OREI Digital to Analog Audio Decoder by OREI, Convert & Decode Dolby Digital Audio SPDIF/Coaxial 5.1-Channel Input to RCA L/R/3.5mm Headphone Output Converter (DA34)

This is a very annoying product category - why can't TVs just have analog output jacks for sound? What's saved - $3.98 in parts and 1.5 sq. in. of back panel space? Anyway, this is pretty common now, and if you want to hook up powered speakers or headphones that lack an optical connection (like the excellent wireless Sennheisers I've had for several years and wanted to use), you'll need something like the DA34. It does the job well for a good price, so I love it.I found out the hard way that a non-5.1 decoder would not work with my Panasonic LCD TV (this is apparently also true of many LG models, a fact that is not obvious from their respective manuals), and had to return a PCM-only decoder. The DA34 DOES work with my television, solving the problem. Nearly double the cost, but it's still not that expensive. Very slight hiss/hum when quiet, typical electronic noise, not noticeable when listening to any actual source material.Notes on value -1. In addition to being competitively priced and well-reviewed, the DA34 DOES INCLUDE a perfectly adequate optical cable. Some decoders don't, adding $5-6 to your cost if you don't have a spare TOSlink cable lying about.2. I've seen the price difference between the DA34 and the deluxe metal-cased DA34X vary quite a bit in the past few months. When I purchased there was a $15 price difference, which didn't seem worth it to me, but I've also seen it as low as $6 (as I recall), at which point it would probably make sense. Check that out before you order and decide accordingly (as of this writing they were back to the $15 price gap).

Ordered product to listen to Netflix with Hammacher Schlemmer headphones for my TV. I think they are Sennelier headphones. Anyway, so irritating that the headphones work with Comcast Cable, but not with the subscription Netflix. I guess for some unknown reason Netflix is Analog. Anyway this decoder worked great and was easy to set up. Instructions were not very good, but the setup was intuitive. Sound quality is still great although I do notice a slight delay between the lips moving and the sound, but I quickly got used to it. I will say that when I have the headphones on I have to mute the TV, because the delay through the headphones using this decoder causes an echo. But as long as I mute the TV, I am fine, and of course that's the whole reason for wanting the headphones: to listen to TV quietly and not disturb others in the house.

I purchased an LG 55 inch 4K smart TV. There was no audio via Sennheiser wireless headphones from my DVD player or from Netflix till...I connected the digital optical Toslink cable, etc. to the back of the 4K smart LG TV and to the Orei DECODER and then connected the Orei DECODER to Sennheiser 120 wireless headphones. I adjusted the LG sound setting (the Advanced settings) to Internal speakers + audio out. I then had audio through the headphones from the cable stations, the DVD player and from an online service - Netflix. Good sound!I will update this review in a few months and verify it is still functioning.So far So GOOD.UPDATE - I should have done this sooner. The Orei AC34 is an excellent purchase if yo have an HDMI TV without the latest connections. I purchased the first of two in 2015 and a second one in 2017. The above reviews highlights my purchases.BUT last Christmas I purchased a new set of headphones for my wife - Sony digital headphones - to improve her TV experience even more. Or so I thought until with the unboxing of the new headphone I found I needed a different setup compared with the Sennheiser headphones. WELL - Orei DA34 digital to Audio decoder to the RESCUE again. The Orei DA34 already came with an input for the Sony headphone jack. So PLEASED. So UNEXPECTED. Thank you Orei

After figuring out that my new LG6500 TV did not have RCA audio output, I did some research on line and came across thisl little life saving device. I have it hooked up to a Bose Lifestyle 5 system (about 15 years old) that still works and sounds great - and certainly did not need to be replaced. So this device is a great solution. Very easy to set up and terriffic sound. I actually think the sound quality is better. Like several others that have reviewed, I do need to turn off the TV speakers to have the sound play through this device.I first looked at the Orei 21, but read in these reviews that it only works with PCM audio output. I did not know if my TV had PCM audio output. I called LG to ask - because this level of information is not included in the TV owners manual or online. LG informed me that the TV output is AC3 - which must be a form of Dolby - because the device works fine. So for all of you researching this topic - and I know there have to be a lot that don't want to rid themselves of perfectly functional old sound systems - you must find out the output of your TV - PCM or AC3. If it is AC3 - this device will work.

Twelve years ago, I bought a Panasonic Viera plasma TV. Because my TV external speakers are analog, I could not directly connect the SFDIF optical out to the speakers. I purchased a different decoder, but all I got was a clicking buzz when I'd connect. So, I bypassed the TV's external connection and put a switcher between speakers and DVR, DVD and Roku and fought with it for 12 years! Browsing a couple days ago, I read reviews about this decoder and it seemed to suggest it should work with my configuration. I received it last evening and immediately connected. Voila!!! Success! Now I can have all my audio running through the Panasonic when I watch.

Easy to install, good price, good sound at all