Customer Reviews

Optical Splitter

5 star:		(68)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(16)
1 star:		(111)

 

 

I'm using this backwards from how it's made. Instead of using it to split one output into two, I'm splitting one input into two and it works fine. My receiver only had one optical input but I had two devices with optical outputs. Using this I now have both my XBox 360's optical output and my cable box's optical output going into the splitter and then one cable going from the splitter into my receivers single optical input. Some people told me this wouldn't work but I guessed that it would since it shouldn't make a difference which way the light is traveling. Much more convienient then buying one of those selector switch boxes and having to manually change the selection all the time.

I ordered one of these because my receiver only has 1 optical input & I needed a second input for my X-Box 360. I also ordered 2 relatively cheap optical cables from the Parts Express seller as well. This splitter has no optical connector on the end of the Y so a short optical cable + a longer one to run from one of the inputs to the 360 was also necessary. The other input was used for an OPPO 970HD Dvd Player & I already had the cable to use for that one.

It's pretty straight forward how to use the splitter. The time spent hooking this up was maybe 10 minutes max & would've probably been even less had I had quick access to the back of my receiver. Originally I had no idea something like this existed & I stumbled upon this product by accident. The price is more than reasonable & will save you from buying a new receiver if you need a second optical input. I've had mine for about a week & have not noticed an distortion or changes in sound quality.

Highly recommended.

I received my switch/splitter today in the mail, popped in the toslink cables from the Xbox 360 and PS3 and ran one to the receiver. It worked perfectly for me. I think that the major issue people were having with other components is that if either component connected constantly sends the audio signal regardless of activity, it will not work; however for the Xbox 360 and PS3, neither of them send the signal for audio unless they are on, so it works flawlessly.

Understand how your devices are working prior to purchasing this item if you are attempting to use it as a 2-1 (2 outputs to 1 input) solution for your A/V receiver. It did not work in my case because the item does not block any signals. So, if you have a device like I do that doesn't turn off the optical signal when not in use (my DirecTV HD-DVR), it will not work correctly since the signal gets mixed/corrupted.

I bought this to use as a combiner (switch) because I had two audio devices outputting optical digital audio, but my AV receiver only had one digital audio input. I specifically didn't want a device with a manual switch because I didn't want to have to manually adjust that switch on top of already changing my TV input every time I wanted to go from watching TV to playing Xbox 360, or vice versa.

This device works perfectly for my application! Both of my audio sources go into the end with two inputs, and my AV receiver is hooked up to the end with one input (which I guess would make it an output?). If my Xbox 360 is outputting audio, the AV receiver plays that audio. If my cable box is outputting audio, the receiver plays that audio. The only caveat is that one of the devices *MUST* be turned off and not emitting any signal, because if the device is receiving two signals at once, nothing will come out of the receiver (as the signal will be a garbage combination of both inputs). This is fine for me, however, as I can easily have my cable box or Xbox off if I'm using the other device.

I see this product seems to have a lot of mixed reviews, and a lot of people claiming it doesn't work. It could have something to do with product defects, but mine seemed to be constructed well enough. Another problem I could foresee is that you need to make sure, if you're using this as a combiner, that only one audio source is being inputted to it at a time! Even if some devices are off, they could still be sending some kind of signal through the output (which you can easily tell by looking at the optical audio jack when it's off and seeing if its still got that red glow). To put it simply, if you got two audio signals going through, nothing will come out of this.

I also couldn't be happier with the price of this, especially when compared to the ridiculously priced switches that also include HDMI inputs and whatnot.

I am using this product as a 2 output to 1 input solution. I have both my PS3 and my XBOX 360 hooked up via optical cables to my receiver which only has one optical input. Works flawlessly in this reverse manner. I have not tried splitting a single source to separate devices. **NOTE** if you are planning to use it in this reverse manner, make sure the devices that you are hooking up through this dongle do NOT transmit signals while off. Great Product!

Seems to cause signal loss or distortion because the minute I put this thing between my optical link I cannot get my audio receiver to playback anything. Tried every which configuration including leaving the second port open and switching it backwards; I can see red light shining through but no signal detected on my audio reciever. Tried using devices: Xbox 360 w/ Monster connectors, a 42" Hitachi HDTV, and a Panasonc Blu-ray player. My optical audio receiver is a Logitech Z-5500.

Does what it was made for very well. Which is to split 1 output (default uses) or combine 2 outputs (only if there is 1 signal on at 1 time).

It is very light weight and small. The quality is very good and strong.

I have this hooked up with my Xbox 360 and PS3. Works like a charm. Not 1 single issue with sound. Saved me $20 and manual switching.

Just make sure you have equipment that does not send a light signal when off or on standby... Or this will not work for you. This is the only downside to this great product.

I bought this as a "switch" to use the optical out from both my cable box and PC sound card on the single optical input of my sound receiver.

Unfortunately there's a problem with this - my cable box (Comcast) does not turn off it's optical port even when the box itself turned off. As a result I do not get sound from my PC with the cable box still plugged in to the splitter. However, the PC does turn off the optical port when it's turned off so I do sound from the cable box when both are plugged in. That doesn't really help me, but it does let me know that the splitter is functional.

If you plan to buy this as a switch between two sources, make sure that you check that your devices actually turn off their optical outputs when the device itself is turned off. It's easy enough to check this just by looking at the end of the optical cable, if it's lit up red, the optical output is still on.

Looks like I'll have to by a "real" switch.

I tried to use it to connect both my HDTV and DVD player to the amplifier. The 2 for 1 configuration did not work. So I changed the direction of light, and used it as a splitter as it meant to be, but it still did not work. I think mime is broken somehow. When I connect the cables directly without the splitter, everything works. So all cables are fine. They are 6 ft long. Either the splitter is broken or the total length of 12 ft might be the issue. Not sure how to diagnose further.