Friends have purchased tickets for a theatre performance. The last time I attended the theatre, I had decent hearing! I hope you can give me advice about accommodations.
I wear Oticon ONs, with T-coils. It’s possible that I’ll be fine without help, but the T-coil setting with the induction loop in our church is a superior listening experience – similar to Bluetooth streaming. The theatre has an infrared system, which I understand is different.
The theatre offers headsets for the infrared system or the choice of three options that are compatible with their portable RF receiver (which I guess is FM?): headphones, “ear speakers” (an “easily cleaned” ear clip that “doesn’t mess up hair”), or an LA-166 neck loop made by Listen Technologies.
All of these induce a strong gross-out, yuck reaction. I don’t for an instant believe they are well cleaned. And I am self-conscious about devices that call attention to the wearer. I guess the least offensive choice would be the RF receiver with the neck loop.
Does anyone have experience or advice about this? Are neck loops interchangeable? I have one kicking around from the pre-Bluetooth era. For people who attend the theatre more frequently, would buying their own neck loop make sense? (The LA-166 is discontinued, but the same company offers a new version for $93.)