Comparison of Game Consoles by Sound Capabilities

When it comes to retro gaming, many enthusiasts tend to focus on graphics and gameplay, but sound can be just as important in creating an immersive experience. From the humble beep of the first video game console to the modern-day surround sound systems, sound capabilities have come a long way in video game consoles. This article aims to provide an overview of the various sound formats and standards used in video game consoles, from mono to stereo and beyond, as well as to offer tips and recommendations for getting the best sound performance out of each console. By comparing the sound capabilities of different consoles, players can make informed decisions on how to optimize their gaming experience.

DRAFT (WORK IN PROGRESS ARTICLE - PLEASE DO NOT RELY ON THE INFORMATION BELOW UNTIL MARKED AS COMPLETED)

Explanation of "Channels"

If you’re putting together a console setup for audio, there are some numbers that you’ll notice like 2.1, 5.1, 7.2.2 and so on. These numbers represent "channels", with each channel normally - but not always - corresponding to one physical speaker. (For example, there are plenty of exceptions such as soundbars and surround-sound headsets, so "channels" and "speakers" are not synonymous. While 2.1 might seem to indicate three separate speakers, this may not always be the case).

• The first number (for example, the "5" in a 5.1 setup) defines how many primary channels there are in a setup, at ear level. Usually (but again, not always) this number also refers to the number of regular speakers in the setup. So for example, a standard 5.1 system will normally use five speakers: Front Left, Centre, Front Right, Surround Left and Surround Right. Each channel can receive a separate audio signal. So if the user is playing a game that has its audio mixed in 5.1 surround, the dialogue will probably be sent to the centre speaker, with the other speakers playing audio relative to the action on the screen. This will hopefully add greater immersion and give a more convincing experience.

• The second number stands for the number of LFE (Low Frequency Effects) channels in a setup, which are commonly reproduced by subwoofer speakers. The woofers on regular speakers are not usually powerful enough to effectively reproduce very low-frequency bass sounds. So having the second number displayed separately (for example, the "1" in a 5.1 setup) indicates that this is not a normal speaker. For extra bass, some systems might even support x.2 or even x.4 speaker configurations.

• The third number (for example, the last "2" in a modern 7.2.2 home theatre setup) is a relatively new innovation, and defines how many overhead or height channels there are, which are normally reproduced by ceiling-mounted or in-ceiling speakers. If your system has a third number, this indicates that it supports object-based surround sound formats such as Dolby Atmos or DTS:X, where sounds are recorded as individual objects in 3D space instead of traditional channels. However, it's not strictly necessary for an object-based setup to have actual ceiling speakers. Some standard speakers (or soundbars) have built-in upward-firing speakers that bounce audio off the ceiling, to simulate the effect that the audio is actually coming from above you.

Analog multichannel sound can be implemented as:

• a discrete system, where each channel is delivered independently; (for example, a 5.1 system with 5 or 6 RCA connectors is, at least at that point in the chain, a discrete system)

or

• a matrixed system, where algorithms are used to put multiple channels worth of sound into a lesser amount of physical channels (such as the two stereo RCA cables that were already commonly in use with most audio equipment from the 1970s through to the 1990s)

In digital audio, these terms are less commonly used, but comparable approaches are used depending on circumstances.

Disclaimer

This article is written with the intention of providing practical advice and tips to the average retro gamer who wishes to improve their console audio experience. While accuracy and up-to-date information are essential, the article is not meant to be excessively technical or comprehensive.

For example, in the context of video game consoles, the term "mono" typically refers to the console's output being a single, mixed audio channel, as opposed to true monophonic sound. For instance, the original Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) is sometimes referred to as a "mono" console, despite featuring two pulse wave channels, one triangle wave channel, one noise channel, and a delta modulation channel. Similarly, the ColecoVision used a SN76489 sound chip, which offered four channels, including three tone channels for music and a noise channel.

While channels can be utilized in combination to create complex sounds and music, the output is merged into a single channel. Describing these consoles as anything other than "mono" might confuse the average user, who might assume that adding additional speakers would enhance their audio setup. Therefore, unless a console can output audio in stereo, it will be regarded as a "mono" console.

	Sound System	Year Introduced to Home Market	Explanation	Use in Retro-Gaming context
	Mono	1899	“Monaural sound” is simply a single audio channel. A mono signal can be sent from the source device to one, two or many speakers, and all the speakers will play the same sound regardless. While stereo signals can create the impression of hearing sounds from different locations/directions, mono cannot.	Prior to the Turbo-Grafx16, all home video game consoles either sent a mono audio signal to the television, or (in the 1st gen) utilised beepers and built-in speakers to produce simple action sounds. In some instances, stereo mods for these older consoles are available. (e.g. Atari 2600) In some modern consoles, the ability to enable mono audio (i.e. combining all audio channels into one) can be enabled as an accessibility option for players with single-sided deafness.
	Stereo	1958	While mono signals are recorded and played back using a single audio channel, stereo sounds are recorded and played back using two discrete audio channels. Stereo speaker setups are usually laid out in either a 2.0 (no subwoofer) or a 2.1 (with subwoofer) configuration - with a front left speaker and a front right speaker.	Since its introduction with the Turbo-Grafx 16 , Stereo is still the way that the majority of gamers experience sound in video games, although soundbars and surround sound headphones are projected to continue growing in popularity.
	Quadrophonic Sound	1971	This format had brief popularity in the 1970s, using two front and two rear speakers (all discrete channels). Most quadrophonic musical recordings were extracted from the original stereo mix, although some were mastered in four channels.	Early Playstation 3 units (CECHA/B/C/E) are capable of reading Super Audio CDs (SACDs) which support Quadraphonic sound . Regular SACD players with multichannel analogue outputs have been confirmed to be compatible with 1970s quadrophonic receivers, , although whether the PS3 supports this method of output has not been confirmed. No confirmed use of quadrophonic sound in the audio mixes of any actual video games. By the time game consoles were beginning to move away from use of piezo beepers and built-in speakers, in favour of actually sending audio to the television for output (e.g. the Atari 2600 in 1977), quadrophonic sound had already faded from the mainstream.
	Dolby Stereo	1975	Dolby Stereo was developed in the 1970s for cinema sound systems, and was later adapted for the home as "Dolby Surround".	N/A - See Dolby Surround.
	Binaural Audio	1978	Binaural sound is a technique that involves recording audio (usually using two microphones) in such a way that when the user listens to it back, it produces a 3D effect from the stereo signal. The effect arguably works best when listened to using a pair of noise-cancelling headphones. Although binaural recording techniques have existed since the 1800s, it wasn't until 1978 that Lou Reed released the first commercially produced binaural pop record, "Street Hassle".	When done correctly, the effect works very well with headphones and VR-based systems (such as Playstation VR). The technique has also been used in certain games for the PSP and 3DS - for example, the dialogue in Corpse Party and Book of Shadows were both recorded using binaural recording.
	LPCM (Linear Pulse Code Modulation)	1982	Not a brand of sound format - LPCM refers to raw, uncompressed sound data. LPCM can support any number of potential audio channels, from mono upwards. LPCM's first home implementation was the lossless encoding of sound data in Audio CDs.	The PlayStation 3 was first console to offer real-time 7.1 LPCM as an option for sound. Any modern AVR or pre-amp should be able to process these signals, but LPCM cannot be used for object-based sound.
	Dolby Surround	1982	Dolby Surround (i.e. "matrixed surround") was the first multi-channel surround decoding technology to be widely available for use with analogue movie formats and to a lesser extent, home video game consoles. The format produces four audio channels (Left Front, Right Front, Centre and a single rear surround channel), but they're not discrete. The channels are extracted using a specially encoded signal that runs across the existing two stereo (red and white) RCA cables that were in use with a lot of customer audio equipment of this era.	In short, the user gets a centre, a front left and right and mono rear. To access 4.0 surround (i.e., four channels), the user would need an AV amplifier capable of decoding and separating the regular stereo outputs to produce the pseudo-surround sound effect. Discrete left and right sounds still go to the Front Left and Front Right speakers, as per normal Stereo. However, the processor uses one of the front channels to carry a mono rear channel on its inverted phase - there maybe be two or more Rear surround speakers, the mono sound is played equally between them all at the same time. The other front channel is used to carry a centre channel on its inverted phase. If the user’s amplifier could send audio signals below a certain frequency to a subwoofer (using a low-pass filter), the user also could access 4.1 surround. A setup like this would also be backwards-compatible with older formats – if the user had a regular 2.0 stereo setup, the Left and Right signals would play as normal, and if the console was plugged into an older CRT with a mono speaker, all the audio would be routed into that single channel.
	THX	1983	THX is not its own sound format, but rather a rigid set of standards, originally intended to ensure that the theatrical experience of a movie was as close as possible to the director's intentions. In the realm of home consumer hardware and VHS/DVDs/video games, THX certification signified that the mastering and duplication process was inspected by THX technicians and held to certain standards.	Approximately 40 games were THX certified, mainly on the PlayStation 2, original XBox, Gamecube, PlayStation 3 and PC.
	Dolby Pro Logic 1	1987	While Dolby Surround added a mono surround channel to the usual front left and front right - this was improved with Dolby Pro Logic 1, which added a centre channel, and used a more advanced algorithm to extract the extra channels, as well as improving the movement and discreteness between them.	Note: *** Did Dolby Surround or Dolby Pro Logic 1 introduce the centre channel? TBC *** Also TBC - did any consoles explicitly support Pro Logic 1, or for our purposes, does Dolby Surround = Dolby Pro Logic 1?
	QSound	1991	QSound is a format that provides greater separation between sound sources in a stereo mix, producing a kind of "fake" surround sound effect using only two speakers. The effect is built into the recording not the decoding, so all that is needed to access QSound is a stereo-capable receiver with two outputs.	According to Andrew Elmore (medium.com) , QSound is utilised on several PlayStation games and is the only 3D audio option employed on the Sega Mega CD, Saturn, and Dreamcast. QSound is a boon to Sega gamers as less than 20 games are confirmed to have used actual multi-channel Dolby Surround sound.
	Roland Surround Space	1991	A 3D "sound space" technology created by Roland Corporation (similar to QSound), which attempts to create a "3D sound" using two regular speakers in a stereo configuration. It does not use speakers which "surround" the user, but attempts to direct sound around the room to give the illusion of depth.	RSS was used in some video games of the early 1990s, but was less successful than competitors such as QSound or Dolby Surround (which were themselves a relative niche market) From a Sega perspective, it was supported by a couple of Mega CD games and less than a dozen Mega LD games.
	Dolby Digital (originally Dolby Stereo Digital)	1992	As technology progressed, it became easier to record multi-channel sound natively. Dolby Digital featured 6 discrete channels of audio in the ubiquitous 5.1 setup (5 speakers, 1 subwoofer).	The first video game console to use 5.1 Dolby Digital encoding was the original Xbox, which was released by Microsoft in 2001. The Xbox was the first console to feature an optical digital audio output, which allowed for high-quality digital audio output, including support for Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound. Many Xbox games took advantage of this capability, offering immersive and detailed sound design that helped to enhance the gaming experience.
	DTS Digital Surround	1993	The original DTS system was a CD-based digital sound format that synced the compressed audio on a CD with whatever video frame was on-screen at a given time. The theatrical version did not feature a discrete subwoofer, with a low-pass filter being applied to the surround channels instead and the subwoofer extracted from them. The home version however offered true 5.1 channel audio, with a discrete subwoofer.	Sony's PlayStation 3 and Microsoft's Xbox 360 are capable of DTS decoding and output via TOSLINK or HDMI as LPCM. However, HDMI output on the Xbox 360 is only found on the "Elite" model and newer models available since mid-2007, with the release of the Zephyr motherboard revision. Also, the Xbox 360 cannot decode DTS from DTS audio CDs. PlayStation 3 consoles can bitstream DTS over HDMI, but cannot decode audio from DTS audio CDs. The newer "slim" models are able to bitstream DTS-HD MA as well, but also cannot decode audio from DTS CDs. (Link) (Note: need to confirm that the version of DTS applied on the PS3 is same as Jurassic Park in 1993).
	DTS: ES	1999	DTS: ES came out at the same time as Dolby Surround EX in the theatres and processed the centre surround in the same way (Note: expand on this)	Confirmed supported on PS3 and Xbox 360 (expand on this)
	Dolby Pro Logic 2	2000	Similar to Pro Logic 1 but with the addition of stereo surround channels. Better processing is taking place that tells the surround channels how to steer the sound around the user.	Pro Logic II systems also feature a mode designed specifically for video gaming, and was frequently used in game titles for Sony's PlayStation 2, Nintendo's GameCube and Wii as an alternative to digital surround formats such as Dolby Digital, or DTS. Game mode is similar to Movie mode, except it redirects more bass to the LFE channel. (link)
	DTS Neo:6	2000	From an analog perspective, DTS Neo-6 replicated what Dolby Pro Logic 2 accomplished from a stereo connection (expand)	TBC - Neo:6 may not require a given console to explicitly "support" it, as this is a post-processing format. https://www.quora.com/What-is-DTS-Neo-6
	Dolby Pro Logic IIx	2003	Can take two-channel stereo, Dolby Surround, and Dolby Digital 5.1 source material and then upscale it to 6.1 or 7.1 channel surround sound.	TBC - is this another post-processing format? Couldn't find any consoles incorporating Dolby Pro Logic IIx signal processing.
	DTS-HD High Definition Audio	2004	This was DTS's equivalent of Dolby Digital Plus.	Confirmed supported by PS3 (expand!)
	DTS Interactive	2005	DTS (DTS Interactive) had a four-channel format for the home that used Left, Right, Left Surround, and Right Surround speakers.	This was the only discrete format (beyond Stereo) that the PS2 could process in real time, and a few games used this.
	Dolby TrueHD	2006	Continued improvement to the number of channels as well as maximum bit-rate and sample-rate. (confirm!) Unlike most audio formats, Dolby TrueHD is 100 percent lossless. This means that what you hear is bit-for-bit identical to the master recording.	Confirmed to be supported by PS3 (more details TBC)
	DTS-HD Master Audio	2007	This was DTS' equivalent to Dolby's TrueHD, and was also a lossless format.	Confirmed to be supported by PS3 (more details TBC)
	Dolby Pro Logic IIz	2009	Expands on Pro Logic IIx with the addition of a height component, creating front height channels above the front left and right speakers, expanding a 5.1 or 7.1 system to 7.1 Height or 9.1. It identifies spatial cues in low-level, uncorrelated information, such as ambience and effects like rain or wind in the side and rear surround channels, and directs it to the front height speakers. The channels it adds are matrixed, not discrete. (link)	?
	DTS Neo:X	2009	Replicates what Dolby Pro Logic 2z accomplished from a stereo connection (expand!)	TBC
	Dolby Atmos	2014	Dolby Atmos supports up to 128 audio objects (i.e. sounds) that are independent of a channel assignment. Sounds can be created independently and mapped to an exact specific location. The user can hear a spatially-accurate sound effect, no matter where they are sitting in the room. Dolby Atmos can use up to 24 independent speaker locations plus a subwoofer, and typically uses overhead speakers.	The first console to have Dolby Atmos enabled (via a downloadable app) was the Xbox One (more detail TBC)
	DTS:X	2015	DTS:X is DTS’s take on Dolby Atmos and uses object-based sounds and height channels in the same fashion as Dolby Atmos.	Confirmed supported by XBox One (expand!)

Speaker Layouts

Speaker Layout	Diagram
No speakers (blank template)
1.0
2.0
2.1
3.1
4.0 (Dolby Surround)
5.1	IMAGE TBC
6.1	IMAGE TBC
7.1	IMAGE TBC
7.2	IMAGE TBC
7.1.2	IMAGE TBC
9.1	IMAGE TBC
9.1.2	IMAGE TBC
10.2	IMAGE TBC
13.1	IMAGE TBC

First generation of consoles

Console	Pictures	Year of Release	Audio Hardware	Supported Audio Formats	Supported Speaker Layouts	Notes
Magnavox Odyssey		1972	None	N/A	N/A	The console cannot generate audio.
Magnavox Odyssey 100		1975	Piezzo beeper (Built-in speaker)	Mono	1.0	The console didn't send audio to the tv, instead using an internal piezzo beeper which emitted primitive action sounds through a built-in speaker - for example, a "blip" when the tennis ball is hit by a player's paddle, or when the hockey puck hits the borders of the playing area.
Magnavox Odyssey 200		1975	Piezzo beeper (Built-in speaker)	Mono	1.0	The console's piezo beeper operated in the same manner as the Odyssey 100. The Odyssey 200 added an extra game called SMASH (i.e. squash); the buzzer would bleep whenever the ball hit the front "wall".
Magnavox Odyssey 300		1976	G.I. AY-3-8500 chip (Built-in speaker)	Mono	1.0	As before, during play, a different audio tone (little more than a few bleeps and bloops) is generated each time the ball hits a player, a wall, or a point is scored. No provisions are made to turn the sound on or off, which emanates from a speaker in the Odyssey console itself.
Magnavox Odyssey 400		1976	?	Mono	1.0	?
Magnavox Odyssey 500		1976	?	Mono	1.0	?
Magnavox Odyssey 4305		1976/1977	?	Mono	1.0	The Odyssey 4305 is a 19” television (based on the chassis of the Magnavox T991 television) but with a built-in Odyssey. As with most CRTs of this era, the sound was an analog signal produced from small speakers installed inside the chassis. It produced sound in mono and action sounds were similar to other Odyssey series consoles.
Magnavox Odyssey 2000		1977	?	Mono	1.0	?
Magnavox Odyssey 3000		1977	?	Mono	1.0	?
Magnavox Odyssey 4000		1977	?	Mono	1.0	?
Philips Odyssey 200		1976 (released concurrently with U.S. Odyssey 200)	?	Mono	1.0	?
Philips Odyssey 2001		1977	?	Mono	1.0	?
Philips Odyssey 2100		1978	?	Mono	1.0	?
TV Tennis Electrotennis (Epoch)		1975	?	Mono	1.0	?
Atari Home Pong (Model C-100)		1976	?	Mono	1.0	?
Atari Super Pong (Model C-140)		1976	?	Mono	1.0	The console had a speaker built into the main unit, that could output a simple "bloop" noise every time the ball was hit.
Coleco Telstar		1976	?	Mono	1.0	?
Coleco Telstar Classic		1976	?	Mono.	1.0	?
Coleco Telstar Deluxe (AKA World of Sports)		1977	?	Mono	1.0	?
Coleco Telstar Ranger		1977	?	Mono	1.0	?
Coleco Telstar Alpha		1977	?	Mono	1.0	?
Coleco Telstar Colormatic		1977	?	Mono	1.0	?
Coleco Telstar Regent		1977	?	Mono	1.0	?
Coleco Telstar Sportsman	TBC	1978	?	Mono	1.0	?
Coleco Telstar Combat!		1977	?	Mono	1.0	?
Coleco Telstar Colortron		1978	?	Mono	1.0	?
Coleco Telstar Marksman		1978	?	Mono	1.0	?
Coleco Telstar Galaxy		1977	?	Mono	1.0	?
Coleco Telstar Gemini		1977	?	Mono	1.0	?
Coleco Telstar Arcade		1977	?	Mono	1.0	?
Nintendo Color TV - Game 6		1977	?	Mono	1.0	?

Second generation of consoles

Console	Pictures	Year of Release	Audio Hardware	Supported Audio Formats	Supported Speaker Layouts	Notes
Atari 2600		1977	Atari TIA	Mono (Stock) Stereo (Modded)	1.0	"Stereo" mods exist which split the TIA's two audio channels into left and right audio; however although this provides an enhanced audio experience for Atari 2600 users, true stereo effects are limited. Early games like ‘Combat’ were designed with the assumption that the 2600 would have two separate built-in speakers for each player’s sounds. However Atari removed this feature, and most of the library outputs music/effects in mono. The stereo mod for the 2600 allows for potential stereo sound effects in newer homebrew games designed with stereo in mind. However, games without stereo programming may exhibit stereo-like effects or remain similar to their original mono output. Some games prioritize sound effects, causing them to come from random sides on a stereo-modded console. A prototype game called Sonar did demonstrate proper stereo utilization however.
Magnavox Odyssey 2		1978	Intel 8244	Mono	1.0	?
Philips Videopac G7000 (European release of Odyssey 2)		1978	Intel 8245	Mono	1.0	?
Mattel Intellivision		1979	General Instruments AY-3-8914	Mono	1.0	?
Mattel Intellivision II		1983	General Instruments AY-3-8914	Mono	1.0	?
Coleco ColecoVision		1982	Texas Instruments SN76489AN	Mono (Stock) Stereo (Modded)	1.0	?
Atari 5200 (Four controller port model) *		1982	Atari POKEY	Mono	1.0	?
Atari 5200 (Two controller port model) *		1983	Atari POKEY	Mono	1.0	?
GCE/MB Vectrex		1982	General Instruments AY-3-8912	Mono (Stock) Stereo (Modded)	1.0 (Stock) 2.0 (Modded)	Vectrex uses a General Instruments AY-3-8912 sound chip to deliver surprisingly good music and sound effects, as well as limited voice synthesis, via a 3-inch built-in paper cone speaker. A mod is available to add compatibility with external stereo speakers.

Third generation of consoles

Console	Pictures	Year of Release	Audio Hardware	Supported Audio Formats	Supported Speaker Layouts	Notes
Nintendo Entertainment System (US)		1985	Ricoh 2A03	Mono	1.0	"Stereo" mods exist, but these simply divide some of the 2A03's audio channels between left and right.
Nintendo Entertainment System (PAL)		1986	Ricoh 2A07	Mono	1.0	"Stereo" mods exist, but these simply divide some of the 2A03's audio channels between left and right.
Famicom		1983	Ricoh 2A03	Mono	1.0	"Stereo" mods exist, but these simply divide some of the 2A03's audio channels between left and right.
Famicom Disk System		1986	Ricoh 2C33	Mono	1.0	The Famicom Disk System generates an extra wavetable audio channel which is mixed in with the Famicom's internal audio
Twin Famicom		1986	Ricoh 2A03 + Ricoh 2C33	Mono	1.0	?
Sega SG-1000		1983	Texas Instruments SN76489AN	Mono	1.0	?
Sega SG-1000 II		1984	Texas Instruments SN76489AN (early revision) Sega 315-5066 (later revision)	Mono	1.0	?
Sega Mark III		1985	Sega 315-5124	Mono	1.0	?
Sega Master System		1986	Sega 315-5124	Mono	1.0	?
Atari 7800		1986	Atari TIA	Mono	1.0	"Stereo" mods exist which split the TIA's two audio channels between left and right audio
Casio PV-1000		1983	NEC D65010G031	Mono	1.0	?
Epoch Super Cassette Vision		1984	NEC D1771C	Mono	1.0	?
Amstrad GX4000		1990	Microchip Technology AY-3-8912	Mono	1.0	?

Fourth generation of consoles

Console	Pictures	Year of Release	Audio Hardware	Supported Audio Formats	Supported Speaker Layouts	Notes
PC Engine		1987	Hudson HuC6280	Mono Stereo Roland Surround Space (RSS)	1.0 2.0	Although it only shipped with an RF port, the PC Engine is notable as the first home gaming console to offer stereo audio, via the expansion port, but it must be amplified externally. To achieve stereo audio, as well as composite video, the user needed an add-on such as the NEC PC Engine CD. There were also several titles on the PC-Engine that used RSS, including Dracula X and Ys IV.
NEC PC Engine CD		1988	OKI M5205 (ADPCM) Red Book CD audio	Mono Stereo	1.0 2.0	See above
NEC TurboGrafx 16		1989	Hudson HuC6280	Mono Stereo	1.0 2.0	Although it shipped with only an RF port, the TurboGrafx-16 is notable as the first home gaming console, released outside Japan, to offer stereo audio. Amplification was implemented similarly to the Japanese PC Engine, with the TurboBooster add-on allowing for stereo audio and composite video. Unlike earlier consoles (from the Atari 2600 to the NES), which subsequently received homebrew hardware modifications to allow stereo audio, the TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine had games which were intentionally programmed with different audio channels, allowing for stereo audio effects where specific sounds or music elements emanated from either the right of the left speaker.
NEC TurboGrafx-CD *		1989	OKI M5205 (ADPCM) Red Book CD audio	Mono Stereo	1.0 2.0	?
NEC SuperGrafx		1989	Hudson HuC6280	Mono Stereo	1.0 2.0	?
NEC TurboExpress/PC Engine GT		1990	Hudson HuC6280	Mono Stereo	1.0 2.0	The system only has a single speaker but stereo out is available from the headphone jack
NEC TurboDuo/PC Engine Duo		1991	Hudson HuC6280 Oki M5205 (ADPCM) Red Book CD audio	Mono Stereo	1.0 2.0	?
NEC Super CD-ROM2		1991	Oki M5205 (ADPCM) Red Book CD audio	Mono Stereo	1.0 2.0	?
NEC PC Engine LT		1991	Hudson HuC6280	Mono Stereo	1.0 2.0	The system only has a single speaker but stereo out is available from the headphone jack
NEC PC Engine Duo-R/Duo-RX		1993	Hudson HuC6280 Oki M5205 (ADPCM) Red Book CD audio	Mono Stereo	1.0 2.0	?
Sega Mega Drive (model 1)		1988 (JP) 1990 (PAL)	Yamaha YM2612 (FM + PCM) Sega VDP (PSG)	Mono Stereo	1.0 2.0	The AV connector only has mono out, but stereo out is available from the headphone jack. Rear stereo out can also be modded into these consoles.
Sega Genesis (model 1)		1989		Mono Stereo	1.0 2.0
Sega Genesis (model 2)		1993		Mono Stereo	1.0 2.0	?
Sega Genesis 3		1998		Mono Stereo (with mod)	1.0 2.0 (with mod)	Can be modified for stereo sound
Sega Mega Jet		1994		Mono Stereo	1.0 2.0	?
Sega Nomad		1995		Mono Stereo	1.0 2.0	The system only has a single speaker but stereo out is available from the headphone jack and AV out
Sega CD		1991	Ricoh RF5C164	Mono Stereo Roland Sound Space (RSS)	1.0 2.0	'Snatcher' and 'Shadow of the Beast 2' confirmed to support RSS. (Link)
Sega/Victor Wondermega RG-M1		1992	Yamaha YM3438 core (FM + PCM) Sega VDP (PSG) Ricoh RF5C164	Mono Stereo	1.0 2.0	?
JVC X'Eye/Victor Wondermega RG-M2		1993		Mono Stereo	1.0 2.0	?
Sega CDX		1994		Mono Stereo	1.0 2.0	?
Sega 32X		1994	Sega 315-5818	Mono Stereo QSound	1.0 2.0	?
Sega Game Gear *		1990	Texas Instruments SN76489A core (PSG)	Mono Stereo	1.0 2.0	This system only has a single speaker, but stereo out is available from the headphone jack
Nintendo Game Boy (DMG)		1989	Sharp LR35902	Mono Stereo	1.0 2.0	This system only has a single speaker, but stereo out is available from the headphone jack
Nintendo Game Boy Pocket		1996
Nintendo Game Boy Light		1998
Nintendo Game Boy Color
Super Nintendo (US)		1991	Sony SPC700	Mono Stereo Dolby Surround	1.0 2.0 4.0	?
Super Famicom *		1990				?
Super Nintendo (PAL) *		1992				?
SNK Neo Geo AES *		1990	Yamaha YM2610	Mono Stereo	1.0 2.0	The AV connector only has mono output, but stereo out is available from the headphone jack.
SNK Neo Geo CD		1994	Yamaha YM2610 + Red Book CD audio	Mono Stereo	1.0 2.0	?
Pioneer LaserActive		1993	?	Mono Stereo Roland Sound Space (RSS)	1.0 2.0	?

Fifth generation of consoles

Console	Pictures	Year of Release	Audio Hardware	Supported Audio Formats	Supported Speaker Layouts	Notes
Commodore Amiga CD32		1993	Commodore Paula Red Book CD audio	Mono Stereo Roland Surround Space (RSS)	1.0 2.0	4 × 8-bit PCM channels Stereo audio (RCA) 3.5mm headphone jack RSS was used on Xenon 2 for the Amiga CDTV and CD32 (Link)
Panasonic 3DO		1993	Custom	Mono Stereo Dolby Surround	1.0 2.0 4.0	16-bit stereo sound Stereo CDDA playback. 44.1 kHz sound sampling rate Supports 4-Channel Dolby Surround sound Custom 20-bit digital signal processor (DSP) – 20-bit accumulator with 16-bit parameter registers for extended precision, embedded in the CLIO chip. 13 DMA channels of digital input, to be sampled, and distorted by the DSP.
Atari Jaguar *		1993	Motorola SC414201FT/Atari Jerry	Mono Stereo	1.0 2.0	CD-quality sound (16-bit stereo) Number of sound channels limited by software Two DACs (stereo) convert digital data to analog sound signals Full stereo capabilities
Atari Jaguar CD *		1995	Red Book CD audio	?	?	?
Bandai Playdia *		1994	Asahi Kasei AK8000 Red Book CD audio	Mono Stereo	1.0 2.0	The console has a standard red/white right/left audio output socket and yellow composite video output (Source: Adam Koralik - Bandai Playdia - Fifth VideoGame Generation Recap)
Sega Saturn		1994	Yamaha YMF292/Sega 315-5687 Red Book CD audio	Mono Stereo QSound Dolby Surround	1.0 2.0 4.0	?
Sony PlayStation		1994	Sony SPU Red Book CD audio	Mono Stereo Dolby Surround	1.0 2.0 4.0	Early models (SCPH-100x) come with standard RCA outputs. Late production versions of this model also featured higher quality DACs. It and all other models also include Sony's AV multi out connector.
Sony PSone		2000				?
NEC PC-FX		1994	Hudson HuC6230 Red Book CD audio	Mono Stereo	1.0 2.0	16-Bit Stereo with 2 ADPCM channels and 6 sample channels at 44.1kHz.
Casio Loopy		1995	?	Mono Stereo	1.0 2.0	The console has a standard red/white right/left audio output socket and yellow composite video output (Source: Adam Koralik - Casio Loopy - Fifth VideoGame Generation Recap) Mono accessed via Left/white output.
Nintendo Virtual Boy		1995	Nintendo Virtual Sound Unit	Mono Stereo	1.0 2.0	10-Bit stereo sound 41.7 kHz sampling rate
Nintendo 64		1996	Nintendo RCP-NUS	Mono Stereo Dolby Surround	1.0 2.0 4.0	TBC - Dolby surround confirmed with Ocarina of Time and unreleased Dinosaur Planet http://archive.thegia.com/n64/dino/dino.html
Apple Pippin		1996	?	Mono Stereo	1.0 2.0	RCA composite left/right stereo, 16-bit 44 kHz sampled, and headphone output jack

Sixth generation of consoles

Console	Pictures	Year of Release	Audio Hardware	Supported Audio Formats	Supported Speaker Layouts	Notes
Game Boy Advance		2001	Sharp LR35902	Mono (Built-in Speaker) Stereo	1.0 2.0	The system only has a mono speaker but stereo out is available from the headphone jack. The SP has no built-in port, thus requires a charging port to headphone jack adapter in order to use headphones.
Game Boy Advance SP		2003
Game Boy Micro		2005
Sega Dreamcast		1998	Yamaha AICA	Mono Stereo QSound Dolby Surround	1.0 2.0	?
Sony PlayStation 2		2000	Sony SPU2	Mono Stereo Dolby Pro Logic II DTS Interactive	1.0 2.0	The PlayStation 2 was the first game console to output digital audio, in this case via an optical connector. Four-channel DTS Interactive was the only discrete format (beyond Stereo) that the PS2 could process in real time and this was used by nearly a dozen games, including Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. The PS2 could also send a 5.1 Dolby Digital stream, but only during cut scenes where the audio didn't have to be dynamically generated on the spot.
Sony PlayStation 2 (SCPH-7xxxx)		2004
Sony PlayStation 2 (SCPH-900xx)		2007
VM Labs Nuon		2000	?	Mono Stereo	1.0 2.0	32-megabyte 8-bit Fast Page DRAM at 33 MHz, 512-kilobytes sound RAM and 24-kilobytes programmable ROM
Microsoft Xbox		2001	NVIDIA Soundstorm (DSP/APU) Wolfson WM9709 (DAC)	Mono Stereo Dolby Pro Logic II Dolby Digital / AC3	1.0 2.0	Digital output only officially available with certain cables. Audio processor was integrated in the NVIDIA MCPX south bridge.
Nintendo GameCube		2001	Macronix 16-bit DSP	Mono Stereo Dolby Pro Logic II	1.0 2.0 2.1	Panasonic Q version of the Gamecube may have been the first console in history to support the native use of subwoofers, mainly for DVD playback as opposed to in-game use. Digital audio available from digital output (but not officially used). Audio processor was integrated into the "Flipper" GPU.

Seventh generation of consoles

Console	Pictures	Year of Release	Audio Hardware	Supported Audio Formats	Supported Speaker Layouts	Notes
Nintendo DS series incl. DSi		2004	Mitsumi MM3205B	Stereo Pseudo-Surround	2.0	Most titles with sound options have said choices for simulated surround. A few others have a forced mono option instead. The DSi and DSi XL have an option to force mono audio in the system settings.
Sony PSP (Non-Street/Go Series)		2004	Wolfson Microelectronics WM8973G (DAC) Custom sound processor	Stereo Binaural	2.0	Most PSP software only offers plain stereo (except for the XMB's media player, which offers EQ presets available by short pressing the "sound" key only with external phones/speakers). PS1 software keeps original sound capabilities.
Sony PSP-N1000 series (Go)		2009				First console to support Bluetooth for general purpose audio output.
Sony PSP-E1000 series (Street)		2011		Mono (Built-In Speaker) Stereo Binaural	1.0 2.0	This system only has a single speaker, but stereo out is available from the headphone jack
Nintendo Wii		2006	Macronix 16-bit DSP	Mono Stereo Dolby Pro Logic 2	1.0 2.0	The audio hardware on the Wii was shared with the GameCube, as the GPU is also similar.
Microsoft Xbox 360		2005	Software-based audio processing by the CPU; no DSP is used. Additional custom audio decoder for the proprietary XMA codec built into the south bridge. Proprietary video encoder chip contains the DAC circuitry.	Analog stereo Stereo LPCM (TOSLINK and HDMI) Dolby Digital 5.1 (TOSLINK and HDMI) Dolby Digital with WMA pro (TOSLINK and HDMI)	2.0 2.1 5.1	Original models require a suitable video cable or adapter for optical audio. Consoles with a Xenon, Elpis, or Opus motherboard have no HDMI port. The video encoder chip was called ANA on launch consoles with Xenon motherboards, and upgraded to the HANA on Zephyr and newer motherboards.
Microsoft Xbox 360 S		2010				TOSLINK port is built into Xbox 360 S motherboards, thus not requiring a video cable or adapter. The launch models of the 360 S featured a Trinity motherboard, which still had the HANA encoder chip like the HDMI-equipped original models. The later Corona & Waitsburg motherboards integrated the HANA into the south bridge (now named KSB).
Microsoft Xbox 360 E		2013				No built-in TOSLINK; digital audio can only be outputted through HDMI. All motherboards on this model have a KSB south bridge.
Sony PlayStation 3		2006	Software based audio processing by the CPU; no DSP is used. The GPU (NVIDIA & Sony RSX) handles the audio output.	Mono Stereo LPCM AAC Dolby Digital 5.1 Dolby Digital Plus (HDMI) Dolby TrueHD* (HDMI) DTS 5.1 (HDMI) DTS-HD* (HDMI)	1.0 2.0 5.1 7.1	Audio output formats A/V-Multi Analog stereo TOSLINK LPCM 2ch 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88 kHz, 176.4 kHz Dolby Digital 5.1 DTS 5.1 AAC HDMI LPCM 2ch, 5.1ch, 7.1ch 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz Dolby Digital 5.1 DTS 5.1 AAC DTS-HD Master Audio Bitstream* Dolby TrueHD Bitstream* All models can decode Dolby TrueHD and (as of firmware 2.30 and later) DTS-HD Master Audio, to be output as LPCM. Output of the raw undecoded stream is limited to Slim and Super Slim models.
Sony PlayStation 3 (CECH-2xxx/30xx)		2009
Sony PlayStation 3 (CECH-4xxx)		2012

Eighth generation of consoles

Console	Pictures	Year of Release	Audio Hardware	Supported Audio Formats	Supported Speaker Layouts	Notes
Nintendo 3DS/2DS Series incl. New		2011	CEVA TeakLite II (3DS mode) "CSND" audio block (DS[i]/GBA backward compatibility)	Mono Stereo Pseudo-Surround Binaural	1.0 2.0	"Surround" is simulated 3D sound. O2DS has mono speaker.
Sony PS Vita (PCH-1xxx)		2011	Wolfson Microelectronics WM1803	Mono (Requires custom plugin) Stereo	1.0 2.0	?
Sony PS Vita TV & Sony PlayStation TV		2013				?
Sony PS Vita (PCH-20xx)			Wolfson Microelectronics WM1803 (Early models) Conexant CX20902 (Late models)			?
Nintendo Wii U		2012	Custom DSP inside the ATI Latte GPU	Mono Stereo 5.1 linear PCM Analog stereo	1.0 2.0 2.1 5.1	DSP is integrated into the GPU, similarly to the Wii and Gamecube.
Sony PlayStation 4 (CUH-1xxx)		2013	Custom AMD TrueAudio	Mono Stereo	1.0 2.0	?
Sony PlayStation 4 (CUH-2xxx)		2016				The optical audio port was removed on the PS4 Slim models.
Sony PlayStation 4 Pro		2016		Mono Stereo Dolby Digital DTS	1.0 2.0 2.1 5.1 7.1	When setting your console up, as you’ll need to change it to set your sound from the standard PCM to bitstreaming Dolby Digital or DTS. The PS4 Pro also only supports Dolby Atmos for compatible Blu-ray movies, it does not support Atmos for games.
Microsoft Xbox One		2013	SHAPE Audio Processor	Mono Stereo Dolby Atmos DTS:X	1.0 2.0 2.1 5.1 7.1	?
Microsoft Xbox One S		2016				?
Microsoft Xbox One X		2017				?
Nintendo Switch (all models)		2017	Realtek ALC5639	Undocked: Linear PCM 2.0 ch stereo speakers (with pseudo-surround) Docked: Linear PCM 5.1 ch	1.0 2.0 2.1 5.1	?

Ninth generation of consoles

Console	Pictures	Year of Release	Audio Hardware	Supported Audio Formats	Supported Speaker Layouts	Notes
Sony PlayStation 5 (All models)		2020	Tempest Engine audio chip	Mono Stereo Custom Tempest Engine 3D Audio Dolby Atmos & DTS:X (Blu-ray video & UHD Blu-ray video) 7.1 surround sound	1.0 2.0 2.1 5.1 7.1	The PS5 does not support Dolby Atmos, instead using Sony's tempest engine, which does not support high channel speakers.
Microsoft Xbox Series S		2020	CFPU2 processor, MOVAD Opus decoder, & Logan audio engine	Mono Stereo Custom Project Acoustics 3D Audio Dolby Atmos DTS:X 7.1 surround sound	1.0 2.0 2.1 5.1 7.1 7.1.2	The Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S are the first consoles ever to enable gaming in both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.
Microsoft Xbox Series X

External links

• "(Video) RetroRGB - Surround Sound - Music First".
• "(Video) RetroRGB - CRT's + Magnetically Shielded Speakers".
• "(Video) Mythic Resonance - Surround Sound On Retro Video Game Consoles".
• "AV Receiver Surround Sound Formats Comparison (by Gene DellaSala, 2016)".
• "Digital Sound and Music in Video Games".