Transforming your PlayStation 4 into a streaming media powerhouse rivaling even the latest smart TVs is easier than you think. This comprehensive guide will provide the advanced set-up, configuration, and troubleshooting steps to unlock your PS4‘s full home entertainment capabilities.
PS4 vs. Smart TV Platforms
While most new 4K TVs come equipped with smart platforms like LG webOS, Samsung Tizen, Android TV and others, the PS4‘s system resources make it a formidable streaming box and media player:
- The PS4 Pro with 4K/HDR processing delivers superior graphics, faster speeds, and better streaming performance compared to competing smart TVs. Load times for apps are nearly instantaneous.
- YouTube and Netflix 4K streaming on the PS4 provides sharper images with more detail. In Netflix speed tests, PS4 Pro scored 3.53 Mbps for 4K streaming, faster than most smart TVs (1.5 – 2.5 Mbps).
- PS4 has more storage capacity with a 500GB to 1TB hard drive. More apps, games, media files can be stored locally.
- Smart TVs often lack ability to play media files and digital downloads. PS4 offers full media capabilities.
For features and usability, the PS4 provides robust streaming options and is highly competitive with proprietary smart TV operating systems.
PS4 Technical Specifications
Let‘s take a deeper look at the components that give the PS4 advantages for home theater use:
- The 8-core x86-64 AMD Jaguar CPU offers similar performance to a mid-range PC, significantly faster than smart TV processors. Allows smooth multitasking and quick app response.
- The 4.20 TFLOP AMD Radeon GPU is capable of 4K graphics, HDR, and immersive gaming. Translates to stunning visuals for media content as well.
- PS4 includes 8GB GDDR5 RAM, vastly more than a typical smart TV‘s 1-2GB. Allows more applications and services to run simultaneously.
- PS4 operating system is optimized specifically for media functionality and multitasking streaming services, social apps, and games.
In benchmarks, the PS4 Pro scored over 2x higher than Roku Premier 4K and Amazon Fire TV 4K for processor speed and graphics capabilities.
Getting the Most Out of PS4 Audio
The PS4 supports the latest surround sound formats for an immersive audio experience:
- Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby Atmos object-based surround sound
- LPCM 7.1ch, Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1 for lossless audio
- Bitstream passthrough of Dolby and DTS formats
For movies and streaming, set audio output to Bitstream Dolby or DTS. Enable pass-through for uncompressed surround sound from discs and streaming services.
Optimizing Your PS4 for Streaming
To achieve the best video quality and stability while streaming media on your PS4, follow these tips:
- Internet connection of at least 15-25 Mbps recommended for seamless 4K streaming. 50 Mbps optimal.
- Connect PS4 via ethernet for fastest, most reliable speeds. If Wi-Fi, position near router.
- Close any other apps or games running in background to prioritize bandwidth for streaming.
- Adjust video resolution settings in Netflix/YouTube to match TV capabilities and internet speeds.
Testing your internet speeds at fast.com or speedtest.net can help determine optimal settings.
PS4 Remote Play and Second Screen
Unique to PS4 is the ability to stream games and media to other devices using Remote Play. You can also mirror screens from mobile devices.
- Remote Play allows streaming PS4 games and audio/video to Windows PC, Mac, iOS and Android devices.
- Use in-home streaming to play PS4 in other rooms via Remote Play app.
- Screen mirroring from mobile displays content from phones/tablets on PS4.
This gives you entertainment options beyond the TV screen in range of your home‘s Wi-Fi network.
Getting the Most out of PS4 Media Playback
The PS4 Media Player app supports a wide range of file types including:
- Video: MP4, MKV, AVI, DivX, Xvid, WMV
- Photo: JPEG, BMP, PNG, TIFF, GIF
- Music: MP3, WMA, AAC, FLAC, WAV, MP4
Use a USB flash drive or external hard drive up to 8TB for local media playback. Media Player features playlists, subtitles, shuffle, and custom video output settings.
Troubleshooting HDMI and Display Issues
If you experience display or connectivity problems using your PS4 on a TV, try these advanced troubleshooting steps:
- Ensure TV firmware is up-to-date, enable latest HDMI modes (HDMI 2.0, HDCP 2.2). Older TVs may have compatibility issues.
- Try an alternate premium certified HDMI cable. Bandwidth needs for 4K/HDR exceeds older HDMI cable specs.
- For blank screen, reseat HDMI connections, try different ports if available. Disable HDCP if supported by TV.
- Reset display settings to defaults on PS4 (hold power button for 5 beeps). Reboot both TV and PS4.
Using DualShock 4 as Ultimate Media Remote
The PS4 controller includes advanced media control capabilities:
- DualShock 4 touchpad acts as directional pad for navigating menus, apps.
- Headphone jack allows private listening for streaming and Blu-ray movies.
- Input text on screen with controller via on-screen keyboard.
- DS4 buttons can be programmed for TV control via HDMI-CEC.
Familiar controller and integrated headphone audio makes for intuitive living room media experiences.
Conclusion
While modern smart TVs provide streamlined setup for apps like Netflix and YouTube, the PS4‘s powerful hardware, exclusive gaming capabilities, and full home theater feature set make it the ultimate living room media hub. Follow the steps in this guide for achieving unmatched performance, quality, and functionality for movies, streaming, and gaming on your PlayStation 4.
