If yes, then maybe the PS1's audio line-level amp is going funny, but the tv tolerates it better than the recorder?
Maybe there's a malfunction causing either an impedance mismatch, or DC, or inaudibly low/high frequency noise.
Can you hook up with antenna cable (antenna-out to antenna-in), instead of the patch cord? (I don't know the various consoles's hookups).
Or run the audio through a vcr's audio inputs & outputs, as a buffer?
Another possibility is a ground-loop. Especially if the PS1 is plugged straight into an outlet, instead of a transformer or batteries.
You might try unhooking cable/satellite, or the PC, if any of those are connected (those two are the worst culprits, but any other device can contribute to ground loop problems). That would mainly cause buzzing and volume problems, but maybe other things.
And, first things last,
Could you put a soundclip on Yousendit, or somewhere? That might help diagnose it.