Consoles Why Early PlayStation 1 Models Are Valued in the Audio World

PlayStation 1: The Secret Weapon of Audiophiles

For most people, the original PlayStation 1 (PS1) is a nostalgic symbol of the 90s, known for games like Final Fantasy VII and Metal Gear Solid. However, in the audiophile community, this console gained recognition for a completely different reason. Early PS1 models (specifically SCPH-1000, SCPH-1001, and SCPH-1002) became a surprising treasure for those seeking high-quality sound. But how did a gaming console end up in audio systems alongside equipment worth thousands of dollars? Let’s dive in!

Why PS1 Became Popular Among Audiophiles

The secret of the PS1 lies in its CD drive and audio circuitry. Early revisions of the console were equipped with a high-quality digital-to-analog converter (DAC) produced by Asahi Kasei Microsystems (AKM). This component, paired with a well-designed circuit, delivered surprisingly accurate and warm audio.

Additionally, the PS1 was notable for its sound signal processing, which made it an excellent audio source comparable to mid-range standalone CD players. Key features include:

1. AKM AK43**AVM DAC – a crucial factor for its outstanding audio quality.

2. Signal Clarity – relatively low distortion and noise levels.

3. Sony Filters – carefully designed solutions for sound signal processing.

How PS1 Was Used in Audio Systems

Early PS1 models became popular among vinyl enthusiasts, classical music lovers, and others who valued natural sound. Audiophiles connected the console directly to amplifiers or receivers via RCA outputs and used the PS1 exclusively as a CD player.

Some enthusiasts even modified the console:

- Upgrading to linear power supplies for improved stability.

- Replacing capacitors for even cleaner sound.

- Adding vibration isolation to ensure error-free CD reading.

Why Only Early Revisions?

The SCPH-1000, SCPH-1001, and SCPH-1002 models were considered the gold standard due to their high-quality audio output. In later revisions (starting with SCPH-5000), Sony began cutting costs by replacing key components with less advanced ones, focusing more on gaming performance than audio fidelity.

Myth or Reality?

Using the PS1 as an audiophile-grade CD player is undoubtedly a niche practice, and skeptics argue it cannot compete with high-end standalone players. However, music enthusiasts claim that for its price (often purchased second-hand for a fraction of the cost), it offered incredible quality.

Conclusion

The original PlayStation 1 is not only a legend of the gaming industry but also an unexpected hero in the audiophile world. If you have an old PS1 lying around, try connecting it to your audio system. You might be surprised by how great your favorite music sounds through this iconic console!

 

[SwordBreaker39]

A very interesting read and something I never taught about. But im not audio file so hard for me to miss it but I will say growing up the PS1 sure had some great music. Well mostly the games had very dang good soundtracks.

How ever as some one that loves retro music mostly I prefer the sharp X6800 Yamaha YM2151 for classic game music. Or using a Roland MT-32 or older PC games.

 

[IyoTheHelpfulWolf]

I can't speak for the PlayStation 1 as I've never owned one, but I connected my PlayStation 2 to my Edifier 1280T Speakers and was honestly shocked at how good the game audio was. I've never heard Devil May Cry 3 sound so clear and punchy!

 

[G78]

A very interesting read and something I never taught about. But im not audio file so hard for me to miss it but I will say growing up the PS1 sure had some great music. Well mostly the games had very dang good soundtracks.

How ever as some one that loves retro music mostly I prefer the sharp X6800 Yamaha YM2151 for classic game music. Or using a Roland MT-32 or older PC games.

I am using a Samsung HT-F455K 5.1 speaker system for watching movies and video games. Overall, the sound satisfies me, but I’m increasingly thinking about upgrading the system to get better and deeper sound.
I’m considering the Yamaha Kino SYSTEM 385 (RX-V385 + NS-F51 + NS-P51) in black. This set appeals to me due to the combination of the modern AV receiver and high-quality speakers.

 

[Bobmeboi]

I came for the pics and stayed for the facts.

 

[goregoregoregoregoregore]

To me a even more interesting way is using a console for the contrary, a lower in quality of the audio. If i recall from when i was younger, i used to do something similar that some people do with vinyl that is scratching certain patterns or purposefully dirtying the disk and the console to make it sound weird. Abusing your playstation gives some interesting results in all aspects, not only audio lmao. But be prepared to not be able to play in it after some fun like this lolol.
I saw little fanmade DAWs and trackers made for some Nintendo handhelds, i bet there is some for old Playstation consoles too

 

[Ícaro Oliveira Santos]

I didn't know that the old PS1 models had high-quality audio. This article is very good and informative.

 

[Don Patch]

Still a righteous DAC, even by today's standards.
BTW, I friggin LOVE articles like this.

 

[C.Endfield]

Once I noticed this difference I went on a hunt finding an audiophile model and was lucky enough to find it for less than 100€. Needless to say, got my modded PS1 wayyyy back from 1999 still in my room. That thing travelled every summer with me when we went back to our home country.

 

[DunkeyKong]

Great article once again, this is a bit unsurprising because Sony is known for it's incredible audio machinery like the Walkman. Also the power of CD! Can't forget that powerful advantage

 

[cjl8336]

Sony has always made a great DAC - I remember copying audio CDs to DATs because the sound quality is quite good - but those tapes were really expensive

 

[CRTRebel]

Very interesting article, I did not know this feature of the first PlayStation.... However, when I played with this console I used to connect it to my hi-fi system, and the game immersion was total!

 

[C.Endfield]

Very interesting article, I did not know this feature of the first PlayStation.... However, when I played with this console I used to connect it to my hi-fi system, and the game immersion was total!

Indeed, this is quite a nifty little secret. Still blows my mind that I never knew that you could restore deleted Save Files from Memory Card by pressing all trigger buttons. Not sure if this was ever outlined in any PS1 manual, either.

 

[Blamhammer]

Playing MGS1 on a 1000 model console hooked up to a dedicated audio setup was, and still is, awesome. Glad the Sony engineers got that DAC in though, at least Sony could sell a great CD player if the console flopped.

Continuing with DACs Sony saw fit to put Wolfson DACs in the PSP and PS Vita. Not sure on the consensus with these chips but they sound pretty good to me!

 

[Zeb89]

Guys, I don't know why but I suspect this article was (mostly) written with ChatGPT and some parts were hand-made. The choice of words highly reminds me of the cookie-cutter stuff churned out by an AI, at least I appreciate the fact that he included some photos to go along with the article

 

[Dyne]

I've never heard of this before. Thats really interesting!

 

[DunkeyKong]

Guys, I don't know why but I suspect this article was (mostly) written with ChatGPT and some parts were hand-made. The choice of words highly reminds me of the cookie-cutter stuff churned out by an AI, at least I appreciate the fact that he included some photos to go along with the article

I think it's kinda sad that even a well written article or basically anything now could be an AI

Not saying you're wrong though, but that's just the truth sometimes. Thankfully though, I'm sure all of this are written by him and him only. This isn't the first time he's done an article too

 

[Blamhammer]

Oh I will mention that if you want to try out the PS1 as an audio player you may need to make adjustments to get the laser reading without issues. Here's a fairly simple guide I had bookmarked.
PS1 Laser Alignment

 

[CRTRebel]

Indeed, this is quite a nifty little secret. Still blows my mind that I never knew that you could restore deleted Save Files from Memory Card by pressing all trigger buttons. Not sure if this was ever outlined in any PS1 manual, either.

Surely it is thanks to the advent of the Internet aided by the testimonies of so many enthusiasts in the field, including the craziest!

 

[G78]

Guys, I don't know why but I suspect this article was (mostly) written with ChatGPT and some parts were hand-made. The choice of words highly reminds me of the cookie-cutter stuff churned out by an AI, at least I appreciate the fact that he included some photos to go along with the article

AI can be a good assistant when you need to do something quickly or fix mistakes, but when it comes to conveying real emotions and the atmosphere of a text, you need a human touch. Translation, sure, thats something AI can handle, but for a real, engaging text that grabs attention, it needs nuances that AI just cant catch. So its better to write it yourself, and let AI help out behind the scenes
Especially having in my collection a PS1 SCPH-1002 and not knowing for many years that it turned out to be a small high-quality music box) it might help others realize that they have a treasure of sound.

Post automatically merged: Jan 26, 2025

Oh I will mention that if you want to try out the PS1 as an audio player you may need to make adjustments to get the laser reading without issues. Here's a fairly simple guide I had bookmarked.
PS1 Laser Alignment

Risky topic, but workable)

 

[Saint_c]

What an awesome deep dive! Those mods look so cool

 

[G78]

What an awesome deep dive! Those mods look so cool ::вінні

Check This)

 

[ZombieFish]

They really do sound nice. No space to set ‘em up at the moment, but I’m holding onto two for this reason. Cap replacement is a good idea, gotta remember that. Sony really was courting AV nerds with the launch models of PSX/2/3.

 

[Theobaldus]

It's worth mentioning that the SEGA CD doesn't provide CD audio quality. The sample rate is around 30kHz, which means everything past 15kHz is lost and will make everything sound darker than it should be. And then you hear CD quality for real on a PS1 and everything is brighter and cool. I think this factor helped in the audiophile boom of this console from Sony.

The 3DO also had 44.1 kHz and 16 bit CD quality, but it wasn't exactly as popular as the PS1 so that's probably why it's usually not mentioned about the matter.

 

[psyke]

It's worth mentioning that the SEGA CD doesn't provide CD audio quality. The sample rate is around 30kHz, which means everything past 15kHz is lost and will make everything sound darker than it should be. And then you hear CD quality for real on a PS1 and everything is brighter and cool. I think this factor helped in the audiophile boom of this console from Sony.

The 3DO also had 44.1 kHz and 16 bit CD quality, but it wasn't exactly as popular as the PS1 so that's probably why it's usually not mentioned about the matter.

The 3DO was also very easy to use without a display. Drop a CD in and all of the commands were right there on the controller with a very convenient audio output jack right there for headphones.

Not that the original PS wasn't, but you could accidentally menu into options (like memory card settings) that would make it so you had to reset to get back to the CD control.