Digital Audio Bi-Directional Optical Toslink Switch and Splitter Reviews

• Works great....

  
  By A2B4BYXDYD63ZC on 2007-01-17
  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.
  
  

• Be Careful

  
  By A3EKNSZQOIFM1D on 2007-05-16
  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.
  
  

• Works Exactly As You'd Think

  
  By A297KG1YAE7T4P on 2007-04-04
  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.
  
  

• Didn't work

  
  By A3S71WW0FEU9DR on 2008-01-26
  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.
  
  

• Great Solution!

  
  By ASHWZQ1IPAOL9 on 2007-06-14
  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!
  
  
• Check Your Equipment!
  By A1QQU6KQ9B48RO on 2008-01-11
  If either of the units you want to connect to this emits a red glow from the optical port even when the unit isn't in use, this WILL NOT work properly as a switch. You will have to find an alternative solution to connecting two outputs to one input. Otherwise this should work fine.
  
  
• Didn't work at all
  By A1604IKY7CGIT2 on 2007-04-21
  Maybe mine was broken, but I don't think so because I could see a red light at all the cable ends. I connected the splitter to my sound card, a TB Montego DDL, with a 1' cable and then tried both a 6' and 30' cable to my stereo. No signal whatever. Both the 6' and 30' cables delivered great clean signal when plugged directly into the sound card. I even used only the 6' and 30' cables in case the 1' was bad. Still no signal.
  
  I think you need to have either a very, very, strong signal from your source to use a passive splitter like this one, or use a powered splitter.
  
  
  
  
• Waste of money.
  By A5JMYFTFHRKB5 on 2007-05-18
  Didn't work for me. Didn't performate as I expected. I couldn't even make a single connection work properly. I'm staying overseas, would be expensive and/or take a long time to have a replacement. And it won't work the opposite way neither (I couldn't connect two devices into the same input, even using them one at a time).
  
  
• Splits and combines outputs.
  By A389C3UKVN6U99 on 2007-08-15
  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.
  
  
• Works as advertised for PS3/Xbox 360
  By A3CDN2QA6GDZGZ on 2008-04-16
  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.
  
  
• Does exactly what I need!
  By AMUOMI4QYNFQL on 2008-06-27
  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.
  
  
• Optical splitter- Does the trick....
  By A3A5AG0GGK8TWF on 2007-04-06
  This product was the perfect solution to assist me in maintaining the premium sound quality of both Play Station Systems I have running through an Hi def Switch box to my Hi def tv through my SONY A/V RECIEVER.Now switching the optical audio is done automaticaly when eithe the PS3 is running -or my children turn on PS2 TO PLAY DANCE DANCE DANCE -REVOLUTION-I used the switch "backwards" and thats why it works simply by turning one system off and the other on.Try this product-you wont be dissapointed.
  
  
• Very disappointed. Mine is broken
  By AJ7D8N3Z1Q7MK on 2007-07-17
  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.
  
  
• Does not work other way
  By A359E8SFV5QT70 on 2007-08-22
  This product spitlits the signal ONLY, the other way it does not work.
  You can not combine 2 different signal into 1 input, even when you have only 1 signal goint through the product.
  
  
• Splitter/Combiner
  By A26HZH4YZFS7WY on 2007-09-17
  I bought this to combine two optical signals into one and it works perfectly when only one system is on at a time ex(Xbox360 and PS3) But have heard other equipment not working because they transmit signal even when they are off so check to see if the is a signal when off for both systems before buying. All you have to do is to look at the end of the optical cable out of the system when its turned off if you see red light then this product won't work as a combiner.
  
  
• Didn't work...for me
  By A2UNLQIGIL2AUH on 2007-11-01
  Either I got a bad one or it's just not possible with the equipment i was using. I tested all my wires and everything works fine seperately but this little guy wouldn't allow me to run my Xbox 360 and my Toshiba HD-A2 HD-DVD Player co-existently. The design seems simple enough, but i couldn't even get it to split the signal the way it was meant to work. So maybe I got a defective unit. But it's not worth it to return it and pay for shipping on an item that was about 3 bucks and then 4 more for shipping. So I'm back to using my manual optical splitter from Radio Shack. Ten bucks and no hassles of not working.
  
  
• Didn't work for me. Tried to split 1 signal into 2.
  By A300WBKVEP7YQ3 on 2007-11-23
  I was trying to split the signal from my Xbox 360 to my home theater and a pair of Triton AX360 headphones. Didn't work. The six sided end fittings of a typical optical sound cable did not fit very well into the squarish ends of this device. I suspect that is the problem or maybe I just got a bad one. I tried it with low and high quality cables as well. It's a bummer too because I grow tired of unplugging the cable from my HT to put it into the headphones receiver.
  
  
• does not work for audio - may need signal booster
  By AXDMSFTEJAF8F on 2007-12-05
  I received two of these from a different company, first one had a broken piece in side of it (rattled) and did not work. Second splitter does not work either. Are these even made for audio? I've tried on half a dozen difference output sources including dvd players, multiple computers etc... i can see a light coming out of both ends but no sound coming out of splitter when connected. Cables and cords etc all are high quality and work great without splitter. No idea whats going on with this thing. After doing some research a signal booster before or after the split may solve this problem. I'm going to try that before i completely give up on this.
  
  
• Does not work
  By A1PD0X6LJBHAII on 2007-12-25
  I also tried using this to split the optical feed from my older Surround Soud Receiver as it only has one optical input. Wanted to use it for my XBox 360 and new HDDVD player. It did pick up the signal form the HDDDVD while the 360 was plugged in (and off) but had to shake it a bit in order to pick up the signal. Unfortunately, even when the HDDVD player was off (to shut fiber optic signal) the receiver did not pick up the signal from the360, even after shaking the cables a bit. Not quite what I was hoping for. Have to either look for another splitting option or by new receiver...more money to spend. ):
  
  
• Did not work for me...
  By A9YDTYF877KHY on 2008-01-15
  Tried to use this product to hook both my PS3 and DVR Box into my receiver's only optical input. Only the PS3 would work but it had alot of interference and cut in and out. I bought the Radioshack amplifier thinking I could put it on the "out" end of the splitter and clean things up. No dice. All I got was a loud clicking noise. Hooked up the amplifier to the DVR Box optical input and that made the cable signal usable but the PS3 was still unacceptable. You get what you pay for I guess.
  
  
• Cheap, but has issues
  By AGZP8G6JTKQJC on 2008-01-21
  I had issues using this as a 2-input 1-output device for my digital audio outputs from PS3 and HD DVR cable box (output to my Sony home theater system). PS3 output didn't work when the cable output was hooked in, but not vice versa. I am stuck to manual switching for now :(
  
  
• Dud
  By A17LSEN4UY4XZQ on 2008-02-02
  What I received from "Abacus 24-7" looks slightly different, but the same thing. Connected two outputs (HD DVD & PS3) in and then out-put to my receiver. Nothing. I could see the glow, but it was greatly diminished from the cable end to the end of the splitter. My opinion, it didn't allow enough light through and the dim light getting to the receiver was not enough. I bought two splitters, neither worked (and yes, only one machine was on at a time, I even disconnected the cables so only one unit was plugged in and still, no feed through.) I think buying these is a throw of the dice, you never know what will come! Mine are junk, don't work, going back.
  
  
  
  
• You get what you pay for
  By A1CFNOI8BWWK1N on 2008-02-11
  I've experimented with different cables but only some actually "fit" into the plugs on the unit. I thought the Toslink was a standard size but apparently not. Some cables fit snug and "snap" into place. Others act like they will go in but they simply pop or fall out. When I was holding a cable in place on the splitter, everything worked. But I couldn't get it to work with the cables simply plugged in. I paid more for the shipping than I did for the splitter. Your mileage may vary.
  
  
• Perfect for the job!
  By A36YHJUOLVUP28 on 2008-02-23
  I bought this to combine two outputs (PS3 + HD DVD) into the single input of my home theater amplifier. Installed easily, and works perfectly in this application. The best buy I've done in a long time!
  
  
• Doesn't Work
  By A2A30C9N1KS1NB on 2008-07-06
  I've tried this product and it simply doesn't work, the audio would not go through the device. Purchased a powered unit that works excellent wouldn't recommend purchasing this item.
  
  
• Works as advertised
  By A3AOTRJI8M7LC0 on 2007-02-08
  I use it for splitting the signal from my Tivo. One leads feeds my sound system and the other goes to the computer, where I can record the shows for playback on my pocket PC.
  
  
• Works Backwards
  By A1Y8J88OH9N742 on 2007-07-16
  Does split backwards, excellent and exactly what I needed.
  - Using an Xbox360 and a SA-8300HD cable box i was able to use this to get both into one input on my receiver.
  -My room here is not too big so i dont need a high-end surround sound to fill it, I was able to get 2 optical now out of my Sony in box setup and not have to purchase a new receiver.
  
  -remember your going to need another cable to get it from the splitter to the receiver.(3 total)
  
  
• Does not work
  By A1RQOZ6J6HF06T on 2007-11-06
  I tried using it in the following way: Take output from XBox 360, and split to feed both a surround sound speaker system and surround sound headphones.
  
  Here are my speakers: Spherex Xbox 5.1 Digital Surround Sound System
  headphones: Tritton True 5.1 Digital Audio Headset
  
  Both of those products are GREAT by the way.
  
  Unfortunately, niether the headphones nor the speakers play after the splitter is put in place, but both work when you switch manually. Further, I checked all the cables independently, and they work fine alone.
  
  You get what you pay for!
  
  
  
• 2 devices to one input does not work
  By A31B11VF3XQICG on 2007-11-20
  I bought two hoping to connect four devices to two inputs and I couldn't get either adapter to work with any two devices. These are cheap devices and I wouldn't recommend them to anyone.
  
  
• Does not work.. :(
  By AD28CSPJ4VMAC on 2007-12-13
  Tried to use this to connect a XBOX 360 and a PS3 to a Onkyo HT-S570 5.1 system (has 1 optical input). It did not work. The cables work fine connect to the receiver but not using the splitter. What I found out after playing with it for a bit, is if you move cable around (left to right) it would sometime make a full connection and work, then after you move the cable, it would not work. Only 1 unit was on at a time, and only 1 cable was lit (red light) up. I may have received a bad splitter, but it did not work. Even with just 1 cable plugged into both ends, it could not make a prefect connection. I ended up buying a Onkyo HT-SR700 system from amazon, and it sounds amazing!! (has 2 optical inputs)
  
  

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