10 Best Soundbars For PS5 2022
By Robert Jones · 2021-08-01
PS5 is a next-generation gaming console. It has advanced technology and better
## The PS5 and chasing Cracking Sound Right, so you've got yourself a PlayStation 5. Probably spent a fair few quid, didn't you? Good lad. You've got the fancy graphics, the lightning-fast loading, and all the bells and whistles. But let me tell you, if you're still relying on your TV's built-in speakers, you're doing yourself and your games a massive disservice. It's like buying a Ferrari and then pushing it down the road by hand. Pointless. I've been messing about with home cinema gear for longer than I care to remember – twenty years, easily. And in that time, I've seen a fair bit of kit come and go. When the PS5 landed, first thing I did was hook it up to my main system. The difference, mate, is night and day. Footsteps behind you, the distant rumble of explosions, the subtle environmental cues – it all just comes alive. And it's not just about the loudness; it's about the clarity, the spatial awareness, the immersion. That's where a good soundbar comes in. Now, I know some folks will tell you to go full surround sound from the get-go. And yeah, if you've got the space and the budget, absolutely. But for a lot of us, a soundbar is a cracking compromise. It's tidier, easier to set up, and a good one will still deliver a massive upgrade over your TV speakers. I've had a few different setups in my test room over the years, and even for just a casual blast on something like *Spider-Man: Miles Morales*, the right soundbar makes a real difference. ### The Nitty Gritty: What to Look For Before we get stuck into some recommendations, let's talk about what actually matters. It's not just about how many watts it can supposedly chuck out. Oh no. * **Connectivity:** HDMI eARC is your friend here. It simplifies things, lets your TV control the soundbar, and generally makes life a lot easier. Optical is okay as a backup, but eARC is where it's at for the PS5. * **Dolby Atmos/DTS:X:** These are your fancy surround sound formats. A good soundbar with upward-firing speakers can give you a decent approximation of overhead sound, which is brilliant for games. It's not quite the same as dedicated ceiling speakers, obviously, but it's a good effort. * **Subwoofer:** This is key for gaming. Explosions, rumbling engines, the impact of a punch – you need that low-end thud to really feel it. Some soundbars come with a wireless subwoofer, which is usually the easiest route. * **Dialogue Clarity:** Even in the midst of all the chaos, you want to hear what those characters are mumbling, don't you? Some soundbars have dedicated centre channels or clever processing to keep the voices clear. * **Sound Modes:** A dedicated