DXA-OPT-TX Overview and Use Cases

What Is the DXA-OPT-TX?

The ToVi DXA-OPT-TX is a Dante Optical Encoder designed to convert two-channel optical SPDIF / TOSLINK audio into Dante 2-channel digital audio.

The DXA-OPT-TX is built on the Dante Ultimo 2x2 platform and is designed to bridge optical audio equipment with Dante networked audio systems. It receives PCM 2-channel optical audio from a compatible audio source and sends it as Dante digital audio over a standard IP network.

The unit supports optical audio input from 32kHz to 192kHz at 16-bit or 24-bit depth. Dante output supports PCM 2-channel audio at 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, and 96kHz at 16-bit or 24-bit depth.

The DXA-OPT-TX supports Dante Controller software for routing, AES67 compatibility, configurable Dante latency of 1ms, 2ms, or 5ms, PoE power, USB-C power, compact installation, and plug-and-play Dante audio integration.

The DXA-OPT-TX is useful for recording studios, live sound systems, concerts, broadcast environments, art installations, professional AV systems, Dante audio networks, and installations where optical audio needs to be converted into Dante network audio.

IMPORTANT — DXA-OPT-TX Converts Optical Audio to Dante Audio

The DXA-OPT-TX is a Dante audio encoder.

This model is for converting optical digital audio into Dante network audio.

It is not an HDMI video extender, HDMI ARC device, analog audio converter, or HDMI matrix.

IMPORTANT — This Is a Dante Transmitter

The DXA-OPT-TX appears in Dante Controller as a Dante transmitter.

Use Dante Controller to route audio from the DXA-OPT-TX to Dante decoders, Dante amplifiers, Dante DSPs, mixers, processors, or other Dante-enabled devices.

IMPORTANT — Optical Input Is Two-Channel PCM

The DXA-OPT-TX accepts two-channel optical audio.

The connected optical source must output PCM 2-channel audio.

For best compatibility, set the source device to PCM or Stereo audio output.

IMPORTANT — Dante Controller Is Required for Audio Routing

All audio routing is managed through Dante Controller software.

The DXA-OPT-TX sends audio into the Dante network, but the routing destination must be assigned in Dante Controller.

IMPORTANT — Dante Ultimo 2x2 Platform

The DXA-OPT-TX is built on the Dante Ultimo 2x2 platform.

This provides stable, low-latency Dante audio transport over standard IP networks.

IMPORTANT — Audio Sampling Rate Support

The DXA-OPT-TX supports different sample rates on the optical input and Dante output.

Supported Dante output sample rates include:

Make sure the Dante receiving device supports the selected Dante sample rate.

IMPORTANT — Configurable Dante Latency Is Supported

The DXA-OPT-TX supports configurable Dante device latency.

Latency is configured using Dante Controller.

If audio dropouts or glitches occur, increase Dante latency to 2ms or 5ms.

IMPORTANT — AES67 Compatibility Is Supported

The DXA-OPT-TX supports AES67 compatibility.

AES67 support helps the unit work with compatible AES67-enabled network audio systems.

IMPORTANT — Network Distance up to 328ft / 100m

The DXA-OPT-TX connects to the Dante network through its RJ45 DANTE port.

Use high-quality network cable and a suitable network switch.

Poor network cable, damaged connectors, weak terminations, or incorrect network settings may cause the device not to appear in Dante Controller, audio dropouts, unstable routing, clock sync issues, or network discovery problems.

IMPORTANT — PoE and USB-C Power Are Supported

The DXA-OPT-TX can be powered through PoE or USB-C.

If the Dante network switch supports PoE, the USB-C power connection is not required for normal power.

If PoE is not available, power the unit using the USB-C POWER port with a 5V/500mA power supply.

IMPORTANT — USB-C Port Supports Power and Firmware Updates

The USB-C POWER port is used for power and firmware updates.

The DXA-OPT-TX manual lists the USB-C POWER port for 5V/500mA power input and firmware updates.

Ports and Panel Layout

Understanding the LED Indicators

Use these indicators first when troubleshooting power, network connection, Dante activity, or optical audio input.

Step-by-Step Setup

1. Connect an optical audio source device to the OPTICAL input on the DXA-OPT-TX.

Examples include a TV optical output, set-top box, Blu-ray player, DVD player, audio mixer, amplifier, soundbar output, or other PCM optical source.

1. Set the optical source audio output to PCM or Stereo.
2. Connect the DANTE / PoE port on the DXA-OPT-TX to a 1G network switch.
3. If using a PoE switch, confirm the switch supports IEEE 802.3af PoE.
4. If PoE is not available, connect a 5V/500mA USB-C power supply to the POWER port.
5. Connect the computer running Dante Controller to the same Dante network.
6. Open Dante Controller.
7. Confirm the DXA-OPT-TX appears as a Dante transmitter.
8. Route the DXA-OPT-TX audio channels to the desired Dante receiver, amplifier, DSP, mixer, or other Dante-enabled device.
9. Confirm all Dante devices are set to the same compatible sample rate.
10. Set Dante latency to 1ms, 2ms, or 5ms as required.
11. Confirm the DANTE port LINK LED is steady.
12. Confirm the DANTE port DATA LED blinks during audio transmission.
13. Confirm the OPTICAL LED becomes solid when active optical audio input is detected.
14. Test audio through the connected Dante receiving device.

Dante Controller Setup Requirement — Critical

Use Dante Controller to route audio from the DXA-OPT-TX.

If the device does not appear in Dante Controller:

• Confirm the DXA-OPT-TX is powered by USB-C or PoE.
• Make sure your computer and the DXA-OPT-TX are on the same network or subnet.
• Check the network switch and Ethernet cable.
• Disable or configure firewall settings that may block Dante discovery.
• Confirm the correct network adapter is selected in Dante Controller.

Optical Audio Setup Requirement — Critical

The optical input must receive compatible PCM stereo audio.

If there is no Dante audio from the optical source:

• Confirm the optical cable is connected to the DXA-OPT-TX OPTICAL port.
• Confirm the source device is set to PCM or Stereo.
• Confirm the OPTICAL LED is solid.
• Check routing in Dante Controller.
• Confirm all Dante devices are set to the same sample rate.
• Test a different optical cable or optical source.

Network Cable Requirement — Critical

Use high-quality CAT6 / CAT6A / CAT7 cable.

Poor network cable or network setup may cause:

• Device not appearing in Dante Controller
• Dante routing failure
• Audio dropouts
• DATA LED not blinking
• LINK LED not steady
• Clock sync issues
• Discovery issues
• PoE power problems
• Audio not heard on Dante receiving devices

Use direct, properly terminated network cable whenever possible.

Power Requirement — Critical

The DXA-OPT-TX can be powered through PoE or USB-C.

If the unit does not power on:

• Check the PoE switch.
• Check the Ethernet cable.
• Check the USB-C power source.
• Confirm the USB-C power supply provides 5V/500mA.
• Try another network port or USB-C cable.

Surge protection is recommended.

Reset Function

The DXA-OPT-TX includes a RESET button.

The manual notes that the RESET button only restores Dante settings. To reset the device to factory settings, use Dante Controller software.

Understanding the Application Example

The application diagram shows a Dante Optical Encoder, Dante Optical Decoder, PoE network switch, Dante Controller computer, Dante amplifier, and optical audio equipment.

In the example, an optical audio source such as a mixing console, DVD or Blu-ray player, set-top box, or similar audio source connects to the Dante Optical Encoder. The DXA-OPT-TX sends the audio through the PoE network switch as Dante audio. Dante Controller is used to route the audio to Dante-enabled devices such as a Dante amplifier or Dante Optical Decoder.

This shows the main use case: optical audio from standard SPDIF / TOSLINK equipment is converted into Dante network audio and routed across a Dante system.

Supported Technical Specifications

Package Contents

What Optical Audio Devices Is the DXA-OPT-TX Compatible With?

The DXA-OPT-TX can receive audio from optical audio source devices such as:

• TVs with optical audio output
• Set-top boxes
• DVD players
• Blu-ray players
• Audio mixers
• Amplifiers with optical output
• Soundbars with optical output
• Media players
• Game consoles with optical output
• Other PCM-compatible SPDIF / TOSLINK audio sources

The source must output PCM 2-channel optical audio.

What Dante Devices Is the DXA-OPT-TX Compatible With?

The DXA-OPT-TX can route audio to Dante-enabled devices such as:

• Dante decoders
• Dante amplifiers
• Dante DSPs
• Dante mixers
• Dante audio interfaces
• Dante-enabled speakers
• ToVi Dante models
• AES67-compatible network audio devices

Routing must be configured in Dante Controller.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the DXA-OPT-TX used for? 
A: It converts two-channel optical SPDIF / TOSLINK audio into Dante 2-channel digital audio.

Q: Is the DXA-OPT-TX a Dante encoder? 
A: Yes. It is a Dante Optical Encoder.

Q: What Dante platform does it use? 
A: It is built on the Dante Ultimo 2x2 platform.

Q: Does it accept optical audio input? 
A: Yes. It accepts two-channel optical audio through the OPTICAL port.

Q: What does it output? 
A: It outputs Dante 2-channel digital audio through the DANTE RJ45 port.

Q: Does it output analog audio? 
A: Analog audio output is not listed for this model.

Q: Does it have HDMI input or HDMI output? 
A: No. It is an audio-only optical to Dante encoder.

Q: Does it support ARC or eARC? 
A: No. ARC and eARC are not supported on this model.

Q: What optical audio format does it support? 
A: Optical input supports PCM 2CH from 32kHz to 192kHz at 16-bit or 24-bit.

Q: Does it support Dolby or DTS audio? 
A: Dolby and DTS formats are not listed. Use PCM 2-channel audio.

Q: What Dante output format is supported? 
A: Dante output supports PCM 2CH from 44.1kHz to 96kHz at 16-bit or 24-bit.

Q: Does it support AES67? 
A: Yes. AES67 compatibility is supported.

Q: How do I route audio from the DXA-OPT-TX? 
A: Use Dante Controller software. The device appears as a Dante transmitter, allowing audio channels to be routed to Dante-enabled receiving devices.

Q: Does it need Dante Controller? 
A: Yes. Dante Controller is used for audio routing and latency configuration.

Q: What Dante latency settings are supported? 
A: 1ms, 2ms, and 5ms configurable Dante latency settings are supported.

Q: What should I do if audio has dropouts or glitches? 
A: Increase Dante latency to 2ms or 5ms, confirm all Dante devices use the same sample rate, check clock sync in Dante Controller, and avoid network congestion by using a dedicated Gigabit Ethernet switch.

Q: What is the audio output delay? 
A: The manual lists audio output delay as less than 1ms.

Q: What network cable should I use? 
A: Use CAT6, CAT6A, or CAT7 cable.

Q: What is the maximum network distance? 
A: Up to 328ft / 100m.

Q: What network bandwidth does it use? 
A: The manual lists network bandwidth as 100Mbps.

Q: Does it support PoE? 
A: Yes. It supports PoE IEEE 802.3af Class 0 through the Dante RJ45 port.

Q: Can it be powered by USB-C? 
A: Yes. It can be powered through USB-C using a 5V/500mA power supply.

Q: Do I need USB-C power if using PoE? 
A: No. If the Dante port is connected to a PoE switch, USB-C power is not required for normal operation.

Q: What is the power consumption? 
A: The manual lists power consumption as 0.69W max.

Q: What does the green LINK LED mean? 
A: It stays steady when the network connection is established successfully.

Q: What does the yellow DATA LED mean? 
A: It blinks during active Dante audio data transmission.

Q: What does the OPTICAL LED mean? 
A: Flashing means the device is booting. Solid means active audio input is detected.

Q: What should I do if the device does not appear in Dante Controller? 
A: Confirm the device is powered by USB-C or PoE, make sure the computer and device are on the same network or subnet, and disable or configure firewalls that may block network discovery.

Q: What should I do if no audio is routed from the device? 
A: Confirm the optical source is connected, set the source to PCM stereo, check the OPTICAL LED, route the audio in Dante Controller, and confirm all Dante devices are using a compatible sample rate.

Q: What should I do if audio dropouts occur? 
A: Increase Dante latency, confirm the same sample rate across Dante devices, check clock sync, and use a dedicated Gigabit Ethernet switch.

Q: Does the RESET button factory reset everything? 
A: No. The manual states the RESET button only restores Dante settings. Use Dante Controller software for a full factory reset.

Q: Does the USB-C port support firmware updates? 
A: Yes. The USB-C POWER port supports firmware updates.

Q: Does the DXA-OPT-TX need external power? 
A: It can be powered through PoE or through USB-C 5V/500mA.