DA21 Overview and Use Cases – OREI

What Is the DA21?

The OREI DA21 is a Digital to Analog Audio Converter designed to convert digital audio from an Optical/Toslink or Coaxial audio source into analog audio through RCA L/R or 3.5mm output.

The DA21 is commonly used when a TV, media player, DVD player, Blu-ray player, game console, or set-top box has only Optical or Coaxial digital audio output, but you wish to connect it to an older amplifier, stereo receiver, powered speakers, headphones, or audio system that only accepts analog RCA or 3.5mm audio.

The DA21 is a simple PCM audio converter. It does not decode or downmix surround sound formats.

IMPORTANT — DA21 Only Supports PCM / Stereo Audio

The OREI DA21 does not support Dolby Digital or DTS decoding or downmixing.

This means it cannot convert Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, or other surround sound formats into analog stereo audio.

To get audio from the RCA or 3.5mm output, the audio source must be set to PCM, or Stereo.

If you are using the DA21 with a TV, go into the TV’s audio settings and set the digital audio output format to PCM or Stereo.

If you are using it with a media source such as a Blu-ray player, DVD player, cable box, or game console, change the audio output format from that device’s settings to PCM or Stereo.

If the source is set to Dolby Digital, DTS, Bitstream, Auto, or Pass-Through, the DA21 will not output audio.

If you need a converter that can decode or downmix Dolby or DTS audio to analog, use the DA34 instead.

Ports and Panel Layout

Port / LED	Location	Function
SPDIF / Toslink	Left panel	Optical digital audio input for connecting a TV, Xbox, media player, or other Optical audio source
Coaxial	Left panel	Coaxial digital audio input for connecting a DVD player, Blu-ray player, set-top box, or other Coaxial audio source
DC 5V	Left panel	Connect the included 5V power adapter
RCA L/R Output	Right panel	Analog RCA output for connecting an amplifier, stereo receiver, powered speakers, or audio system
Power LED	Right panel	Turns on when the device is powered
3.5mm Output	Right panel	Analog 3.5mm output for headphones, speakers, or other stereo audio devices

Step-by-Step Setup

Connect your digital audio source to the DA21 using either:
- Optical/Toslink cable
- Coaxial digital audio cable
Connect the DA21 to your audio device using either:
- RCA L/R cable for an amplifier, receiver, powered speakers, or stereo system
- 3.5mm cable for headphones, speakers, or a 3.5mm audio input
Connect the included 5V power adapter to the DA21 and plug it into power.
Turn on your TV/media source, and audio device.
Go into the audio settings of your TV or source device and set the digital audio output to PCM, or Stereo.
Confirm audio is playing through the connected RCA or 3.5mm audio device.

Input Priority Note

If both Optical/Toslink and Coaxial cables are connected at the same time, the DA21 will give priority to the Optical/Toslink input.

For best results, connect only the input you want to use.

Audio Format Requirement — Critical

The DA21 requires the source audio format to be set to PCM 2.0 or Stereo.

Use:

PCM
Stereo
2CH

Do not use:

Dolby Digital
DTS
Bitstream
Auto
Pass-Through
Surround Sound

The DA21 does not convert surround sound into stereo. It only converts already-compatible PCM/Stereo digital audio into analog RCA or 3.5mm output.

What Audio Devices Is the DA21 Compatible With?

The OREI DA21 is compatible with analog audio devices that accept RCA L/R 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
Analog audio receivers

The connected audio device must accept standard 2-channel analog stereo audio.

What Source Devices Is the DA21 Compatible With?

The OREI DA21 is compatible with source devices that have Optical/Toslink or Coaxial digital audio output.

It can be used with:

TVs with Optical audio output
DVD players
Blu-ray players
Cable boxes
Satellite boxes
Game consoles with Optical output
Media players
Set-top boxes
Other digital audio sources with Optical or Coaxial output

The source device must be set to PCM or Stereo audio output for the DA21 to work properly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the OREI DA21 used for?
A: The DA21 is used to convert Optical/Toslink or Coaxial digital audio into analog RCA or 3.5mm stereo audio.

Q: Does the DA21 support Dolby Digital or DTS?
A: No. The DA21 does not support Dolby Digital or DTS decoding or downmixing. The source audio must be set to PCM, or Stereo.

Q: Can the DA21 downmix Dolby or DTS to analog stereo?
A: No. The DA21 cannot downmix or decode Dolby or DTS audio. If you need Dolby or DTS downmixing, use the DA34 model instead.

Q: Can I use the DA21 with my TV’s Optical output?
A: Yes. Connect the TV’s Optical output to the DA21’s Toslink input, then set the TV’s digital audio output format to PCM or Stereo.

Q: Can I connect both Optical and Coaxial at the same time?
A: You can, but the DA21 gives priority to the Optical/Toslink input. For best results, connect only the input you want to use.

Q: Does the DA21 output surround sound?
A: No. The DA21 outputs 2-channel analog stereo audio only through RCA and 3.5mm.

Q: What is the difference between DA21 and DA34?
A: The DA21 is a basic PCM/Stereo digital-to-analog converter. It does not decode or downmix Dolby or DTS. The DA34 is the better option when you need Dolby or DTS audio to be converted/downmixed to analog stereo.

Q: Can my TV remote control the volume of the speakers or headphones connected to the DA21?

A: No. The DA21 does not allow TV remote volume control for devices connected through the RCA or 3.5mm analog outputs. CEC volume control only works through HDMI connections. Since the DA21 outputs audio through analog RCA and 3.5mm ports, CEC commands from the TV remote cannot pass to the connected speakers, amplifier, or headphones. To adjust volume, use the volume control on the connected audio device, such as your powered speakers, amplifier, receiver, or headphone volume control.