HDA-927 Overview and Use Cases – OREI

What Is the HDA-927?

The OREI HDA-927 is a 4K HDMI eARC audio extractor designed to bridge the gap between a modern HDMI source (or an eARC/ARC-capable TV) and an older AV receiver or amplifier that has an HDMI input but no ARC or eARC support. It separates the audio from the HDMI signal and routes it to the AVR as a dedicated HDMI audio-only stream, while simultaneously passing full 4K video to the connected TV or display.

The HDA-927 operates in two modes controlled by a physical eARC switch on the front panel: Mode 1 extracts audio directly from an external HDMI source (the switch set to OFF); Mode 2 extracts audio from the TV's ARC/eARC return channel and sends it to the AVR (switch set to ON). An EDID switch further controls which output’s capabilities are advertised to the source device, ensuring optimal resolution and audio format negotiation.

Product at a Glance

Ports and Panel Layout

Port / Control	Location	Function
INPUT	Left panel	HDMI input port — connect source device (Blu-ray, streaming device, gaming console, PC)
DC 5V	Left panel	USB power input — connect USB cable to a USB power adapter or USB port on TV/source to power the device.
eARC Switch	Left panel	ON: AUDIO OUT 2 outputs audio from TV’s ARC/eARC connection. OFF: AUDIO OUT 2 outputs audio from the HDMI media source
EDID Switch	Left panel	OUT1: copy EDID from the display connected to OUT 1. OUT2: copy EDID from AVR connected to OUT 2. Fallback: internal 1080p 2CH if copy fails
TV eARC/ARC	Right panel	Video and eARC audio passthrough — connects to a TV or display. When using a TV that supports ARC/eARC, connect to the relevant port on the TV.
AUDIO	Right panel	HDMI audio-only output — connects to legacy AVR HDMI input for audio transmission. Does NOT carry video

Understanding the eARC and EDID Switches

eARC Switch — Which Position Should I Use?

OFF (default) → Source Audio Extraction Mode: The HDA-927 extracts audio from whatever is connected to the INPUT port (Blu-ray, streaming device, gaming console). Use this when you want audio from an external source to reach your AVR.

ON → TV ARC/eARC Extraction Mode: The HDA-927 extracts audio from the ARC or eARC port on the connected TV and routes it to the AUDIO OUT 2 port. Use this when you want audio from the TV's streaming apps (Netflix, Disney+) to reach your legacy AVR.

EDID Switch — Which Position Should I Use?

OUT1: The HDA-927 reads the display capabilities (EDID) from the device connected to eARC/ARC OUT 1 (your TV) and advertises those to the source. Use this when you want the source to output the maximum resolution your TV supports.

OUT2: The HDA-927 reads the EDID from the AVR connected to AUDIO OUT 2 and advertises those to the source. Use this when the source should match its audio output to what the AVR supports.

If EDID copy fails (e.g. AVR reports no EDID), the HDA-927 falls back to internal EDID: 1080p, 2-channel PCM. Tip: start with OUT1 for most setups — switch to OUT2 only if audio format negotiation is incorrect.

Step by Step Setup

Mode 1 — Source to Legacy AVR (Most Common)

Set the eARC switch to OFF.
Set the EDID switch to OUT1 (start here — adjust to OUT2 only if audio format is incorrect after testing).
Connect source device (Blu-ray / streaming device / console / PC) to INPUT on the front panel.
Connect HDA-927 eARC/ARC OUT 1 (rear panel) to any HDMI input on the TV.
Connect HDA-927 AUDIO OUT 2 (rear panel) to any HDMI input on the legacy AVR.
Connect USB power cable to DC 5V on the front panel.
Power on all devices. Confirm audio plays through the AVR and video appears on the TV.
If audio format is incorrect (PCM instead of TrueHD): set source audio output to Bitstream and switch EDID to OUT2. Power cycle all devices.

Mode 2 — TV ARC/eARC Audio to Legacy AVR

Set the eARC switch to ON.
Connect the TV's ARC/eARC-labelled HDMI port to HDA-927 eARC/ARC OUT 1 (rear panel).
Connect HDA-927 AUDIO OUT 2 (rear panel) to any HDMI input on the legacy AVR.
Connect USB power cable to DC 5V.
Enable ARC or eARC in TV audio settings. Set TV audio output format to Bitstream.
Power cycle in order: power off TV and AVR. Power on AVR first, then TV. Wait 10 seconds between each.
The eARC LED on the HDA-927 front panel should illuminate green when the handshake is established.
Play content on TV streaming apps — audio should now route through the AVR.

LED Status Reference

eARC LED RED or OFF — Audio is extracted from the HDMI source at INPUT (Mode 1 / switch OFF).

Use Cases — When to Choose the HDA-927

Legacy AV Receiver with HDMI Input (No ARC/eARC)

Situation: You have an older Denon, Yamaha, Onkyo, or Marantz receiver with HDMI inputs that doesdo not support ARC or eARC. You want to route Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD Master Audio from your source through the receiver to your speakers without replacing the AVR.

How HDA-927 helps: HDA-927 extracts audio from the HDMI source and delivers it as a clean HDMI audio-only signal to the AVR's HDMI input. The AVR receives and decodes Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio (including Dolby Atmos & DTS:X), and up to 7.1-channel audio natively.

Used with: AVRs, Amplifiers or Soundbars that do not have an ARC/eARC HDMI port.

Smart TV Streaming Audio to Legacy AVR (ARC/eARC Extraction)

Situation: Your TV supports ARC or eARC. You want audio from Netflix, Disney+, or YouTube (playing on the TV's built-in apps) to route to your older AVR — but the AVR cannot receive ARC/eARC.

How HDA-927 helps: Set the eARC switch to ON. Connect the TV's ARC/eARC port to HDA-927 OUT 1. Connect HDA-927 OUT 2 (AUDIO ONLY) to the AVR HDMI input. The HDA-927 extracts the TV's audio return signal and delivers it to the AVR as a standard HDMI audio stream.

Used with: Newer gen TVs with ARC/eARC support and legacy AVRs, Amplifiers or Soundbars.

Gaming Console — 4K@60Hz HDR + Surround Sound to Legacy AVR

Situation: You have a PS5, Xbox Series X, or Nintendo Switch in docked mode, and a legacy AVR that cannot process ARC/eARC but does have standard HDMI inputs. You want 4K@60Hz HDR on the TV and full surround sound through the AVR simultaneously.

How HDA-927 helps: Connect the console to the INPUT port. OUT 1 passes 4K HDR video to the TV. OUT 2 sends extracted audio (Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos, DTS-HD MA, and DTS:X) to the AVR HDMI input. The HDA-927's 18Gbps bandwidth ensures no resolution or HDR downgrade on the video path.

Used with: PS5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch (docked). Legacy AVRs with HDMI inputs: Denon, Yamaha, Onkyo, Pioneer.

Compatibility

AV Receiver and Amplifier Compatibility

This device is designed to work with any AV Receiver (AVR) featuring a standard HDMI input, specifically those that do not rely on ARC or eARC for incoming signals. Confirmed compatible models include the Marantz SR5009, Onkyo HT-RC230 (notably for Samsung Neo QLED eARC extraction), and the Denon AVR-X and Yamaha RX-V series. It is also suitable for home theater amplifiers and projectors that support HDMI audio passthrough.

However, the unit is not compatible with soundbars like the Sonos Arc or Bose 700/900, which require a dedicated ARC/eARC connection; for those setups, the HDA-929 is recommended instead. It will not work with devices where the only HDMI port is labeled ARC/eARC, nor is it compatible with optical-only or 3.5mm-only systems, which require the HDA-912. Because this device outputs strictly via HDMI, it cannot be used with hardware lacking an HDMI input. Users should also note that the AUDIO OUT 2 port transmits a 720p dummy video signal to facilitate the audio stream, which may be displayed by your receiver.

TV Compatibility (for Mode 2 — ARC/eARC Extraction)

TV Brand	ARC/eARC Port and Settings
Samsung	Enable eARC: Settings > Sound > Expert Settings > HDMI eARC Mode > On. Connect HDA-927 to the HDMI port labelled ARC (typically HDMI 2).
LG	Enable ARC: Settings > Sound > Sound Out > HDMI (ARC) > Enable. eARC port is typically HDMI 2.
Sony	Enable eARC: Settings > Display & Sound > Audio Output > eARC Mode > Auto. eARC port is typically HDMI 3.
Hisense / TCL	Enable ARC in Sound settings. Check port labelling directly on TV — 'ARC' printed beside the port.
Samsung Neo QLED (specific note)	Customers have reported needing to set Samsung TV audio output to PCM when connecting to certain legacy AVRs via HDA-927 — the AVR may not decode Bitstream from the ARC channel correctly. If no audio: try PCM output first, then Bitstream.

Source Device Compatibility

Source Device	Compatibility Notes
Blu-ray Players (Sony, Panasonic, Samsung)	Fully compatible. Set Blu-ray audio output to Bitstream (Primary Audio) to pass TrueHD and DTS-HD MA. Do not use Secondary Audio Mix.
Roku Ultra / Roku Streaming Stick	Confirmed working in both modes. Set Roku audio to Dolby Digital or Auto Passthrough.
Apple TV 4K (2nd/3rd gen)	Confirmed working. Set Apple TV audio format to Dolby Atmos (if supported by AVR) or Dolby Digital 5.1. Use 18Gbps HDMI cable.
PS5	Confirmed working at 4K@60Hz. Set PS5 audio output to Bitstream (Dolby). HDA-927 does not support 4K@120Hz — for 120Hz gaming, use BK-927 or BK-931.
Xbox Series X	Confirmed working at 4K@60Hz. Enable Dolby Atmos in Xbox audio settings. 4K@120Hz not supported on HDA-927.
PC (NVIDIA / AMD GPU)	Confirmed working. Set EDID switch to OUT2 for GPU to read AVR audio capabilities. Enable Dolby Atmos for Home Theatre in Windows Dolby Access app.
Amazon Fire TV Cube	Confirmed working. Set Fire TV audio to Dolby Digital Plus or Dolby Atmos passthrough.
NVIDIA Shield Pro	Confirmed working. Update Shield to latest firmware for best HDCP compatibility.
4K media players / NAS streamers	Fully compatible. Ensure player outputs audio in Bitstream format, not PCM, for lossless audio.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does the HDA-927 do exactly?

A: The HDA-927 takes an HDMI signal from a source device (e.g. Blu-ray player, Roku, gaming console, PC) and splits it: video goes to the TV via OUT 1, and audio goes separately to a legacy AV receiver via AUDIO OUT 2 as a dedicated HDMI audio-only signal. It can also work in reverse (eARC switch ON): extracting audio from the TV's ARC/eARC port and routing it to the AVR. In both cases, the AVR must have a standard HDMI INPUT port — not an ARC or eARC port.

Q: Can I use the HDA-927 with my Sonos Arc or Bose 900 soundbar?

A: No. The HDA-927 is not compatible with eARC soundbars such as Sonos Arc, Bose Smart Soundbar 700, or Bose Smart Soundbar 900. These soundbars require an eARC or ARC HDMI input signal. The HDA-927 AUDIO OUT 2 outputs a standard HDMI audio-only signal — not an ARC/eARC signal. For Sonos Arc, Bose 700/900, and similar eARC soundbars, use the HDA-929 instead.

Q: My soundbar/AVRdoes not have an HDMI input port — will the HDA-927 work?

A: No. The HDA-927 outputs audio only via HDMI (AUDIO OUT 2). If your soundbar or receiver has only an optical (Toslink), 3.5mm, or analogue input and no HDMI input port, the HDA-927 cannot deliver audio to it. For optical or 3.5mm output, use the HDA-912 instead.

Q: What is the difference between the eARC switch ON and OFF positions?

A: OFF (default): the HDA-927 extracts audio from the device connected to the INPUT port (your source device — Blu-ray, console, streaming device). ON: the HDA-927 extracts audio from the TV's ARC or eARC return channel (the signal that the TV sends back to audio devices).

Q: Does the HDA-927 support CEC — can I control volume with my TV remote?

A: Yes, the HDA-927 passes CEC pass-through. This means your TV remote's volume commands are forwarded to the AVR via the HDMI connections (granted the AVR also supports CEC). However, the HDA-927 does not actively process or generate CEC commands — it only passes them through. CEC must be enabled on both the TV and the AVR. Some older AVRs disable CEC on non-primary HDMI inputs, which can prevent remote volume control from working even when CEC is technically supported.

Q: Does the HDA-927 support 4K@120Hz for PS5 or Xbox Series X?

A: No. The HDA-927 is HDMI 2.0b (18Gbps) and supports a maximum of 4K@60Hz. For 4K@120Hz gaming with audio extraction, use the BK-927 (HDMI 2.1, 48Gbps) or BK-931 (HDMI 2.1 with optical and 3.5mm outputs). The HDA-927 is the recommended choice for 4K@60Hz setups with legacy AVRs.