Elevating the gaming experience globally has been a sought-after goal. Enhancing gaming or streaming on a PS5 often involves delving into the audio and soundbar realm—a potential solution to increase the quality of your home theater and gaming setup.
You can connect a PS5 to a soundbar if the soundbar has an HDMI input and HDMI output/ARC port. The better way is to connect the PS5 to the HDMI port on the TV and the soundbar to the HDMI ARC/eARC port on the TV. Doing this will prevent the video from lagging and allow the PS5 to perform better.
It’s still a good idea to use some modern audio features like a soundbar but be sure to use them properly. As we discussed, creating an immersive experience has been the goal for the producer and the consumer.
Key Takeaways
- Connectivity Options: Connect your PS5 to a soundbar via HDMI with HDMI input and output/ARC port, or link the soundbar to the TV‘s HDMI ARC port and PS5 to another HDMI input for better performance.
- Connection Without HDMI: Transmit audio without HDMI using optical cables or establish a wireless connection through Bluetooth if supported.
- Troubleshooting Steps: If facing issues, ensure all connections are secure and compatible. Verify the soundbar and PS5 settings, and try power cycling your devices.
How to Connect a PS5 to a Soundbar (Or Your TV)
The first thing you’ll need to know is if your soundbar has both an HDMI input and an HDMI Output/HDMI ARC port.
If the soundbar does not have both an HDMI input and HDMI output/ARC, you’ll have to connect the soundbar to the HDMI ARC port on your TV and the PS5 to any other HDMI input on the TV—this is the standard method, but there's an alternative option too.
If your soundbar features both HDMI input and an HDMI Output/HDMI ARC port, connect your PS5 to the soundbar by linking the PS5 to the soundbar's HDMI input and connecting the soundbar's HDMI output to the TV's HDMI ARC port. Using the HDMI ARC allows you to have Dolby Atmos sound.
This method can be tricky if you have a new TV that supports 4K 120Hz. There are not many TVs that can support 120Hz yet, but the downfall is that as of right now, no soundbars support 4K 120Hz passthrough.
Even one of the best soundbars like the Klipsch Cinema 1200 (on Amazon) can only support 4k 60Hz. So in this scenario, it is best to connect the soundbar to the TV's HDMI ARC port and the PS5 to any other HDMI input on the TV.
Connecting Soundbar To PS5 Without HDMI
Alternatives to using HDMI connections are using the optical cable or Bluetooth, but first, make sure your devices support these connections.
Connecting a Soundbar to PS5 via Optical Cable
An optical cable provides a reliable way to transmit audio signals from your PS5 to a compatible soundbar. Simply plug one end into the PS5's optical output and the other into the soundbar's optical input. Adjust audio settings on the PS5 for high-quality transmission without HDMI.
Connecting a Soundbar to PS5 via 3.5 mm jack
For a wired connection, use a 3.5mm audio cable to link your soundbar with the PS5. Connect one end of the cable to the PS5's headphone jack and the other to the corresponding input on the soundbar. This direct connection provides a straightforward solution without the need for Bluetooth or optical cables
How to Enable Surround Sound in the PS5’s Audio Settings
The next step in maximizing your experience is to ensure you are using the proper settings to use surround sound. The steps are relatively easy to follow and will guide you to a seamless experience in your next game.
As soon as you have your PS5, soundbar, and TV all connected and powered on, you can follow the steps below:
- In the settings menu on your PS5, select Sound.
- You will want to select Audio Output → HDMI Device Type → Soundbar.
- Then you can adjust speaker positions, and create a layout that matches your audio layout.
- Lastly, go down to the bottom to select the Audio Format → Dolby.
By following these quick and easy steps, you will be ready to maximize your gaming experience.
Connecting A Soundbar To PS5 Monitor
While monitors may not have the same array of HDMI audio ports as TVs, there are still effective ways to achieve a seamless audio setup. Which option you choose will depend on the type of connections your PS5 supports, whether it's HDMI, optical, or 3.5mm AUX.
Option 1: HDMI Connection (if the monitor supports audio pass-through)
- Confirm the monitor's audio pass-through capability.
- Connect the HDMI cable from the PS5 to the monitor.
- If available, link the soundbar to the monitor's HDMI ARC port.
Option 2: Optical Cable Connection
- Ensure PS5 and soundbar support optical audio.
- Connect the optical cable from the PS5 to the soundbar.
- If the monitor has a headphone jack, use an auxiliary cable for the soundbar connection.
Option 3: 3.5mm AUX Connection
Another option if you don't want to use an HDMI is using the AUX connection, but note that it usually might have some limitations.
- Check soundbar and monitor support 3.5mm AUX.
- Connect 3.5mm AUX cable from monitor to soundbar.
- Adjust PS5 and soundbar audio settings as needed.
Will a Soundbar Cause Any Input Lag For PS5
Input lag may occur when connecting your Sony PlayStation 5 directly to the soundbar, and then connecting the soundbar to the TV. This delay is typically caused by the soundbar's inability to efficiently pass through to the TV, which the soundbar's quality or age may influence.
With a high-quality sound bar, 4k 60Hz is often supported and will offer a near-seamless transition to the TV display. Oftentimes, any soundbar that has an HDMI input and HDMI ARC will have no problem handling the video.
Troubleshooting Soundbar to PS5 Connection Issues
If you're having any trouble with connecting the soundbar to PS5, below you can find our troubleshooting tips to resolve common issues.
Check Cable Connections:
- Make sure you have all cables securely plugged into the correct ports on the soundbar, TV, and PS5.
- Confirm that cables are not damaged, and try using different cables if available. Also, note that HDMI cables are very cheap (on Amazon) if you need to buy a new one.
Verify Compatibility:
- Check the compatibility of your soundbar with both the TV and the PS5.
- Refer to the user manuals to confirm that the devices are designed to work together.
Power Cycle Devices:
- Turn off the soundbar, PS5, and TV.
- Disconnect all cables.
- Wait for a few minutes before reconnecting cables and powering on the devices.
Check Input Settings:
- Verify that the TV is set to the correct input source for the soundbar.
- Confirm the PS5 audio output settings, as they should match the connection method (HDMI, optical, or Bluetooth).
