Dioche DAC Audio Digital to Analog Converter, Digital DTS Channel Decoder 5.1 Audio Converter Optical Fiber Coaxial Sound Adapter for PS3 HD DVD PS4

I own a small recording studio and wanted to listen to a music album on DVD in 5.1 surround. I already own speakers and amps, and I didn't want to invest in a full home theater system. This device does exactly what I needed. It decodes the digital audio output from a DVD player into six analog signals, which I then fed to six self-powered speakers that I had at hand. It's the first time I've heard surround mixes. What a treat!To counter another review I saw here, it's not true that this device does 'fake surround" sound (faux 5.1). They must not have been using it right. It truly decodes the multiplexed channels exactly as they were intended to be heard.It does not have a volume control - you need to control the volume with your amps/powered speakers.

The unit is FALSELY advertised as doing analog 2 channel to 5.1 channel decoding. It has the emblem badge state it has "Dolby Pro Logic II" but it DOES NOT perform this kind of analog decoding. Pro Logic II takes 2 channel audio, like that on this box's AUX input, and is supposed to transform it to surround sound. For example, if this decoding is performed on music, the center channel will just have vocals, the front stereo will have instruments and the surround channel will have ambience to create the sense of a space. This is a standard feature on A/V receivers and was the primary reason I purchased this box. This box DOES NOT perform this kind of processing at all, even though it claims to. Rather, what it does is it takes the 2 channel source, keeps the content the same for the front left/right/center channels and simply LOWERS the volume of the surrounds by a few decibels. There is NO SURROUND PROCESSING on the signal, vocals still come from surrounds, which is disorienting. In short, if you want to use this box to decode analog 2 channel to surround sound like Pro Logic II is supposed to do, DO NOT BUY.

You can plug two different optical inputs, a digital audio RCA and a 1/8" input into this, and the outputs are all RCA for 5.1 audio. Also switches between 2.1 and 5.1, so you can use it for either.I had a Sony Blu Ray player with a digital audio output, and my speaker system needed RCA inputs. This converter worked great for what I needed. Has a switch on the back to switch between the different inputs if you want to plug multiple things into it. I just used it for the Blu Ray/DVD player.At first, only the 'center' speaker was working, but after fiddling with it and switching between inputs/pushing buttons, it started working just fine. (was probably me. lol).I recommend this if you need such a device.

I had some problems with the toslink connector. I solved it with a better toslink cable (a better one).Nice sound with a z607 speakers (5.1)Update (may 29th - 2021).I have some issues with the sound quality. The rear speakers (L/R) almost don't sound. I have a blueray connected throught a toslink and the speakers almost doesn't sound. I have tested with a chromecast (using a HDMI-optical converter) and the rear speakers don't sound either.The sound doesn't come from the right speaker, sounds to the center channel, sounds in left channel too and so on. It only sound like a 2.1 system and not like a 5.1.

The DTS quality goes out of the window: the left of the back and forth are more often mixed up and same the right and the back right. The low bass is a mess.

I did not get any kind of decent sound out of this.

Liked that it can decode to different channels. But there is no volume control FYI.

I have to agree with the other reviews, and wished I'd read them before I bought this. I tried all kinds of things, and could never get true surround sound, no matter if I pushed that tiny button labeled "2.1/5.1". Once I took this out of the equation and used other equipment, magically I had surround sound.I strongly suggest if you're looking to get surround sound, pass this by. It doesn't work. It has all the right words, but it doesn't work worth squat.