The hall was originally intended as an acoustic venue, specifically for the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra, which has been very successful, and has a huge following. But Daniels recognized early on that there was significant demand for a broad range of entertainment in the Naples area, and that the hall would ultimately benefit from a more multipurpose design that would incorporate amplified performances as well. Hence the plans were adapted mid-construction to include sound reinforcement. It proved a wise decision, indeed: in addition to orchestra concerts, the main venue hosts several hundred individual events throughout the year, running the gamut from jazz and pop to musicals, comedy and spoken word.

Though the venue's original sound system was adequate, it didn't meet the requirements of many guest performers. Touring acts coming in often insisted on bringing their own systems. Not only was this costly for the center, but the systems were not effectively matched to the room. The theatre is a very intimate, but exceptionally wide room, and it was difficult to get full coverage throughout. People sitting right in the front were getting blasted out, while people on the sides weren't hearing anything. As for the people sitting in the upper boxes — some of the center's major supporters — they'd frequently have speakers hung right in front of their sightlines, and, to add insult to injury, they weren't getting good audio from them.