Hi Everyone, looking for some advice and help here.
I had a receiver and some speakers that I purchased last year, but never got around to setting up. Just set them up last night and already overwhelmed with all of the options.
The receiver I have is a Marantz SR5011. I only have 3 front speakers (L/C/R), no subwoofer yet, and no rear speakers. I have a vanilla PS4, and an LG C7.
1. In terms of connection order, I'm hearing that the best is to have the PS4 go directly to the receiver first through an HDMI connection, not optical? Input lag is not drastically affected and sound is then given to the receiver unprocessed? Is this correct or are there other considerations. Or should I have the PS4 go to the TV, then use the ARC channel to go back to the receiver?
Just plug in your HDMI cable into an input on your receiver. That's how you get LPCM i.e. lossless sound which is much higher quality that Optical. You should only have one connection to make and that's an HDMI cable from your PS4 to your receiver. The receiver will have 1 HDMI output to your TV. And that's it.
2. In the PS4 audio settings, should I use Linear PCM, Bitstream (Dolby), or Bitstream (DTS)? I am assuming this depends on the answer to question 1?
I would select Linear PCM, you'll still get lossless audio. Seeing you only have a 3 channel setup. Had you had more speakers or Dolby Atmos setup you could have chosen Bitstream which would be a Dolby Digital + Dolby Surround output which simulates Dolby Atmos (PS4 can't do Dolby Atmos) In any case just choose Linear PCM.
3. On the receiver itself, which sound mode should I select? There is Auto, Virtual, Multi Ch surround, Multi Ch In, Stereo, DTS Neural:X, Dolby Digital, Dolby Surround. Maybe some other ones too I am missing. I am so confused about this part. Are they all the same as long as I get sound from each speaker?
For your particular setup I'm not entirely sure which is the best because you have a 3 channel setup, so you'll get surround sound but just in front o you. Play a few games, movies and see. But I would set it up Dolby Digital or Dolby Surround.
4. For the TV apps that I use (Netflix, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime), I am guessing it is best to use the HDMI ARC?
You can select the audio output type, but if you're play those apps through your PS4, then leave the setting you had selected above. Or change it when you have a movie going.
5. Finally, back to the Ps4, what if I use it as a Blu-ray player? Is whatever I set up for games going to apply, or do I need to make changes everytime I watch a movie?
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You can leave it the same, or from your reciever remote select the audio output type to match (movie, game, music) and select what you prefer. The options will be things like (virtual, direct, dolby digital, DTS, etc. etc.) But because everything is coming out of your PS4 you'l have to change the setting everytime you let's say play game vs. watch a movie. Unless you find the sound great and leave the settings as it.
Thanks for all the help. Who knew audio setup could be so confusing?