After trialling Martin Audio’s active Multi-cellular Loudspeaker Array (MLA) on a series of high profile events, premier UK rental company, RG Jones Sound Engineering Ltd has become the first UK company to invest in the new award-winning system. The premier rental company confirmed the purchase of a System 36 on the opening day of this year’s Prolight+Sound Show in Frankfurt.

The complement of 24 fully-integrated MLA top boxes and 12 MLX subs, with six dedicated amplifier and DSP channels per enclosure, will make their debut on a series of high-profile shows at the end of April and beginning of May.

Championing the cause for RG Jones had been the company’s hugely experienced sound engineer Simon Honywill, who had put MLA through its paces on Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of War of the Worlds tour, Raymond Gubbay’s Classical Spectacular and on shows with Katherine Jenkins in Ireland to evaluate its full dynamic range and consistent delivery to every seat in the house. From the moment he declared, “We’ve made a massive leap forward with the MLA … the results are remarkable,” the investment looked a certainty.

RG Jones’ joint managing director, John Carroll, said the company had been looking for a large format system and MLA came along at the right time. ”We felt committed to buying when we could see a demand for it over the first year. We’re thrilled to be the first UK sound company to invest in the system and we’re quite sure that we won’t be the last.”

Their faith in the system looks guaranteed, and in addition to the late Spring shows followed by the usual summer madness, MLA is again confirmed for the next War of the Worlds arena tour, starting in November 2012.

Added RG Jones Project manager, Steve Carr, “We have been involved with Martin Audio for many years. MLA is one of the most exciting developments that has happened for a long time so it’s a great opportunity to broaden our client base With the systems that have already been sold to the US, it was inevitable that it would start to appear on riders.”

Joint managing director Andrew Williamson stated that the high degree of controllability had been a major factor in the decision making. “It’s the first self-powered system we've owned and provides a major truck-space solution as it is not necessary to employ amp racks. That’s a major advantage.”

A further advantage is that as a consolidated Martin Audio house, RG Jones’ existing W8LC Compact Line Array will work in harmony with MLA should delays or outfills be required on a large scale show.

Summarised Martin Audio’s Director of Sales, Simon Bull, “RG Jones has been one of our most loyal customers over the years, and our presence on the Pyramid stage at the Glastonbury Festival has been entirely due to them. We are delighted that they have decided to make this investment and we will be looking to support them every step of the way.”