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![]() If you're not keen on shelling out for an expensive next-gen console and its pricey launch games, then you're sure to have a great time with the PlayStation 4. ![]() The PS4 has already sold by the bucket load and will no doubt continue to do so – and for arguably the best all-round gaming experience around, we don’t disagree with those stumping up the cash. Neat integration of catch-up TV and streaming music and movie apps is good too (and indeed practically a necessity), but there’s no denying that some of the holes in the wider spec sheet are big and disappointing. It’s undoubtedly the PS4’s strongest string, which may be no great surprise, but with all the talk of the wider home entertainment capabilities of such devices, is no longer a given. Gaming is the theatre in which it wants to win the next-gen console battle, and after all these year, that's been its biggest advantage over the Xbox One. We found having both a bit distracting and messy but clearly for other PS4 tasks having music playing is neat. Background audio from Sony Music Unlimited is a neat touch (you need to pay your £10/month for any of this of course) and, unlike the Xbox One, you can adjust your music volume level and game audio level separately. The bit-rate is now thankfully up to 320kbps, to match the likes of Spotify, and it sounds fine as streaming music goes. There’s an extensive library and a fast, neat interface. Sony’s Music Unlimited service works pretty nicely. It can output high-def Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 soundtracks via HDMI or digital optical, but you don’t get the same power and weight to heavy-hitting effects when watching bombastic blockbusters such as Pacific Rim, nor are voices as expressive – even if dialogue is perfectly clear.Īgain, it’s a trade-off for the extra features but if this will be your main disc-spinner, it’s a good budget player and no more. Sonically, it sounds a little less substantial, too. Again, there’s nothing too off-putting, but lines are softer and there’s a drop in detail. The drop in quality is obvious, but the difference between DVDs on the PS4 and a dedicated machine are more obvious. The PS5's Pulse headset is set to take this 3D audio concept a step further. Sound quality is decent using this method, but it's well worth upgrading to the Platinum Wireless Headset if you're able, as it boasts excellent sound quality and dedicated 3D audio for a handful of games. The bundled mono headset takes the form of a single earbud, so don’t get too excited by that, but the good news is you can connect any pair of headphones to hear PS4 audio, immediately overriding the PS4’s soundtrack. The new PS4 controller also has a standard headphone jack. This changes colour to identify different characters, and is also used to track player movement. There’s also a light panel on the top edge of the pad. At launch this doesn’t seem to offer too much, and ultimately most games haven't made any significant use of it. The triggers seem more accurate and can do more too, with a greater range of control.Īt the top of the controller is a new touch-pad. It feels more comfortable the grips are a little bigger and seem more ergonomic, fitting nicely in the hand. It’s a big improvement on its predecessor. While Microsoft made a big play of the Kinect system, which came bundled with the original Xbox One, your first port of call for controlling the PS4 will be the standard controller, the DualShock 4. Jumping between open apps – iPlayer to gaming, say – will take 10 seconds or so, which while understandable can’t help but feel like a delay compared with the multi-tasking experience on smartphones and tablets. ![]() It’s a ‘Dynamic Menu’, no less, and it looks smart. These can take a second to load, whereas the interface itself is nice and nippy. ![]() Move along the row and additional information for each appears below in a series of tiles. It’s something of a mish-mash, combining standard shortcuts to settings and your profile with icons for your PlayStation gaming ‘trophies’, messages, notifications and a link to the PlayStation Store.ĭrop down a level and your games and apps appear in order of most recently opened. The top one provides access to what Sony presumably sees as the most crucial aspects of the experience. Navigation is essentially through two rows of icons. This carries over in to the PlayStation network, pulling through your real name, pictures and friends, should you so desire. ![]()
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