logistical demands of Outside Broadcast (OB) production only heighten the need for streamlined systems that reduce time and equipment load on site. Additionally, NEP’s shift toward remote production required systems that were reliable, remotely manageable, and light on on-site configuration.

The Solution: Sennheiser Spectera

NEP implemented a wireless system that integrates microphones, IEMs, and control data into a single RF channel, simplifying RF planning and reducing equipment complexity.

The system includes a compact 1U Base Station, SEK bidirectional bodypacks, and DAD antennas operating in TV-UHF and 1.4 GHz, with remote monitoring handled through LinkDesk and a browser-based WebUI.

Initially drawn to the compact footprint and simplified cabling, NEP deepened their understanding through an in-depth RF session led by Volker Schmidt from Sennheiser’s German team. “That session really helped us see how Spectera could address our spectrum issues and support more effective remote control,” says Wong.

*Neumann monitors in NEP’s hub*
*Photo Credit: Alex Wong/NEP*

Today, Spectera is active across several key productions, including The Chase, Fox Footy, and AFL coverage, improving audio and streamlining workflows. Trials are also underway for sports and NRL events, showcasing its versatility across live sports productions.

In line with Sennheiser's 80th anniversary of innovation, solutions like Spectera reflect the company's continued commitment to advancing broadcast audio, helping meet the evolving needs of the industry.

Result: Faster Deployment, Better Audio, and Smarter Workflows

Since adopting the system, NEP has reduced setup time from several hours and resources to under 40 minutes, allowing the team to focus on content production rather than technical logistics. Remote management is now more effective, too. With WebUI and LinkDesk, engineers can monitor battery levels, RF performance, and pack status remotely, reducing the need for onsite adjustments and supports NEP’s shift toward a centralised, remote-first production model.

Spectera’s flexibility was also demonstrated during a live mariachi band session, where engineers easily mic’d instruments and vocals, even with older cabling, showing its adaptability across formats.

Importantly, the rollout has also shifted internal workflows. With its software-first approach, Spectera enables more responsibility to sit with A1s in central control rooms, easing the load on field-based A2s and paving the way for scalable, multi-site deployments.

“The build quality is exactly what we expect from Sennheiser,” says Annabelle Salomon, Audio Director at NEP. “But the flexibility and ease of use really stood out. We had the system installed and running in under an hour, and its footprint is just a quarter of what we’d typically need.”

Also being used in their setup are Neumann monitors and Merging’s Anubis audio interface. When used alongside Spectera, it is “a very powerful setup” that allows the team “to transport, setup and run the system single-handed,” Wong says. “[Our] clients were impressed with the small footprint, ease of use, versatility and of course, how it all sounded.”

*Sennheiser HMD 27 and Merging Anubis in use*
*Photo Credit: Alex Wong/NEP*

Moving from Studio to Stadium with Spectera

As of mid-2025, NEP is preparing to bring Spectera into OB environments. Initial hybrid setups will pair the system with Sennheiser's 6000 Series handhelds for full versatility.

A recent trial took place during the live broadcast of SBW vs Gallen, a headline boxing match at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena, an indoor venue that seats up to 20,000 and offered a valuable opportunity to test Spectera at scale. Despite the complexity of the environment, the system performed seamlessly alongside NEP’s existing RF gear.

“Even though this was a new type of setup, there were no nasty surprises, and I was able to do most of the rigging myself”, shares Wong. “Once the system was up, our field crew, who hadn't seen Spectera before, were able to get across it quickly and run it live. It sounded great and the talent was very happy.”

Following the success of this test, NEP is eyeing broader Spectera use across high-profile live sports, including upcoming NRL events, where the combination of flexibility, fast setup and reliable coverage could transform referee comms and IEM deployment.

“We’re testing Spectera for referees and IEMs in live games. The idea of putting a Base Station in the OB truck and running antennas out is a new opportunity for us,” says Wong.

A major focus is the upcoming integration of SMPTE 2110, a technology that allows audio signals to travel over IP networks rather than traditional cabling. This will enable Spectera to connect directly to mixing consoles, intercom systems, and commentary units remotely. “Its scalability and flexibility have already impressed us,” says Salomon. For NEP, 2110 will facilitate a more flexible, connected broadcast workflow, overcoming geographical limitations

Wong sees this evolution as transformative. “If we can stream signals from anywhere to anywhere, we’re not limited by geography anymore. That’s the future.”

Spectera: Built with Broadcasters, Evolved Through Collaboration

NEP’s longstanding partnership with Sennheiser has shaped several key products over the years. “Sennheiser has always built what we need. The MKH 8018 mic filled a World Cup gap for us, and Spectera is the same. They're not just selling gear, they're listening to end users,” says Wong.

As early members of the Spectera Pioneer Program, NEP provided feedback on UI design, hardware ergonomics, and pack monitoring, an opportunity Wong describes as rare in the industry. This level of collaboration allowed NEP to contribute to the product’s evolution, ensuring it meets real-world broadcast demands. Salomon adds that the collaborative process has been beneficial, with the system’s adaptability fitting well into NEP’s evolving workflows.

Shaping the Future of Broadcast Audio

NEP Australia's implementation of Spectera represents a major step forward in simplifying and enhancing live and remote broadcast audio. With faster setup, enhanced sound, and scalable architecture, NEP is improving its production environments.

“Spectera isn't just another RF system. It’s a shift in how we think about broadcast audio. And we’re ready for what’s next,” Wong concludes.

For more information on NEP Australia: https://www.nepgroup.com.au/

For more information on Sennheiser, please visit Sennheiser.com.

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