Broadway’s Gershwin Theater in New York Installs Hearing Loop from Listen Technologies
New York CityNov. 6, 2013Broadway’s celebrated Gershwin Theater is providing a more immersive experience for all its patrons by installing a hearing loop system from Listen Technologies. The hearing loop system enables audience members who need assistive listening to receive crystal clear audio signals directly through their T-Coil hearing aids, cochlear implants or Hearing Loop receiver. Bill Register, director of facilities and theater management for Nederlander, which operates the Gershwin Theater and eight other theaters in New York said, “The Gershwin Theater recently underwent a renovation with new seats and carpet. With the 10th anniversary of Wicked’ upon us, we felt now was an opportune time to provide a different kind of upgrade to the theater. Being installed under the carpet, the hearing loop is invisible to the eyes, but for our patrons with hearing loss, the giant leap in clarity of sound is literally music to their ears.”
In order for hearing loops to be effective, an audience member must have a hearing aid equipped with a telecoil or “T-Coil”, which at the press of a button receives a signal. Nearly 70 percent of hearing aids today are equipped with a t-coil and all new cochlear implants come with T-Coil. The entire Gershwin theater, including the orchestra and upper mezzanine, is looped so no matter where a patron is seated in the theater, the signal will be as clearor even betterthan if they were sitting in the front row.
The hearing loop system from Listen Technologies was installed by Leo Garrison of Metro Sound Pros, who has installed several other hearing loop systems throughout New York including museums, tour busses, taxi cabs and other Broadway theaters. The hearing loop installation also enables the Gershwin Theater to be compliant with the current ADA requirements for assistive listening. Three technologies are available for venues to meet ADA compliance: radio frequency (RF), infrared (IR) and hearing loop. RF and IR systems transmit signals over radio waves or infrared signals to an individual through a receiver and earphones. Hearing loop systems, however, are becoming the preferred technology for assistive listening because no receivers or earphones are required to obtain the signal, its transmitted directly to an individual’s T-Coil equipped hearing aid or cochlear implant.
Hearing loop systems are ideal for a number of venues including:
- Airports
- Ticket counters and information booths
- Banquet halls
- Board rooms and large meeting rooms
- Court rooms
- Cruise ships
- Doctors’ offices and pharmacy counters
- Drive thru and pick up windows
- Elevators, trains and buses
- Museums
- Places of worship
- School auditoriums
- Sports facilities
- Theaters and performing arts centers
About Listen Technologies Corporation
Listen Technologies brings power and clarity to the sounds that enrich your lifeby overcoming the challenges of noise, distance, lively debate and hearing loss to deliver precise and personalized audio in any setting or environment. With Listen solutions, you can cut through the clutter and connect to an experience of pure, focused sound. Listen solutions are used in gathering places around the world including schools, houses of worship, factories, entertainment venues, government agencies and more. For more information on Listen solutions watch this video. Contact Listen Technologies at 1.800.330.0891, +1.801.233.8992, or visit www.listentech.com.
About Metro Sound Pros Since 1994, the owners of Metro Sound Pros, Inc. have been designing and installing sound, lighting, and video systems for all applications. Work has always been done first hand with quality, compatibility, ease of use, and functionality being the top priorities. The entire staff at MSP is fully trained to use the products they install. For more information Metro Sound Pros, Inc. visit www.metrosoundpros.com or call +1.845.429.7900.
