Orei HDA-939 HDMI Audio Extractor Review

[amirm]

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Orei HDA-939 HDMI audio extractor and AV converter. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $199.

The middle section should tell you how this extractor is different. Using dip switches in the back it can perform all manner of Audio/Video conversion including decoding of multiple audio formats:

Here is a page from company brochure:

I like the locking DC terminal and as mentioned, the programmability of the unit.

Orei HDA-939 Audio Measurements
I first tested the quality of the RCA analog output extracted from HDMI input:

This is quite high level of distortion. Looking at the spectrum though, I thought it may be saturating so I reduce input level by 1 dB and got much better results:

Fortunately digital output is bit-exact and works perfectly up to 24 bit resolution:

So pair it up with your favorite DAC (or the one in an AVR/Processor) and you are good to go. If you stay with the internal DAC, here is the dynamic range:

I did measure the jitter level over coax and while worse than desktop products, it is still low enough to not cause issues for any half decent DAC:

Conclusions
Nice to see a differentiated audio extractor to help with format conversion of both video and audio. Wish the DAC overflow was not there. Fortunately the digital output is bit exact so you can drive a high performance DAC with it and get whatever quality you need.

I don't have a recommendation one way or the other. If you need a box like this, then this will fit your need.

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As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.

Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/

 

[Moderate Dionysianism]

Here is a page from company brochure:

Proudly based in the USA xD

 

[respice finem]

The "atrocious" analog out is IMHO not even necessary, probably every customer will use the digital outputs.

 

[Koeitje]

The "atrocious" analog out is IMHO not even necessary, probably every customer will use the digital outputs.

Yep, but it would be nice if it worked properly at 0dBFS.

 

[TonyJZX]

as a digital switcher its perfect, i mean it has to be, its like a ethernet switch that cant pass tcp/ip bit perfect if it wasnt

since this is really just a china odm i expect the analog conversion to be subpar since their intended audience is not likely to call them out on it

expect it to be the cheapest 50c dac out there

ironically audioholics like it?

The OREI HDA-939 HDMI Audio Extractor is No One-Trick Pony

The OREI HDA-939 ($199) is a multi-function AV tool that works as a 4K HDMI Scaler, eARC Audio Extractor, audio/video processor and much more. What CAN'T the OREI HDA-939 do? Read on to find out.

www.audioholics.com

 

[Rja4000]

Thanks Amir

I did measure the jitter level over coax and while worse than desktop products, it is still low enough to not cause issues for any half decent DAC:

I have a hard time understanding this.
How to read it ?

 

[KxDx]

Yep, but it would be nice if it worked properly at 0dBFS.

The DAC is where they cut corners to meet a price point, no doubt.

 

[amirm]

Thanks Amir


I have a hard time understanding this.
How to read it ?

Max jitter is about 50 psec. You need 250 picoseconds to obliterate one bit of 16 bit content. In that regard, the jitter level is below the threshold of 16 bits. So good enough. This is on top of a DAC filtering such jitter.

 

[MacCali]

Edit: watched the audioholics video. So if I have a flagship tv this is useless? Still not really getting who this is for. -_-

So what would this unit be good for precisely? Just adding a stereo to your tv? Multichannel? I see it says up to 7.1 but what could you connect that too

I’m certain it seems like an ignorant question but I’m still new to audio, so excuse my ignorance

Read the article, much more informative. Thanks!

 

[PeteL]

The "atrocious" analog out is IMHO not even necessary, probably every customer will use the digital outputs.

I highly doubt that every customer will use the digital output. The vast majority of people don't even know what a DAC is, let alone considering the purchase of one. Me I think that for most it's more like "Hey dear vendor, I need to get the sound for my movie in my sound system, but I don't have HDMI on my old receiver." Vendor- "here you go sir, put that between your TV and your sound system, you'll have the sound in your speakers".

 

[respice finem]

I highly doubt that every customer will use the digital output. The vast majority of people don't even know what a DAC is, let alone considering the purchase of one. Me I think that for most it's more like "Hey dear vendor, I need to get the sound for my movie in my sound system, but I don't have HDMI on my old receiver." Vendor- "here you go sir, put that between your TV and your sound system, you'll have the sound in your speakers".

Those customers are IMHO more likely to choose a "10 dollar job" USB powered mini DAC.

 

[PeteL]

Those customers are IMHO more likely to choose a "10 dollar job" USB powered mini DAC.

Vendor- "I have USB DACs, where is your computer located?" Customer-"oh, about 20 feet from my system on my home working office deck over there" Vendor- ah... You can't have a USB cable that long but you can use HDMI, there's already one going to your TV, right?"

 

[respice finem]

Vendor- "I have USB DACs, where is your computer located?" Customer-"oh, about 20 feet from my system on my home working office deck over there" Vendor- ah... You can't have a USB cable that long but you can use HDMI, there's already one going to your TV, right?"

Maybe - after all, sales people talk people into buying other stuff too... Last example (OT): I was looking for a TV with DV as a "must have" - the salesman suggested a Samsung

 

[Haskil]

Amazon Basics 4K HDMI Extractor Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Amazon Basics 4K HDMI extractor. Member kindly purchased and drop shipped it to me. It normally costs $22.89 but was on sale for just $5!!! The case is the standard metal one for these kinds of adapters. Power is provided with a supplied USB-A...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Jaimo]

I have been using this selector since 2020 and it works without any issues. It is very well built and I’ve often wondered how it will test against the Amazon Basics unit…

HDMI Switch 4 in 1 Out, TESmart... https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07HH1LTTK?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

 

[PeteL]

I have been using this selector since 2020 and it works without any issues. It is very well built and I’ve often wondered how it will test against the Amazon Basics unit…

HDMI Switch 4 in 1 Out, TESmart... https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07HH1LTTK?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Isn't this a completely different product and different purpose? How is the HDA-939 a "selector"?

 

[JDS]

Perhaps a small thing, but I'm impressed by the threaded collar on the power supply connection at the back of the unit. Haven't seen that before on an otherwise conventional wall wart PS.

 

[JayGilb]

Perhaps a small thing, but I'm impressed by the threaded collar on the power supply connection at the back of the unit. Haven't seen that before on an otherwise conventional wall wart PS.

Thant's not the power supply connection, but appears to be a L/R analog connector.

 

[JDS]

Thant's not the power supply connection, but appears to be a L/R analog connector.

Ummm... it says DC 12V on the box just below the connector, and what appears to be a mating connector is at the end of the wire that leads to the wall wart.

 

[JayGilb]

Ha - you are correct, I was looking at the link just above your post, not the original hdmi extractor.