Maroon 5 and the End of the Analog EraSennheiser this week released word that, with Maroon 5's "first tour to fully deploy Sennheiser Spectera, Dave Rupsch proves that wideband digital wireless is the future of high-stakes stadium audio."

"For 25 years, monitor engineer Dave Rupsch has occupied the high-stakes sonic cockpit for global icons like My Chemical Romance, Katy Perry, Megadeth, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nick Jonas and more," a statement reads. "He has watched the industry undergo a digital revolution, seeing line arrays and consoles evolve into marvels of precision — yet one crucial link remained stubbornly tethered to the past. To Rupsch, a flawless, end-to-end digital IEM transmission was his 'white whale' and the 'utmost needed component to close the loop on modern concert audio technology.' This search felt like an elusive and unattainable goal for far too long."

"That search came to an end during the 2025 Maroon 5 tour. While Rupsch had spent years relying on industry-standard analog wireless systems, the increasing congestion of the UHF spectrum was becoming an unavoidable disruption."

Mark Chipeur, Business Development Manager at Sennheiser who worked directly with the band's audio team on Spectera deployment.

“Introducing Spectera to Maroon 5’s monitor team was about tackling real-world RF and workflow challenges head-on. Rolling the system out with them on the fly at the first Phoenix show in its especially congested RF environment was a true test, and Spectera delivered. Working closely with Dave throughout evaluation and deployment highlighted his deep RF expertise, thoughtful approach to system design, and ability to quickly translate new technology into a reliable, tour-ready solution. 

"Dave’s team had already coordinated their existing wireless Mics and IEM channels so we decided to use the clean RF spectrum in the Duplex Gap. Following this selection Dave wanted coverage not only on stage but also backstage. This helped us to determine optimal antenna placement for continuous performance.”

For further info, visit here.The post Maroon 5 and the End of the Analog Era first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.