How to Get Sound From Monitor with Ps4: My Messy Journey
Honestly, the first time I plugged my PS4 into a fancy new monitor, I was expecting this glorious cinematic experience. Picture it: big screen, crisp visuals, and then… silence. Crickets. Nada. Just the hum of the console and the mocking emptiness where game audio should be. It was infuriating, especially after dropping a decent chunk of change on the setup, only to realize the audio wasn’t there. I spent hours fiddling with settings, convinced I’d missed a simple button press, before realizing the monitor itself was the bottleneck. This whole mess is why I’m here to talk about how to get sound from monitor with PS4, because nobody should suffer through that initial audio void.
It’s not always plug-and-play, and frankly, some of the “solutions” out there are more like snake oil. I’ve been down enough rabbit holes to know the difference between a legit fix and something that’ll just waste your time and maybe your money. We’re going to cut through the noise.
You’ve probably seen a million articles promising the moon, but let’s get real. Figuring out the audio output can be a frustrating puzzle.
The Monitor Audio Black Hole
So, your PlayStation 4 is hooked up to your monitor, the picture looks stunning, but your ears are getting a raw deal. Why? Most monitors, especially the sleeker, cheaper ones, have notoriously bad built-in speakers, or sometimes, no speakers at all. They’re designed primarily for visual input, and audio often takes a backseat, or worse, is completely ignored in the HDMI handshake. My first experience with this was with a supposedly ‘premium’ 1440p display that cost me nearly $400; it had tinny speakers that sounded like they were broadcasting from inside a shoebox, and even then, getting the PS4 audio to route to them involved more guesswork than a detective novel. Seven out of ten times, I found the PS4 simply wouldn’t output sound to the monitor’s audio jack via HDMI without an extra step.
It’s like buying a sports car and then realizing it doesn’t come with a steering wheel – you get the sleek chassis, but the core function is missing. This isn’t about the PS4 being broken; it’s about how different devices communicate (or don’t communicate) with each other. The HDMI cable carries both video and audio, but your monitor needs to be configured to actually *receive* and *process* that audio signal, and frankly, many just aren’t built for it.
My Near-Fatal Audio Mistake (and Yours Could Be Next)
I remember one particularly infuriating evening. I’d just bought a new soundbar, convinced it would be the final piece of my gaming puzzle. Hooked everything up, PS4 to monitor, monitor to soundbar via optical cable. Nothing. Absolutely nothing but static hisses if I nudged the cable. I spent three hours, I swear, three solid hours, convinced the optical cable was faulty. I tried a different one. Still nothing. Then, in a fit of pure desperation, I unplugged the PS4’s HDMI from the monitor and plugged it directly into my TV. Boom. Sound. My brain did a backflip. It wasn’t the cable; it was the monitor’s audio output setting, or rather, its *lack* of a proper one when using HDMI in. Turns out, the monitor’s optical audio output was only active for certain inputs, and HDMI wasn’t playing nice with it directly. I’d wasted half my evening and was about to send back a perfectly good soundbar because I didn’t understand the specific signal flow. (See Also: How To Put 144hz Monitor At 144hz )
The ‘everyone Says This’ Myth: HDMI Audio Settings
Everyone online will tell you to go into your PS4’s sound settings and fiddle with the ‘HDMI Output’ option. They’ll say you need to set it to ‘Bitstream’ or ‘PCM’. And yeah, you *should* check those. It’s a good first step, a foundational piece of the puzzle. But here’s the deal: I’ve messed with those settings on at least five different PS4s and a dozen monitors over the years, and frankly, it’s not the magic bullet everyone makes it out to be. Sometimes it helps, sure. But often, the PS4 is sending the audio signal perfectly fine, and the monitor is just… deaf. It’s like yelling instructions at someone who’s wearing noise-canceling headphones; the information is being sent, but it’s not being received. So, while checking your PS4’s audio output format is important, don’t expect it to be the golden ticket if your monitor isn’t designed to receive that signal gracefully.
When Your Monitor Is Basically a Fancy Picture Frame
Okay, so you’ve checked the PS4 settings, you’ve confirmed your HDMI cable is snug as a bug in a rug. Yet, still, silence. What now? This is where we confront the reality that your monitor might just not have the necessary audio components to process the HDMI audio signal. Think of it like a really advanced graphics card that’s only designed to display images, with no sound card attached. It looks amazing, but it can’t play music. In this scenario, you’re not trying to *get* sound from the monitor, you’re trying to *bypass* the monitor’s audio limitations and route the sound elsewhere. I spent about $150 on a USB sound card once, thinking I could split the signal, only to find out that it was trying to pull audio from the console directly, which, surprise, it can’t do without a specific adapter or port. It was a frustrating dead end, a classic case of overthinking the hardware when the solution was simpler.
The Actual Solutions: Getting Sound Out
This is where we get practical. You need a way to extract that audio signal from your PS4 before it gets to the monitor, or to send it to a separate audio device. Here are the common, workable methods:
Method 1: The HDMI Audio Extractor (my Go-To)
This little gadget has saved my sanity more times than I can count. An HDMI audio extractor splits the HDMI signal into video and audio. You plug your PS4 into the extractor, then an HDMI cable from the extractor to your monitor, and then you use a separate audio cable (optical or 3.5mm, depending on the extractor) to connect to your speakers, soundbar, or headphones. It’s like having a translator for your video signal. The video goes to the monitor, and the audio goes wherever you tell it to. I’ve used ones from brands like UGREEN and Cable Matters, and they’re generally reliable. I spent around $35 on my current one, and it’s been worth every penny over the last two years. The clarity of sound from my soundbar improved dramatically once I wasn’t relying on the monitor’s dubious audio processing.
Method 2: Controller Audio Jack (simple, but Limited)
This is the simplest, cheapest method if you just want to use headphones. The DualShock 4 controller has a headphone jack. You can plug a standard 3.5mm headphone into it. This routes *all* PS4 audio directly to your headphones, bypassing the monitor entirely. It’s fantastic for immersive gaming without disturbing anyone, but obviously, it’s not going to power a speaker system. However, if your primary goal is just to *hear* your game, this is the easiest way how to get sound from monitor with PS4 using headphones. (See Also: How To Switch An Acer Monitor To Hdmi )
Method 3: Optical Audio Cable (if Your Monitor Supports It)
Some higher-end monitors (and most TVs) have an optical audio output port. If your monitor has one, and your PS4 also has an optical audio output (which it does!), you can connect them directly with an optical cable (also known as TOSLINK). This bypasses the HDMI audio entirely for the audio signal. Check your PS4’s rear ports and your monitor’s side or back panel. You’ll need to set your PS4’s audio output to ‘Optical Out’ and the format to ‘Bitstream (Dolby)’ or ‘Bitstream (DTS)’ for surround sound, or ‘PCM’ for stereo. This method is great if you have a sound system that takes optical input, but it’s less common for monitors to have this feature than say, a TV. The little plastic caps on the ends of optical cables can feel a bit flimsy, but once it’s plugged in, it’s a solid connection.
Troubleshooting and Common Pitfalls
Even with the right hardware, things can go wrong. Cables are the usual suspects, but don’t underestimate power issues for external adapters or even loose connections. I once spent an hour troubleshooting an audio extractor that simply wasn’t getting enough power from the PS4’s USB port, only to discover plugging it into a wall adapter fixed it instantly. Another common mistake is not changing the PS4’s audio output settings after plugging in a new device. The console won’t just magically know to use the extractor or optical cable; you have to tell it. It’s like trying to change a radio station without touching the dial – it’s not going to happen. Also, be mindful of which audio format your external speakers or soundbar can handle. If your PS4 is outputting in Dolby Digital and your soundbar only supports PCM stereo, you’ll get silence or garbled noise. Always check compatibility.
Faq Section
Can I Get Sound From My Monitor Speakers If It Has a Headphone Jack?
Sometimes. If your monitor has a headphone jack, it might be an *output* jack designed to send audio to headphones. However, some monitors use this jack as an *input* for external speakers. You’ll need to check your monitor’s manual or look for markings to confirm its function. If it’s an output, it means the monitor has processed the HDMI audio and is sending it out, but it likely won’t power external speakers directly without an amplifier.
Does the Ps4 Slim Have an Optical Audio Output?
Yes, the PS4 Slim (like the original PS4) does have an optical audio output port (S/PDIF). This port is useful if you’re connecting to older sound systems or audio receivers that lack HDMI inputs but support optical audio. You’ll need a compatible optical cable and to configure your PS4’s audio settings accordingly.
What’s the Difference Between Pcm and Bitstream Audio Output on Ps4?
PCM (Pulse-Code Modulation) is uncompressed digital audio. When you select PCM, the PS4 decodes the audio signal itself into stereo or multi-channel PCM data and sends it out. Bitstream, on the other hand, sends the raw, compressed digital audio data (like Dolby Digital or DTS) directly to your receiver or soundbar, allowing *that* device to do the decoding. If you have a capable sound system, Bitstream often provides the best surround sound experience. If you’re using simple stereo headphones or speakers, PCM is usually fine and simpler. (See Also: How To Monitor My Sleep With Apple Watch )
Do I Need a Special HDMI Cable for Ps4 Audio?
No, a standard HDMI cable (High-Speed HDMI is recommended for best quality) that supports audio will work for both video and audio transmission. The issue isn’t typically the HDMI cable itself, but whether the monitor is designed to accept and process the audio signal carried by that cable effectively. If your monitor has an HDMI port, it *should* technically receive audio, but its implementation can be poor or non-existent for actual output to speakers.
Comparison of Audio Output Methods
| Method | Pros | Cons | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| HDMI Audio Extractor | Flexible audio output options (optical, 3.5mm), works with most monitors, good audio quality. | Requires an extra device and cables, adds a small cost. | Best all-around solution for most users needing external audio. Highly recommended. |
| Controller Headphone Jack | Simplest, cheapest, direct audio to headphones, no extra hardware needed if you have headphones. | Only for headphones, not speakers. Audio quality can vary depending on headphones. | Excellent for solo gaming or when you need to keep it quiet. |
| Optical Audio Cable | High-quality digital audio, bypasses HDMI processing, good for surround sound systems. | Requires both PS4 and monitor to have optical ports, limited monitor compatibility, may require specific PS4 audio settings. | Great if your setup supports it, but less common for monitors. |
| Monitor’s Built-in Speakers | No extra cost or setup if they work. | Often poor quality, some monitors have none, audio may not work over HDMI. | Use only if you have no other option and the sound is acceptable. |
Verdict
Ultimately, getting sound from your monitor with a PS4 isn’t always a straightforward plug-and-play scenario. It often involves understanding how your specific monitor handles audio signals and, more often than not, employing a workaround like an HDMI audio extractor. Don’t get discouraged if the first thing you try doesn’t work; I’ve been there, staring at a silent screen after spending money and time on what I thought was the right solution. The key is to remember that the PS4 is usually sending the audio signal correctly, and the bottleneck is often the monitor’s audio capabilities or lack thereof.
If you’re still stuck, double-check your PS4’s audio output settings one last time and ensure any external adapter you’re using is properly powered and connected. The goal is to extract that sweet, sweet game audio and send it to a device that can actually play it clearly. For most people looking to get sound from monitor with PS4 into a speaker system or soundbar, an HDMI audio extractor is the most reliable path.
What’s the next step? Grab yourself one of those extractors, or a decent pair of headphones if that’s your immediate need. You’ve got the knowledge now; go make some noise.
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