HDS-401 Overview and Use Cases – OREI

What Is the HDS-401?

The OREI HDS-401 is a 4-input, 1-output HDMI switcher with ARC, Optical/Toslink audio output, and 3.5mm stereo audio output. It allows you to connect up to four HDMI source devices to one TV, monitor, or projector while also extracting audio to an external sound system.

The HDS-401 is useful when your display has limited HDMI inputs, and you want to connect multiple devices such as a Blu-ray player, DVD player, game console, satellite receiver, set-top box, computer, or notebook to one display.

The HDS-401 supports HDMI 1.4, video resolutions up to 4K@30Hz, 1080p, 3D, ARC, Deep Color up to 36-bit, CEC bypass on HDMI output, and digital audio formats including DTS-HD, Dolby TrueHD, LPCM 7.1, AC3, DTS, and DSD.

IMPORTANT — HDS-401 Supports Up to 4K@30Hz, Not 4K@60Hz

The HDS-401 supports video resolutions up to 4K@30Hz. It does not support 4K@60Hz, 4K@120Hz, or 8K. For 4K@60Hz or higher, use a newer HDMI 2.0 or HDMI 2.1 switch instead like the UHD-401 or BK-401.

IMPORTANT — ARC Audio Comes from the TV to the Toslink Output

The HDS-401 supports ARC through the HDMI output when connected to a compatible ARC TV.

When ARC is turned on, the Toslink/Optical output will output the audio from the TV’s currently displayed content.

This is useful when you want audio from the TV, such as TV apps or TV tuner audio, to play through an amplifier or sound system connected to the Toslink output.

Your TV must support ARC for this function to work.

IMPORTANT — When ARC Is Off, Toslink Outputs the Selected HDMI Source Audio

The Toslink output behaves differently depending on whether ARC is on or off.

When ARC is turned on, Toslink outputs audio returned from the ARC-compatible TV.

When ARC is turned off, Toslink outputs audio from the selected HDMI input source.

This is important for troubleshooting because the audio source changes depending on the ARC setting.

IMPORTANT — 3.5mm Stereo Output Supports LPCM Only

The 3.5mm Stereo output supports LPCM audio only.

If the HDMI source is outputting compressed audio such as Dolby, DTS, or DTS-HD, the 3.5mm stereo audio output will be muted.

If you are using the 3.5mm stereo output and there is no audio, set the source device audio output to PCM, LPCM, or Stereo.

IMPORTANT — Audio EDID Controls What Audio the Source Sends

The HDS-401 includes audio EDID selection.

The available audio EDID modes are:

2.0CH
5.1CH
7.1CH
AUTO

Use 2.0CH when using the 3.5mm stereo output.

Use 5.1CH or 7.1CH when using a compatible surround sound system through HDMI or Optical.

Use AUTO when you want the switcher to copy the connected display’s EDID to the source device.

Ports and Panel Layout

Port / LED / Button	Location	Function
ON/OFF Switch	Front panel	Turns the HDS-401 power on or off
Power LED	Front panel	Red LED turns on when the device is connected to power
IN1 / IN2 / IN3 / IN4 LEDs	Front panel	Red LED lights up when the corresponding HDMI input is selected
OUT LED	Front panel	Red LED lights up when the HDMI output is connected to a display
2.0 / 5.1 / 7.1 LEDs	Front panel	Shows the selected audio EDID mode
ARC LED	Front panel	Red LED lights up when ARC function is enabled
IR Port	Front panel	Remote control receiver and 3.5mm IR extension input
INPUT Button	Front panel	Selects the HDMI input source
EDID Button	Front panel	Selects 2.0CH, 5.1CH, 7.1CH, or AUTO audio EDID mode
ARC Button	Front panel	Turns ARC function on or off
RST Button	Front panel	Resets the switcher to factory default settings
HDMI Input 1–4	Rear panel	Connect HDMI source devices
HDMI Output	Rear panel	Connect to TV, monitor, or projector
Toslink Output	Rear panel	Connect to amplifier or audio system with Optical input
Stereo Output	Rear panel	3.5mm stereo audio output for speakers or headphones
DC 5V	Rear panel	Connect the included 5V/1A power adapter

Step-by-Step Setup

Connect the included 5V/1A power adapter to the DC 5V port on the HDS-401.
Connect your HDMI source devices to HDMI Input 1, Input 2, Input 3, and Input 4.
Examples include a Blu-ray player, DVD player, PS3, Xbox, satellite receiver, set-top box, computer, or notebook.
Connect the HDMI Output port on the HDS-401 to your TV, monitor, or projector.
If using Optical audio, connect the Toslink output to an amplifier, soundbar, AVR, or audio system.
If using 3.5mm stereo audio, connect the Stereo output to powered speakers, headphones, or a stereo audio input.
Power on the source devices, then the HDS-401, then the TV or projector.
Use the INPUT button or remote control to select the HDMI source you want to display.

HDMI Cable Requirement — Critical

For best performance, use short, high-speed HDMI cables.

Understanding ARC Mode

ARC stands for Audio Return Channel.

ARC allows audio from a compatible TV to return through the HDMI connection and output through the HDS-401’s Toslink port.

To use ARC:

Connect the HDS-401 HDMI Output to the TV’s ARC HDMI port.
Connect the HDS-401 Toslink output to your amplifier or sound system.
Enable ARC on the TV.
Press the ARC button on the HDS-401.
Confirm the ARC LED is on.

When ARC is enabled, the Toslink output sends the TV’s current audio.

When ARC is disabled, the Toslink output sends audio from the selected HDMI input source.

Understanding Audio EDID Modes

The HDS-401 allows you to choose the audio EDID mode sent to the source device.

EDID Mode	Function
2.0CH	Tells the HDMI source to output 2-channel audio
5.1CH	Tells the HDMI source to output 5.1-channel audio
7.1CH	Tells the HDMI source to output 7.1-channel audio
AUTO	Copies the connected display’s EDID to the source

Use 2.0CH when using the 3.5mm stereo output.

Use 5.1CH or 7.1CH when using HDMI or Optical with a compatible surround sound system.

Use AUTO for normal operation when you want the source device to follow the display’s audio capability.

What Source Devices Is the HDS-401 Compatible With?

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

Blu-ray players
DVD players
PlayStation consoles
Xbox consoles
Satellite receivers
Set-top boxes
Cable boxes
Computers
Laptops
Media players
Streaming devices with HDMI output

For 4K output, the source device, display, and HDMI cables must support 4K@30Hz.

What Displays Is the HDS-401 Compatible With?

The HDS-401 can connect to HDMI displays such as:

TVs
Monitors
Projectors
HD-LCD displays

For ARC use, the TV must have an ARC-compatible HDMI port.

What Audio Devices Is the HDS-401 Compatible With?

The HDS-401 can send audio to:

Amplifiers with Optical/Toslink input
AV receivers with Optical/Toslink input
Soundbars with Optical input
Powered speakers using 3.5mm stereo input
Headphones using 3.5mm stereo connection

For 3.5mm stereo output, the source device must output LPCM/PCM stereo audio.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the OREI HDS-401 used for?
A: The HDS-401 is used to connect up to four HDMI source devices to one display while also extracting audio through Optical/Toslink or 3.5mm stereo output.

Q: Does the HDS-401 support 4K@60Hz?
A: No. The HDS-401 supports up to 4K@30Hz. It does not support 4K@60Hz.

Q: Does the HDS-401 support ARC?
A: Yes. The HDMI output supports ARC when connected to a compatible ARC TV.

Q: How do I use ARC with the HDS-401?
A: Connect the HDS-401 HDMI Output to the TV’s ARC HDMI port, connect the Toslink output to your amplifier or audio system, enable ARC on the TV, and turn on ARC on the HDS-401.

Q: What does ARC do on this product?
A: When ARC is enabled, the Toslink output sends audio from the TV’s current display content. When ARC is disabled, the Toslink output sends audio from the selected HDMI input source.

Q: Why is there no sound from the 3.5mm stereo output?
A: The 3.5mm stereo output supports LPCM only. If the HDMI source is outputting Dolby, DTS, DTS-HD, or another compressed format, the stereo output will mute. Set the source device to PCM or Stereo.

Q: What audio formats does the HDS-401 support?
A: The HDS-401 supports digital audio formats including DTS-HD, Dolby TrueHD, LPCM 7.1, AC3, DTS, and DSD through compatible HDMI/Optical setups. The 3.5mm stereo output supports LPCM only.

Q: Does the HDS-401 support CEC?
A: Yes. The HDS-401 supports CEC bypass on the HDMI output.