Oslo Concert Hall Upgrades 27-Year-Old Meyer Sound System to MICA

The Oslo Concert Hall (Norwegian: Oslo Konserthus) in Norway has relied on the durability and longevity of its Meyer Sound equipment since 1986. A quarter century after installing eight UPA-1 and two USW-1 conventionally powered loudspeakers, the venue again turned to a Meyer Sound solution when it came time for an upgrade. As a result, a MICA line array loudspeaker system was installed by Oslo-based AVAB CAC.

The 1,404-capacity Oslo Concert Hall regularly features a diverse schedule of classical, blues, jazz, and rock performances. The hall’s legacy Meyer Sound equipment has proven its worth, and venue management was ready for a system with more power and flexibility.

“I think it’s unique that our UPA-1 system was so old yet sounded so good—that’s what everybody who used it said,” says Jan Olsen Skare, long-time production manager of Oslo Concert Hall. “Now with the MICA, we have a system that really delivers great reinforcement for many different types of music. In terms of coverage, every seat in the house is a great seat.”

Oslo Concert Hall added 18 MICA loudspeakers, four 600-HP subwoofers, and a Galileo loudspeaker management system with a Galileo 616 processor for system management and processing. The new components are used alongside the venue’s existing Meyer Sound inventory, including four each UPA-1P, UPM‑1P, and CQ-1 loudspeakers.

“MICA delivers the high output and smooth, extended high-frequency response that Oslo Konserthus requires,” says Asle Nilsen, head of sound at AVAB CAC.

Since the audio upgrade, the concert hall has hosted many jazz and classical performances, as well as American singer/songwriters Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell, Melody Gardot, Nanci Griffith, and Norwegian singer Wenche Myhre.