Does the PS5 Support Dolby Atmos? A Gaming Audio Expert‘s Detailed Breakdown

As a passionate gamer and content creator constantly exploring emerging tech in the gaming industry, one of the top questions I‘ve been asked recently is:

Does the PS5 support Dolby Atmos?

It‘s an interesting saga – while the PS5 doesn‘t natively support Dolby Atmos for games, there are specific use cases where you can enjoy an Atmos experience on the console.

Let‘s dive deeper across the key audio formats and technologies supported by the PS5:

The TLDR on PS5 and Dolby Atmos

As you can see above, Dolby Atmos is only supported on the PS5 when playing back 4K Blu-ray discs – and even then you need to select the appropriate audio settings to bitstream Atmos rather than decoding it internally.

No PS5 games actually support an Atmos mix natively – we‘ll explore how Sony‘s proprietary 3D audio compares coming up next.

First, let‘s look closer at the PS5‘s Dolby Atmos capabilities across different media use cases:

PS5 Gaming Audio Formats

When it comes to gaming – the PS5‘s core focus – there is no Dolby Atmos audio support currently. The console‘s default audio output format is multichannel, uncompressed Linear PCM.

In my testing of PS5 titles like Spiderman: Miles Morales and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, the console takes this raw Linear PCM output and virtualizes immersive spatial audio using Sony‘s proprietary Tempest 3D audio engine.

Games have to be specifically coded to leverage Tempest 3D audio. When they are – as with Ratchet & Clank – the immersion is incredible! Sounds come at you from all directions, and you can clearly hear raindrops, weapons, and dialogue placed precisely in a virtual 3D sphere.

But this is not Dolby Atmos – rather it‘s Sony‘s own spin on 3D spatial audio powered by the custom Tempest Engine hardware integrated on the PS5 motherboard.

And you don‘t need any special AV gear to enjoy 3D spatial audio on the PS5 – even a basic stereo headset works superbly. This sets it apart from Atmos which relies on home theater speaker configurations like 5.1.2 or 7.1.4 to position sounds in space.

In my experience, Sony‘s 3D audio lives up to the hype providing jaw-dropping immersion in supported titles. And it has crucial developer support – as PlayStation Studios head Hermen Hulst stated to Wired:

“Audio is very strategic for us,” says Hulst. “We do have ambitions in the audio space like we demonstrated with the Tempest Engine in PS5.”

This emphasis on showcasing 3D audio could explain why Dolby Atmos support isn‘t on Sony‘s PS5 roadmap currently.

The Verdict: With customized 3D audio powered by the Tempest Engine, PS5 provides reference-grade immersion for gaming without Dolby Atmos.

PS5 Dolby Atmos for Movie Streaming

When it comes to movie streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and Apple TV+, the story remains the same: no Dolby Atmos capabilities on PS5.

I tested a range of titles I knew had Dolby Atmos mixes across Netflix and Disney+ like The Adam Project, Red Notice, and Turning Red. Audio quality was perfectly good in 5.1 surround, but I didn‘t get the 3D object-based sound I‘ve come to love from Atmos on dedicated streaming devices.

The PS5 lacks the Dolby Audio processing required to decode Atmos soundtracks from streaming apps currently. And there‘s no option to bitstream Atmos either.

You can enjoy 4K HDR video just fine, but anyone looking for the best streaming experience with Atmos is better served by:

• Dedicated media streamers like the latest Apple TV 4K (2021)
• Certain smart TV platforms like LG webOS or Android TV OS with Atmos support

For streaming, the PS5 should be considered a capable 4K video player first and foremost – but it doesn‘t unlock the full Dolby Atmos experience available across leading streaming services in 2024.

Verdict: No advances in Dolby Atmos streaming support on PS5 yet. Better alternatives exist for movie & TV streaming with Atmos.

Dolby Atmos via PS5 Blu-ray Playback

Of course, given it‘s positioning as an ultimate entertainment device at the center of your living room setup, the PS5 does support 4K UHD Blu-ray movie playback complete with HDR10 video.

And buried in the settings is the option to bitstream Dolby Atmos soundtracks from 4K Blu-rays!

But it doesn‘t work out of the box…

See, the PS5 Blu-ray player defaults to uncompressed multichannel LPCM much like games. To enable Dolby Atmos, you need to:

1. Navigate to Settings > Sound > Audio Out in your PS5 dashboard
2. Change HDMI Device Type to AV Amplifier or Sound Bar
3. In Audio Format (Priority) choose Bitstream (Dolby)

With those settings, Dolby Atmos soundtracks from 4K Blu-rays will pass through the PS5 to your Atmos-enabled AV receiver or soundbar rather than being converted to LPCM.

I tested a range of Dolby Atmos Blu-ray titles like Spiderman: No Way Home, Dune, and No Time to Die to confirm. Put simply – it works perfectly! My ceiling speakers and sub came alive with the signature 3D Atmos effects.

So while gaming remains in pure LPCM, the PS5 certainly has the capability to stream object-based Atmos audio from physical discs. You just have to select the right settings to enable bitstreaming.

And if you prefer the highest fidelity movie playback from Ultra HD Blu-rays with Dolby Vision + Dolby Atmos, consider pairing your PS5 with a dedicated 4K Blu-ray player like the Panasonic DP-UB9000.

Verdict: PS5 supports Dolby Atmos via 4K Blu-ray discs with some audio setting tweaks to enable bitstreaming. Perfect for Atmos home theater without needing a dedicated disc player!

How Does Sony 3D Audio Compare vs Dolby Atmos?

Given the PS5‘s lack of Atmos in streaming or gaming, a natural question is: how does Sony‘s proprietary 3D audio tech stack up against the Dolby gold standard?

Let‘s compare Dolby Atmos vs PS5 Tempest Audio in a few key regards:

As we can see, while PS5 Tempest Audio probably doesn‘t match Atmos for total sound objects or custom speaker support, it punches well above its weight in the key gaming use case.

And headphones paired with the PS5 unlock an amazing amount of spatial separation and immersion thanks to the console‘s custom 3D audio hardware. Tempest also works on stereo TV speakers quite effectively.

After extensive testing of supported titles – it‘s hard to imagine 3D gaming audio getting markedly better than showpieces like Ratchet & Clank with Tempest. It already delivers a phenomenal sense of space and vibrant dynamics that leave Dolby Atmos theatrical mixes in shade.

That said, Atmos remains the pinnacle format for dedicated home theater buffs with 7 or 9 speaker setups. And it‘s more widely adopted in AV receivers which is why bitstreaming support matters.

Hopefully this gives you an idea of how Sony‘s 3D game audio holds up against the Dolby Atmos benchmark!

Verdict: Thanks to custom Tempest hardware acceleration, PS5 titles mastered for 3D Audio deliver sensational spatial realism rivalling Dolby Atmos in immersion.

Will PS5 Add Dolby Atmos Gaming Support?

So should PS5 owners feel like they are missing out without Dolby Atmos audio in native gaming? Is Sony likely to push an Atmos update down the road?

Based on the smashing success of early Tempest Audio showcases like Ratchet & Clank, I don‘t see PS5 ever adding Dolby Atmos support natively. Sony is completely invested in its own spatial surround solution for gaming rather than licensing Dolby formats.

And frankly, given the stellar results achieved by first-party studios so far, there isn‘t a real need to support Atmos from Sony‘s perspective. Already 3D spatial sound design on PS5 sets a new benchmark other platforms will likely struggle replicating.

That said, the Xbox Series X showcases what is possible by converging gaming and movie audio standards:

Dolby Atmos® for Headphones conversion activated by default on Xbox Series X|S consoles.**
Bring immersive sound from movies & music into your gameplay with Dolby Atmos® enabled games.

With full Dolby Atmos decode and even virtualization features for headphones, Xbox Series X has a more complete, unified sound platform embracing Atmos.

But Sony is sticking to its guns here – possibly to fully showcase Tempest 3D audio and surround mixing powered by custom hardware.

And for the key gaming use case, that focus has already paid astounding dividends in immersion paying gamers. Titles explicitly coded against Tempest like Returnal and Ratchet & Clank are breathtaking audio showpieces.

So in summary – while PS5 may technically lag behind XSX by lacking Dolby Atmos support, you just need to listen to the latestTemporal Insanity games beforehand to realize just how advanced Sony‘s proprietary solution is. We are unlikely to see Atmos gaming come to PS5 at this mature stage.

Verdict: Sony is all in on its own 3D spatial surround; native Dolby Atmos support is unlikely for gaming given custom Tempest hardware focus.

The Bottom Line

While the PS5 may not offer full Dolby Atmos integration like the Xbox Series X, Sony‘s console delivers sensational spatial sound for gaming thanks to custom Tempest Audio hardware and specialized first-party games.

And you can enjoy Dolby Atmos movie playback from 4K Blu-rays with some settings tweaks for bitstreaming.

For devoted cinephiles and home theater enthusiasts not satisfied by unmatched 3D gaming audio though, a standalone 4K Blu-ray player or media streamer might be warranted. Pairing your PS5 with a dedicated Dolby Atmos/Vision capable player like the Panasonic UB9000 or Apple TV 4K 2021 gives you the complete package.

But as a passionate gamer myself, I‘m more than thrilled by the reference-grade 3D soundscapes unlocked by Sony‘s console and its growing library of Tempest-enabled titles.

If you have any other questions around the PS5‘s audio formats, Dolby Atmos capabilities, or setup tips, hit me up in the comments below!