The latest of this expanding family is Tributaries new AC100 Coax/Toslink Audio Converter. The AC100 cross-converts digital audio signals between “Toslink” optical and coax-electrical SPDIF formats transparently and affordably, converting in either direction, and handling PCM (stereo) and bitstream (Dolby Digital, DTS) signals with equal assurance.

“Our latest ‘fixer’ offers an instant answer to that system-installation ‘gotcha’ where a shortage of digital inputs in one format or another runs smack into an additional source equipped with only one format or the other—inevitably, the wrong one,” says Joe Perfito, President of Tributaries. “It doesn’t crop up on every job, by any means,” Perfito continues, “but when it does it’s a deal-breaker. In these scenarios the AC100 saves the day.”

AC100 operation couldn’t be simpler: plug in the included AC power supply, connect optical and coax digital line, and set one switch to select the conversion direction. At less than two inches square (and 7/8ths deep) the AC100 can be tucked into an equipment cabinet or rack just about anywhere, and at just $50 retail, this format-converter is inexpensive enough that experienced installers will want to keep a couple on the truck at all times.