The PS4 actually provided a better audio experience than the PS5
I’ve lately been comparing my old PS4 setup with the PS5, and honestly, it feels like Sony took two steps forward with the SSD but three steps back with the audio. The PS5 often feels like a technical downgrade in the audio department. It’s clear Sony was cheaping out. I have been testing this on B&W 603 S2 speakers with Rotel amp, B&W P7 wireless headphones connected via jack to the DualSense controller and via PS Gold headset.
1. The Missing Optical Port (S/PDIF)
The decision to scrap the optical port on the PS5 was a massive blow to anyone with a proper external DAC or a high-end receiver. On the PS4, you could pull a clean digital signal and let your own gear do the heavy lifting. Now, we’re mostly stuck with USB or the controller jack, both of which introduce more noise and less dynamic range than a dedicated Hi-Fi chain. The quality of these outputs is objectively worse.
2. Tempest 3D vs. Clean Stereo
Sony is marketing the Tempest Engine as a revolution, but for those of us who favour a precise audio profile, it often just sounds like "acoustic mud."
- The Localization Issue: In games where you need to locate anything by sound, the 3D processing often masks the directionality.
- The "Cotton Wool" Effect: The digital phase-shifting used to simulate height often just smears the soundstage. I’ve found that switching back to pure stereo provides a much clearer, more spacious image where I can actually pinpoint sounds.
3. The DualSense Bottleneck
Plugging high-end headphones into the DualSense jack is a joke. The built-in DAC/Amp in the controller simply doesn't have the power or the clarity to drive quality drivers properly. The PS4-era Gold/Platinum headsets actually had a dedicated VSS (Virtual Surround Sound) algorithm in their dongles that, while dated, felt more consistent than the software-based mess we have now.
It feels like Sony built the PS5 Tempest audio as a standard "enshittification" move: forcing users to buy the proprietary Pulse 3D Wireless Headset to get any "optimised" experience, while leaving PS Gold owners and Hi-Fi enthusiasts out in the cold. As far as I'm concerned, the PS4 simply delivered better quality audio.
Am I the only one who thinks the "Tempest" hype is just marketing smoke and mirrors for a cheaper hardware implementation?