The OREI BK-21S is the best fit for a PS5-and-soundbar room that needs a console and another HDMI source, because its 48Gbps path keeps 4K120, VRR, ALLM, and HDR support intact.
Who the OREI BK-21S is for
If your room has a console and another HDMI source and the goal is to keep gaming features intact, the BK-21S is the most straightforward path. Tech Steve describes it as a compact dual-input, single-output switch, so it fits a small living room far better than a larger box with ports you may never use.
It is also a better fit when the TV is already doing the audio-return job. The BK-21S has no eARC and no audio extraction, which sounds like a weakness until you remember what a simple PS5-and-soundbar setup actually needs. In that setup, the switch should handle source selection and leave the audio routing to the TV.
Readers who need more sources and sofa control should look at the UGREEN alternative instead. That is the clean split: the OREI is for a minimal dual-source room, while the rival is for a busier cabinet.
Key specs at a glance
| Setup | OREI BK-21S | UGREEN switch | TV eARC port |
|---|---|---|---|
| Source count | 2 HDMI inputs | multiple HDMI devices to one display | Not stated by the maker |
| Gaming ceiling | 48Gbps; 4K120, VRR, ALLM, HDR | 40Gbps; 8K@60Hz, 4K@240Hz | Not stated by the maker |
| Soundbar routing | No eARC or audio extraction | Remote and button control | Useful in soundbar chains |
| Control | Automatic source switching or button control | Remote and button control | Not stated by the maker |
If you need the simplest possible switch, the OREI is the best place to start.
Use the TV’s eARC port before buying a switch
When eARC behaves like the better baseline
The first decision is not whether the switch is fast enough. It is whether the room needs a switch at all. HDMI says multiple-hop configurations such as receiver or soundbar chains are exactly where timing and routing features matter most, which is a polite way of saying that extra hardware only earns its place when the room needs it.
That is why the TV deserves a look first. If the TV already gives the console a clean path and the soundbar is already part of the return chain, the switch can become an extra box without solving a real problem. In those rooms, the best upgrade is often no upgrade.
When a switch only adds clutter
The BK-21S is useful precisely because it is narrow in scope. It does not pretend to be a full AV hub, and that restraint is part of the appeal.
If the TV already handles the console well, then the switch should not be forced into a job it was never built to do. The cleaner the room, the more attractive a direct TV path becomes.
OREI BK-21S: the best dual-source gaming switch
What it passes through for PS5 and Xbox
Tech Steve calls the BK-21S a compact dual-input, single-output switch with a 48Gbps signal path. The same review says it supports 8K at 60Hz, 4K at 120Hz, VRR, ALLM, and major HDR formats.
That spec sheet is the reason this switch belongs in a PS5 guide. The box is not selling itself as a universal entertainment hub; it is selling itself as a way to keep modern gaming features intact while giving the room an extra HDMI source. Tech Steve also says he checked it with both a PS5 and an Xbox Series X, and that he could not detect a gaming difference compared with a direct TV connection.
The audio side is stronger than the size suggests. Tech Steve says the BK-21S passes Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, so this is not a bare-bones video-only splitter wearing a gaming badge.
What it leaves out for soundbar users
The same review is blunt about the tradeoffs. The BK-21S lacks eARC, audio extraction, a remote control, and additional inputs.
That sounds like a flaw until the buyer is put in the right lane. If the room only has a console and another source, those missing features matter less than a switch that simply works, keeps the gaming path intact, and stays out of the way. If the room needs couch control or more inputs, the BK-21S stops being a fit.
When USB power helps stability
The BK-21S can draw power over HDMI, which makes it easy to tuck into a tight cabinet. Tech Steve says the included USB power cable is the fix if flickering or unreliable operation shows up.
That is exactly the kind of boring fallback that makes a small accessory dependable. A switch like this should disappear into the setup, and the USB option helps it do that when the HDMI connection is not enough on its own.
UGREEN: the better pick if you need more sources and a remote
The UGREEN listing is the right comparison point for readers who have outgrown the OREI layout. Bigshopper says it can route multiple HDMI devices to one display, and that it includes both remote control and button switching.
It also claims 40Gbps data transmission, along with 8K@60Hz and 4K@240Hz support. Because that comes from retailer copy rather than maker documentation, it is best read as a useful clue rather than the final word.
For a family room, that remote matters. If the switch is hidden behind the TV or inside a cabinet, a button on the box is less helpful than a controller that works from the couch.
Remote control vs button-only switching
This is the biggest practical difference between them. The OREI gives you automatic source switching or a button on the unit, while the UGREEN adds a remote.
That sounds small on paper and large in daily use. A compact, button-only box is fine when the setup is rarely touched. A remote becomes valuable when the switch lives out of reach or when multiple people use the room.
Bandwidth and compatibility tradeoffs
On paper, both options are aimed at modern gaming gear. The OREI has the stronger verified source for a PS5-first room because Tech Steve actually checked it with a PS5 and an Xbox Series X.
The UGREEN listing is still interesting because it combines multi-source flexibility with a remote and claims wide compatibility with PS5 and Xbox. For buyers who care more about convenience than the smallest possible footprint, that is enough to keep it in the conversation.
Which setup is right for your room?
Console pair plus a soundbar
If the room is mostly a console and another source, the BK-21S is the cleaner buy. Its dual-input layout matches the room without wasting space, and its 48Gbps path is the safer match for a gaming-first setup than a generic switch that only talks about resolution.
In that setup, the TV keeps the audio-return job while the switch stays focused on sources. That division of labor is exactly why the OREI makes sense here: it does its job well instead of trying to be everything at once.
More devices and sofa control
If the room needs multiple devices on one screen and you want remote control from the sofa, the UGREEN path is easier. That is especially true in a room where the switch sits behind the TV or inside a cabinet and physical buttons are annoying to reach.
When to skip a switch entirely
If the TV already handles the console cleanly and the soundbar setup is already working, the best answer may be no switch at all. A separate box only makes sense when it removes friction, not when it adds another step.
Verdict
The OREI BK-21S is the best HDMI 2.1 switch for a PS5-and-soundbar room when you want the smallest box that still keeps gaming features intact.
Buy it if you need a clean dual-source switch and want to keep the setup simple. Skip it if you need more source inputs or a remote from the sofa instead.
If you need the compact dual-source option, this is the recommendation.
