Meyer Sound News : Tokyo's Nissei Theatre Celebrates Its 42nd Year with New Meyer Sound System

Tokyo's Nissei Theatre Celebrates Its 42nd Year with New Meyer Sound System

"We have used a number of Meyer Sound speakers in the hall over the past few years, and have always been very impressed with their performance. When the decision was made to upgrade the sound system, several loudspeaker systems were auditioned, but it became clear that the best improvement over the last Meyer Sound system was a new Meyer system."

- Tomonori Hoshino
Chief Sound Engineer, Nissei Theatre

The Nissei Theatre, located in the Nippon Life Hibaya Building in the heart of central Tokyo, first opened its doors in October 1963 with a performance of Fidelio by Deutsche Oper Berlin. The theatre is still going strong 42 years later, having hosted countless performances of opera, plays, musicals and concerts by touring companies from around the world, as well as productions of its own Nissei Masterpiece Theatre, Nissei Opera and Family Festival. The Nissei Theatre is supported by the Nissei Culture Foundation, which was established in November 1973 through a contribution by the Nippon Life Insurance Company to bring high-quality domestic and international productions to Tokyo.

The Hibaya building is a landmark structure with breathtaking architecture throughout, including touches of marble, curved glass and stainless steel. In keeping with the 1,330-seat theatre's exquisite nature and stunning décor, Tokyo-based Hyfax Professional Sound System and Design has designed a new, upgraded sound system for the hall built on Meyer Sound self-powered loudspeakers.

The system comprises a pair of CQ-1 wide coverage main loudspeakers and a pair of CQ-2 narrow coverage main loudspeakers, augmented by four UPM-1P ultra-compact wide coverage loudspeakers, four UPA-1P compact wide coverage loudspeakers, and two UPA-2P compact narrow coverage loudspeakers. Two 650-P high-power subwoofers reinforce low frequency content.

The FOH mixing console is designed and built by Hyfax, a fully digital 48-channel Expert console intended for theatres and concert halls. A Yamaha DM2000 console is employed for monitors and as a submixer, with both desks located in a separate control room. Sennheiser Mikroport 5000 EM1046 wireless microphones are on stage.

"We have used a number of Meyer Sound speakers in the hall over the past few years, and have always been very impressed with their performance," remarked Tomonori Hoshino, the theatre's Chief Sound Engineer. "When the decision was made to upgrade the sound system, several loudspeaker systems were auditioned, but it became clear that the best improvement over the last Meyer Sound system was a new Meyer system."

December, 2005