How to Hook Your Univox DLS-50 to Your TV

© May 2006 (revised February 2009) by Neil Bauman, Ph.D.

There are several ways you can hook your Univox DLS-50 to your TV.

1.  Direct to TV

The simplest way is to hook your Univox DLS-50 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 independent of the volume control. You can quickly test this. If your TV has independent audio outs, then muting your speakers doesn't affect the volume on the audio outs (and your loop system). If your TV has 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 DLS-50. (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 DLS-50.

If your TV does not have 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 doesn't have independent audio outputs, you can plug the Univox DLS-50 into the audio outs of your VCR and the other end into the Univox DLS-50 (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 DLS-50 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 DLS-50. 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 DLS-50 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.)