A digital audio media converter, no more, no less.

Dayton Audio coaxial to optical converter, part no. 180-960 (media converter): It has one job and does it well.

The digital audio media converter is a small silver-grey plastic box about the size of a loose Hi8 videocassette. It has three ports: coaxial input, optical output and the power jack. Each is very clearly labeled. The power jack clearly specifies the voltage, current and polarity of the required source.

The input is a single RCA jack; the output a TOSLINK optical jack.

The Dayton Audio hangable packaging is slim, professional and protective. The wall wart, sub-boxed, was at the bottom of the box. The lightweight converter was visible through a clear window near the top of the package. The optical port arrived with a small protective plug in it, as with most optical audio gear.

In operation the device converts a signal on one media to a similar signal on another. It doesn't generate a data stream when none is presented. It doesn't strip or add the SCMS bits. I'd be surprised if the box contained anything more than a regulator, a comparitor and an LED. It's simple. It works.

The power jack is smaller than the most common replacement plugs, which could be seen as bad or good. Finding a replacement power supply could prove difficult but on the other hand you're not going to damage the converter by accidentally connecting the wrong supply.

I didn't run edge-case tests against the converter trying to determine how much degradation it will tolerate on the input or how it responds to spikes and sags on the power line. I didn't measure its optical output intensity relative to other devices in the stack nor did I characterize the attack and decay characteristics of the bits in the stream. I didn't have to. It performed the needed conversion when used with the equipment I have.

In December 2005 I found the product priced new at $18, $25 and $40, before shipping charges and sales tax. Mine cost US$25, delivered. In addition to 180-960 it is also listed as 40018 and B0002MQGQI.