The new standard Sony PlayStation® 4 (aka “PS4 Slim”) is now available to consumers worldwide. The PS4 Slim does not have an optical audio output our products rely on to receive game sound. Many ASTRO customers have asked us how this is going to affect compatibility with ASTRO A40 TR + MixAmp Pro TR and A50 Wireless products.
If you are a new PS4 Slim owner, you will need to utilize one of the following workaround solutions to enable these specific ASTRO products to work with this new console version:
1. Optical Output via HDMI Splitter – There are powered splitters available that can receive an HDMI input and simultaneously output HDMI video and optical digital signals. These products can enable full functionality with your MixAmp Pro TR and A50 Wireless transmitters. We tried 6 different products, and all were able to convert the HDMI signal to 5.1 SPDIF with no issues. We prefer the Tendak Converter because it is able to be powered from a USB port. The three recommendations are as follows:
* Tendak 4K x 2K HDMI to HDMI and Optical
* J-Tech Digital ® Premium Quality 1080P HDMI To HDMI + Audio
2. Optical Output via TV or Home Theater Receiver – Many TVs and Audio Video Receivers (AVRs) include an optical audio output. If you connect your PS4 Slim directly into either your TV or A/V Receiver via HDMI, you can use the optical output from either device to deliver the signal to your MixAmp or A50 Wireless transmitter. Please note that not all TVs and A/V Receivers will pass-through a digital audio signal. Please refer to your owner’s manual for more information on whether your TV or AVR supports optical pass-through and how to enable this feature.
If your TV or AVR supports HDMI digital audio pass-through, you will experience either stereo two-channel (2.0) or Dolby Digital (5.1) audio, depending on make/model of your TV or AVR. This article can help determine whether your TV supports this function.
To be 100% clear: this is only an issue for the new PS4 Slim. All current PS4 owners will be unaffected by the release of this new PS4 Slim hardware. The new PS4 Pro coming in November 2016 is confirmed to have an optical audio output, so it won’t have any compatibility issues with ASTRO products. Any ASTRO customers looking to buy a PS4 this holiday season should strongly consider purchasing an older PS4 with optical output or the new PS4 Pro.
As always, should you have questions or feedback, you can reach us here.
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