L-Acoustics A Series and Syva Deliver Clear Amplification to Isaac Stern Hall Without Compromising Classical Acoustics L-Acoustics A Series and Syva Deliver Clear Amplification to Isaac Stern Hall Wi...

Miyazaki’s Medikit Prefectural Cultural Centre solves fifteen-year challenge, enabling diverse programming in prestigious shoebox hall with an L-Acoustics professional sound system

MIYAZAKI, Japan — February 2026 — Isaac Stern Hall at Miyazaki’s Medikit Prefectural Cultural Centre has completed a comprehensive acoustic renovation that solves a challenge the venue has faced since opening in 1993: delivering clear, controlled amplification for diverse performances while preserving the hall’s renowned acoustic properties for classical music.

The 1,818-seat shoebox-shaped hall, modelled after Vienna’s Musikverein Golden Hall and home to one of Japan’s largest pipe organs, previously relied on a single 15-inch full-range speaker and ceiling speakers for amplification. This limited configuration was adequate for unamplified classical concerts but proved insufficient for contemporary performances requiring sound reinforcement.

“When brass bands play pop music, we sometimes use individual microphones for certain instruments,” explains Fumio Kamata, Sound Engineer at Medikit Prefectural Cultural Centre. “With the previous speakers, when we raised the microphone input signals, the sound would become muddy and mask the natural direct sound of the instruments.”

Specified and installed by Bestec Audio, the new L-Acoustics system addresses both sonic and aesthetic requirements with a distributed design featuring custom-coloured enclosures that integrate seamlessly with the hall’s elegant wooden interior made of locally sourced keyaki and Japanese cherry birch.

The selection process began with demonstrations using floor-standing Syva speakers, which impressed stakeholders with their sonic performance. As planning evolved to include a centre cluster, comparative testing with competing products led to L-Acoustics’ selection based on performance and integration capabilities.

Invisible Integration, Audible Impact

The installation required careful visual consideration. Working with L-Acoustics’ RAL program, the team specified custom white finishes for the main centre cluster, while distributed enclosures were colour-matched to surrounding pillars and architectural elements.

The system architecture centres on a main cluster combining three A10i Focus and one A10i Wide enclosures with four X12 boxes. Floor-level coverage comes from a pair of Syva speakers on stage-side pillars and two X8 enclosures provide monitoring. Second-floor balcony audiences receive coverage from one X15 HiQ and two X12 enclosures, while four 5XT boxes cover the under-balcony seating area. A windowed parent-child room overlooking the Hall receives sound from one 5XT. Six LA4X amplified controllers drive the system.

Clarity Everywhere, New Possibilities Ahead

Norihiro Sekimoto, Acoustics Engineer at Medikit Prefectural Cultural Centre, reports immediate improvements across all seating areas. “The clarity of sound has improved everywhere inside the hall,” he notes. “Sound now reaches areas that were previously problematic, including both sides of the balcony near the pipe organ. Previously, it was sometimes difficult for the MC’s voice to reach the back of the balcony seats, but this has been resolved.”

The benefits extend beyond live performance. Kamata, who also serves as recording engineer at the venue, observes substantial improvements in recording quality. “The quality of the overlapping sound on hanging microphones during recording has improved,” he explains. “It’s now clearer, so voices can be recorded with better clarity and quality. The sound sent to the foyer has also become clearer.”

For performers, the difference is equally significant. “Performers tell us they can now hear themselves much better. The system has received positive feedback,” Kamata adds.

The transformation opens programming possibilities that were previously impractical. “Since the introduction of L-Acoustics has improved clarity, we are considering hosting opera and theatre performances, which have rarely been held here,” says Sekimoto.

The renovation, discussed for more than a decade before implementation, now positions Isaac Stern Hall to serve diverse audiences—from classical purists to contemporary music fans—while maintaining the acoustic characteristics that established its reputation over three decades.

Learn more about Bestec Audio at www.bestecaudio.com

Find out more about the Medikit Prefectural Cultural Centre in Japan at www.miyazaki-ac.jp 

Press release assets are found by clicking here.