PS4 version music issues

[Maka8295]

Hi, my digital PS4 version of the game is having some problems with music. It often sounds very low bit-rate and quite low quality compared to how it is on PC. I don't have any music issues with other games on my PS4 either. The music is one of the big reasons I play the game and this is really bumming me out.

I've tried re-installing to no avail, it isnt my TV speakers either as I've tried with my headphones through optical as well. For what its worth, it's especially noticable in the Gridania and Uldah night themes.

Any help at all would be awesome!

[Ariellendera]

Hello Maka8295, Thank you for posting on the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums

When did this start? Has there been a update or any changes that might coincide with this issue?

Hope to be of assistance.

[Maka8295]

Hi, thanks for your reply!

I've had this problem since I first downloaded and played the PS4 version, which was about 2 weeks ago. I don't believe there has been an update since I started playing again either.

[Einmimiria]

Thank you for the update Maka8295.

What is your current sound set up (TV Speakers, surround sound, etc.)? Does this match the sound settings in the game settings?

Is it possible for you to link a video of what the in-game music sounds like?

We hope we can be of assistance in helping you enjoy the exciting world of Final Fantasy XIV!

[Maka8295]

Hi, sorry for the late reply!

The in-game settings don't offer much in the way of configuration other than the volume on the PS4 version. I have my PS4 set to output in Linear PCM which is the highest quality option it supports, I've also tried the other options and it didn't make a difference.

My Set up is both of the following:

PS4 -> Optical output -> DAC -> Amp -> Headphones

and also my standard TV speakers, the problem is heard easily on both of these set-ups.

Here is a video of the issue:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_rcJBHIRKE

If you listen to the singing you can tell it is very compressed compared to how it sounds in this version:

https://youtu.be/tBucPlhhXd8?t=3m5s

Thanks again for your help!

[Ariellendera]

Hello Maka8295, Thank you for your response.

May I ask you why you are using the DAC and Amp? and also what kind of headphones you are using? I do want to mention that using a DAC has been know to cause sound quality issues.

Hope to be of assistance.

[Maka8295]

Hey,

I'm using the DAC and Amp to power my headphones which are the Sennhesier HD650s. I'm otherwise unable to use my headphones unless I use a DAC with the optical port. I unplug the DAC when using my TV speakers though and I can still hear the problem through them.

I hope this narrows down the problem a bit!

[Einmimiria]

Thank you for the update Maka8295.

I can't tell for sure how the game on PS4 should sound in comparison to the PC version. I'm assuming you have a different sound set up for your PC and your PS4?

The TV Speakers may not be the best for audio playback but I'm unsure if this could create a discrepancy in the sound quality. My assumption with the headphones, however, is that it is passing through two additional sound devices before it gets to you. Do you have any alternatives to connecting headphones (not necessarily the 650s) to the PS4?

We hope we can be of assistance in helping you enjoy the exciting world of Final Fantasy XIV!

[Maka8295]

Thanks for the reply,

When I played on PC I used the same TV I now use with my PS4 so I don't think the speakers are the issue. When I recorded the issue, I don't believe my audio set-up would impact anything as its recording straight from the console. I'm quite confident that the issue isn't anything to do with my audio set-up.

I have discovered some new aspects of the problem for what it's worth. It seems that the start of every song is fine, it only starts to drop in quality about half-way through, getting worse and worse. It's especially noticeable for tracks which loop like the uldah night theme because you can immediately hear a stark contrast in quality between the start and finish.

Edit: I just tried my PS4 on another TV and it seems the problem was still happening, unfortunately.

I realise this is quite a unique problem, thank you for the responses!

[Einmimiria]

Thank you for the update Maka8295.

If you can, I want to try a few tests. We are going to try to put both devices in the same environment. Plug the PS4 into the TV with an HDMI cable and listen to the music. Then plug the PC in with the same HDMI cable and listen to the audio (if you have a slightly different set up you can use a different kind of cable for the audio or something, just make sure the only difference is the device itself). If you still hear the discrepancy, it comes down to the hardware itself or the files within each piece of hardware. The PC may be able to playback higher quality files, for instance.

Can you also post a recording of the music from the PC version? This way we can get an accurate comparison using your own hardware.

We hope we can be of assistance in helping you enjoy the exciting world of Final Fantasy XIV!