Project: Insight Meditation & Clyde Theatre

Insight Meditation in Fort Wayne, Indiana, offers weekly Dharma talks, guided meditations, and other events in a hybrid format that welcomes both in-person and online participants. On any given Tuesday evening, the meditation hall hosts upwards of 20 attendees gathered to listen, reflect, and connect. Teachings and guided meditations are given in a calm, soft-spoken style that fits the space’s meditative tone.

Challenge

Clear, accurate sound is crucial to the experience at Insight Meditation. A guided meditation or Dharma only lands if listeners can hear every word. And for listeners with hearing loss, that wasn’t always happening, especially in a space that relies on a quiet, natural speaking voice instead of a loud PA system.

The team at Insight Meditation started looking for options to bridge the gap. They knew they needed something simple, dependable, and discreet enough to blend into the background. Beyond the weekly Dharmas and guided meditations, the organization also runs other courses where reliable assistive listening would make a real difference. The team wanted a solution flexible enough to support those too. They did their own research into what was available before reaching out to a local rep at Online Marketing, who works closely with Sweetwater, to discuss solutions.

Solution

Their rep brought a ListenRF demo kit to the space, and it didn’t take long to know it was the right call. The team tested the system hands-on, listening for where it might start to drop out and whether it would hold up for the space. Within five to ten minutes, the fit was clear. Given the size and layout of the hall, a ListenRF 72 MHz system with a quarter-wave antenna was the perfect fit. The system had the simplicity and dependability they were looking for. It was a quick setup, and reliable enough to become a “set it and forget it” part of the space.

Results

Since going live in July 2026, the system has delivered consistent, positive feedback nearly every week. One moment specifically stood out. After the first Dharma with ListenRF installed, two attendees mentioned they were able to hear every single word. They were visibly moved by how included they felt. It was a small interaction with a big impact. It’s also a reminder that solving for accessibility isn’t just a technical fix, but a way of welcoming people fully into the room. Greeters now make a point of letting attendees know that assistive listening devices are available. The team at Insight Meditation has also since ordered additional receivers and charging trays because of demand.

The Story Continues

One of Insight Meditation’s founding board members also works in production at the Clyde Theatre, a concert venue in Fort Wayne with a capacity of roughly 2,300, or about 1,000 seated general admission depending on how the room is configured. His first-hand experience with Listen Technologies at Insight Meditation followed him into a very different kind of space. One filled with packed crowds and national touring acts, not quiet reflection.

Challenge

A guest with a cochlear implant requested assistive listening at a show, which triggered the Clyde Theatre team to implement a system as quickly as they could. Given how loud a live concert venue can get, cochlear implant users are exactly the kind of listener the venue expects to need this most. ADA compliance was a part of the decision as well. Even though requests for assistive listening have been rare, the Clyde Theatre wanted to be fully prepared for them.

Solution

Having already trusted Listen Technologies, and the relationship with their rep team behind it, the decision to bring ListenRF into the Clyde Theatre was a no-brainer. This time, they needed something larger and more flexible to handle a much louder space. The same qualities that stood out at Insight Meditation were important here: stability, ease of use, and documentation that made the whole process easy. Box office staff now let guests know assistive listening is available at the door.

Results

The system has been live at the Clyde since August 2026. So far, only the original guest who requested it has used the system. Detailed feedback is still limited given how new the install is. But the value here looks a little different than it does at Insight Mediation. It’s less about the number of users and more about readiness. The Clyde Theatre is now fully ADA-compliant and prepared to serve any guest who needs it.

What’s Next

A new venue is under construction in downtown Fort Wayne. It’s a $60 million renovation of a 100-year-old building into a roughly 1,700-1,800-seat theater. Plans for assistive listening are still in the works, with the team weighing their options based on what today’s audiologists most often recommend to reach the broadest possible cross-section of their audience. One thing is for certain, though — the production team plans to implement a Listen Technologies system based on the previous great experiences.