DXA-HD-TX Overview and Use Cases – OREI

What Is the DXA-HD-TX?

The OREI DXA-HD-TX is a 2-channel Dante® HDMI Audio Encoder that extracts audio from an HDMI source and transmits it as Dante® digital audio over a standard IP network. Built on the Dante® Ultimo 2x2 platform, it is designed for professional AV environments including recording studios, live events, concerts, broadcast setups, and conference rooms where HDMI audio sources need to be integrated into a Dante® networked audio system.

The DXA-HD-TX accepts HDMI PCM 2-channel audio with input sampling rates from 32 kHz to 192 kHz at 24-bit depth, and outputs Dante® 2-channel audio at 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, or 96 kHz at 24-bit depth. It supports selectable Dante® latency settings of 1 ms, 2 ms, or 5 ms, is AES67 compatible, and is compliant with HDMI 2.0b and HDCP 2.3. The device can be powered via USB-C or PoE (IEEE 802.3af Class 0).

IMPORTANT — DXA-HD-TX Encodes Audio Only, Not Video

The DXA-HD-TX extracts (de-embeds) the audio track from an HDMI signal and transmits it over the Dante® network. It does not pass through, output, or convert the HDMI video signal in any way.

Common use cases include:

Sending audio from a laptop, desktop, TV box, media player, or Blu-ray player into a Dante® professional audio network
Capturing HDMI audio from a presentation source or video playback device for distribution over a Dante® system
Integrating HDMI-equipped sources into existing Dante® AV infrastructure at live events, concerts, or in broadcast environments
Routing audio from HDMI sources to Dante®-enabled amplifiers, processors, or decoders

If you also need to pass the HDMI video signal to a display while extracting audio, use an HDMI audio extractor (such as the HDA-932) to separate the video and audio before connecting the audio output to the DXA-HD-TX.

IMPORTANT — HDMI Source Must Output PCM 2-Channel Audio

The DXA-HD-TX supports PCM 2-channel (stereo) HDMI audio only. It does not decode or pass through Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby Atmos, or other compressed/multi-channel audio formats.

For the DXA-HD-TX to extract audio correctly, the connected HDMI source device must be set to output PCM stereo audio. This setting is typically found in the audio output settings of the source device. If the source is set to output Dolby Digital or another compressed format, audio will not pass through the DXA-HD-TX correctly.

IMPORTANT — Audio Routing and Latency Settings Require Dante® Controller

All Dante® audio routing and configurable latency settings (1 ms, 2 ms, or 5 ms) are managed through the free Dante® Controller software. The DXA-HD-TX will appear in Dante® Controller as a Dante® transmitter, and its audio channels can be routed to any Dante®-enabled receiver on the same network.

Note: The RESET button restores Dante® settings only. For a full factory reset, use Dante® Controller software or the API command "set reset" via the USB-C serial interface.

Ports and Panel Layout

Port / LED / Button	Location	Function
DANTE (PoE)	Left end panel	RJ45 port for Dante® network audio transmission and PoE power input (IEEE 802.3af Class 0). Green LINK LED stays steady when the network connection is established. Yellow DATA LED blinks during active Dante® audio data transmission.
HDMI LED (green)	Top panel	Solid On: Active HDMI audio input detected. Flashing: Unit is booting.
HDMI Port	Right end panel	HDMI Type A (19-pin female) input port. Connect an HDMI source device. This port extracts (de-embeds) the audio from the HDMI signal for encoding into Dante® network audio.
RESET Button	Top panel	Press to reset the Dante® settings of the device. Note: This button resets Dante® settings only. For a full factory reset, use Dante® Controller software or the API command "set reset".
POWER (USB-C)	Top panel	USB-C port for connecting a 5V/500mA power supply. Also used for firmware updates, API control via virtual RS-232, and downloading user-defined EDID.

Step-by-Step Setup

Connect your HDMI source device (such as a laptop, TV box, media player, Blu-ray player, or desktop) to the HDMI port on the right end panel of the DXA-HD-TX using a standard HDMI cable.
On your HDMI source device, go to audio output settings and set the audio format to PCM Stereo (2-channel). This is required for the DXA-HD-TX to extract audio correctly.
Connect a CAT6, CAT6A, or CAT7 Ethernet cable from the DANTE (PoE) port to a network switch on your Dante® network.
Power the device via the USB-C port using a 5V/500mA USB power adapter, or use a PoE-capable network switch to supply power through the Ethernet cable. Either power method can be used independently.
Confirm the green LINK LED on the DANTE (PoE) port is lit, indicating a successful network connection. The green HDMI LED on the top panel will light solid when active audio input is detected from the HDMI source.
Open Dante® Controller on a computer connected to the same network. The DXA-HD-TX will appear as a Dante® transmitter device.
In Dante® Controller, route the DXA-HD-TX audio channels to the desired Dante®-enabled receiver devices on the network (such as a Dante® decoder, amplifier, or processor).
Optionally, configure the audio latency setting (1 ms, 2 ms, or 5 ms) in Dante® Controller to suit your system timing requirements.
Verify audio is transmitting by checking that the yellow DATA LED on the DANTE (PoE) port blinks during active audio data transmission.

Understanding EDID Management

The DXA-HD-TX supports EDID (Extended Display Identification Data) management, which controls what audio and video capabilities are communicated to the connected HDMI source device. EDID tells the source what formats it should output.

The default (Internal) EDID is set to 4K60, Audio 2CH PCM, which instructs the connected HDMI source to output 2-channel PCM audio — the format required by the DXA-HD-TX. In most setups, the default EDID will work without any changes.

Advanced users can manage EDID settings via API commands over the USB-C serial interface (virtual RS-232 at 115200 baud). Three EDID slots are available: the Internal EDID (slot 0) and two user-defined EDID slots (slots 1 and 2) that can be loaded with custom 256-byte EDID data. The active EDID can be switched between slots using the API command "set edid x".

API Control via USB-C

The DXA-HD-TX supports serial API control through the USB-C POWER port, which functions as a virtual RS-232 interface when connected to a PC. This allows advanced configuration and status monitoring using a serial command tool.

Connection parameters: Baud rate 115200, Data bit 8, Stop bit 1, Parity bit none.

Key supported commands include: "?" or "help" to list all commands, "get fw version" to retrieve the firmware version, "set reboot" to reboot the device, "set reset" to restore factory defaults, "get status" to retrieve current system status (input resolution, audio format, HDCP version, and active EDID), and "set edid x" / "get edid" to manage EDID slots.

Cable Requirement — Important

For reliable Dante® network audio performance, use CAT6, CAT6A, or CAT7 Ethernet cables up to 328 ft (100m). A dedicated Gigabit Ethernet switch is recommended to avoid network congestion. Ensure all Dante® devices on the network are set to the same sample rate to prevent audio dropouts or sync issues.

What HDMI Source Devices Is the DXA-HD-TX Compatible With?

The DXA-HD-TX is compatible with any HDMI source device that can output PCM 2-channel (stereo) audio over HDMI. This includes:

Laptops and desktop computers with HDMI output
TV boxes and streaming devices (Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, etc.) set to PCM stereo audio output
Blu-ray players and DVD players with HDMI output
Media players and digital signage players with HDMI output
Gaming consoles and AV receivers with HDMI output set to PCM stereo

The device is compliant with HDMI 2.0b and HDCP 2.3. Note that the source must be configured to output PCM 2-channel audio — compressed audio formats such as Dolby Digital or DTS are not supported.

On the Dante® network side, the DXA-HD-TX is compatible with any Dante®-enabled receiver device, including Dante®-enabled amplifiers, processors, decoders, and other ToVi Dante® products.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the OREI DXA-HD-TX used for?

A: The DXA-HD-TX is a Dante® HDMI Audio Encoder that extracts the audio from an HDMI source and transmits it as Dante® 2-channel digital audio over a standard IP network, allowing HDMI audio sources to be integrated into professional Dante® audio systems.

Q: Does the DXA-HD-TX pass through the HDMI video signal?

A: No. The DXA-HD-TX extracts audio from the HDMI signal only. It does not output or pass through the video. If you need to send the video to a display at the same time, use an HDMI splitter or audio extractor upstream of the DXA-HD-TX.

Q: What audio formats does the DXA-HD-TX support?

A: The DXA-HD-TX supports PCM 2-channel (stereo) HDMI audio only, with input sampling rates from 32 kHz to 192 kHz at 24-bit depth. Compressed audio formats such as Dolby Digital, DTS, or Dolby Atmos are not supported. The Dante® output is PCM 2-channel at 44.1, 48, 88.2, or 96 kHz at 24-bit depth.

Q: My HDMI source is not producing audio through the DXA-HD-TX — what should I check?

A: First, ensure the HDMI source device's audio output is set to PCM Stereo (not Dolby Digital or DTS). Then confirm proper audio routing is set up in Dante® Controller, that all Dante® devices are on the same network subnet, and that the sampling rate set at the source is compatible with the receiving Dante® devices.

Q: How do I route audio from the DXA-HD-TX to other devices?

A: All audio routing is done through the free Dante® Controller software. The DXA-HD-TX will appear as a Dante® transmitter, and you can route its channels to any Dante®-enabled receiver on the same network.

Q: What does the HDMI LED indicate?

A: The green HDMI LED on the top panel lights solid when active audio input is detected from the connected HDMI source. It flashes while the unit is booting up.

Q: What does the RESET button do?

A: The RESET button restores the Dante® settings of the device. It does not perform a full factory reset. For a complete factory reset, use the Dante® Controller software or send the API command "set reset" via the USB-C serial interface.

Q: Can I control the DXA-HD-TX with API commands?

A: Yes. Connect the POWER (USB-C) port to a PC and use a serial command tool at 115200 baud to send API commands. Supported commands include rebooting the device, retrieving firmware version and system status, managing EDID settings, and performing a factory reset.

Q: What is EDID and do I need to change it?

A: EDID (Extended Display Identification Data) tells the connected HDMI source what audio and video formats to output. The default Internal EDID is set to 4K60 with 2CH PCM audio, which instructs the source to output PCM stereo audio as required by the DXA-HD-TX. In most setups, no EDID changes are needed. Advanced users can load custom EDID data via API commands if required.

Q: The device does not appear in Dante® Controller — what should I check?

A: Confirm the device is powered (via USB-C or PoE) and the green LINK LED is lit. Make sure your computer and the DXA-HD-TX are on the same network subnet. Also check that any firewall on your computer is not blocking Dante® Controller's network discovery.

Q: I am experiencing audio dropouts or unstable playback — what should I do?

A: Ensure the HDMI source audio format is set to PCM Stereo. Try increasing the Dante® latency to 2 ms or 5 ms in Dante® Controller, and ensure all Dante® devices on the network are set to the same sample rate. You can also press the RESET button to reboot the unit, or perform a full reset via Dante® Controller or the API. Using a dedicated Gigabit Ethernet switch can also help reduce network congestion.