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Get the best audio from your PS2

Find out how to set up your PlayStation 2 at home for the best possible listening experience.

Most users can enjoy the benefits of stereo sound through the PlayStation 2. However, PlayStation 2 also supports Dolby Digital and DTS (Digital Theatre Systems) audio. If you wish to make use of the PlayStation 2 system's digital surround sound capabilities, you will need to connect the console to audio equipment with a built-in DTS or Dolby Digital decoder.

Analogue connection

If your television features stereo sound capabilities, connecting PlayStation 2 to the television using either the SCART or Composite/Component sockets will give stereo sound output.

Alternatively, PlayStation 2 can be connected directly to the audio equipment using the official Composite AV, S-Video or Component AV Cables. If you're using the official Euro AV Cable, you'll also need to purchase the official AV Adaptor and a pair of analogue audio phono leads (available at any good specialist audio, electronics or cables store).

However, please note that the PlayStation 2 will not produce Digital Surround Sound using either of these connection methods.

Digital connection

PlayStation 2 features a Digital Out (Optical) connector, which allows you to connect to your digital audio equipment using an optical digital cable (also available at any good specialist audio, electronics or cables store). For reference, the cable is also known as an optical S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface) or TOSlink cable.

PlayStation 2 should then automatically make use of the decoder's digital output. If you find that this is not the case, follow these simple steps:

Switch on your PlayStation 2 without a disc inserted (or with the disc tray open) to be taken to PlayStation 2's Main menu screen.
Enter the System Configuration menu.
Select the "DIGITAL OUT (OPTICAL)" option and change the setting to "On".
Select "Dolby Digital", "DTS" or "MPEG" depending on which type of digital output you wish to use.

Note that the DVD-Video will need to contain a digital surround audio soundtrack containing up to 5.1 audio channels to enable digital surround sound output.

Consult the PlayStation 2 instruction manual for further details.