3 Ways to Connect a Soundbar to PS4/PS5

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)

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.

Via Your TV

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.

Via Your Controller

Technically, connecting the soundbar to your controller through its 3.5 mm audio ports using a 3.5 mm audio cable (like the Amazon Basics 3.5 mm Male to Male Stereo Audio Cable) is still technically connecting via Bluetooth if your controller is connected to the PS4/PS5 via Bluetooth.

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

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 them using 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.

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)

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