DA26 Overview and Use Cases

What Is the DA26?

The OREI DA26 is an HDMI ARC audio converter designed to extract digital audio from a TV’s ARC or eARC HDMI port and convert it into analog stereo audio through RCA and 3.5mm output.

The DA26 is commonly used to connect a modern TV to older audio equipment that does not have HDMI ARC/eARC, Optical, or modern digital audio inputs. It allows audio from the TV, including built-in apps like Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, Prime Video, and other streaming apps, to be sent to analog speakers, amplifiers, receivers, headphones, or stereo systems.

The DA26 supports PCM 2.0, Dolby Digital 5.1, and DTS 5.1 audio input and can downmix Dolby Digital or DTS 5.1 audio into 2-channel analog stereo output.

IMPORTANT — DA26 Converts ARC/eARC TV Audio to Analog Audio

The OREI DA26 is designed to take audio from a TV’s ARC or eARC HDMI port and convert it to analog audio.

This means it can be used when your TV only has HDMI ARC/eARC audio output, but your audio system only has RCA or 3.5mm analog input.

For example, the DA26 can be used to connect:

• ARC/eARC TV to RCA amplifier 
• ARC/eARC TV to older stereo receiver 
• ARC/eARC TV to 3.5mm headphones or speakers 

This makes it useful for customers who want to use older audio equipment with a newer TV.

IMPORTANT — DA26 Can Downmix Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 to Stereo

The DA26 supports audio downmixing from Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 into 2-channel analog stereo audio.

This is important because many TVs and streaming apps output Dolby Digital or DTS audio. A basic converter may not be able to convert those formats into analog stereo, but the DA26 is designed to do this.

The DA26 outputs analog stereo audio through:

• RCA L/R output 
• 3.5mm stereo output 

Note: The final output is always 2-channel analog stereo audio. It does not output 5.1 surround sound through RCA or 3.5mm.

IMPORTANT — DA26 Does NOT Support CEC Volume Control

The DA26 does not support CEC volume control.

This means your TV remote will not control the volume of the audio device connected to the RCA or 3.5mm output ports.

If you connect speakers, headphones, an amplifier, or a stereo receiver to the DA26, volume must be controlled from the connected audio device itself, not from the TV remote.

For example:

• If you connect powered speakers, use the speaker volume control. 
• If you connect an amplifier, use the amplifier volume control. 
• If you connect headphones, use a headphone amp or volume control if available. 

The TV remote may still control the TV interface, but it will not adjust the analog output volume from the DA26 through CEC. This is because CEC is an HDMI-only feature and does not work over other ports such as Optical, RCA or 3.5mm.

Ports and Panel Layout

Audio Decoding LED Status

This LED helps confirm what type of audio signal the DA26 is receiving and converting.

Step-by-Step Setup

1. Connect an HDMI cable from your TV’s ARC/eARC HDMI port to the ARC IN port on the DA26. 
2. Connect the DA26 to your audio device: 
   • Use RCA L/R output for an amplifier, receiver, powered speakers, or stereo system. 
   • Use the 3.5mm output for headphones, powered speakers, or a 3.5mm audio input. 
3. Connect the included USB power cable to the DA26 and plug it into a USB power source. 
4. Turn on the TV and the connected audio device. 
5. Go into your TV’s audio settings and enable ARC/eARC audio output. 
6. Set the TV audio output to HDMI ARC, “external speaker”, or receiver depending on your TV’s menu. 
7. Set the TV audio format to PCM, Dolby Digital, or DTS depending on your content and TV options. 
8. Check the DA26 LEDs: 
   • Power LED should be on. 
   • ARC LED should be on when the TV is sending ARC audio. 
   • Audio Decoding LED will show PCM, Dolby, or DTS status. 
9. Adjust volume from the connected amplifier, speakers, headphones, or audio device. The TV remote will not control the RCA or 3.5mm volume through CEC.

Cable Requirement — Important

Use a reliable HDMI cable between the TV’s ARC/eARC HDMI port and the DA26’s ARC IN port. An ultra high-speed certified HDMI 2.1 cable works best even though the DA26 only supports ARC.

Also make sure the HDMI cable is connected to the correct HDMI port on the TV. Most TVs only have one HDMI port labeled ARC or eARC. If the cable is connected to a normal HDMI input, the DA26 will not receive TV audio.

What Audio Devices Is the DA26 Compatible With?

The OREI DA26 is compatible with audio devices that accept analog RCA or 3.5mm stereo input.

It can be used with:

• Powered speakers 
• Stereo amplifiers 
• Older AV receivers 
• Headphones 
• 3.5mm speaker systems 
• RCA stereo systems 
• Audio receivers without HDMI ARC/eARC 

The connected audio device must have its own volume control because the DA26 does not support CEC volume control from the TV remote.

What TVs Is the DA26 Compatible With?

The OREI DA26 is compatible with TVs that support HDMI ARC or eARC audio output.

It can work with TV audio from:

• Built-in streaming apps 
• Cable box or other streaming devices like Fire TV Stick connect to one of the other inputs on the TV 
• Smart TV apps like Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, Prime Video, Hulu, etc. 

For the device to work, ARC/eARC must be enabled in the TV settings, and the HDMI cable must be connected to the TV’s ARC/eARC HDMI port.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the OREI DA26 used for? 
A: The DA26 is used to convert audio from a TV’s ARC/eARC HDMI port into analog stereo audio through RCA or 3.5mm output.

Q: Can the DA26 get audio from TV apps like Netflix, YouTube, or Disney+? 
A: Yes. As long as your TV has an ARC/eARC HDMI port, the DA26 can convert that audio to RCA or 3.5mm analog stereo output.

Q: Does the DA26 support eARC? 
A: Yes, the DA26 can be used with an eARC TV as well, however, it cannot downmix Dolby Digital Plus, TrueHD or Atmos audio. Most eARC TVs will have a setting to turn off eARC and only pass through standard ARC, it is recommended to keep it that way.

Q: Does the DA26 output surround sound? 
A: No. The DA26 outputs 2-channel analog stereo only through RCA and 3.5mm. It can accept Dolby Digital or DTS 5.1, but the output is downmixed to stereo.

Q: Will my TV remote control the volume of speakers connected to the DA26? 
A: No. The DA26 does not support CEC volume control. The TV remote will not control the volume of the audio device connected to the RCA or 3.5mm ports. Volume must be controlled from the connected speakers, amplifier, receiver, or headphones separately.

Q: Can I connect the DA26 directly to a Blu-ray player, Roku, Apple TV, or game console? 
A: No. The DA26 is designed to receive audio from a TV’s ARC/eARC HDMI port only. It is not a standard HDMI audio extractor for direct HDMI source devices. It does not work with ARC/eARC soundbars either.