Home > Consumer Reviews > Optical Splitter

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!

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.

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.

there should be some clarification for this product. this splitter works exactly as it says, it will allow you to use one optical output to 'feed' more than one input device. it also works to allow you to plug more than one thing into a surround sound or A/V receiver BUT,
**** you can only use one device at a time****,
the other device MUST be turned off or NEITHER will work. if your having trouble and not getting any sound, unplug both devices and if the ends of both are glowing red, you need to turn one of them off or leave it unplugged. for example,i have a dish network DVR and even when it is "off" it still will have the optical output active, and will always glow red. some other devices will do this as well and when this is the case, this splitter will not work for you.
on another note, there is no signal loss with this splitter as some say. it does indeed split the light beam, but, optical outputs use a strong enough light beam to be split several times and/or be degraded by cheaper cables or dirty connectors and still work. for example i 'daisy chained' 2 of these together to provide 3 inputs to my surround sound receiver. i plugged my HTPC and the single side of the first splitter into the surround, and my PS3 and 360 into the the two ports on the second one and it all works perfectly as long as only one of the 3 was on at any one time. i had to unplug it and plug in the dish dvr when i wanted to use it though because it was always on.
last note,optical audio is DIGITAL meaning it works by signals being either "on" or "off" to communicate. as long as the signal gets there, it will work and be crystal clear. simple as that,. This applies to any digital connection, including HDMI, DVI, as well as Optical audio. a cheap $10 cable will work just as well as a $100 cable, with no noticeable differance as long as its solid enough to not have any broken wires or faulty connectors. ANALOG connections on the other hand (composite (red/white/yellow), component (red/blue/green) and VGA) CAN suffer interference caused by cheaper cables.