The Bristol Hippodrome has seen the first application of Nexo’s ID24 super-compact loudspeaker, the smallest ever made by the company.
Leading theatre sound provider Orbital Sound is the first rental company in the world to deploy the ID Series, with 24 ID24 boxes providing a key element in the high-specification system alongside two other Nexo systems – a STM M28 modular line array for main PA, augmented by Geo-M6 compact line array modules for upper balcony – in the 2,000-seat venue
With a view to forthcoming rental projects, Orbital has ordered ID24 cabinets in black and white. In Bristol, they have been installed as fills under the two large balconies, as well as stageside for front fill. Orbital MD Chris Headlam describes the ID24 as ‘a latest generation product from the modern era of loudspeaker modelling. The ID24 has a user-rotatable horn, providing 60° or 120° HF coverage; at 120°, it is ideal for our delay/under-balcony/infill applications in the theatre auditorium.’
The ID24 cabinet contains twin 4-inch drivers in combination with an HF compression driver offering two preset directivity options. Since the box can be mounted vertically or horizontally, this effectively gives four different directivities from a cabinet measuring 310mm wide x 132mm high.
‘Vocal projection is very important and these cabinets sound natural even at high SPL. Nexo has made it easier for theatre sound designers; the ID24 is small enough, powerful enough and light enough for use in multiple applications. In Bristol, we’re using two different Nexo line arrays with the ID compacts, and as a rental supplier, I’m impressed by the “family sound” that makes all these loudspeakers sound so cohesive as a system.’
Orbital Sound is also making extensive use of Nexo’s Geo-M6 as the main PA in two other major British theatres – the Royal Opera House in Manchester (1,800-seats) and the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury (1,200-seats). ‘This is a totally contemporary and loudspeaker,’ says Headlam. ‘Made in 2014, it actually sounds more modern that speakers made even in 2010. It has a really low level of distortion, and a lovely spatial top-end. The SPL and throw almost defies logic, when you consider its size.’
At the Marlowe Theatre, with two balconies, Orbital has installed six arrays of Geo-M6; six-a-side lines at performer level, three-per-side at upper stage level for Balcony 1 and with LR six-cabinet arrays flown over the proscenium arch to address Balcony 2. In Manchester, at the historic 1,800-seat Opera House, the Geo-M6 is deployed in LR12-cabinet arrays, under the direction of highly experienced sound designer Chris Whybrow.
‘It has outstanding resistance to feedback, so often the problem that lets down the compact line array. Geo-M6 conquers this problem completely, and sets a new benchmark.’
See also:
Nexo ID24
