Digital Coax & Optical Toslink to Analog Audio Converter

• Converts S/PDIF or TOSLINK digital audio to L/R analog audio
• Package contents include the digital to analog audio converter as well as a DC 5V Adapter to AC Wall plug.
• Inputs: Coaxial and Optical digital audio ports
• Outputs: Right and Left RCA-type Stereo analog output ports
• Size: 2" x 1.5" x 1"

I got this converter because I got a new hdtv however my old sound system only accepted analog composite L/R input. Problem was all the newer hdtv's are eliminating the analog out's and going strictly for digital out like on mine which only had optical audio out.

Looked around and found this converter, even though it fairly expensive, its way cheaper then buying a whole new surround sound system. Bought a cheap 6ft two dollar optical cable with it.

Plugged everything in and I cant detect any problems or audio lag, no noise or fuzziness, it just works like its supposed too.

In the box you get the converter which is made of sturdy steel, and the ac adapter, and some basic instructions.

A few things to note:

the picture listed on the amazon page is wrong, it shows an analog to digital converter when it should be the other way around

make sure your HDTV supports PCM in the audio options, you can find this under the audio options of your HDTV usually under digital optical out, if it only supports Dolby Digital 5.1, this converter will not work

Auto-off would have been a nice feature, doubt it uses much electricity anyway

and also the red power LED is way too bright, I put a piece of electrical tape over it to block it

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This item makes an unbelievable hissing sound when there is no digital signal present. When I emailed the seller (they were very responsive and helpful, this review is no reflection on them)they responded to say the manufacturer replied and told them they designed it that way (or at least they were aware of the issue and they don't see it as an issue). They suggested to the seller that I use better quality cables to reduce the hissing. First of all, I used top quality cables. As a professional A/V custom installer, I am flabbergasted that they designed noise to be present when no signal is present. Amazing. There are other solutions available and I strongly suggest looking into them and not buying this particular item.

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Here is my scenario and reason for needing this converter. I purchased an AppleTV for use with a slightly older LCD Samsung HDTV. Unfortunately, the Samsung HDTV only has a DVI input on the back as well as analog (RCA) audio. Now consider that I have an upconverting DVD player, which is HDMI based, and the AppleTV, which is also HDMI based. HDMI, as you know, carries audio. DVI does not. So in my situation, I have a HDMI to DVI cable connecting the AppleTV to the Samsung HDTV. Unfortunately, there are no RCA audio outs on the AppleTV...just an optical toslink audio out. That's where this handy little converter comes into play. With this, I can use a digital optical cable to get sound to my non-HDMI enabled HDTV...problem solved.

Now here are the drawbacks. First, the sound quality is quite good, but I really have to crank up the volume on the TV to hear anything so there is some volume loss with the conversion. Second, the converter itself is not well built. When I attempted to plug in the digital optical audio cable, the connector on the converter almost came loose and fell into the device. Luckily I was still able to plus the cable into it. The converter seems rather flimsy for the price point. And yes...that is another complaint I have. The price of this unit is much too high. So I knocked off 2 stars for those complaints.

For now, until I can get an upgraded HDTV, this device solves my immediate dilemma of not hearing sound.

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I recently purchased a LG 50PW350 and the only output from the TV is a optical digital audio output that I suspect is encoded AC3. I appears this device can only handle PCM encoded material (the VIZIO VSB200 sound bar is another example) as I get a loud strobing effect when attempting to use the LGs audio output to this device. Wish the new TVs still had the old RCA jacks (or at least a headphone jack) for analog audio output, but I guess that's too old school (or a cost reduction!)

I purchased this converter to use to connect an Apple TV to a home stereo that only has analog inputs. As some other reviewers stated, there is a hissing sound when there is no signal. That didn't really bother me it goes away as soon as the music starts. It was fine for approximately nine months, and then it began scrambling the signal. I could still hear the music, but it was accompanied by a lot of white noise. I replaced the cables, plugged the red/white cables into different inputs nothing worked.

I finally ordered a competitor's model from Amazon and installed it yesterday. It's about the same price (maybe a few dollars more) and doesn't have the hissing sound when no signal is present. Because this converter hisses and only lasted 9 months, I would not recommend this model.