OREI Optical SPDIF/Coaxial Digital to RCA L/R Analog Audio Converter with 3.5mm Jack Support & Headphone/Speaker Outputs (DA21)

Like many people who outfitted their entertainment systems with nice audio systems years ago, I'm between a rock and a hard place as a growing number of companies are no longer including standard RCA analog outputs on their equipment.Specifically, I purchased a Sony Blu-Ray/DVD player and it will output only HDMI or digital coaxial sound. That means for me that I can play it through my modern tv speakers only, but not through my twenty year old gorgeous sounding audio system which I love!Enter this nifty little converter, which was easy to use with only one difficulty, which was quickly resolved. First I hooked it up in the most obvious way possible. (In case anyone wants the obvious details: Plug one end of a digital coaxial cable into your Blu-Ray/DVD player and the other end into this converter box. Then plug a pair of red-and-white RCA cables into the converter and the other end into stereo receiver's input. Then plug the converter into a/c power outlet.)First result? Noise. So I looked at the box and noticed a red sticker that said "Important notice! please set the digital output of the audio source to PCM, otherwise there will be noise." I did that, and it worked like a charm. I had thought that since my device was set to "auto" it would automatically pick the right format, but it did not.The red sticker also warns you that the product doesn't decode dolby digital or DTS audio stream. So I guess if you have either of those, don't buy this!For me it worked great. If you do buy it, make sure you have a digital cable (coaxial or SPDIF optical) and a pair of red-and-white RCA cables. Neither are included.PROSWorks great to hook up modern digital sound devices (Blu-Ray/DVD players for example) to an older audio receiver and speakers.Can also be used to hook up a device with digital sound output (ie. a DVD/Blu-Ray player) to stereo headphones via a simple headphone jack.Simple to use and good sound qualityDirections minimal but essential info included via a red sticker on the box. Read the red sticker!CONSDoesn't work for dolby digital or DTS audio stream.Cables not included---buy your own first!

The Orei DA21 is a great device for today's flat-screen TV owners who want better audio.The reason: screen makers (especially Samsung) don't provide enough audio output options to move the sound out and away from their terrible speakers. One particularly bad option: a stereo mini-plug for output either to headphones or a flat "line out" signal. Stereo mini is notoriously unreliable and noisy on high-voltage devices like flat screens -- you often need to twist the plug just so to get rid of static or hum, and the analog cable picks up noise from anything nearby, including the screen itself.But most do provide the optical out option, and this unit cheaply takes advantage of that, so you can funnel the audio easily to a dedicated sound system. This eliminates at least one noisy analog link in your audio chain.Here's my setup. Not too fancy (so I'm glad to find such an affordable product as this):- Samsung 40" LED flat screen- Grace Digital GDI-BTAR513 100 Watt Digital Integrated Stereo Amplifier with Built-In AptX Bluetooth Wireless Stereo Receiver- 2 Klipsch G-12 Flat Panel Speaker (1) (bought used on Amazon - fabulous deal, like new!)- BT-1000 On-Ear Bluetooth Headphones Wireless + Wired Technology Headset Stereo Built-in Mic for Hands Free Calling (Black)- Miccus Home RTX: Long Range, Bluetooth Music Transmitter or Receiver (A2DP) (to transmit audio to the Bluetooth headhpones)- and of course DVD, DirecTV, etc. for sourcesI'm running the (included) optical cable from the Samsung flat screen to the Orei unit, then regular RCA analog cables to the Grace Digital amp which powers the Klipsch speakers. At the same time, I have an analog cable from the Orei headphone out jack to the Miccus Bluetooth transmitter. (Again, the headphone out from low-voltage devices like the Orei seem to have no noise issues, but the high-voltage devices like a flat screen do -- grounding or something, I guess.)As promised in the product description, audio transmits simultaneously from the Orei RCA jack outputs and the stereo mini output. This means I can have the Grace Digital amp / Klipsch speakers on low volume and my headphones turned up high at the same time. If I slip off the headphones (say, to answer the phone), I don't miss out completely on the audio.I have not tried the coax audio output on this unit, but it's a great option to have for noiselessly running your audio to a more high-end home theater audio amplifier.I enjoy getting products that really do work as described, and especially at prices like this.

I have my LG 42LM3400 42" 1080p 60Hz Cinema 3D LED TV connected through a digital optical cable to this device. The stereo output is connected to an old all-in-one Panasonic Home Theatre System (it's from 2005, so it only plays DVD's). I use only a PS3 and Chromecast to view media, no cable.The device works very well, audio is always in sync and there is no distortion. I have had no overheating from the device. It hangs from the digital cable connected to the TV, so it probably receives decent cooling. I do have 2 complaints though.1. Although the device is always powered on, sometimes the audio doesn't output immediately upon power up of the TV and PS3. This never occured with my old LG TV connected to the Panasonic System. It doesn't bother me though because it doesn't always happen and it lasts for at most 2 seconds. There is never interuptions after the TV is on.2. Volume's maximum setting is much lower than when I had my old TV directly connected to the Panasonic system. This is an issue when watching Netflix if there are other semi-loud device on (fans, air conditioner, vaccuum). I would probably need an amplifier to get the volume I used to have with straight analog connections.I still think this is a good buy if you need to hook your new TV with digital only outputs to an old analog Home Theatre System. It's cheaper than buying a new system and it works fine. Just don't expect Movies to be at their loudest. Curiously, when streaming audio on the PS3, the volume get noticeably louder than other content. I'm very pleased with this item as it has worked great for the past 2 months.