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Connect the PS5 Pro and gaming PC to two separate HDMI inputs on the TV, then connect the TV’s HDMI ARC or eARC port to the matching port on your soundbar or AV receiver. Select the console or PC with the TV’s input button; the TV sends audio from whichever source is selected to the sound system. This direct-to-TV layout is usually the safest way to preserve 4K, high refresh rates, HDR and VRR, because every signal does not have to pass through an intermediate receiver.

The recommended wiring layout

Use three HDMI connections:

  1. PS5 Pro HDMI OUT to a TV HDMI input.
  2. Gaming PC HDMI OUT from the graphics card to a different TV HDMI input.
  3. TV HDMI ARC/eARC port to the soundbar or AV receiver’s HDMI ARC/eARC port.

The TV’s input selector determines whether the PS5 Pro or PC is visible. Once an input is selected, the TV can return that source’s audio over ARC or eARC. The exact port number, supported resolution, refresh rate, HDR modes and VRR behavior vary by television model and region. Sony’s TV documentation cautions that “the type and position of the HDMI port differs depending on your TV,” so use the labels on the set and its manual rather than assuming that every HDMI socket is equivalent.

This arrangement keeps video sources connected directly to the display. It is a good starting point when the capabilities of an older receiver or soundbar are uncertain. You can instead route one or both sources through an AV receiver, but only after verifying that the receiver supports every video format you intend to use.

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Check the complete signal chain before plugging anything in

A target such as 4K at 120 Hz with HDR and VRR is possible only when the source, cable, TV input and any intermediary all support it. A connector that looks like a standard HDMI port does not prove that it has the required bandwidth or features.

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  • TV: Identify which inputs accept your desired resolution and refresh rate. Some televisions reserve one or two ports for the highest-bandwidth modes, while others expose different features on different inputs.
  • PS5 Pro: Confirm that the console is connected to the TV input intended for 4K/120 Hz or VRR, if those features are available on your model.
  • PC graphics output: Check that the graphics card has an HDMI output capable of the mode you want. If the card has several outputs, use the HDMI output that is physically connected to the TV; an adapter or dock can change what modes are available.
  • Cables: Cable capability is part of the chain. A cable supplied with a console that supports 4K/120 Hz is an appropriate choice for that console. For a replacement or PC run, an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable is the appropriate category to consider, but its label cannot make an incompatible TV or receiver support a feature.
  • Sound system: Confirm that the soundbar or receiver has an HDMI ARC or eARC input, not merely an optical or ordinary HDMI input. Check the audio formats accepted by the exact model.

Write down the model numbers of the TV, sound system, receiver (if present) and PC graphics card before troubleshooting. The available evidence supports a general wiring pattern, not a guarantee for an unidentified combination of models.

Direct-to-TV versus routing through an AV receiver

Both layouts can work. The important difference is where the video signal is switched and which device must pass through the highest-bandwidth formats.

Consideration Sources connected directly to TV Sources connected through receiver
Resolution and refresh-rate passthrough The TV input and cable must support the chosen mode; no receiver video passthrough is involved. The receiver must explicitly support the chosen resolution and refresh rate for the relevant input and output. If the specification is not stated, treat support as unverified.
VRR, HDR and related video features Check the source, cable and selected TV input. Check the source, cable, receiver input/output path and TV input. A receiver can limit a feature even when the TV and source support it.
Audio path The TV returns audio from the selected source over ARC/eARC to the soundbar or receiver. The receiver handles source audio directly, subject to its supported formats; the TV can still use ARC/eARC for other sources or TV apps.
Available TV inputs Uses one TV input per source. This can matter when only some TV inputs support high-bandwidth gaming modes. Can reduce the number of TV inputs used, but all high-performance video passes through the receiver.
Switching convenience Change the TV input to move between PS5 Pro and PC. The sound system normally remains on its ARC/eARC input. Change receiver inputs, and sometimes the TV input, depending on the receiver’s control and HDMI-CEC behavior.
Risk when specifications are unknown Lower: the receiver is not in the video path. Higher: an unverified receiver can force a lower refresh rate, disable VRR/HDR or prevent a signal from appearing.

A receiver manual may document an HDMI bandwidth figure without documenting 4K/120 Hz support. For example, the cited manual for one receiver describes an 18 Gbps design; that figure alone is not evidence that the receiver passes 4K/120 Hz. Always check the exact model’s current specifications and manual.

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Step-by-step: connect both sources directly to the TV

1. Choose the two TV inputs

Look at the labels beside the TV’s HDMI sockets and consult the TV manual. Choose an input documented for the highest resolution, refresh rate, HDR and VRR combination you need. If the TV has only one input with a particular gaming feature, reserve it for the source that needs it most and use another suitable input for the second device.

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2. Connect the PS5 Pro

  1. Connect the PS5 Pro’s HDMI OUT to the selected TV HDMI input.
  2. Use the HDMI cable included with the console when it supports 4K/120 Hz, or use an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable for a replacement.
  3. Leave the console powered off until the TV input configuration is complete, or switch to that input after connecting it.

Sony recommends an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable, or the cable included with a compatible console, when a console supports 4K/120 Hz. A Premium High Speed HDMI cable may be adequate for general use, but the cable category does not override the limitations of the TV input or any intermediary.

3. Connect the gaming PC

  1. Connect the HDMI output on the PC’s graphics card directly to a different TV HDMI input.
  2. Avoid connecting the cable to a motherboard video output when the PC uses a separate graphics card, unless your system is specifically configured to use that output.
  3. Start the PC and select the TV as a display in the operating system and graphics settings.
  4. Choose a resolution, refresh rate, HDR mode and VRR option that the PC output, cable and selected TV input all support. The exact menu names depend on the operating system and graphics hardware; the cited TV and console documentation does not define PC-specific menus.

4. Connect the TV to the sound system

  1. Find the TV socket labeled HDMI ARC or HDMI eARC.
  2. Connect it to the soundbar or receiver socket labeled HDMI ARC or HDMI eARC.
  3. Turn on the sound system’s HDMI-CEC/ARC or eARC functions if the equipment requires them. Labels differ by manufacturer.
  4. Set the TV’s audio output to the connected HDMI sound system, using the TV’s audio settings.

ARC/eARC lets the TV send audio from the currently selected HDMI source to the sound system. The exact operation and supported audio formats depend on both devices, so a working picture does not by itself prove that every audio format will pass.

Configure the TV HDMI signal format

Many TVs use a standard signal mode by default and require an enhanced mode for high-bandwidth gaming. On supported Sony TVs, the help documentation directs users to the enhanced HDMI signal format for 4K/120 Hz and a VRR-specific format for a VRR-capable console. The wording and menu path vary by model, but the setting is generally found in the external-input or HDMI-signal-format section of the TV settings.

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Configure the specific input used by the PS5 Pro and repeat the process for the PC input if the TV offers per-input settings. If you enable an enhanced or VRR mode and the screen goes blank, wait for the TV’s recovery prompt or switch back to the prior input with the remote. Then test a lower mode and confirm the cable and source settings before trying the higher mode again.

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Set up PS5 Pro video output

On the console, open Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output. This screen lets you inspect what the connected HDMI device reports and adjust resolution, VRR and 120 Hz output.

  • Resolution: Start with the automatic option. Sony states that the PS5 detects the TV’s capabilities and automatically selects the best available resolution.
  • 120 Hz output: Enable it when the TV input, cable and display mode support 120 Hz. A game must also support a 120 Hz mode for that mode to be used in play.
  • VRR: Enable it only after the TV input is configured for VRR and the TV confirms that the feature is available. VRR support can depend on the connected display and the game.
  • HDR: Use the console’s video-output information and the TV’s picture information to confirm that HDR is actually being negotiated; do not assume that an HDR-capable TV input automatically means HDR is active for every source.

If the console reports a lower capability than expected, check the selected TV input first, then reseat or replace the HDMI cable, and finally test with the receiver removed from the video path. Sony’s automatic detection can select only the best mode that the entire connected path reports as available.

Configure the gaming PC without losing the TV’s capabilities

With the TV connected directly to the graphics card, open the operating system’s display controls and choose the TV as the active display or extend it as a second display. Then open the graphics driver’s display panel if the operating system does not expose all available modes.

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Set the display mode in a controlled order:

  1. Select the TV’s native resolution or the resolution you intend to use.
  2. Choose a refresh rate supported by the TV input and cable.
  3. Enable HDR in the operating system only after the TV reports an HDR signal.
  4. Enable adaptive sync or VRR in the graphics driver and the TV’s gaming settings when both ends support it.
  5. Run a game and verify its own refresh-rate and HDR options; a desktop setting does not force a game to use 120 Hz or VRR.

If a high refresh rate is missing, test the PC on the same TV input with a lower mode, then check the graphics card’s HDMI specification and the cable. If the PC is connected through an adapter, dock or receiver, remove that device temporarily because it adds another capability check.

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When routing the PS5 Pro or PC through a receiver makes sense

A receiver-through layout can simplify switching and provide direct audio handling, especially when the receiver has enough HDMI inputs and explicitly supports the video features you need. Connect each source to a receiver HDMI input, connect the receiver’s HDMI output to the TV input, and connect the sound system as specified by the receiver’s design.

Before adopting that layout, verify all of the following for the exact receiver model:

  • Supported resolution at the desired refresh rate, including 4K/120 Hz if required.
  • VRR and HDR passthrough, including the relevant HDR formats.
  • HDMI input and output compatibility for the ports you plan to use.
  • ARC/eARC behavior and the audio formats returned from the TV.
  • Whether a firmware update is required for a documented feature.

If any item is unclear, connect the sources directly to the TV and use ARC/eARC for sound. This avoids making an unverified receiver part of the video chain while preserving a single sound system.

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Switching between PS5 Pro and PC day to day

  1. Wake the TV and sound system.
  2. Use the TV remote’s input button to select the PS5 Pro HDMI input or the PC HDMI input.
  3. Leave the soundbar or receiver on its TV ARC/eARC input unless your equipment requires a different source selection.
  4. When changing devices, wait a few seconds for HDMI handshaking before changing resolution or launching a game.

HDMI-CEC may automate power and input changes, but behavior differs by manufacturer. If the TV switches to the wrong source, disable automatic input switching on the TV or one device and use manual input selection.

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Troubleshooting by symptom

Black screen or “no signal”

  • Confirm that the TV is on the HDMI input where the cable is actually connected.
  • Power off the source and TV, reseat both HDMI plugs, then power the TV and source back on.
  • Test a known-good cable and a lower resolution or refresh rate.
  • Move the source to another TV input and check that input’s documented signal format.
  • If a receiver is in the path, bypass it and connect the source directly to the TV.

4K works, but 120 Hz or VRR does not

  • Enable the TV input’s enhanced or VRR signal format where the model provides those options.
  • Confirm the PS5 setting under Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output, or check the PC’s display and graphics-driver settings.
  • Use the console’s included cable or an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable for a replacement.
  • Check every link, including a receiver, adapter or switch. One unsupported link can remove the feature.

Picture works but there is no sound

  • Verify that the TV cable is plugged into the TV’s ARC/eARC port and the sound system’s matching ARC/eARC port.
  • Select the HDMI sound system as the TV’s audio output.
  • Confirm that the soundbar or receiver is powered on and listening to its TV/ARC input.
  • Toggle ARC/eARC and HDMI-CEC settings on both devices, then restart them.
  • Test with a basic audio format first; supported formats are model-dependent.

Sound is delayed or a format is unavailable

Check the TV’s digital-audio output mode and the sound system’s documented format support. ARC and eARC are transport paths, not guarantees that every source format will be accepted. If the receiver is handling audio, compare its input and output specifications with the source and TV settings.

The PC changes resolution when the PS5 is turned on

This can result from HDMI-CEC or display detection. Disable automatic input or device-control features one at a time, reconnect the PC directly to its chosen TV input, and set the PC display mode again after the TV finishes switching inputs.

A practical final checklist

  • PS5 Pro and PC use separate TV HDMI inputs.
  • Each chosen input is documented for the resolution, refresh rate, HDR and VRR modes you want.
  • The PS5 uses its included cable or an appropriate Ultra High Speed HDMI replacement for 4K/120 Hz.
  • The PC’s HDMI output is connected from the graphics card, and the TV is selected in display settings.
  • The TV’s ARC/eARC port is connected to the soundbar or receiver’s matching port.
  • TV audio output is set to the HDMI sound system.
  • Any receiver in the video path has verified passthrough for every required feature.
  • PS5 video settings have been checked under Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output.
  • High-bandwidth or VRR HDMI signal formats are enabled on the relevant TV inputs.

What this setup can and cannot guarantee

The wiring pattern is reliable: two HDMI sources can share one TV, and the TV can return the selected source’s audio to a compatible ARC/eARC sound system. It cannot guarantee a particular resolution, 120 Hz mode, VRR behavior or audio format without the models and specifications for the TV, PC graphics card, cables, sound system and receiver. Treat the full chain—not the HDMI plug shape or a single device’s headline feature—as the final compatibility test.

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