BK-401 Overview and Use Cases – OREI

What Is the BK-401?

The OREI BK-401 is an 8K 4x1 HDMI switch that allows you to connect up to four HDMI source devices to one TV, monitor, or projector.

It is useful when your display has limited HDMI ports and you want to connect multiple devices such as a PS5, Xbox, Blu-ray player, PC, laptop, streaming box, cable box, or media player without constantly unplugging and reconnecting HDMI cables.

The BK-401 supports HDMI 2.1 and HDCP 2.3, with a video bandwidth of 48Gbps. It supports video resolutions up to 8K@60Hz 4:4:4 and 4K@120Hz 4:4:4. It also supports HDR, HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HLG, VRR, FVA, and ALLM pass-through for compatible source devices and displays.

The BK-401 includes four HDMI inputs, one HDMI output, front-panel switching, IR remote control switching, and auto switching support.

IMPORTANT — BK-401 Requires External Power

The BK-401 comes with a 5V/1A power supply and must be connected to power for proper operation.

Connect the included power adapter to the DC 5V port on the BK-401 before using the device.

IMPORTANT — 8K and 4K@120Hz Require Compatible HDMI 2.1 Equipment

To use 8K@60Hz or 4K@120Hz, every part of the setup must support the required resolution and bandwidth.

This includes:

The HDMI source device
The TV, monitor, or projector
The HDMI cables
The video settings on the source device

For 8K@60Hz, 8K@30Hz, or 4K@120Hz, use Ultra High-Speed Certified HDMI 2.1 cables under 15 feet.

Ports and Panel Layout

Port / LED / Button	Location	Function
Power LED	Front panel	White LED turns on when the device is powered
IN LED 1–4	Front panel	The corresponding white LED turns on when that HDMI input is selected
AUTO LED	Front panel	Turns on when auto switching mode is enabled
IR Window	Front panel	Receives signal from the included IR remote
INPUT Button	Front panel	Short press to switch between HDMI inputs; long press for 3 seconds to enable auto switching
DC 5V	Rear panel	Connect the included 5V/1A power adapter
HDMI IN 1–4	Rear panel	Connect HDMI source devices such as a PS5, Xbox, Blu-ray player, PC, or streaming device
HDMI OUTPUT	Side panel	Connect to a TV, monitor, or projector

Step-by-Step Setup

Connect the included 5V/1A power adapter to the DC 5V port on the BK-401.
Connect your HDMI source devices to the HDMI INPUT ports on the BK-401.
Examples include a PS5, Xbox, Blu-ray player, PC, laptop, streaming box, or cable box.
Connect the HDMI OUTPUT port on the BK-401 to the HDMI input on your TV, monitor, or projector.
Turn on your HDMI source devices and display.
Check the front panel LEDs. The power LED should turn on, and the selected input LED should light up.
Use the INPUT button on the front panel or the included IR remote to select the HDMI source you want to display.
Set your source device to the desired resolution and refresh rate, such as 4K@120Hz or 8K@60Hz, if your source, display, and cables all support it.

HDMI Cable Requirement — Critical

For best performance with 4K@120Hz or 8K content, use Ultra High-Speed Certified HDMI 2.1 cables under 15 feet.

Understanding Manual, Remote, and Auto Switching

The BK-401 supports manual switching, remote control switching, and auto switching.

Manual Switching

Press the INPUT button on the front panel to switch between connected HDMI sources.

The INPUT button switches in a cycle:

INPUT 1 → INPUT 2 → INPUT 3 → INPUT 4 → INPUT 1

The corresponding input LED will turn on to show which source is currently selected.

Remote Control Switching

The included IR remote allows direct input selection.

Press IN1, IN2, IN3, or IN4 on the remote to switch directly to that input.

The remote also includes a cycle button that switches through the HDMI sources in order.

Auto Switching

The BK-401 supports auto switching.

Press and hold the INPUT button for about 3 seconds to enable auto switching mode. When auto switching is enabled, the AUTO LED on the front panel will turn on.

Auto switching allows the switch to detect active HDMI sources and switch inputs automatically when supported by the connected devices.

IMPORTANT — Auto Switching Depends on HDMI 5V Signal Detection

The BK-401 supports auto switching, but it works by detecting the 5V signal coming from the connected HDMI source device.

In simple terms, the switch looks for which HDMI source appears to be “active.”

If one source is connected and then another source is plugged in or powered on, the BK-401 can automatically switch to the newly detected source.

However, many modern streaming devices do not fully turn off. Devices such as Apple TV, Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast, Roku, and similar media players often go into standby mode instead of shutting down completely. Even in standby, they may continue sending a 5V signal through HDMI.

Because of this, the BK-401 may still detect that device as active, even when the customer thinks it is “off.”

For example:

If you have an Apple TV connected to Input 1 and a PlayStation 5 connected to Input 2, the BK-401 may switch to Apple TV when the PS5 is turned off because the Apple TV is still sending an HDMI 5V signal.

But when you later turn the PS5 back on, the switch may not automatically switch away from Apple TV because the Apple TV never fully stopped sending its HDMI 5V signal.

In this type of setup, manual switching using the front panel button or included remote may be needed.

What Source Devices Is the BK-401 Compatible With?

The OREI BK-401 is compatible with HDMI source devices such as:

PlayStation 5
Xbox Series X/S
Nintendo Switch
Gaming PCs
Laptops with HDMI output
Blu-ray players
DVD players
Apple TV
Roku
Fire TV
NVIDIA Shield
Cable boxes
Satellite receivers
Other HDMI media players

For 8K@60Hz or 4K@120Hz, the connected source device must support that resolution and refresh rate.

What Displays Is the BK-401 Compatible With?

The BK-401 can be connected to HDMI displays such as:

TVs
Monitors
Projectors
Gaming monitors
Commercial displays

For high-resolution or high-refresh-rate output, the connected display and cable must support the selected video format.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the OREI BK-401 used for?
A: The BK-401 is used to connect up to four HDMI source devices to one TV, monitor, or projector. It lets you switch between devices without unplugging HDMI cables.

Q: Is the BK-401 bi-directional?
A: No. The BK-401 is not bi-directional. It only works as an HDMI Switch with four HDMI inputs to one HDMI output.

Q: Does the BK-401 need a power adapter?
A: Yes. The BK-401 includes a 5V/1A power adapter and must be connected to power.

Q: Can I use the BK-401 with PS5 or Xbox Series X?
A: Yes. The BK-401 can work with PS5 and Xbox Series X for high-performance gaming setups, including 4K@120Hz when the TV or monitor and HDMI cables also support 4K@120Hz. It also supports gaming features such as VRR and ALLM.

Q: Can I switch directly to a specific input?
A: Yes. Use the included IR remote and press IN1, IN2, IN3, or IN4 to switch directly to that input.

Q: Can I switch inputs from the device itself?
A: Yes. Press the INPUT button on the front panel to cycle through the connected HDMI inputs.

Q: Does the BK-401 support auto switching?
A: Yes. Press and hold the INPUT button for about 3 seconds to enable auto switching mode. The AUTO LED will turn on when auto switching is enabled.

Q: What audio formats does the BK-401 support? Or Does the BK-401 output audio too?
A: The BK-401 send audio to the connected display through the HDMI connection. It supports audio formats like LPCM, Dolby Digital/Plus/EX, Dolby TrueHD, DTS, DTS-EX, DTS-96/24, DTS High Res, DTS-HD Master Audio, and DSD.

Q: Can I use a capture card to record games from my PlayStation or Xbox?
A: This device is HDCP compliant and will not bypass HDCP-protected content for capture cards.

Q: Does auto switching work with Apple TV, Fire TV Stick, Chromecast, or Roku?
A: Auto switching may not work consistently with these devices because they often stay in standby mode and continue sending a 5V HDMI signal. The BK-401 may still detect them as active even when they appear to be off.

Q: Why does the switch stay on Apple TV even when I turn on my PS5?
A: Apple TV may still be sending a 5V HDMI signal while in standby. Since the BK-401 still sees Apple TV as active, it may not automatically switch to the PS5. Use the front button or remote to switch manually. This applies to other devices such as Fire TV Stick, Roku Stick, Chromecast, etc. as well.

Q: Why do I see a black screen when switching inputs?
A: This is normal. The display needs time to detect the new HDMI signal and complete the HDMI handshake. The delay can vary depending on the display, source device, resolution, refresh rate, and HDMI cables. The BK-401 is not a seamless switch. When switching inputs, the display will usually go black for a second or two while the HDMI signal reconnects.