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Monoprice 105557 Blackbird 4x1 HDMI Switch - Audio Extractor — main product image
Monoprice 105557 Blackbird 4x1 HDMI Switch - Audio Extractor
Monoprice 105557 Blackbird 4x1 HDMI Switch - Audio Extractor
Monoprice 105557 Blackbird 4x1 HDMI Switch - Audio Extractor
Monoprice 105557 Blackbird 4x1 HDMI Switch - Audio Extractor
Monoprice 105557 Blackbird 4x1 HDMI Switch - Audio Extractor
Monoprice 105557 Blackbird 4x1 HDMI Switch - Audio Extractor
Monoprice

Monoprice 105557 Blackbird 4x1 HDMI Switch - Audio Extractor

★★★★★3.9 (320 reviews)
1080p

Four HDMI sources, one display, and three simultaneous audio output formats — the Monoprice Blackbird 4x1 switch eliminates cable swapping and unlocks your AV receiver's audio inputs.

$39.99*$56.76Save 29%
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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated:Jul 14, 2026.Price and availability are subject to change.

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Overview

The Monoprice Blackbird 105557 is a 4-input, 1-output HDMI 1.4 switch with an integrated audio extractor — a device that solves two specific home theater problems simultaneously. First, it eliminates the need to manually swap HDMI cables when cycling between four source devices on a single display. Second, it breaks out the audio from the HDMI signal into three simultaneous output formats: Toslink optical, digital coaxial S/PDIF, and analog 3.5mm stereo — covering the input capabilities of virtually every soundbar, receiver, or speaker system regardless of age. The front-panel HDMI input handles the occasional device connection (a laptop for presentations or a guest's streaming stick) without requiring rear-panel access. The 225 MHz per-channel bandwidth supports the full 1080p and 3D specification of HDMI 1.4 with 12-bit Deep Color — a capable spec for a 1080p-centric system.

This switch earns its place in living rooms and home offices where the display is 1080p, the source library includes multiple legacy devices, and the audio system lacks HDMI inputs. Cable boxes, PS3/PS4/Xbox 360 generation consoles, Blu-ray players, and streaming sticks all connect cleanly and route audio to a receiver or soundbar without additional hardware. The limitation is absolute: it is a 1080p device, and anyone whose source content or display is 4K will encounter a hard compatibility ceiling. For its intended use case — organizing a multi-source 1080p home theater or office display setup with audio extraction — it delivers a complete, no-compromise solution in a compact form factor at a price point that makes adding it to any AV rack an easy decision.

Key Features

4x HDMI audio/video inputs with one front-panel input for convenient connection to portable devices

1x HDMI audio/video output, plus 1x S/PDIF Optical (Toslink), 1x Digital Coax, 1x Analog 3.5mm audio outputs

Supports 225 MHz/2.25 Gbps per channel (6.75 Gbps total) bandwidth

Integrated audio converter for simultaneous digital and analog audio output on all audio output channels

Support for 1080p and 3D video output

Specifications

HDMI Inputs
4 (3 rear + 1 front panel)
HDMI Output
1
Audio Outputs
S/PDIF Optical (Toslink), Digital Coaxial, Analog 3.5mm
Max Video Resolution
1080p, 3D
Bandwidth
225 MHz / 2.25 Gbps per channel (6.75 Gbps total)
Deep Color
12-bit per channel (36-bit total)
HDMI Version
1.4
Audio Outputs Simultaneous
Yes (all three simultaneously)
Model
105557

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • Simultaneous output across three audio formats (S/PDIF Optical, Digital Coax, and Analog 3.5mm) means you can feed multiple audio systems from one source without any additional splitters.
  • Three simultaneous audio output formats (Toslink, digital coaxial, and analog 3.5mm) mean a single switch can feed multiple audio systems at the same time without additional splitters.
  • The front-panel HDMI input provides a convenient quick-connect port for temporary devices like laptops or cameras without routing cables to the rear of the switch.
  • The front-panel HDMI input provides a dedicated connection point for portable devices like laptops or game consoles without reaching behind the unit.
  • 12-bit per channel Deep Color support (36-bit total) preserves color depth fidelity for compatible 1080p sources that output enhanced color information.
  • 12-bit per channel (36-bit total) Deep Color support preserves color depth in compatible 1080p sources beyond the standard 8-bit 24-bit baseline, benefiting high-quality Blu-ray and broadcast content.
  • 3D video passthrough maintains compatibility with Blu-ray 3D players and 3D display setups — a format that many newer budget switches have dropped.
  • 3D video pass-through support maintains compatibility with 3D-capable displays and Blu-ray sources that output frame-packed or side-by-side 3D signals.
  • Integrated audio converter handles simultaneous digital and analog output without requiring separate downstream conversion hardware or additional cables.
  • The 4-input, 1-output topology cleanly consolidates four source devices behind a single display without the cost or complexity of a full AV receiver installation.

👎 Cons

  • HDMI 1.4 spec limits the switch to 1080p maximum resolution — it will not pass 4K, HDR, Dolby Vision, or HDR10 signals, making it incompatible with modern 4K source devices and displays.
  • Maximum resolution support tops out at 1080p — the HDMI 1.4 bandwidth ceiling makes this incompatible with 4K, HDR10, or Dolby Vision content from modern 4K streaming devices, game consoles, or players.
  • No confirmed automatic input switching means users may need to manually select sources — an inconvenience compared to modern switches with HDCP-aware auto-switching.
  • 225MHz/2.25Gbps per-channel bandwidth is the HDMI 1.4 ceiling, which means any source outputting above 1080p will either be rejected or downscaled by the switch.
  • No HDMI 2.0 or 2.1 ARC/eARC support means it cannot pass return audio from a TV back to a receiver — the audio extraction is input-side only.
  • The 225 MHz bandwidth per channel is insufficient for high-refresh-rate 1080p at 120Hz or 144Hz, limiting gaming input from PC or modern consoles at higher frame rates.
  • No remote control is documented in the product listing — managing source selection may require physical access to the unit, which is inconvenient if the switch is rack-mounted or hidden behind a TV.
  • The front panel input and manual switching setup may be inconvenient if the unit is rack-mounted or installed in a closed A/V cabinet without front-panel access.
  • Deep Color and 3D support are legacy features of limited relevance to most current content delivery formats, meaning the switch's feature set skews toward older home theater configurations.
  • As an HDMI 1.4 specification device, this switch does not pass audio return channel (ARC) signals, which means downstream ARC functionality from a TV to a soundbar will not work through this switch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — this is the switch's core feature. While HDMI video routes to your display, audio is simultaneously extracted and output across three separate channels: S/PDIF Optical (Toslink), Digital Coax, and Analog 3.5mm. All three audio outputs are active at the same time, so you can feed a soundbar, receiver, and headphone amp from a single source without splitting signals.
Yes — that's the core use case. You connect up to four HDMI sources (streaming boxes, game consoles, Blu-ray players, laptops) to the inputs and connect the single HDMI output to your display. Switching between sources requires either manual button press on the unit or remote selection, depending on available control options.
Audio extraction means the switch can simultaneously strip the audio signal from the HDMI stream and output it through separate audio jacks — Toslink optical (S/PDIF), digital coaxial, and analog 3.5mm — while the video continues through the HDMI output. This is valuable if your AV receiver or soundbar lacks HDMI inputs but has optical or coaxial connections, or if you want to send audio to a separate output without an additional splitter.
No. This switch is built to HDMI 1.4 spec, supporting up to 1080p and 3D video output with 225MHz/2.25Gbps per channel bandwidth. It will not pass 4K, HDR10, or Dolby Vision signals — sources outputting 4K will either downscale or fail to handshake. If your source devices or display are 4K-capable, this switch is a limiting factor in the chain.
The product listing does not specify remote control or auto-switching functionality. Input selection is managed via the front panel, which also includes one of the four inputs for convenient connection of portable devices. Confirm remote control availability separately if your installation position makes front-panel access inconvenient.
No — the Blackbird 105557 supports up to 1080p and 3D video output. The 225 MHz/2.25 Gbps per channel bandwidth is consistent with HDMI 1.4 specification, which predates 4K/UHD support. If 4K@60Hz or HDR passthrough is required, this model is not the correct choice — look for an HDMI 2.0 or 2.1 switch.
Yes — the integrated audio converter supports simultaneous output on all three audio channels. You can feed a soundbar via optical, an older receiver via coaxial, and headphones via the 3.5mm jack from the same HDMI source at the same time.
Yes — the dedicated S/PDIF Optical and Digital Coax audio outputs make this switch particularly useful for older receivers that lack HDMI ARC or eARC. Audio is extracted from the HDMI stream and output independently, so your receiver can receive digital audio without being in the HDMI signal path at all.
The product listing does not specify whether the unit is bus-powered or requires an external power supply. For a 4-input switch with active audio conversion circuitry, external power is typical — verify the included accessories and power requirements before installation.
The listing does not confirm auto-switching behavior for this model. Many switches at this specification level require manual source selection. If automatic input detection is a requirement for your setup, verify with the seller before purchasing, as this feature is not documented in the product specifications.

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