BK-501 Overview and Use Cases – OREI

What Is the BK-501?

The OREI BK-501 is an 8K 5-port HDMI switch that allows you to connect up to five HDMI source devices to one TV, monitor, or projector.

It is useful when your display has limited HDMI inputs and you want to connect multiple devices such as a PC, DVD player, Blu-ray player, TV box, gaming console, streaming device, cable box, or media player without constantly unplugging and reconnecting HDMI cables.

The BK-501 supports HDMI 2.1 and HDCP 2.3, with a video bandwidth of 48Gbps FRL and 18Gbps TMDS. It supports video resolutions up to 8K@60Hz 4:2:0 12-bit and 4K@120Hz 4:4:4 12-bit. It also supports HDR, HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HLG, VRR, ALLM, QMS, QFT, SBTM, and premium HDMI audio pass-through formats such as Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS:X, and LPCM 7.1CH.

The BK-501 supports both manual and automatic input switching and can be controlled using the front-panel SWITCH button or the included IR remote.

IMPORTANT — Auto Switching Is Disabled by Default

The BK-501 supports auto switching, but auto switching is disabled by default.

To enable or disable auto switching, press and hold the SWITCH button for about 3 seconds.

When auto switching is enabled, the AUTO LED will turn on.

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.

Ports and Panel Layout

Port / LED / Button	Location	Function
IR Window	Front panel	Receives signal from the included IR remote
INPUT LED 1–5	Front panel	Green LED lights up when the corresponding HDMI input is selected
AUTO LED	Front panel	Green LED lights up when auto switching mode is enabled
SWITCH Button	Front panel	Press to cycle through input sources; long press for 3 seconds to enable or disable auto switching
HDMI INPUT 1–5	Rear / side panel	Connect HDMI source devices such as PC, TV box, Blu-ray player, gaming console, or media player
HDMI OUTPUT	Rear panel	Connect to a TV, monitor, or projector
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 BK-501.
Connect your HDMI source devices to HDMI INPUT 1, INPUT 2, INPUT 3, INPUT 4, and INPUT 5.
Examples include a PC, TV box, Blu-ray player, DVD player, gaming console, streaming device, or cable box.
Connect the HDMI OUTPUT port on the BK-501 to your TV, monitor, or projector.
Turn on the HDMI source devices and display.
Use the SWITCH button on the front panel or the included IR remote to select the HDMI input you want to display.
Set the 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.

Understanding Manual and Auto Switching

The BK-501 supports both manual switching and automatic switching.

Manual Switching

Press the SWITCH button on the front panel to cycle through HDMI INPUT 1, INPUT 2, INPUT 3, INPUT 4, and INPUT 5.

The corresponding input LED will light up to show which source is currently selected.

You can also use the included remote control to select any specific input directly.

Auto Switching

Auto switching can be enabled or disabled using the SWITCH button or the Auto button on the remote.

Auto switching is disabled by default.

When auto switching is enabled, the AUTO LED will turn on.

Auto switching behavior:

Situation	Behavior
One input is connected and another input is connected later	The BK-501 switches to the latest connected input
All five inputs are connected and one is disconnected	The BK-501 switches to the next input automatically in INPUT 1–5 order
Only one input is connected and then disconnected	The BK-501 will not automatically switch to another input

IMPORTANT — Auto Switching Depends on HDMI 5V Signal Detection

The BK-501 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-501 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-501 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-501 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.

Understanding the IR Remote

The included IR remote allows direct and convenient control of the BK-501.

Remote Button	Function
Power	Turns the switch on or off
Auto	Enables or disables auto switching
1/2/3/4/5	Selects the corresponding HDMI input
Cycle Button	Cycles through HDMI INPUT 1/2/3/4/5 to the HDMI OUTPUT port

What Source Devices Is the BK-501 Compatible With?

The OREI BK-501 is compatible with HDMI source devices such as:

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

For 8K@60Hz, 4K@120Hz, VRR, HDR10+, or Dolby Vision, the source device, display, and HDMI cables must all support the required format.

What Displays Is the BK-501 Compatible With?

The BK-501 can be connected to HDMI displays such as:

TVs
Monitors
Projectors
Gaming monitors
Commercial displays

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the OREI BK-501 used for?
A: The BK-501 is used to connect up to five HDMI source devices to one TV, monitor, or projector and switch between them easily.

Q: Does the BK-501 support auto switching?
A: Yes. Auto switching is supported, but it is disabled by default. Press and hold the SWITCH button for 3 seconds or use the Auto button on the remote to enable it.

Q: Does the BK-501 output audio too?
A: The BK-501 sends 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-501 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-501 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-501 is not a seamless switch. When switching inputs, the display will usually go black for a second or two while the HDMI signal reconnects. For faster switching, you need a Seamless Switch.