What Is Linear PCM on PS5?

What Linear PCM means on PS5

Linear PCM is an audio output format option on the PS5. When it is selected, the console decodes the game, app or disc audio itself and sends it over HDMI as uncompressed digital audio channels. Your TV, soundbar or AV receiver then only has to play those channels back; it does not need to decode a Dolby or DTS stream.

The alternative is Bitstream, where the PS5 passes along or creates a compressed Dolby or DTS stream and the connected output device does the decoding. Which one sounds right for you depends mostly on what your audio equipment supports and how it is connected.

How Linear PCM works

PCM stands for pulse-code modulation, the standard way of storing sound as digital samples. The sample rate sets how many times per second the signal is measured, and the bit depth sets how precisely each measurement is stored. Linear means the sample values are spaced evenly, with no compression step applied. CDs, many WAV files and most game engines work with linear PCM internally.

On a PS5, games build their sound mix in real time. With Linear PCM output, that mix leaves the console as separate uncompressed channels, such as stereo or a multichannel surround layout, provided the HDMI chain accepts it. With Bitstream output, the console has to package the audio into a compressed Dolby or DTS stream before sending it, and the receiving device unpacks it.

Linear PCM vs Bitstream at a glance

• Linear PCM: the PS5 decodes; the TV or receiver plays ready-made channels.
• Bitstream: the TV or receiver decodes a compressed Dolby or DTS stream.
• Linear PCM needs an HDMI path that supports multichannel PCM if you want surround sound.
• Bitstream lets the receiver display the original format name, which some people use to confirm what a disc or app is sending.
• Both carry digital audio over the same HDMI cable; the difference is where decoding happens.

The exact wording and location of the audio format setting can change between PS5 system software versions. Look for the audio output or audio format options in the sound settings rather than relying on a fixed menu path.

When to choose Linear PCM

• Your AV receiver or soundbar accepts multichannel PCM over HDMI, and you mainly play games.
• You hear no sound or dropouts with Bitstream and want a simpler signal for the TV to handle.
• Your TV speakers are the output device, so there is nothing external to decode a Dolby or DTS stream anyway.
• You want the console to handle audio processing consistently across games and apps.

Bitstream is worth trying instead if you watch discs or streaming apps and want your receiver to decode the original Dolby or DTS track, or if your soundbar only receives surround sound in compressed form. A practical check is to switch the setting, play the same content, and look at what the receiver or soundbar reports on its display or status screen. If it shows a PCM indication with the expected channel count, Linear PCM is reaching it correctly.

Limits and related questions

Does Linear PCM improve sound quality?

Not automatically. Because no compression is added on the way out, Linear PCM avoids an extra encoding step for game audio. With lossless disc formats, decoding on the console or on the receiver can produce equivalent results. Audible differences, if any, usually come from the speakers, room, receiver processing and channel setup rather than the format label.

Why do I only get stereo with Linear PCM?

Multichannel PCM needs every link in the HDMI chain to support it. If the PS5 connects to the TV and the TV forwards audio to a soundbar over standard ARC, the connection is typically limited to stereo PCM or compressed surround. eARC and a direct HDMI connection to a receiver that supports multichannel PCM remove that bottleneck. Check the specifications of your TV and audio device for the formats each HDMI port accepts.

Does this setting affect headsets or microphones?

The audio format setting applies to audio sent over HDMI. It does not change your microphone, its input level or how background noise is picked up in voice chat. Headset audio and mic behavior are controlled by the separate input device and output device settings for the headset or controller.

What about Dolby Atmos and 3D audio?

Support for formats such as Dolby Atmos depends on the specific game or app, the PS5 system software version and your receiver or soundbar, and it is generally tied to a bitstream-type output rather than standard channel-based PCM. Sony's own 3D audio processing is a separate feature. Verify current support in the console's settings and your audio device's documentation before choosing a format for it.