PlayStation 4 advice and help
August 9, 2015 2:02 AM Subscribe
I'm considering getting a PS4. Can you help with some questions about the details of the audio and video connections, and a few other misc questions?
I plan to share an LCD monitor between the PS4 and a desktop computer running Windows 7. The video part is straightforward. The monitor has DVI, HDMI, and DisplayPort inputs and I plan to connect the computer via DVI and the PS4 via HDMI, and then use the source select button on the front bezel to switch between them.
It's the audio part where I need some advice. I have two main requirements: the audio from both the computer and the PS4 needs to go to a single set of headphones, and I don't want to have to physically un-plug and re-plug(*) the headphones when switching between using the computer and the console. Not using headphones for either the PS4 or the computer isn't an option, for the sake of my neighbors. These are relatively nice headphones (Sennheiser HD 558) and I can't afford to get a second pair to leave them both plugged in at the same time, and lesser headphones are either not as comfortable for long periods of time or don't sound as good. It's fine if there's some kind of switch involved; I don't need to be able to hear both the computer and the PS4 at the same time, this is primarily about cable management (i.e. being able to leave the headphones plugged into one thing permanently.)
As I understand it, there's an analog stereo audio out jack on the PS4 controller meant for plugging your headphones into, but that would require manual plugging and unplugging. What I've done in the past when I need to combine two sources is to use the line-in of the computer's sound card as a cheap mixer. My computer has the usual onboard/integrated 7.1 audio codec, so I was thinking of connecting the PS4 audio out to the line-in of that(**). I don't really care too much about the D->A->D->A conversion losses or any kind of quality issues. However, I don't actually use the onboard device for audio out. I have a FiiO USB DAC/headphone amp as this computer is used for all my music listening and everyone says you can't trust onboard stuff for that. Logic tells me that because the onboard and the external DAC are two different audio devices, that unless there's some process actively shoveling data between the two devices, the line-in won't act in 'monitor' mode or whatever you call it where the audio naturally passes through and can be heard as part of the normal audio-out signal.
It would be easy enough to test this if I could find some kind of audio source to connect to the line-in, but crawling under the desk to get access to the back of the case is difficult for me due to joint pain and range of motion issues, so I was hoping someone could just tell me if this would work. And if it won't work by itself, is there some program I could run while using the PS4 to do the required data plumbing? It would read from one input device and copy samples to the output device. I don't use 'exclusive' mode for bitexact playback or anything like that, so I already have the kernel driver doing software mixing and samplerate conversion, so maybe there's some way I can get it to add in this other input?
If this doesn't pan out then I guess what I need is some kind of A/B switch for the headphones. I also have a 5.1 speaker system that I'm not currently using that I can run the SPDIF optical output of the PS4 into, and which has a headphone output. Then I'd have the headphone out of that and the headphone out of the USB DAC to feed into the A/B switch. I'm not thrilled at the idea of a mechanical switch in the signal path of the headphones, though. I don't want to deal with contacts that get dirty and start making intermittent contact with crackling and popping and all that mess. I'm sure they make solid state switches these days, right? I just don't like the idea of another thing to buy though, and more gear that needs power and cable management and all that. There's got to be a simpler way to get where I'm trying to go. Can you suggest something I haven't thought of?
(*) The headphone plug/jack seems like the worst designed connector in the history of ever, and I always feel like the jack is going to wear out from pushing it hard to make sure it's in all the way, or one channel will start randomly cutting in and out if I have to repeatedly insert and remove the plug.
(**) Side note: I'd really like for there to not be a cord coming from the controller, so I'd like some other means of getting PS4 audio. If I understand correctly, the PS4 does not have that, and you're on your own. The monitor I'm using has both a RCA digital SPDIF output and an analog 3.5mm mini-jack that the manual says supports only 2.0 audio, both of which I assume are fed from the audio portion of the HDMI or DisplayPort inputs, so if the PS4 is connected via HDMI I can use the latter with a simple stereo male-to-male 3.5mm cable to connect to the line-in of the computer. Will I have to worry about forcing the PS4 to output plain-jane PCM stereo and not 5.1 encoded AC3/DD or whatever? Is that a configurable option? I've also seen cheap (~$20) DACs that take SPDIF input and output analog stereo, which I could use in the worst case, but I'd rather avoid it. And is there anything inexpensive I could buy that would provide a SPDIF input to the computer directly?
I have a few other miscellaneous questions about the PS4 if you don't mind:
1. The display has a 16:10 aspect ratio (1920 x 1200). Does the PS4 support that resolution or will it only output standard 1920 x 1080? If so then I assume the screen will be slightly letterboxed, which I'm perfectly fine with. I certainly don't want to mangle the aspect ratio.
2. I've never owned an actual gaming console. (Well, we had an Atari 2600 for a few years back in the 1980s but that hardly counts.) Should I really be jumping in with the PS4? I don't have much of a disposable income and it's necessary to save up to afford a PS4. Would it make more sense to get a used older generation console? The thing that made me want to try a PS4 was watching The Last of Us being played on the Teens React youtube channel. I realize that this was originally a PS3 title, but on the other hand I'm sort of doing this to experience something new and I want to be wowed by the remastered edition. I know it sounds a little crazy to make a spending decision based on that one game, but I figure there's got to be enough good PS4 games that I won't really have to worry about finding something interesting after finishing that game, and the game comes bundled with the console anyway. If anyone wants to suggest PS4 titles that absolutely must be experienced, I'd be interested in that.
3. Another idea I'm mulling is to use the money to just buy a nice GPU, like a GTX 970, and forget the console world. I'm not a big computer gamer either, so I don't really know how to compare the two experiences. I've never had a powerful GPU so I don't even know what modern computer gaming looks like, but I know it's probably superior, at least in terms of framerate and level of detail, to a console. Still, there's something about experiencing games that aren't mouse and keyboard based, and something to be said for not having to worry about all the compatibility/drivers/tweaking/etc. mess that comes with PC gaming. I'd appreciate any opinions on the matter.
4. The PS4 controller recharges via USB right? Can they be plugged into any old USB port or just the USB port of the PS4 base station? Does the PS4 come with a cable for that, or is it a standard USB cable? Can they be used as controllers for a PC game that supports game pads when plugged into the USB port of a PC, or do they only use the port for power?
5. What's the deal with the vertical stand? The pictures seem to always show the PS4 standing vertical, but the fine print says that the stand isn't included. What's going on there? Why is a simple piece of plastic extra? I've also seen stands for sale that have extra cooling fans. Is overheating that big of a deal? Does using it in the vertical position hinder its natural cooling capability or something? I'd kind of like to have it in the vertical position but not if it means having to buy yet another $20+ add-on or deal with extra fan noise.
Thanks for taking the time to help.
I plan to share an LCD monitor between the PS4 and a desktop computer running Windows 7. The video part is straightforward. The monitor has DVI, HDMI, and DisplayPort inputs and I plan to connect the computer via DVI and the PS4 via HDMI, and then use the source select button on the front bezel to switch between them.
It's the audio part where I need some advice. I have two main requirements: the audio from both the computer and the PS4 needs to go to a single set of headphones, and I don't want to have to physically un-plug and re-plug(*) the headphones when switching between using the computer and the console. Not using headphones for either the PS4 or the computer isn't an option, for the sake of my neighbors. These are relatively nice headphones (Sennheiser HD 558) and I can't afford to get a second pair to leave them both plugged in at the same time, and lesser headphones are either not as comfortable for long periods of time or don't sound as good. It's fine if there's some kind of switch involved; I don't need to be able to hear both the computer and the PS4 at the same time, this is primarily about cable management (i.e. being able to leave the headphones plugged into one thing permanently.)
As I understand it, there's an analog stereo audio out jack on the PS4 controller meant for plugging your headphones into, but that would require manual plugging and unplugging. What I've done in the past when I need to combine two sources is to use the line-in of the computer's sound card as a cheap mixer. My computer has the usual onboard/integrated 7.1 audio codec, so I was thinking of connecting the PS4 audio out to the line-in of that(**). I don't really care too much about the D->A->D->A conversion losses or any kind of quality issues. However, I don't actually use the onboard device for audio out. I have a FiiO USB DAC/headphone amp as this computer is used for all my music listening and everyone says you can't trust onboard stuff for that. Logic tells me that because the onboard and the external DAC are two different audio devices, that unless there's some process actively shoveling data between the two devices, the line-in won't act in 'monitor' mode or whatever you call it where the audio naturally passes through and can be heard as part of the normal audio-out signal.
It would be easy enough to test this if I could find some kind of audio source to connect to the line-in, but crawling under the desk to get access to the back of the case is difficult for me due to joint pain and range of motion issues, so I was hoping someone could just tell me if this would work. And if it won't work by itself, is there some program I could run while using the PS4 to do the required data plumbing? It would read from one input device and copy samples to the output device. I don't use 'exclusive' mode for bitexact playback or anything like that, so I already have the kernel driver doing software mixing and samplerate conversion, so maybe there's some way I can get it to add in this other input?
If this doesn't pan out then I guess what I need is some kind of A/B switch for the headphones. I also have a 5.1 speaker system that I'm not currently using that I can run the SPDIF optical output of the PS4 into, and which has a headphone output. Then I'd have the headphone out of that and the headphone out of the USB DAC to feed into the A/B switch. I'm not thrilled at the idea of a mechanical switch in the signal path of the headphones, though. I don't want to deal with contacts that get dirty and start making intermittent contact with crackling and popping and all that mess. I'm sure they make solid state switches these days, right? I just don't like the idea of another thing to buy though, and more gear that needs power and cable management and all that. There's got to be a simpler way to get where I'm trying to go. Can you suggest something I haven't thought of?
(*) The headphone plug/jack seems like the worst designed connector in the history of ever, and I always feel like the jack is going to wear out from pushing it hard to make sure it's in all the way, or one channel will start randomly cutting in and out if I have to repeatedly insert and remove the plug.
(**) Side note: I'd really like for there to not be a cord coming from the controller, so I'd like some other means of getting PS4 audio. If I understand correctly, the PS4 does not have that, and you're on your own. The monitor I'm using has both a RCA digital SPDIF output and an analog 3.5mm mini-jack that the manual says supports only 2.0 audio, both of which I assume are fed from the audio portion of the HDMI or DisplayPort inputs, so if the PS4 is connected via HDMI I can use the latter with a simple stereo male-to-male 3.5mm cable to connect to the line-in of the computer. Will I have to worry about forcing the PS4 to output plain-jane PCM stereo and not 5.1 encoded AC3/DD or whatever? Is that a configurable option? I've also seen cheap (~$20) DACs that take SPDIF input and output analog stereo, which I could use in the worst case, but I'd rather avoid it. And is there anything inexpensive I could buy that would provide a SPDIF input to the computer directly?
I have a few other miscellaneous questions about the PS4 if you don't mind:
1. The display has a 16:10 aspect ratio (1920 x 1200). Does the PS4 support that resolution or will it only output standard 1920 x 1080? If so then I assume the screen will be slightly letterboxed, which I'm perfectly fine with. I certainly don't want to mangle the aspect ratio.
2. I've never owned an actual gaming console. (Well, we had an Atari 2600 for a few years back in the 1980s but that hardly counts.) Should I really be jumping in with the PS4? I don't have much of a disposable income and it's necessary to save up to afford a PS4. Would it make more sense to get a used older generation console? The thing that made me want to try a PS4 was watching The Last of Us being played on the Teens React youtube channel. I realize that this was originally a PS3 title, but on the other hand I'm sort of doing this to experience something new and I want to be wowed by the remastered edition. I know it sounds a little crazy to make a spending decision based on that one game, but I figure there's got to be enough good PS4 games that I won't really have to worry about finding something interesting after finishing that game, and the game comes bundled with the console anyway. If anyone wants to suggest PS4 titles that absolutely must be experienced, I'd be interested in that.
3. Another idea I'm mulling is to use the money to just buy a nice GPU, like a GTX 970, and forget the console world. I'm not a big computer gamer either, so I don't really know how to compare the two experiences. I've never had a powerful GPU so I don't even know what modern computer gaming looks like, but I know it's probably superior, at least in terms of framerate and level of detail, to a console. Still, there's something about experiencing games that aren't mouse and keyboard based, and something to be said for not having to worry about all the compatibility/drivers/tweaking/etc. mess that comes with PC gaming. I'd appreciate any opinions on the matter.
4. The PS4 controller recharges via USB right? Can they be plugged into any old USB port or just the USB port of the PS4 base station? Does the PS4 come with a cable for that, or is it a standard USB cable? Can they be used as controllers for a PC game that supports game pads when plugged into the USB port of a PC, or do they only use the port for power?
5. What's the deal with the vertical stand? The pictures seem to always show the PS4 standing vertical, but the fine print says that the stand isn't included. What's going on there? Why is a simple piece of plastic extra? I've also seen stands for sale that have extra cooling fans. Is overheating that big of a deal? Does using it in the vertical position hinder its natural cooling capability or something? I'd kind of like to have it in the vertical position but not if it means having to buy yet another $20+ add-on or deal with extra fan noise.
Thanks for taking the time to help.
4. The PS4 controller recharges via USB right? Can they be plugged into any old USB port or just the USB port of the PS4 base station? Does the PS4 come with a cable for that, or is it a standard USB cable? Can they be used as controllers for a PC game that supports game pads when plugged into the USB port of a PC, or do they only use the port for power?
Can be charged from any USB that I've tried.
Comes with a lead, a standard USB to micro USB cable. But any similar cable I've tried works.
Can be used on a PC - see here
posted by Hobo at 4:38 AM on August 9, 2015
Can be charged from any USB that I've tried.
Comes with a lead, a standard USB to micro USB cable. But any similar cable I've tried works.
Can be used on a PC - see here
posted by Hobo at 4:38 AM on August 9, 2015
Use the analog line out of the computer into the analog line in of the monitor. The ps4 sends audio over the HDMI to the monitor. Plug in headphones to monitor. Monitor will downmix the awesomeness of the 5.1 HDMI sound to stereo for it's own 2 speakers and that is what will come out the headphone jack. When in PC mode it will simply forward the analog stereo to it's speakers/headphone Jack. No replugging required.
posted by chasles at 5:04 AM on August 9, 2015
posted by chasles at 5:04 AM on August 9, 2015
Can you connect the PC to the monitor via DisplayPort? Does your PC have DisplayPort or HDMI output? (you can get hdmi-displayport adapter)
posted by czytm at 6:25 AM on August 9, 2015
posted by czytm at 6:25 AM on August 9, 2015
You can charge a ps4 control with any microusb connection. I use an old phone charger that plugs into the wall.
I bought a PS4 just for Bloodborne and it was worth it. You should get that one!
I've never heard of a PS4 overheat when sideways. Mine is. It's fine. I've played it for 10+ hours at a time.
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 1:18 PM on August 9, 2015
I bought a PS4 just for Bloodborne and it was worth it. You should get that one!
I've never heard of a PS4 overheat when sideways. Mine is. It's fine. I've played it for 10+ hours at a time.
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 1:18 PM on August 9, 2015
Response by poster: Apologies for the late followup and thanks for all of your answers.
Ultimately I decided to get a GTX 970 graphics card and an Xbox One controller to hook up to the PC, which together come to roughly the same price as a new PS4. I figure there are enough games that are console ports that I can get more or less the sense of console gaming on the PC(*), but with better graphics. I'll just have to make do without The Last of Us.
(*) And I can pirate the games, which is a plus. Don't judge me, I'm unemployed.
For anyone that might stumble on this post in the future, I was able to test my original plan by attaching a microphone to the mic-in of the integrated sound card, and there was an option in the Windows sound system settings that I could enable to hear the audio over the USB headphone amp, so I assume that would also apply to the line-in and my original plan would have worked. There was noticeable lag, however. I don't know if it would have been enough to affect gaming, but it was enough to cause that phenomenon where hearing your own voice on a slight delay renders you completely unable to speak without sounding like you're completely wasted and/or suffering some kind of massive brain damage.
posted by Otto Franz Joseph Leopold von Soxen-Puppetten at 9:27 PM on August 26, 2015
Ultimately I decided to get a GTX 970 graphics card and an Xbox One controller to hook up to the PC, which together come to roughly the same price as a new PS4. I figure there are enough games that are console ports that I can get more or less the sense of console gaming on the PC(*), but with better graphics. I'll just have to make do without The Last of Us.
(*) And I can pirate the games, which is a plus. Don't judge me, I'm unemployed.
For anyone that might stumble on this post in the future, I was able to test my original plan by attaching a microphone to the mic-in of the integrated sound card, and there was an option in the Windows sound system settings that I could enable to hear the audio over the USB headphone amp, so I assume that would also apply to the line-in and my original plan would have worked. There was noticeable lag, however. I don't know if it would have been enough to affect gaming, but it was enough to cause that phenomenon where hearing your own voice on a slight delay renders you completely unable to speak without sounding like you're completely wasted and/or suffering some kind of massive brain damage.
posted by Otto Franz Joseph Leopold von Soxen-Puppetten at 9:27 PM on August 26, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
I suspect you are on the right track with connecting it to your line-in through either the computer monitor's 3.5mm out or through a TOSlink converter. I think there are also external DACs that may accept both the TOSlink and whatever your computer is outputting. This person was doing the same thing and it seemed to work for them.
I would just
3. Another idea I'm mulling is to use the money to just buy a nice GPU, like a GTX 970, and forget the console world. I'm not a big computer gamer either, so I don't really know how to compare the two experiences. I've never had a powerful GPU so I don't even know what modern computer gaming looks like, but I know it's probably superior, at least in terms of framerate and level of detail, to a console. Still, there's something about experiencing games that aren't mouse and keyboard based, and something to be said for not having to worry about all the compatibility/drivers/tweaking/etc. mess that comes with PC gaming. I'd appreciate any opinions on the matter.
do this.
The compatibility/drivers thing is still occasionally an issue but it's not as bad as it used to be. The PS4 is essentially just a cheap computer, complete with x86 processor. If you have a reasonably modern CPU and buy a 970 or the equivalent you will have a much more powerful gaming machine than the PS4, and will be gaming at 60FPS at higher settings rather than the usual 30FPS of the PS4. You can game on the PC with a console controller (PS4/PS3/Xbox360/XboxOne all work)... I use a PS3 controller wirelessly with the help of a little cheap dongle. The only reason I wouldn't is if you really want a console exclusive game (like The Last of Us or Bloodborne), but you should really just be spending all your time playing Rocket League anyway.
You could buy an older console and get a much larger game library, but you'll be getting an enormous game library with the PC and access to Steam, GOG etc, and most older consoles can't even output to 1080p, which is going to look nasty if you have a modern-ish monitor. On the PS4, on the other hand, right now there are not a ton of AAA games, but Sony has been doing a good job of putting up digital indie games to fill in a little.
In terms of 16x10 vs 16x9... with the PS4 your monitor will do whatever it's capable of to either stretch or letterbox the image. Probably there's a monitor setting that determines this. The PS4 can only do one output resolution for all games, whereas most any modern PC game will support whatever resolution you can throw at it. (Heck, my card has this VSR thing where it will even render the game at a higher resolution than your monitor can handle, then downsample it for excellent anti-aliasing).
posted by selfnoise at 3:29 AM on August 9, 2015