HDA-912 Overview and Use Cases – OREI

What Is the HDA-912?

The OREI HDA-912 is an HDMI audio extractor designed to separate audio from an HDMI source device and send it to an external audio system through Optical or 3.5mm stereo output while passing audio and video to a TV, projector, or monitor.

The HDA-912 connects between an HDMI source such as a streaming device, Blu-ray player, set-top box, gaming console, or media player and a display. It passes both audio and video through HDMI while extracting audio to either an Optical audio device or a 3.5mm stereo audio device.

The HDA-912 supports HDMI 2.0b, HDCP 2.2, with a video bandwidth of 18Gbps, and video resolutions up to 4K@60Hz. It is best suited for simple setups where someone wants to connect an HDMI source to a TV while also sending audio to older speakers, soundbars, AV receivers, or stereo systems that do not receive audio directly from the TV.

IMPORTANT — HDA-912 Does NOT Support ARC or eARC

The OREI HDA-912 does not support ARC or eARC.

This means it cannot extract audio from your TV’s ARC/eARC HDMI port and send that audio to another device. It is not designed to take audio from a TV’s built-in apps such as Netflix, Disney+, YouTube, or Prime Video and send that audio out through Optical or 3.5mm.

The HDA-912 only extracts audio from the HDMI source connected to its HDMI IN port. For example, if you connect a Roku, Apple TV, Blu-ray player, cable box, or game console to the HDA-912, it can extract audio from that source.

It will not work for setups where the customer wants:

TV ARC/eARC audio extraction
Audio from TV internal apps
ARC TV to ARC soundbar connection
Audio from an ARC/eARC TV while also using Optical or 3.5mm output
Sending TV audio to hearing aids or headphones through Optical/3.5mm while using an ARC soundbar

For those setups, an ARC/eARC audio extractor is required instead.

IMPORTANT — HDA-912 Does NOT Decode or Downmix Audio

The HDA-912 does not decode or downmix audio.

This means it cannot convert Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD, Dolby Atmos, or DTS:X into stereo PCM audio.

The 3.5mm L/R output only supports 2-channel stereo audio. To get sound from the 3.5mm port, the source device must be set to PCM, LPCM, or Stereo output.

If the source device is set to Dolby Digital, DTS, Bitstream, or another surround sound format, the 3.5mm port will not produce audio because the HDA-912 cannot convert that signal into stereo.

The Optical port can pass supported formats such as LPCM 2CH, Dolby Digital 2/5.1CH, and DTS 2/5.1CH, but it also does not convert unsupported formats (like Dolby Atmos) into another format.

Ports and Panel Layout

Port / LED / Switch	Location	Function
DC 5V	Front panel	Connect the included 5V power adapter
POWER LED	Front panel	Indicates the power status of the device
TV / Bitstream / 2CH Switch	Front panel	Selects the audio output mode: TV, Bitstream, or 2CH
HDMI IN	Front panel	Connect an HDMI source device such as a streaming device, Blu-ray player, set-top box, or game console
Link LED	Front panel	Lights up when an HDMI input signal is detected
HDMI OUT	Rear panel	Connect to a TV, projector, or monitor
L/R Out	Rear panel	Connect to a 3.5mm stereo audio device such as speakers, headphones, or stereo input
Optical Out	Rear panel	Connect to an Optical/TOSLINK audio device such as a soundbar, AVR, or speaker system

Step-by-Step Setup

Connect your HDMI source device, such as a streaming device, Blu-ray player, cable box, game console, or media player, to the HDMI IN port on the OREI HDA-912.
Connect the HDMI OUT port on the HDA-912 to your TV, projector, or monitor.
Connect your audio device using one of the available audio outputs:
- Use the Optical Out port for a soundbar, AVR, speaker system, or other Optical audio device.
- Use the L/R 3.5mm Out port for stereo speakers, headphones, or a 3.5mm audio input.
Connect the included 5V power adapter to the HDA-912 and plug it into power.
Turn on your HDMI source device, display, and audio system.
Check the POWER LED and Link LED. The POWER LED should turn on when the unit is powered, and the Link LED should light up when an HDMI input signal is detected.
Set the audio switch based on your setup:
- Use Bitstream if you want 5.1 audio through the Optical port and your audio device supports Dolby Digital or DTS.
- Use 2CH if you want stereo audio through the 3.5mm L/R port.
- Use TV if you want the audio format to follow the connected display’s audio capability.
If you are using the 3.5mm L/R output, go into your HDMI source device’s audio settings and set the audio output to PCM, or Stereo.

HDMI Cable Requirement — Important

Use good-quality HDMI cables for stable video and audio performance.

For 4K@60Hz, use HDMI cables that can support 18Gbps bandwidth and rated for HDMI 2.0b standard. Poor-quality or older HDMI cables may cause signal dropouts, no video, no audio, flickering, or unstable 4K performance.

We recommend using HDMI cables under 30 feet for optimum performance and longevity.

Audio Format Note — Very Important

The HDA-912’s audio output depends on both the audio format coming from the HDMI source and the output port being used.

The Optical output supports LPCM 2CH, Dolby Digital 2/5.1CH, and DTS 2/5.1CH.

The 3.5mm L/R output supports stereo 2-channel audio only.

If the Optical port works but the 3.5mm L/R port does not, the source device is most likely outputting Dolby Digital, DTS, or Bitstream audio. Change the source audio setting to PCM, or Stereo to get audio from the 3.5mm output.

Please note that changing the source to PCM or Stereo will also make the Optical output receive 2-channel audio instead of 5.1 surround sound.

What Soundbars, AVRs, or Speakers Is the HDA-912 Compatible With?

The OREI HDA-912 is compatible with audio devices that accept Optical/TOSLINK audio or 3.5mm stereo audio input.

It can be used with basic soundbars, AV receivers, powered speakers, stereo amplifiers, headphones, or other audio systems that support these inputs.

For Optical audio, the connected audio device must support the format being sent by the source, such as LPCM 2CH, Dolby Digital, or DTS.

For 3.5mm audio, the connected device must accept standard 2-channel stereo audio, and the HDMI source must be set to PCM, or Stereo.

The HDA-912 is not designed for ARC/eARC soundbars that rely on the TV’s ARC/eARC HDMI port. It also does not work as an ARC/eARC adapter or converter.

What Source Devices Is the HDA-912 Compatible With?

The OREI HDA-912 is compatible with HDMI source devices such as streaming devices, Blu-ray players, DVD players, cable boxes, satellite boxes, media players, game consoles, PCs, and laptops with HDMI output. These could be your PlayStation 5, Xbox, Fire TV Stick, Roku Stick, Apple TV, etc.

As long as the source device outputs standard HDMI video and audio, the HDA-912 can pass the audio and video to a display and extract audio through Optical or 3.5mm output.

For best results, make sure the source device audio setting matches the audio output you are using. Use Bitstream or Dolby Digital/DTS for Optical 5.1 audio and use PCM or Stereo for 3.5mm audio.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the OREI HDA-912 used for?
A: The HDA-912 is used to extract audio from an HDMI source device and send that audio to an external audio system through Optical or 3.5mm stereo output while passing video to a TV, projector, or monitor.

Q: Does the HDA-912 support ARC or eARC?
A: No. The HDA-912 does not support ARC or eARC. It cannot extract audio from a TV’s ARC/eARC HDMI port or from TV internal apps like Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, or Prime Video. It cannot output audio to an ARC/eARC soundbar either.

Q: Can I use the HDA-912 to send TV app audio to my soundbar or speakers?
A: No. The HDA-912 only extracts audio from the HDMI source connected to its HDMI IN port. It does not extract audio from the TV itself.

Q: Can I connect an ARC TV to an ARC soundbar using the HDA-912?
A: No. The HDA-912 is not an ARC/eARC audio extractor and does not pass ARC/eARC audio between a TV and soundbar.

Q: Can the HDA-912 convert Dolby Digital or DTS to stereo?
A: No. The HDA-912 does not decode or downmix audio. It cannot convert Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby Atmos, or other surround formats into stereo PCM.

Q: Can I get 5.1 audio from the Optical port?
A: Yes, but only if your source device is set to Bitstream or Dolby Digital/DTS and your connected Optical audio device supports that format.

Q: If I set my source to PCM for 3.5mm audio, will Optical still output 5.1?
A: No. If the source is set to PCM or Stereo, the Optical output will also receive 2-channel audio.

Q: Can I connect both Optical and 3.5mm at the same time?
A: You may physically connect both, but the audio format from the source must be compatible with both outputs. For both outputs to work at the same time, the source should usually be set to PCM or Stereo. Dolby Digital or DTS will work through Optical but not through the 3.5mm port.

Q: Does the TV still output audio when using the HDA-912?
A: Yes, the TV will continue to receive an audio video signal like usual and output audio through its built-in speakers.

Q: What does the TV/Bitstream/2CH switch on the front of the HDA-912 do?

A: The TV / Bitstream / 2CH switch controls the audio format that the HDMI source sends to the HDA-912.

TV mode copies the connected TV’s audio EDID. If the TV supports Dolby Audio, the source may output Dolby Audio. If the TV only supports PCM/stereo, the source will output PCM/stereo.

Bitstream mode ignores the TV’s audio EDID and tells the source to output Bitstream audio. Use this setting when you have a surround sound-capable soundbar or AVR connected to the Optical port and want Dolby Digital or DTS 5.1 audio.

2CH mode tells the source to output 2-channel stereo audio. In this mode, the HDMI output, Optical output, and 3.5mm output will all receive stereo audio. This is the best setting for basic speakers, headphones, or any setup using the 3.5mm port.