[Avodah] Tefila Over Loudspeakers At a Big Gatherings

[Prof. Levine]

 From http://revach.net/article.php?id=2181

Rav Shlomo Zalman says that hearing something through an electronic 
device such as loudspeaker or telephone is not considered hearing in 
Halacha.  The reason is that you are not hearing a person's voice 
rather you are listening to an electronic simulation of it. 
Technically you cannot be yotzei any bracha or even answer amen.

If so during large gatherings where a microphone is used by the 
Chazan, how could people answer amen?  Rav Shlomo Zalman explains 
that the shul in Alexandria, Mitzrayim was so large that people could 
not hear the Chazan.  They set up a flag system where people would 
answer upon seeing the different flags being waived and this way 
would be able to participate in the tefila and they answered amen 
even if they didn't actually hear.

Similarly he says if you are standing in a minyan and cannot hear the 
chazzan, but only know that amen is being said because you hear it on 
the speaker system, then you may answer amen together with the 
Tzibbur.  Not because you are answering to the loudspeaker but rather 
because you are part of a minyan.  Although you do not technically 
hear what they are saying, the loudspeaker indicates this to 
you.  However if you are not standing in the presence of the minyan 
you may not answer. (Halichos Shlomo, Tefila 22:15)
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