There are several ways you can hook your Univox CLS-1 to your TV.
1. Direct to TV
The simplest way is to hook your
Univox CLS-1 directly to the audio output jacks on the back of your TV. This is the ideal way to do it if your TV has audio outs that are fixed (independent of the volume control). You can quickly test this. If your TV has fixed (independent) audio outs, then muting your speakers doesn’t affect the volume on the audio outs (and your loop system). If your TV has fixed (independent) audio outs, just plug the red and white patch cord plugs into the right and left audio outs on the back of your TV. Make sure you are plugging into the outputs (the left two jacks shown in the example), not the inputs (the 6 jacks shown on the right in this example). Your TV may be different.
Plug the other end of the patch cord into the “Line” or “Mic/Line” jack on the back of the Univox CLS-1. (They are the same internally although they are labeled differently, so it doesn’t matter which one you use.) Note: Don’t connect audio/line outs to the “Mic” jack, only mic outs, or you risk blowing your Univox CLS-1.
If your TV does not have fixed (independent) audio outs, you may not be able to adjust the volume on the TV to a comfortable listening level for a person with normal hearing and still have enough power to drive the loop amplifier, nor will you be able to mute the sound from the speakers without cutting all sound to the loop at the same time.
In order to get around this problem, see below.
2. Via Your VCR
If your TV has variable (dependent) audio outputs, you can plug the Univox CLS-1 into the audio outs of your VCR and the other end into the Univox CLS-1 (as above).
Now, with your VCR and TV on, you can set the volume of your TV to a comfortable level or mute it if you want and this will not affect the sound in your loop at all.
3. Via Your Stereo
If you don’t have a VCR, and if you run your TV sound through your stereo system, you can hook up your Univox CLS-1 to the audio outs of your stereo and hear though the loop this way.
4. If Your TV Has No Audio Output Jacks
If your TV doesn’t have any audio output jacks, all is not lost. You still have one or two options available to you.
If your TV has a headphone jack, you can plug a stereo patch-cord (Radio Shack #42-2387; $7.49) into it and into the Univox CLS-1. This will cut out the sound to the speakers though, so no one else can listen at the same time. Turn the volume on the TV up so there is adequate signal for the Univox DLS-50.
The other option is to purchase a microphone and plug it into the Univox CLS-1 jack marked MIC, then place the microphone near the TV speakers to pick up the sound from them. (You can also use this microphone to hear a person speaking to you if the person clips it close to his mouth.)
My present TV has no audio out or headphone jack. It’s an old Visio. I do have a CD player connected to it that has audio output RCA jacks. Will those work for me with your loop amplifier? Thanks. It’s great to find a sympathetic resource after dealing with an audiologist who seems to be unaware of what’s out there. JH
Hi Jerry:
If your TV doesn’t have any audio outputs at all, then you can’t hook the loop system directly to your TV. However, if you have a CD RECORDER/player that has a TV tuner in it, then you are in luck. You’d have to hook the TV antenna cable up to it and then run another cable from it to the TV antenna input. THEN you could hook the Univox to the audio outputs on the CD box and as long as you have the same channel set on the box as on the TV, you’ll have the right sound for the channel you are watching.
However, if your CD unit is just a player, not a recorder/player, then this won’t work as you have no way of getting the TV signal into the CD box.
If you have a cable box, you could use the audio outputs on the cable box. That is another option.
I’m surprised your TV doesn’t have audio outputs on it. Even TVs from 20 years ago had audio outputs.
Cordially,
Neil
I made all connections. The power light is on but the loop light is not on and the unit does not work. Any suggestions?
Hi James:
If only the power light is on, then you know the problem lies in your sound source or cables joining it to your loop amplifier. The loop light will never come one unless the sound input light isn’t already on.
Maybe you don’t have everything hooked up correctly. It’s possible, for example, that you have plugged into the audio inputs on your TV or cable box (or whatever). You need to plug into the Audio OUTS to get the signal to the loop amplifier.
If you need more help, email me privately or phone me.
Cordially,
Neil
the power light is on, the jacks come from the tv audio out to line on the cls 1 box the two lights flicker than die out any suggestions?
I think I found the problem. I changed from cable to direct tv and the new box does not have red white audio out it has digital out same as my tv. I did have the cables initially hooked up wrong. however what do I do with fact that the cls 1 box cable is not digital??
Hi Bill:
This is an easy problem to fix. You can get a small gizmo box, called a digital to analog converter (DAC) that has the digital (Toslink and coaxial) input jacks on one side and the analog (RCA red and white) jacks on the other side. So all you have to do is plug a toslink cable from your sound source to the input side of the DAC and the RCA cable that comes with the CLS-1 to the output side.
Note, there are two kinds of DACs. One only handles standard stereo (PCM) while the other handles Dolby 5.1 surround sound in addition to PCM.
You can get DACs on the Internet or you can get one from us at http://hearinglosshelp.com/shop/dolby-5-1-surround-sound-digital-to-analog-converter/ . We just carry the Dolby/PCM DAC at this time. That way you are covered no matter how the sound output is set.
Cordially,
Neil
Hi Neil
A useful site: thanks. I don’t have a TV; rather, a Yamaha 5.1 AV receiver and projector. I want to send the center channel only to a CLS-1 (haven’t bought it yet). But the receiver has no audio outs except the speakers. I see the CLS1 line input is rated to 4V max into 5 Kohm. In normal use my center probably goes no higher than 10W, i.e. 9V RMS signal into 8 ohms. Can I therefore connect a CLS-1 directly to the center speaker terminals, in parallel with the speaker, but adding, e.g. a 20K resistor in series to stay within the CLS-1 input limits? Thanks.
Jo
PS to previous… the AV receiver is fed via HDMI (mainly from a BluRay player with WiFi), and I’m not about to try to extract 5.1 channels of audio from that feed: because of EDID problems, it never works. And on second thought, maybe a 50Kohm resistor would be better to get the volts right for the CLS1 input.
Hi Jo:
I’m not ignoring you. Just having some technical difficulties getting the information I need to help you. Be patient, the answer is coming.
Cordially,
Neil
Hey, no problem…most people took a break recently! And my haring isn’t going bad that quickly!
Hi Jo:
Here’s the information you wanted. The best way to connect the output from your speaker amplifier to the DLS-50 (or any other loop amplifier) is to get a speaker to line level converter.
Note: make sure it has an isolation transformer in it.
You can do a google search for the term “speaker to line level converter”. Or you could go to this link I chose at random and see a variety of them for yourself.
http://electronics.mcmelectronics.com/electronics/Speaker-To-Line-Level-Converter
The output will be the familiar red and white RCA jacks.
Cordially,
Neil
AWESOME
Thank you so much. I didn’t even know they existed! Your note about isolation (the transformer) is noted. Also I noted that some have ridiculously low impedances (which I think would fry them!) It seems that $25 or so will do it: isolation, 50 k impedance, etc.
Now you’ve filled the difficult link in my plan, I have to actually order the Univox and a couch loop and do the wiring around the room molding etc, etc! And I don’t even my t-coil hearing aids yet: that’s next week!
I’ll let you know how it goes, probably a month or more.
Thanks again.
Jo