StarTech.com HDMI Audio Extractor - HDMI to 3.5mm Audio Converter - 2.1 Stereo Audio - 1080p (HD2A),Black

I purchased this converter to use with my computer. I wanted to isolate my audio equipment from the computer to prevent possible ground loops. I connected the output of my analog switch box to the RCA input jacks on the converter, then connected the converter's Toslink output to my computer (Mac Pro). I set the computer's input sample rate to 48K to match the converter's output sample rate. It worked for a few seconds, then the computer slipped back to the default 44.1K sample rate. The resulting mismatch in speed slowed the audio down so it sounded much like a 45rpm record played at 33 1/3. I tried several times. but no luck. I contacted StarTech support and they said the converter must be defective and should be returned... which I did. I then purchased a Menotek A/D converter  Menotek Analog Audio to Digital Audio Converter  (both purchased from Amazon), and it also failed to work with my computer. In addition to the Toslink tests, I tried taking the coaxial outputs of the converters and running them through a coaxial-to-Toslink converter, then to the computer and that failed as well. Finally, to test the computer's ability to handle a 48K sample rate, I ran the 48K Toslink output of my DVD player to the computer and it worked OK. I then took the analog output of the DVD player, ran it through the converters to my computer and it failed. I should add, both the StarTech and Menotek worked OK with my audio amp, and other equipment. Bottom line, both converters worked OK, they were just not compatible with my computers (I tried 3 different Mac's, all failed).

Did exactly what I needed it to do. I really appreciate that you can use it even without connecting the output, which means I can leave this in my media rack to pull off the audio from an HDMI splitter.This product has a couple downsides:- It's DC, and I think the lack of ground caused me problems when I first tried using it with long audio runs that spanned different sides of the apartment.- When the input is off, it buzzes.

After talking to as many A/V guys as I could muster, the conclusion was, if I were to attempt this, spend the money on it. Now I see I'd have been better off buying one of the cheap ones.It is very flimsy and the Toslink cable will not lock in meaning the slightest bump and it comes disconnected. Also there is precious little documentation with this or any of the similar models I could see. So when I saw that the only way I could get the sound from our smart TV to our surround sound was an audio coax and saw the connections on this model and the description, I bet on it. And I lost. After going back and forth and having all the cables precariously in place according to the limited instructions, I fired it up and nada.I have since learned that this technique only works on digital surround sound systems (not by company literature mind you but scrubbing forums of people trying to do similar sorts of conversions) and mine is simply to old at maybe 10 years. I am out of luck until I can afford a new sound system and then I won't need the stupid little box.This sort of information needs to be published in descriptions and there needs to be complete documentation with the item including troubleshooting steps. Its flimsy connectivity, had it worked at all, makes any reliable transfer tenuous at best.

I tried connecting my RCA red and white audio cables from my  Xbox 360 4GB Console  into this converter, and then the toslink digital audio cable out to my  Samsung HW-E450 Wireless AirTrack Sound Bar  and it is not compatible. Did not have any sound.Maybe this product works for most electronic items but wanted buyers to know it may not work for your Xbox.

What a pleasant surprise - it works and delivers a high quality digital signal. I needed this adapter because my Sony TV Toslink audio output doesn't output audio for stereo signals from over-the-air TV stations. My amplifier, a NAD 390DD, accepts only digital inputs so I needed to be able to convert the analog output from the TV to a digital signal (Toslink preferred). This unit provides both a single ended RCA digital output or a Toslink output. The resulting audio is very clean and of sufficient fidelity for typical TV programming. The unit is extremely small and easily hidden behind the TV or amplifier.

I was installing a HD 50' plasma and I do not have a cable box (because cable companies are horrible)... my A/V tech guy pointed me to Gefen online to order a part but the shipping took forever. I ordered this for less and it arrived in two days. This is a converter for people who do not have a headphone jack or the proper jack to go from your TV to your receiver. Not that educated on it since someone else installed but it does the job

I bought this item after the other audio converter I had stopped working after about 5 months. This one seems to work fine with one exception. It does not support 5.1 audio as it says it does. This is super disappointing as I paid over $40 dollars. I've tried my cable, xbox, ps3, hdmi from my computer and this device never receives and translates the 5.1 audio that comes into it.

This is probably a fine converter, but I ordered the wrong one. I needed a digital optical to analog converter. This is the opposite. I guess it would work, but I could not use it.

Ho acquistato questo oggetto con l'intenzione di convertire un segnale RCA stereo in digitale. Proprio quello per cui questo oggetto viene pubblicizzato e venduto. L'ho preso due volte il primo l'ho restituito perché arrivato con la confezione aperta ed evidenti segni di manomissione e non funzionante. Il secondo la stessa cosa. Restituito come inadeguato.

Discreta qualità del prodotto

Works as described, used with an older EPSON video projector which has no audio out. Fortunately I have a lot of old USB charger lying around to give the juice it needs. Note that the projector still gives sound with the extractor working

The product performs as specified but, like many other similar products, is limited in performance when used for the more modern players and sound systems. It needs to be redesigned to handle the newer DTS and Dolby HD Audio stream speeds.

Bought this product in order to hook up the analog output of my surround receiver and use a digital signal to feed a Bose Cinemate sound bar (which tragically lacks input flexibility for the price). The StarTech does the job very well but at high volumes, I can hear distortion.