6 Best Soundbar Setups for Your PS4/PS5 to Transform Your TV Audio

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With features like Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and numerous sound modes, along with a subwoofer, a soundbar can take your gaming experience to the next level. 

In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to seamlessly link your console and soundbar, whether it’s via HDMI, Bluetooth, or optical cable.

Note: If you want to learn how to connect your soundbar to a smart TV using HDMI ARC, check out our other article, “How to Connect a Soundbar to a Smart TV with HDMI ARC?“

1. Use the HDMI Cable

HDMI Passthrough: Your Soundbar Has Both HDMI IN & OUT Ports

With the HDMI passthrough feature, connecting your PS4 or PS5 to your soundbar and then to your TV has never been easier. 

This feature allows signals sent from your gaming console to be transmitted to your TV through the soundbar, providing a seamless and high-quality audio experience. 

By utilizing this technology, you can enjoy your favorite games and movies with crystal-clear sound and minimal hassle. 

Say goodbye to complicated wiring setups and hello to a more streamlined entertainment system with just a few steps.

1: PS4 HDMI OUT; 2: SOUNDBAR HDMI OUT (TV eARC/ARC); 3: SOUNDBAR HDMI IN; 4: TV HDMI IN (eARC/ARC)

Step 1: With the first HDMI cable, plug one end of the cable into the HDMI OUT port of the PS4/PS5, and the other end into the HDMI IN port of the soundbar.

Step 2: With the second HDMI cable, plug the two ends into the TV and soundbar’s HDMI eARC/ARC ports.

Step 3: Now, switch your soundbar’s connection method to HDMI.

Step 4: Change the TV’s input to HDMI eARC/ARC (the HDMI eARC/ARC input is now showing PS4/PS5 thanks to the HDMI passthrough feature).

Step 5: And finally, adjust the sound output settings on PS4/PS5 to the TV.

PS4	PS5
Settings > Devices > Audio Devices > Output Device > TV or AV Amplifier	Settings > Sound > Audio Output > Output Device > HDMI (AV Amplifier)

Your Soundbar Only Has HDMI OUT Port

1: PS4 HDMI OUT; 2: SOUNDBAR HDMI OUT (TV eARC/ARC); 3: TV HDMI IN (eARC/ARC); 4: TV HDMI IN

Step 1: With the first HDMI cable, plug in the TV and soundbar’s HDMI eARC/ARC ports.

Step 2: With the second HDMI cable, plug in the TV’s HDMI IN port and PS4’s/PS5’s HDMI OUT port.

Step 3: Switch the soundbar’s connection method to ARC.

Step 4: Switch the TV’s input to PS4/PS5.

Step 5: Adjust the sound output settings on your PS4/PS5 to finish the setup.

PS4	PS5
Settings > Devices > Audio Devices > Output Device > TV or AV Amplifier	Settings > Sound > Audio Output > Output Device > HDMI (AV Amplifier)

2. Use Bluetooth

Sony has recently announced that it has decided to ditch this technology due to two main factors: bandwidth and latency. 

While both consoles have Bluetooth capabilities, it turns out that the technology only supports the connection between the console and controllers. 

So, if you were hoping to connect your soundbar directly to your gaming console via Bluetooth, you’re out of luck. This means that users can no longer connect their Bluetooth audio devices directly to their gaming consoles.

However, some older PS4 models can still connect to a Bluetooth audio device like a soundbar directly by following a few simple steps. 

Step 1: First, switch your soundbar’s connection method to BT or Bluetooth. 

Step 2: Select Settings at the top of the PS4 home menu, followed by Devices.

Step 3: And then, head to Bluetooth Devices. 

Step 4: Finally, select your soundbar from the list to pair it with the PS4.

But if your PS4/PS5 is a newer model and doesn’t support Bluetooth audio directly, don’t worry – there are still ways to connect your soundbar to your gaming console. 

Although you can’t directly connect a soundbar to your PS4 or PS5 via Bluetooth, indirectly connecting them is a different story.

The concept revolves around establishing a connection to transmit audio from your PS4 or PS5 console to your TV, and subsequently from the TV to your soundbar.

Essentially, this setup allows the sound from your PS4 or PS5 to be channeled through your soundbar.

Step 1: To get started, navigate to the Bluetooth feature on your smart TV and, at the same time, switch the soundbar’s connection method to BT or Bluetooth. From there, start pairing the two devices together.

Step 2: Once connected, you can plug the two ends of the HDMI cable into the HDMI IN port of your TV and the HDMI OUT port of the PS4/PS5.

Step 3: Switch your TV’s input to PS4/PS5.

Step 4: Finally, adjust the sound output settings on PS4/PS5, and you’re all set to enjoy an immersive audio experience.

PS4	PS5
Settings > Devices > Audio Devices > Output Device > TV or AV Amplifier	Settings > Sound > Audio Output > Output Device > HDMI (AV Amplifier)

With this setup, your PS4/PS5 will transmit audio signals to your TV through an HDMI cable, and then your TV will transmit those signals to your soundbar via Bluetooth. 

This allows you to enjoy high-quality audio without the need for complicated wiring setups, providing a more streamlined entertainment experience.

3. Use a 3.5mm (AUX) Cable

Connecting your soundbar to the controller with a 3.5mm cable offers another method for integrating the soundbar with your PlayStation.

When the controller is linked to the PS4/PS5 through Bluetooth, it technically means that the soundbar is connected to the PS4/PS5 via Bluetooth as well.

Step 1: To get started, plug the two ends of the 3.5 mm audio cable into their respective ports on your controller and soundbar.

Step 2: Then, switch your soundbar’s connection method to AUX.

Step 3: Next, connect your TV to the PS4/PS5 using an HDMI cable, and switch your TV’s input to PS4/PS5.

Step 4: Finally, adjust the sound output settings on your PS4/PS5 to ensure that the audio is being transmitted to your controller and hence, to your soundbar via the 3.5 mm audio cable.

PS4	PS5
Settings > Devices > Audio Devices > Output Device > Headphones Connected to Controller > Output to Headphones > All Audio	Settings > Sound > Audio Output > Output Device > Controller Headset

4. Use the Optical Cable

Connecting your soundbar to your PS4/PS5 via an optical cable is a simple and effective way to enjoy high-quality audio while gaming. 

Optical cables are a great choice for audio transmission due to their use of light to transmit the audio signals, resulting in a clear and accurate audio experience. 

Simply follow our instructions below to connect your soundbar to your PS4/PS5 and enjoy top-notch audio like never before.

Step 1: First, plug both ends of the optical cable into the optical ports of the soundbar and TV.

Alternatively, you have the option to connect the optical cable directly between the optical ports of the soundbar and your PlayStation, but this is only applicable if you’re using a PS4 Pro.

Step 2: Then, switch your soundbar’s connection method to OPT (Optical).

Step 3: Next, plug both ends of the HDMI cable into the HDMI OUT port of your PS4/PS5 and the HDMI IN port of your TV.

Step 4: Finally, switch your TV’s input to PS4/PS5 and adjust the sound output settings on your PS4/PS5 to ensure that the audio is being transmitted to your soundbar.

PS4	PS5
Settings > Devices > Audio Devices > Output Device > TV or AV Amplifier	Settings > Sound > Audio Output > Output Device > HDMI (AV Amplifier)

If you’ve connected the optical cable directly to your PS4 Pro instead of the TV, change the Output Device settings to your soundbar.

5. Use the HDMI Audio Extractor

Last update on 2024-11-18 / Paid Link.

An HDMI audio extractor is a handy device designed to separate video and audio signals from an HDMI connection.

By employing this extractor, you can efficiently direct video signals from your PS4 or PS5 to the TV, while simultaneously channeling audio signals to the soundbar through either an optical or 3.5mm audio connection.

Follow our detailed, step-by-step guide below to effectively use an HDMI extractor with your PS4 or PS5.

Step 1: Connect the HDMI cable to the HDMI port of your PS4/PS5, and then to the HDMI IN port on the extractor.

Step 2: Insert another HDMI cable into the HDMI port of your TV and connect the other end to the HDMI OUT port on the extractor.

Step 3: Utilize either an optical or a 3.5mm audio cable to establish an audio connection between the extractor and your soundbar.

Step 4: On your soundbar, switch the connection method to OPT (if using an optical connection) or AUX (if using a 3.5mm audio connection).

Step 5: Change the TV’s input to the PS4/PS5.

Step 6: Lastly, navigate to the sound output settings on your PS4/PS5 to confirm that the audio is properly being channeled to your soundbar.

PS4	PS5
Settings > Devices > Audio Devices > Output Device > TV or AV Amplifier	Settings > Sound > Audio Output > Output Device > HDMI (AV Amplifier)

6. Use the Bluetooth Adapter

As previously noted, the PS doesn’t support Bluetooth for audio connections any more.

However, if you’re determined to connect your soundbar to your PS console via Bluetooth, there’s a workaround: using a Bluetooth adapter.

The Avantree C81 Bluetooth adapter is a solid choice, it’s effectively demonstrated in the video at the end of this guide.

Last update on 2024-11-18 / Paid Link.

Once you have the Bluetooth adapter in hand, follow these instructions to set up a connection between your soundbar and the PS console using the adapter.

Step 1: Connect the adapter to the USB-C to USB-A cable.

Step 2: Insert the cable’s USB-A connector into the USB-A port on your PS console.

Step 3: Press and hold the button on the adapter until it begins to flash, indicating that it’s in pairing mode.

Step 4: Set your soundbar to Bluetooth mode, and wait for it to find the adapter. Ensure that there are no other devices with Bluetooth turned on in the vicinity to avoid connection conflicts.

Step 5: Finally, go to the sound output settings on your PS4/PS5 and select the adapter as your preferred audio output device.

PS4	PS5
Settings > Devices > Audio Devices > Output Device > USB Headset (Avantree C81)	Settings > Sound > Audio Output > Output Device > USB Headset (Avantree C81)

For a visual guide, consult this video below instead.

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