Gefen Digital Audio Decoder (GTV-DD-2-AA)

It works as advertised. No problems noted, easy install. I have an old analog stereo and my LG Plasma TV is the first TV I have owned without an analog audio out that I can send to the stereo. It does have a digital audio out and this little decoder takes the digital audio out from the TV (via a TOS link optical cable) and converts it to a 2 channel stereo analog signal that my older stereo can use. The old RCA Left-Right plugs that used to plug into my older TV's audio out now plug directly into this decoder. It seems to be basically the same piece of electronics that was built into my older Sony LCD TV that gave it a built-in analog out capability. I was disappointed that the newer LG TVs did not have analog audio out -- but I did not expect to have as much trouble as I did finding a decoder that would do the job of converting to analog stereo -- by trouble I mean the limited selection of devices. I don't know if the specs on this decoder would satisfy an audiophile, but the stereo sound is clean and sounds fine to me, the subwoofer that is part of my stereo system works fine with the stereo signal produced by the decoder. It seems like there would be a market for an upscale version of this, something chassis mounted that would fit in with other audio stuff would be nice instead of this sort of 'tacked on" bit of hardware. The box is little and easy to hide but being so little the cables weigh more than it does so it tends to move around a bit on the shelf. I was nervous about some of the feedback reports of pops or transients when using the decoder during switching. I have not had a single one. I put this on its own switchable power strip and leave the power off until I had the right switch lineup -- then I turn it on with the volume on the TV and stereo all the way down. Since I don't run the TV through the stereo very often, only when I am watching a movie or a concert on TV, this extra bit of inconvenience is no trouble for me. I leave it de-energized most of the time. I don't know for sure that it is necessary but that is the way I use it. Summary: Works great, easy install, recommended.

I ordered this to use with my Sennheiser RS170 headphones since my TV only has digital audio out. Everything works great so far, but I plan to update if my device stops working like others have mentioned. The device successfully converts digital audio from my television to the analog input on my wireless headset base station. I have not noticed any delay in the audio, and it sounds as clear as ever. The only potential annoyance is that there is an occasional pause in the audio when changing to a different input device or channel. (So every time you change a channel, you may have to wait a few seconds for the audio to begin playing again on that new channel.) Also, the price seems a bit excessive but the device works as advertised. *****UPDATE - June 5th, 2012***** Device still works great. I have noticed that occasionally the device does not automatically turn on because it does not recognize that digital audio is being transmitted. If you push the button on the side of the device twice, audio should come back on. Alternatively, (if the device is in a hard to reach place) turning the TV back off and on has also worked for me. This may explain why other reviewers mentioned that their devices had quit working after a short time.

I have a mixed system, with older and newer components. If you, like me, don't want to upgrade every component of your home theater system when you make the newest addition to it, then I don't think this component is for you. I'm still not certain exactly what was wrong with the one I got. It may have been broken, out of the box, or it may just be that it is incapable of decoding anything at all that isn't coming into it as a 5.1 Dolby Digital signal--I read that this inability is this, particular, unit's greatest flaw. But who knows? Maybe it was just broken to start with. I've also read that they can burn out quickly, like within weeks. The one thing I do know about this unit, is that it didn't do the job I wanted it to do. I have a DVD player/CD player, VHS machines, and a Blue Ray device all hooked up, by various means, to my new HDTV. I was disappointed that the only audio out was via fiber-optic (TOSLINK) cable. How lame. But that's a flaw of the HDTV. But it is a flaw most of them seem to share if they don't cost over $1,000. I thought I'd found a way around that problem with this device. But not so. As I've stated, it was either broken out of the box, or just wouldn't work for anything BUT Dolby 5.1. As I don't have HDTV service yet through my cable provider, or any Blue Ray Disks, I couldn't really test these possibilities. What I found was a TC-7510 Digital Optical unit made by Beresford. Not only is this unit substantially bigger than four postage stamps, it is advertised to be able to convert ANY Optical-Digital signal back into stereo. Since there's only ONE optical (TOSLINK) out for audio on my set, it must be converted, whatever it's format. Amazon has them listed as "out of stock." So you have to go to "SpecialtyAV.com" to purchase this unit at the same price as Amazon lists it, but it's out of stock. I had to pay about another $10 and change for shipping. If you have an HDTV, and relatively uncomplicated inputs to that TV, inputs that only involve Dolby 5.1 audio signals in, then this may be the unit for you. But if you are trying to make do with what you've already got, I suspect this isn't what you want. Check out the TC-7150 from Beresford. About $30 more, plus shipping. What I have now, while waiting for the Beresford device is a system in disarray. I'm not about to push it back again, when it's not working right, only to pull it out so I can string some new cables a few days from now. It never occurred to me that something capable of breaking 5.1 Dolby down into stereo would be incapable of passing stereo straight through itself. And I think that's what I got--that or it was broken out of the box, or burned out within seconds. Take your pick of which of those is best.

I was afraid this device would die on me soon when I bought it as some other reviews have said. But I hooked it up 2 years ago, and it's never been disconnected since, and still works exactly as it should! I do have a UPS protecting my home theater, and we've had a few blackouts, but the battery kicks in and I get to safely shut everything down. Maybe that's helped?

Sauteuer aber es hilft bei meinem samsung TV dessen audioausgang digital 5.1 surround sich nicht auf stereo umstellen lässt, wer denk sich sowas aus. ein analog Ausgang beim tv und kopfhörerausgang gibt's auch nicht, genauso idiotisch deshalb war ich auf der suche nach einem solchen converter von digi 5.1 auf analog stereo bisher arbeitet er ganz ordentlich außer gelegentlicher kurzer Tonaussetzer

Habe heute den Gefen Digital- Analog Wandler an meine Stereoanlage angeschlossen. Leider gibt es häufige Tonaussetzer an meiner Stereo- Anlage, Werde den Wandler zurücksenden!

It does work. Most of the time. Stereo signals are not an issue, but lots of boxes do that. But every now and then when doing what you buy this box for (handling Dolby multi-channel), it seems to run out of steam and take a little break, before carrying on.