HDS-108 Overview and Use Cases – OREI

What Is the HDS-108?

The OREI HDS-108 is an 18Gbps 1x8 HDMI Splitter that distributes a single HDMI source to eight HDMI displays simultaneously. It is compliant with HDMI 2.0b and HDCP 2.2, and supports video resolutions up to 4K@60Hz 4:4:4 with 18Gbps bandwidth and HDR pass-through. All eight outputs carry an identical, synchronized copy of the input signal.

The HDS-108 is a step up from the HD-108-A, offering full 4K@60Hz support and HDCP 2.2 compliance. It includes a front-panel EDID switch with two modes — STD and TV (Copy OUT1) — the latter of which enables automatic downscaling for 1080P displays when a 4K source is connected. It is well suited for home theaters, conference rooms, classrooms, digital signage, and any environment where the same 4K or 1080P content needs to reach up to eight screens.

IMPORTANT — HDS-108 Sends the Same Source to All 8 Outputs

The HDS-108 is a splitter, not a switcher or matrix. It accepts one HDMI source and mirrors that signal to all eight HDMI outputs at the same time.

All connected displays will always show the same content. You cannot send different sources to different outputs.
All outputs are active simultaneously. You cannot disable individual outputs.
This splitter does not extract audio to a separate optical or analog port — audio is only available through the HDMI outputs to a connected display or AV receiver.

IMPORTANT — HDS-108 Is Not for Audio Extraction

The HDS-108 passes the full HDMI audio signal (including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X) through its eight HDMI outputs to connected displays or receivers. However, it does not have a dedicated optical (S/PDIF) or analog audio output port.

Do not use this splitter if your goal is to extract audio to a standalone soundbar, AV receiver, or speaker system that is not connected via HDMI.
If you need both 1x8 HDMI splitting and separate audio extraction, the OREI HD-108-A includes an HDMI pass-through approach, or consider pairing this unit with a separate HDMI audio extractor connected to one of the eight HDMI outputs.
Audio is passed correctly through all eight HDMI outputs as long as the connected display or receiver supports the format being sent by the source.

IMPORTANT — Downscaling Only Works in TV (COPY OUT1) Mode

The HDS-108 can automatically downscale 4K signals to 1080P for displays that do not support 4K, but only when the EDID switch is set to TV mode (COPY OUT1). This is an important distinction from STD mode:

In STD mode, the unit forces all outputs to 1080P@60Hz. There is no 4K pass-through in this mode.
In TV mode, the unit copies the EDID from the display on HDMI OUT 1. If OUT 1 is a 4K display, 4K-capable outputs receive the full 4K signal. 1080P displays on other outputs are automatically downscaled.
If OUT 1 is a 1080P display in TV mode, all outputs are treated as 1080P — 4K outputs will not receive a 4K signal.
For best results in mixed 4K/1080P environments, connect a 4K display to HDMI OUT 1 and set the EDID switch to TV mode.

Ports and Panel Layout

Port / Switch / LED	Location	Function
Power LED	Front panel	Blue LED that lights up when the device is connected to power.
IN LED	Front panel	Blue LED that lights up when the HDMI IN port is connected to an active source device.
OUT LEDs (1–8)	Front panel	Blue LEDs that light up when the corresponding HDMI OUT ports are connected to active display devices.
SERVICE	Front panel	Micro USB port used for firmware updates only.
EDID STD/TV Switch	Front panel	2-position switch to select the EDID mode. STD: Uses the unit's built-in EDID. Forces 1080P@60Hz video and LPCM 2-channel stereo audio on all outputs. Use this mode if displays have problems in TV mode. TV (COPY OUT1): Copies the EDID from the display connected to HDMI OUT 1. In this mode, if OUT 1 is a 1080P TV, all outputs pass through at 1080P. If OUT 1 is a 4K TV, 4K outputs pass through at 4K and 1080P displays are downscaled automatically.
HDMI OUT 1–8	Rear panel	Eight HDMI output ports. Connect display devices such as TVs or monitors.
HDMI IN	Rear panel	Single HDMI input port. Connect your source device such as a Blu-ray player, set-top box, or streaming device.
DC 12V	Rear panel	Connect the included 12V/1A locking power adapter.

Step-by-Step Setup

Connect your HDMI source device (such as a Blu-ray player, streaming box, set-top box, or gaming console) to the HDMI IN port on the rear panel.
Connect up to eight displays (TVs, monitors, or projectors) to the HDMI OUT 1 through HDMI OUT 8 ports on the rear panel. Unused ports can remain empty.
If you have a mix of 4K and 1080P displays and want automatic downscaling, connect a 4K display to HDMI OUT 1 specifically.
Set the EDID switch on the front panel before powering on. Choose STD if all your displays are 1080P or if you are having compatibility issues in TV mode. Choose TV (COPY OUT1) to copy the EDID from the display on OUT 1 — required for 4K pass-through and automatic downscaling of 1080P displays.
Connect the included 12V/1A locking power adapter to the DC 12V port on the rear panel. The blue Power LED on the front panel will light up.
The blue IN LED will light up when a source signal is detected. The blue OUT LEDs will light up for each output that has a display connected.
Confirm that all connected displays are showing the source content. If any display shows no picture, try switching the EDID mode, checking the HDMI cable, or reducing the source resolution.

Understanding EDID Modes

The EDID switch on the front panel has two positions that control how the HDS-108 communicates resolution and audio capabilities to the source device:

STD (Standard): The splitter uses its own fixed built-in EDID and tells the source to output 1080P@60Hz with LPCM 2-channel stereo audio. All eight outputs will carry a 1080P signal regardless of what the connected displays support. Use this mode if displays fail to show a picture in TV mode, or if you want a simple, consistent 1080P output across all screens.
TV (COPY OUT1): The splitter reads the EDID from the display connected to HDMI OUT 1 and sends that to the source. This enables 4K pass-through and automatic downscaling. If OUT 1 is a 4K display, the source will output 4K, and any 1080P displays on other outputs will be downscaled automatically. If OUT 1 is a 1080P display, all outputs will be treated as 1080P.

After changing the EDID switch, always power cycle the source device so it reads the updated EDID.

What Source Devices Is the HDS-108 Compatible With?

The HDS-108 is compatible with any HDMI 2.0 or earlier source device, including:

Streaming devices (e.g., Apple TV 4K, Roku Ultra, Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K)
Gaming consoles (e.g., PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X — note: output limited to 4K@60Hz)
4K and 1080P Blu-ray players
Cable and satellite set-top boxes
Laptops and desktop computers with HDMI output

The HDS-108 supports HDMI 2.0b and HDCP 2.2, making it compatible with protected 4K content from sources such as 4K Blu-ray players and streaming devices that use HDCP 2.2. It supports the full range of HDMI audio formats including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X through HDMI.

What Displays Is the HDS-108 Compatible With?

The HDS-108 is compatible with any HDMI display, including:

4K TVs and monitors (receiving a 4K@60Hz signal in TV mode)
1080P TVs and monitors (receiving 1080P directly in STD mode, or downscaled from 4K in TV mode)
Projectors with HDMI input
Computer monitors with HDMI input

You can mix 4K and 1080P displays across the eight outputs. Set the EDID switch to TV mode and connect a 4K display to OUT 1 for the best experience in mixed environments. In STD mode, all displays receive 1080P@60Hz regardless of their individual capabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the OREI HDS-108 used for?

The HDS-108 is an 18Gbps 1x8 HDMI splitter that takes one HDMI 2.0b source and distributes it to up to eight displays simultaneously. It supports 4K@60Hz and includes HDCP 2.2 compliance and EDID management with an automatic downscaling feature.

Q: How is the HDS-108 different from the HD-108-A?

The HDS-108 uses HDMI 2.0b with 18Gbps bandwidth and supports 4K@60Hz and HDCP 2.2. The HD-108-A is based on HDMI 1.4 with 10.2Gbps bandwidth and supports only 4K@30Hz and HDCP 1.4. The HDS-108 also supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X audio pass-through and includes an automatic downscaling function in TV mode.

Q: Can I mix 4K and 1080P displays on the same splitter?

Yes, when the EDID switch is set to TV mode. Connect a 4K display to HDMI OUT 1, and the splitter will automatically downscale the signal for any 1080P displays on the other outputs. In STD mode, all outputs are forced to 1080P regardless of display capabilities.

Q: Can I extract audio to a soundbar using this splitter?

No. The HDS-108 does not have an optical or analog audio output. Audio is only passed through the eight HDMI outputs. To use an external soundbar or audio system, connect it via HDMI to one of the eight output ports, or use a separate HDMI audio extractor on one of the outputs.

Q: Does the HDS-108 support 4K@60Hz?

Yes. The HDS-108 supports up to 4K@60Hz 4:4:4 with 18Gbps bandwidth and HDMI 2.0b. To enable 4K output, set the EDID switch to TV mode and connect a 4K display to HDMI OUT 1.

Q: Does the HDS-108 support Dolby Atmos and DTS:X?

Yes. It passes through all HDMI audio formats including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X to the connected displays or AV receivers via HDMI. Audio extraction to a separate optical or analog port is not supported.

Q: What does the EDID switch do?

It controls how the splitter communicates resolution and audio capabilities to the source. STD mode forces 1080P@60Hz and LPCM 2-channel audio on all outputs. TV mode copies the EDID from OUT 1, enabling 4K pass-through and automatic downscaling for 1080P displays. After changing the switch, power cycle the source device.

Q: I am not getting a picture on one of my displays. What should I check?

First, try setting the EDID switch to STD mode and power cycling the source. This forces 1080P on all outputs, which helps identify if the issue is resolution-related. If a picture appears in STD mode, switch back to TV mode and ensure a 4K display is connected to OUT 1. Also try a different or shorter HDMI cable.

Q: What is the SERVICE port used for?

The SERVICE port (Micro USB) on the front panel is for firmware updates only. It is not used for regular operation.