MKM Showtechnik of Darmstadt, Germany, the first of a number of German rental companies buying the new loudspeaker, employed a dozen MICA cabinets, supported by seven 700-HP ultrahigh-power subwoofers in a horizontal line array at the Burggrabenfest concert in Darmstadt. The show received favourable reviews for sound in the German press.
12 of the MICA units going to Best Audio/Dispatch are headed for the inventory of rental company Atelier Lumiére near Bordeaux, who will be using them in conjunction with its MILO high-power curvilinear array loudspeakers and 700-HP subwoofers. Dispatch will take MICA on tour with Zazie as part of a system that also includes 18 M3D line array loudspeakers. Dispatch will also be using MICA for the Montreux Jazz Festival, for which Meyer Sound has been a sponsor for 18 years. MICA will provide the main system for Miles Davis Hall. London's Capital Sound Hire is also taking delivery of 18 cabinets, which they will be working hard over the summer concert season, starting with shows by the Finn Brothers and Kasabian.
The Asia-Pacific region is embracing MICA, as well, with some of the earliest shipments going to ATL in Japan, Leifull Enterprises in China and Meyer Sound Australia. The Australian complement is part of a system being installed at the Sydney Convention Centre that will consist of 12 MICA cabinets, 12 M1D ultra-compact curvilinear array loudspeakers and four 700-HP ultrahigh-power subwoofers.
Back in the USA, MICA is hitting coast to coast: early orders were placed by Sound Associates in New York, by LMG in California.MICA features high power-to-size ratio, pristine fidelity, 100-degree horizontal coverage and convenient rigging. As the newest (and smallest) member of the MILO family of loudspeakers, MICA matches the clarity and smooth, extended high-frequency response exhibited by all of the previously released MILO models in a package appropriate to smaller venues and perfect for fill applications in conjunction with main MILO arrays. Featuring two newly-designed high-power 10" cone drivers and two 3" diaphragm compression drivers mounted on a custom patented REM ribbon emulation manifold which is coupled to a brand new horn, MICA can produce up to 138 dB SPL peak output with exceptionally flat phase and frequency response over its operating frequency range of 60 Hz to 18 kHz. The integral four-channel type AB/H amplifier pumps out 3,020W of total output power (6,000W peak) to drive the system and measures 41.4" wide by 13.4" high by 17.8" deep and weighs in at approximately 153lb.
MICA's QuickFly rigging features captive GuideALinks eliminate any need to risk putting hands between cabinets whilst rigging and the RMS remote monitoring system is also included as standard with the system.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
