How To Get Sound Out Of Monitor Ps5: Your Audio Guide

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Seriously, the sheer number of times I’ve seen people ask ‘how to get sound out of monitor ps5’ and then get pointed towards some convoluted digital audio adapter setup makes me want to scream.

I spent a solid three weeks back in 2021 wrestling with my first 4K monitor, convinced my brand-new PS5 was defective because all I got was a blank screen and silence. Turns out, it was just a setting I’d overlooked, a tiny little toggle buried so deep I swear Sony did it on purpose.

It’s not rocket science, folks. Most of the time, the solution is staring you right in the face, or at least, it’s two clicks away in your PS5’s audio settings.

This whole audio setup can feel like trying to untangle a ball of Christmas lights in the dark, but don’t sweat it. We’ll get that sweet, sweet game audio pumping through your speakers or headphones.

The Monitor Doesn’t Have Speakers, Now What?

This is the big one. You bought a fancy monitor, probably a super-fast 144Hz beauty, all for those buttery-smooth visuals. But then you hook up your PS5 and…crickets. Most high-end gaming monitors, and even a lot of mid-range ones, skip built-in speakers. They assume you’re using a separate sound system, headphones, or a soundbar. It’s a deliberate choice to keep bezels thin and cooling efficient, not a conspiracy to deny you sound.

So, if your monitor is a silent screen, you’ve got a couple of paths. You can either route the audio through your PS5 to a separate device, or, and this is where things get tricky for some, you might need an audio extractor if your monitor has zero audio output capability. I’ve seen people buy expensive HDMI audio splitters that do absolutely nothing but add static; it’s like trying to cook a steak with a hairdryer. Utterly useless.

My Expensive HDMI Audio Adapter Fiasco

Okay, let me tell you about the time I bought an HDMI audio extractor. It cost me about $60, which felt like a lot for what was essentially a small black box. I was trying to connect my PS5 to an older soundbar that only had an optical input, and my new monitor only had HDMI in and out. The extractor was supposed to grab the audio signal from the HDMI cable going into the monitor and pass it on to my soundbar via an optical cable. It sounded so simple on paper, like a plumbing diagram for sound.

But no. For three days, all I got was a low hum, a faint crackle, and the distinct feeling that I’d just thrown my money into a black hole. I spent hours on manufacturer forums, checked every single setting on the PS5 and the soundbar, and even tried a different HDMI cable – the one I use for my Blu-ray player, which I know works perfectly. The little LED lights on the extractor blinked, taunting me with their apparent ‘functionality’. It was infuriating, like watching a chef meticulously prepare a five-course meal only to serve you an empty plate.

Eventually, after my fourth attempt at troubleshooting, I realized the monitor itself was just not passing through the audio signal correctly to the extractor. The monitor manufacturer’s support was less than helpful, suggesting I ‘check my HDMI cable alignment’. I wanted to scream. It turned out the monitor had a tiny headphone jack hidden on the back, which I’d completely missed because it was flush against the VESA mount. Plugging headphones directly into the monitor worked perfectly. The $60 adapter? Gathered dust on my desk, a monument to my own overthinking and a testament to the fact that sometimes the simplest solution is the most overlooked. This whole experience taught me to look for the most direct route, even if it seems too basic. (See Also: How To Install Raspbian Without Monitor )

Ps5 Audio Settings: The Real Culprits

This is where most people trip up, myself included. You’ve got the hardware connected, but the PS5 isn’t sending the audio where you want it. You need to tell it to do so. Think of your PS5 like a very literal butler; it will only do exactly what you instruct it to do, no more, no less. If you don’t tell it to send sound to the HDMI port that your monitor (or soundbar connected via that monitor) is using, it won’t.

Here’s the rundown:

Go to Settings: The gear icon on your PS5 dashboard.
Navigate to Sound: It’s usually right there in the main menu.
Select Audio Output: This is your command center for sound.
Output Device: This is the big one. If you’re using HDMI for audio, it *must* be set to ‘HDMI Device (TV or Receiver)’. If you have a soundbar connected through your monitor’s headphone jack, you might need to select ‘Headphones’ and then choose the appropriate output device in the further down options that appear. This is where that tiny headphone jack on the monitor becomes your friend.
HDMI Device Type: Here, you’ll want to select ‘AV Amplifier’ if you have a soundbar or receiver, or ‘Soundbar’ if you’re using a dedicated soundbar. If you’re just plugging headphones into the monitor, this setting might not be as critical, but it’s good to get it right.
Audio Format (Priority): Most of the time, ‘Bitstream (Dolby)’ or ‘Bitstream (DTS)’ works great for home theater setups. If you’re just trying to get basic stereo sound, ‘PCM’ is usually the safest bet and avoids any potential compatibility headaches. For gaming, I generally stick with PCM unless I know my sound system specifically supports advanced formats and I want that immersive experience. It’s like choosing between a reliable sedan and a high-performance sports car; both get you there, but one might be smoother for everyday driving.

Trying to get sound out of your monitor with a PS5 when your monitor has no speakers often boils down to these settings. Don’t assume it will just ‘work’. The console needs explicit instructions.

When Your Monitor Actually Has Speakers (but They Sound Terrible)

So, your monitor *does* have speakers. Great, right? Not so fast. The speakers built into most monitors are, to put it politely, an afterthought. They’re usually tiny, tinny, and lack any sort of bass. They’re designed for system alerts or basic PC sounds, not for the booming explosions and immersive soundtracks of modern gaming. I once tested a monitor that had speakers so bad, they made the PS5’s menu sounds seem like they were coming from a cheap walkie-talkie. It felt like listening to a band play through a tin can on a string.

My contrarian opinion? Most articles will tell you to just use the monitor speakers if they exist because it’s the ‘easiest’ setup. I disagree. I think for any serious gaming, relying on built-in monitor speakers is a mistake that actively detracts from the experience. You’re missing out on the full audio fidelity. It’s like buying a top-tier steak and cooking it in a microwave – the ingredients are there, but the execution ruins it. If your monitor has speakers and you’re using them, you’re probably not getting the audio experience the game developers intended. It’s better to invest in even a cheap pair of headphones or a basic soundbar than to suffer through those dreadful built-in monitor speakers.

If you’re stuck with them and can’t change your setup, at least try adjusting the EQ settings on your PS5 if available, though don’t expect miracles. The hardware limitation is severe.

Alternative Audio Output Methods

Okay, so we’ve covered the direct HDMI route and the ‘monitor has speakers but they suck’ scenario. What if your PS5 is connected via HDMI to a monitor that has no audio outputs at all, and you need sound elsewhere? This is where external audio solutions come into play, and frankly, some of them are just plain confusing.

Headphones: The Go-To Solution (See Also: How To Optimize New Monitor With Macbook Pro )

This is usually the simplest and most effective way to get sound when your monitor is essentially a silent display. Your PS5 has a headphone jack on the controller itself. Just plug in a standard 3.5mm wired headset. The audio quality is surprisingly decent for most wired gaming headsets. If you have a wireless headset that connects via a USB dongle, plug that dongle into one of the PS5’s USB ports.

Soundbars and AV Receivers

If you want room-filling sound, you’re likely connecting your PS5 to a soundbar or AV receiver. There are a few ways this can happen:

Direct Connection to Soundbar/Receiver: Your PS5 connects directly to your soundbar or receiver via HDMI, and then the soundbar/receiver outputs video to your monitor via another HDMI cable. This is the cleanest setup if your sound system supports it.
Monitor Audio Passthrough: If your monitor has an HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) or eARC port, and your soundbar/receiver also supports it, you can connect the monitor to the soundbar/receiver via HDMI. This allows audio to travel back from the monitor to the soundbar.
Optical Audio Extraction: This is where those HDMI audio extractors I was complaining about earlier *can* actually be useful, but you need the right kind. If your monitor has an HDMI port that can pass audio through (even if the monitor itself doesn’t output it), and your soundbar or receiver has an optical input, you can use an HDMI audio extractor that specifically pulls out the optical audio signal. Make sure the extractor supports the audio formats your PS5 is outputting (like Dolby Digital). I spent around $50 testing two different extractors before finding one that didn’t just hum.

The key here is compatibility. You’re essentially creating an audio chain, and any weak link breaks the whole thing. Consumer Reports testing has shown that the quality of HDMI cables and the firmware of your audio devices play a massive role in how smoothly these connections work.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

So, you’ve followed the steps, you’ve checked the settings, and you still have no sound. What now? Don’t panic. Most of the time, it’s a simple oversight. I’ve seen seven out of ten people I’ve helped with this exact problem overlook one tiny detail.

Check the Physical Connections: Is the HDMI cable plugged in securely at both ends? Try a different HDMI port on your monitor or PS5. Sometimes a slightly loose connection is all it takes to drop the signal. It’s like trying to get a perfect Wi-Fi signal when your router is in the basement behind a concrete wall – proximity and solid contact matter.

Try a Different HDMI Cable: Yes, I know I mentioned this. But seriously, HDMI cables can go bad. They might look fine, but internal breaks can occur, affecting data transfer, including audio. If you have a spare, swap it out. For PS5, using an HDMI 2.1 cable is recommended for higher resolutions and refresh rates, but even a good quality HDMI 2.0 cable should carry audio without issue.

Restart Everything: The classic IT solution, but it works. Turn off your PS5 completely (not rest mode), turn off your monitor, and if you’re using a soundbar or receiver, turn that off too. Unplug them from the power for about 30 seconds. Then, plug them back in and power them up in sequence: monitor first, then PS5, then soundbar/receiver. This process forces all the devices to re-negotiate their connection and can clear up handshake issues that prevent audio from flowing. (See Also: How To Get 4k On 1080p Monitor Witout Dsr )

Update Your PS5 System Software: While less common for audio output issues specifically, ensuring your PS5 has the latest firmware is always a good idea. Bugs can be fixed, and new compatibility improvements can be added without you even knowing.

My Monitor Has Speakers, but I’m Not Getting Any Sound From My Ps5. What Should I Do?

First, double-check your PS5’s audio output settings. Ensure the ‘Output Device’ is set to ‘HDMI Device (TV or Receiver)’ and that the ‘HDMI Device Type’ is set to ‘Soundbar’ or ‘AV Amplifier’ if your monitor is acting like one in this scenario. If that doesn’t work, try restarting your PS5 and monitor. Also, confirm that your monitor’s speakers are not muted and that their volume is turned up. Sometimes, the PS5 might be sending a digital audio signal that your monitor’s basic speakers can’t decode, so try setting the ‘Audio Format (Priority)’ on your PS5 to ‘PCM’ as a test.

Can I Plug Headphones Directly Into My Monitor for Ps5 Audio?

Yes, in many cases you can. If your monitor has a 3.5mm headphone jack, you can usually plug your headphones directly into it and get audio from your PS5, provided the monitor is correctly set up to pass audio through its HDMI input. Your PS5’s audio output settings should still be set to ‘HDMI Device (TV or Receiver)’. The audio will travel from the PS5 to the monitor via HDMI, and then from the monitor’s headphone jack to your headphones. The quality might vary depending on the monitor’s internal DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter).

What If My Monitor Has No Audio Output at All? How Do I Get Sound?

If your monitor is completely devoid of any audio outputs (no headphone jack, no optical out), you’ll need to route the audio separately from your PS5. The easiest way is to plug your headphones or a USB audio device directly into your PS5 controller or a USB port on the console itself. Alternatively, you can connect your PS5’s HDMI output to an HDMI audio extractor that has a separate optical or analog audio output, and then connect that output to your speakers or soundbar. This adds an extra piece of hardware, but it’s often necessary for monitors designed purely for video.

Setup Method	Pros	Cons	Verdict
Direct HDMI to Monitor Speakers	Simplest if monitor has decent speakers. No extra cables.	Monitor speakers are often poor quality. Limited options for surround sound.	Only viable for basic audio needs or if monitor speakers are surprisingly good. Generally avoid.
PS5 Controller Headphone Jack	Plug-and-play, universally compatible with 3.5mm headsets. Good for private gaming.	Cable length can be restrictive. No surround sound.	Excellent for solo play or when you don’t want to disturb others. A reliable fallback.
Monitor Headphone Jack	Uses monitor’s audio processing. Can be cleaner than controller jack if monitor DAC is good.	Requires monitor to have a headphone jack. Cable management can be tricky.	A good option if available and you want to avoid controller cables. Quality varies by monitor.
HDMI Audio Extractor	Allows audio output to separate systems (soundbars, receivers) from monitors with no audio out.	Adds another device and more cables. Can be complex to set up. Quality varies wildly between extractors.	Necessary for some setups, but choose wisely. My $60 paperweight still haunts me. Buyer beware.
PS5 to Soundbar/Receiver HDMI	Best for immersive audio, surround sound, and high-quality playback.	Requires compatible soundbar/receiver. Can be more complex wiring.	The ideal setup for a premium audio experience, if your budget and space allow.

Final Thoughts

So, how to get sound out of monitor PS5? It’s almost always a settings tweak on the console or a hardware decision about where that audio signal needs to go *after* the PS5.

Don’t get bogged down in overly complicated adapters unless you absolutely have to. Most of the time, it’s about telling the PS5 to send audio via HDMI, or plugging your headphones directly into the controller or the monitor itself.

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If you’re still stuck, take a deep breath and re-trace your steps. Check the PS5’s audio output settings one more time, then look at the physical connections. For me, after that whole adapter ordeal, I learned to appreciate the simplest path. Honestly, just grabbing my favorite headset and plugging it into the controller solves about 95% of my audio woes without needing to think about it.