Best PS5 Audio Settings for TV, Soundbar, AVR & Headset

Best PS5 audio settings at a glance

The best PS5 audio settings depend on the signal path, not on one universal format. Match the PS5 Output Device and HDMI Device Type to the equipment you actually use, configure the real speaker layout when AV Amplifier is selected, and choose Audio Format (Priority) according to what the complete TV, soundbar or receiver chain can carry. For headphones, use the headset output, 3D Audio and optional Audio Focus controls rather than copying HDMI home-theater settings.

As a safe baseline, use TV-oriented output for built-in speakers and AV Amplifier for a receiver with discrete speakers. Linear PCM is a sensible starting point when the full HDMI path supports the channels you need, while Dolby Atmos is an option for a compatible HDMI Atmos system. Neither is automatically best. For broader console configuration, see our Best PS5 Settings and Setup Guide.

Available PS5 audio options can vary with connected hardware, system software and device capabilities, so use the settings your current signal path actually supports.

How PS5 audio output works

Start at Settings > Sound > Audio Output. PlayStation’s current PS5 audio-output guide separates the main controls into Output Device, HDMI Device Type, AV Amplifier options, headphone options and Audio Format (Priority).

Best PS5 audio settings for HDMI Device Type

Output Device decides where the PS5 sends sound. HDMI Device Type describes the HDMI audio system. For an AV receiver, select AV Amplifier, set Number of Channels to the speakers that physically exist and use Adjust Speaker Positions to match the room. Do not choose a larger layout merely because the receiver can decode it.

For built-in TV speakers, use the TV-oriented device type. For a direct soundbar connection, use the matching soundbar choice when available. The PS5 setting should reflect the real endpoint and route.

What Audio Format (Priority) changes

Audio Format (Priority) sets the preferred output format for games and video apps. PlayStation notes that some apps, including the disc player, have their own audio settings that take priority. Therefore, configure the system setting for the whole connection path rather than assuming one format applies everywhere.

Original launch-model PS5 in a clean living room with TV speakers, a soundbar, home-theater speakers and an unbranded headset representing different audio setups. — PS5 audio configuration depends on whether sound is played through the TV, a soundbar, an AV system or headphones.

Best PS5 audio settings by TV, soundbar, AVR and headset setup

Best PS5 audio settings for TV speakers

If you use only the television’s built-in speakers, keep the route simple: PS5 directly to the TV and a TV-oriented HDMI device type. Linear PCM is a sensible starting format because the television is the final playback device. If the manufacturer documents a different requirement, follow that device-specific guidance rather than forcing a generic Dolby or DTS recommendation.

PS5 also offers 3D Audio for TV Speakers. Treat it as optional. Run the room measurement from your normal seating position, then compare stereo with 3D Audio and keep the presentation you prefer.

PS5 connected directly to a soundbar

When the PS5 connects to an HDMI input on the soundbar and the soundbar passes video to the TV, the soundbar sits in both the audio and video path. Use the soundbar-oriented device type when available and choose a format the soundbar accepts. Linear PCM is a good baseline when the required PCM channels are supported; Dolby Atmos is appropriate for a compatible Atmos soundbar.

Also confirm that the soundbar’s HDMI passthrough supports the video features you use. Our HDMI 2.0 vs HDMI 2.1 for PS5 guide covers that separate video-bandwidth question.

Best PS5 audio settings for TV → ARC/eARC → soundbar

In this route, the PS5 sends audio and video to the TV first, then the television returns audio to the soundbar. The TV’s passthrough capability therefore becomes part of the audio chain.

eARC can carry uncompressed multichannel audio and high-bitrate formats that older ARC paths may not support. HDMI Licensing Administrator’s eARC overview explains this return-channel role. If multichannel Linear PCM or Atmos does not reach the soundbar, check the TV’s eARC/ARC and passthrough settings before changing several PS5 settings at once.

Best PS5 audio settings for an AV receiver

For a direct PS5-to-receiver HDMI connection, set HDMI Device Type to AV Amplifier, then match the real channel count and speaker positions. If the receiver accepts multichannel PCM, Linear PCM is a strong baseline. On a compatible Atmos receiver, Dolby Atmos is also valid when you want PS5’s Tempest 3D AudioTech rendered to that Atmos system.

If an older receiver cannot pass the video mode you need, another topology is PS5 to TV for video and TV eARC back to the receiver for audio. In that case, the television becomes part of the audio-format compatibility chain.

Wired headphones or headset through the DualSense controller

When a compatible wired headset is connected through the controller and appears as the active headset output, select it under Output Device. Use Output to Headphones to choose what is heard through the headset. For spatial audio, configure 3D Audio (Headphones); HDMI Audio Format (Priority) is not the main control for a controller-connected headphone path.

If the problem is voice routing rather than game audio, our Discord voice chat on PS5 guide covers that separate task.

Wireless or USB headset

Select the connected headset as Output Device and decide whether Switch Output Device Automatically suits your routine. PlayStation notes that headset compatibility varies by device, so verify third-party USB or wireless models with the manufacturer’s PS5 instructions. For compatible headphones, use the PS5 headphone 3D Audio controls and Audio Focus only if those features improve your listening.

Abstract layered sound field surrounding a television and listening area beside an original launch-model PS5. — Linear PCM, encoded formats, Dolby Atmos and 3D Audio represent different ways of delivering and presenting PS5 sound.

Best PS5 audio settings for Linear PCM, Dolby Audio and Dolby Atmos

No format wins in every setup. Choose according to what the complete route can carry and what the playback system supports.

Linear PCM

Linear PCM is uncompressed digital audio after the console handles the game-audio mix. It is a good starting point for a direct HDMI connection to a compatible TV or receiver and for eARC routes that can carry the multichannel PCM configuration you need. However, an older ARC path or some TV passthrough implementations may not carry the same multichannel PCM signal to a soundbar or receiver.

Dolby Audio and other encoded formats

Dolby Audio or another encoded format can be useful when equipment in the chain expects a compatible bitstream instead of multichannel PCM. Treat this as a compatibility choice, not an automatic quality upgrade. The same principle applies to DTS when that option is available and supported by the receiving equipment.

Dolby Atmos

PS5 supports Dolby Atmos for compatible HDMI devices such as TVs, soundbars and home-theater systems. Sony’s implementation lets Tempest 3D AudioTech render to the Atmos device in use, including supported overhead channels. Enable it at Settings > Sound > Audio Output > Audio Format (Priority) > Dolby Atmos.

Atmos is therefore a specific HDMI playback option, not a universal replacement for Linear PCM. If a TV sits between the PS5 and Atmos device, verify that the TV’s return-channel and passthrough settings support the intended route.

Best PS5 audio settings for 3D Audio

PS5 has separate 3D Audio paths for TV speakers and headphones. These controls are distinct from Dolby Atmos output to an HDMI soundbar or receiver.

For TV speakers, go to Settings > Sound > 3D Audio (TV) and follow the room-measurement process. PlayStation recommends measuring again if you move the TV, seating position or substantially change the room. You can compare stereo and 3D Audio after calibration.

For headphones, open Settings > Sound > 3D Audio (Headphones). PlayStation currently offers a personalized profile and five preset profiles. The official PS5 3D Audio guide explains both setup paths.

Audio Focus for headphones and headsets

Audio Focus is an optional headphone feature that can make quiet sounds or selected frequency ranges easier to hear. Go to Settings > Sound > Volume > Audio Focus, then enable Use Audio Focus. PlayStation’s current Audio Focus support page lists four focus types: Boost Low Pitch, Boost Voices, Boost High Pitch and Boost Quiet Sounds.

The feature works with headphones connected through USB or an analog jack and is not supported for HDMI audio output to TVs, AV receivers or soundbars. Use the focus type and Weak, Medium or Strong adjustment level according to what helps you hear comfortably; there is no universal best Audio Focus preset.

Unbranded over-ear headphones in a PS5 gaming setup with subtle visual emphasis on focused and clear sound. — Audio Focus and headset troubleshooting are best approached by adjusting listening clarity and output settings rather than applying one universal preset.

Troubleshooting wrong channels, silence or weak surround

Check Output Device first

If sound suddenly moves to the wrong device, confirm Settings > Sound > Audio Output > Output Device. Automatic switching can change output when a headset connects, so verify this before changing format or channel settings.

Check the complete HDMI path

If stereo works but surround does not, identify every device between PS5 and the speakers. Confirm what each stage accepts and passes. A temporary direct connection can help isolate the limiting device.

Match the real channel layout

When AV Amplifier is selected, make sure Number of Channels and speaker positions match the physical system. Selecting more channels than the room contains does not create extra speakers and can produce a misleading layout.

Check app-specific audio settings

If games sound correct but a disc or media app does not, inspect that app’s audio menu. PlayStation explicitly notes that some apps, including the disc player, can use their own settings instead of the system Audio Format (Priority).

Final recommendation

The best PS5 audio settings start with the real signal path. Use a simple TV configuration for built-in speakers; match direct soundbars and receivers to the formats they accept; account for TV passthrough on ARC/eARC routes; and use headset-specific 3D Audio and Audio Focus controls for headphones.

Start with Linear PCM when the entire path can carry the channels you need, choose Dolby Atmos when a compatible HDMI Atmos system supports the route and you want that presentation, and use encoded alternatives when compatibility requires them. Change one setting at a time so you can tell which adjustment actually solves the problem.

Frequently asked questions

Is Linear PCM always best for PS5?

No. Linear PCM is a strong starting point on compatible direct-HDMI and eARC routes, but the complete TV, soundbar or receiver chain must support the channels you need.

Should I use Dolby Atmos on PS5?

Use Dolby Atmos when you have a compatible HDMI Atmos device and the complete signal path supports it. It is not automatically better for every TV, headset or non-Atmos system.

What HDMI Device Type should I use for an AV receiver?

Select AV Amplifier, then configure the actual number of speaker channels and speaker positions.

Does eARC matter for PS5 audio?

It can matter when PS5 connects to the TV and the TV sends audio back to a soundbar or receiver. eARC can carry uncompressed multichannel audio and high-bitrate formats that older ARC paths may not support.

Does PS5 Audio Focus work with TV speakers?

No. Audio Focus is for headphones connected through USB or an analog jack. PlayStation does not support it for HDMI output to TVs, AV receivers or soundbars.