Connecting a 5.1 or 7.1 home theatre to PS5
How to wire a PS5 to a receiver or soundbar, which connection to use, and the audio settings that matter.
Getting full surround from a PS5 is straightforward once you know which connection to use and which settings to change. Most problems come from one of two things: the wrong cable path, or an audio format setting left on its default.
Two ways to wire it
Option A — through the receiver (best). PS5 → HDMI into the receiver → HDMI out from the receiver into the TV. The receiver handles the audio and passes the video through.
The requirement: for 4K 120Hz and VRR to survive the trip, the receiver must support HDMI 2.1 passthrough. An older receiver will limit you to 4K 60Hz — a real cost worth knowing before you wire it this way.
Option B — through the TV using eARC. PS5 → HDMI into the TV → eARC port on the TV back to the receiver or soundbar. Video goes straight to the television at full quality, and the audio is returned to the sound system.
This is the better route if your receiver is older than your TV, which is common.
Should I use HDMI ARC/eARC or optical?
eARC where available. It carries high-bandwidth audio including uncompressed surround and object-based formats.
ARC (the older version) works but has lower bandwidth and cannot carry the highest-quality formats.
Optical is the fallback for older equipment. It carries 5.1 but not the higher-bandwidth formats, and the PS5 has no optical output — the Slim and current models removed it — so this route only exists through the television.
Practical ranking: eARC, then ARC, then optical.
How do I set PS5 audio output to 5.1 or 7.1?
Go to Settings > Sound > Audio Output.
- Set Output Device to the HDMI device you are using.
- Open Audio Format (Priority) and choose the option that matches your system — Dolby, DTS or Linear PCM.
- Check that the number of channels reported matches your speaker layout.
If you get stereo when you expect surround, this setting is almost always the reason. Also check the TV''s own audio output setting if you are routing through eARC — televisions often default to a compressed stereo output.
Does the PS5 support Dolby Atmos?
Yes, for compatible setups. Note though that Sony''s own 3D audio is what most PlayStation games are built around, and it works on any stereo headphones without extra equipment. For films, Atmos through a capable system is the stronger option; for games on PlayStation, 3D audio usually does more.
If something is not working
Work through it in order: is the HDMI going to the right port; is eARC enabled in the TV settings (it often is not); is the TV''s audio output set to bitstream rather than PCM stereo; and does the PS5 audio format match what the receiver expects. That sequence resolves the overwhelming majority of cases.
See our PS5 page for accessories.