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On PS5, open the Control Center with the PS button, choose Sound, and adjust EQ, volume, microphone, and other headphone options. You can also quickly open Sound controls by pressing the PlayStation Link button three times on either PULSE Explore earbud. Use Settings > Sound > 3D Audio (Headphones) for a personalized 3D profile or one of five presets, and use Settings > Sound > Volume > Audio Focus when you need quiet sounds or voices emphasized.
The menu labels below match Sony’s US PS5 support documentation available in October 2026. A future system update could move an item or add options.
Open the PULSE Explore sound controls
There are two equivalent ways to reach the quick audio panel:
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- Press the PS button on the DualSense controller.
- Select Sound in the Control Center.
For a shortcut without opening the Control Center, quickly press the PlayStation Link button three times on either earbud. Sony documents this triple-press gesture as a way to open Sound controls directly. The instructions and supported options are listed in PlayStation’s PULSE Explore audio-settings support page.
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Choose an EQ preset or make a custom profile
In the Sound panel, select EQ Presets. PULSE Explore on PS5 provides three ready-made choices and three user-adjustable modes:
| EQ option | What it emphasizes | When to try it |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | A balanced presentation of low and high frequencies. | Use it as a neutral starting point for games, chat, music, or mixed content. |
| Bass Boost | More prominent low frequencies. | Choose it when explosions, music, or other low-end effects sound too light. |
| Shooter | Greater emphasis on gunshots and footsteps. | Try it in shooter games when those cues need to stand out from the rest of the mix. |
| Audio Mode 1 | Custom frequency-slider settings. | Save a personal tuning for a particular game, genre, or listening preference. |
| Audio Mode 2 | Custom frequency-slider settings. | Keep a second tuning for another game or content type. |
| Audio Mode 3 | Custom frequency-slider settings. | Use a third independent custom profile. |
How to create a custom EQ
- Press PS and choose Sound.
- Select EQ Presets, then choose Audio Mode 1, Audio Mode 2, or Audio Mode 3.
- Move the frequency sliders until the balance suits you.
- Use the preview option to hear the selected mode before returning to the game.
- Leave the mode selected to apply it to your PULSE Explore audio.
There is no objectively best EQ. Standard preserves a balanced baseline, Bass Boost adds low-end weight, Shooter calls attention to specific game cues, and the three custom modes let you decide how much of each frequency range you want. Preview a mode at a comfortable volume rather than judging it from a single loud sound. Sony’s EQ guidance is available in its PS5 audio-output and EQ support article.
Set overall volume correctly
Use the PS5 volume control
For a software adjustment, open Settings > Sound > Volume. You can also press PS, select Sound, and move the volume control in the Control Center. Both paths adjust the PS5 output sent over PlayStation Link.
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Use the earbud volume buttons
Press the volume button on either PULSE Explore earbud to change PlayStation Link volume. This control is independent of the EQ selection: EQ changes frequency balance, while volume changes loudness.
Why the earbud buttons do not change phone volume
The earbud volume button controls PlayStation Link audio only. It does not control the volume of a connected Bluetooth device. If PlayStation Link and Bluetooth audio are playing at the same time, use the phone, tablet, or other Bluetooth source to change that device’s volume. The distinction is documented by Sony’s PULSE Explore volume instructions.
Adjust the microphone and sidetone
Sidetone: hear your own voice
Sidetone is the amount of your own voice that is fed back into the earbuds while you speak. It is separate from game volume: increasing sidetone does not make the game louder, and lowering it does not mute your microphone to other players. Where the option is available, adjust Sidetone Volume in the PS5 audio settings.
Select a microphone or change mic level
- Press the PS button.
- Select Mic in the Control Center.
- Choose the microphone input and adjust its level using the on-screen controls.
If both earbuds are connected through PlayStation Link, the left earbud’s microphone is enabled. Press the mute button on a DualSense or DualSense Edge controller to quickly mute the earbuds’ microphones. These controls are covered in Sony’s PULSE Explore support documentation.
Reduce distracting self-monitoring
If your voice sounds too loud inside the earbuds, lower Sidetone Volume rather than lowering game volume. If you cannot hear yourself at all and want natural feedback while talking, raise sidetone gradually. A sidetone change affects what you hear, not the level transmitted to people in party or game chat.
Turn on and personalize headphone 3D audio
Create a personalized profile
- Open Settings from the PS5 home screen.
- Choose Sound.
- Select 3D Audio (Headphones).
- Choose Create Personalized 3D Audio Profile.
- Follow the on-screen prompts and save the profile when finished.
The profile process tailors the headphone 3D-audio processing to your listening characteristics. If you do not want to create a personal profile, the same screen offers five preset profiles. Sony describes both routes in its PS5 headphone 3D-audio setup guide.
Enable 3D audio or use stereo
Make sure Enable 3D Audio for Headphones is turned on if you want the 3D processing to be active. Turning the setting off switches headphone output to stereo. This toggle is separate from EQ: you can use a custom EQ with 3D audio enabled, or use stereo output with the EQ mode you prefer.
Choosing a profile
- Use the personalized profile when you want the PS5 to apply the result of the guided setup.
- Try one of the five presets if you prefer a ready-made option or want to compare alternatives quickly.
- Evaluate profiles with the same game scene and a comfortable volume so that you are comparing spatial presentation rather than loudness.
Use Audio Focus when quiet sounds are hard to hear
Audio Focus is a separate PS5 headphone feature, not another EQ preset. Find it at Settings > Sound > Volume > Audio Focus. It is intended to make selected parts of the mix more audible and offers four focus types:
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- Boost Low Pitch
- Boost Voices
- Boost High Pitch
- Boost Quiet Sounds
Each type has Weak, Medium, and Strong adjustment levels. Start with Weak, then increase only if necessary. Sony warns that Audio Focus can produce loud sounds, so check the headphone volume before enabling it and again after changing its strength. The feature requires current PS5 system software; see the official Audio Focus support page for the documented path and warning.
Understand which control changes which part of the sound
| If you want to change… | Use this control | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Frequency balance | Control Center > Sound > EQ Presets | Select Standard, Bass Boost, Shooter, or a custom Audio Mode. |
| Overall PlayStation loudness | Settings > Sound > Volume, Control Center > Sound, or either earbud’s volume button | Raises or lowers PlayStation Link output. |
| Your own voice in the earbuds | Sidetone Volume in PS5 audio settings | Changes self-monitoring only. |
| Microphone input and level | PS button > Mic | Selects the input and adjusts the level sent to chat. |
| Microphone mute | DualSense or DualSense Edge mute button | Quickly mutes the earbuds’ microphones. |
| Spatial headphone processing | Settings > Sound > 3D Audio (Headphones) | Creates a profile, selects a preset, or switches 3D processing on or off. |
| Audibility of selected sounds | Settings > Sound > Volume > Audio Focus | Boosts low-pitch, voice, high-pitch, or quiet sounds at three strengths. |
Before you start: identify the active connection
These instructions concern PULSE Explore audio delivered over PlayStation Link to the PS5. The earbuds can also have a Bluetooth device connected, but the two connections do not share one volume control. If both PlayStation Link and Bluetooth audio are active, the earbud volume buttons continue to adjust PlayStation Link only. Change the phone, tablet, or other Bluetooth source with that device’s own volume control.
No extra accessory, replacement part, repair tool, or consumable is required for this settings workflow. Existing owners can follow the menus directly. Audio Focus is the exception to the general feature list: Sony says it requires current PS5 system software, so update the console if that item is absent.
Match the setting to the problem
Use the setting that addresses the actual complaint instead of changing several controls at once:
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- The sound is too bass-light: try Bass Boost, then return to Standard if the added low end masks other details.
- Gunshots or footsteps need emphasis: try Shooter; it is designed to emphasize those cues, not to be a universal improvement for every game.
- The tonal balance is personal or game-specific: use Audio Mode 1, 2, or 3 and adjust the frequency sliders.
- Your voice is distracting: lower Sidetone Volume; do not lower game volume unless the game itself is too loud.
- You cannot hear a particular class of sound: try Audio Focus, beginning at Weak, and recheck volume after enabling it.
- Direction or space sounds unnatural: compare the personalized 3D profile, the five presets, and stereo with 3D disabled.
This approach keeps loudness, frequency balance, spatial processing, self-monitoring, and accessibility boosts separate. It also makes it easier to undo a change when the result is not comfortable.
Compare profiles without changing two variables
When deciding between EQ modes or 3D profiles, use the same game scene or audio clip and keep the volume comfortable and consistent. A louder setting can seem better even when only loudness changed. Preview the selected EQ mode before leaving the menu, then listen to the same material again. For 3D audio, compare the personalized profile and presets at the same volume; finally switch Enable 3D Audio for Headphones off to hear the stereo reference.
Do not expect one profile to win in every situation. Standard is the balanced reference, Bass Boost favors low frequencies, Shooter highlights gunshots and footsteps, and custom modes let you make your own compromise. The personalized 3D profile and five presets are alternatives for spatial processing, not performance rankings.
Settings are retained on the earbuds
After you configure equalizer and sidetone volume, those settings are stored on the earbuds. PlayStation’s support page states: “Equalizer and sidetone volume settings are stored on your earbuds once you configure them. If you connect earbuds to other devices, they’ll keep the same settings.” This means the EQ and sidetone choices can remain in effect when you move the PULSE Explore to another compatible device; the earbud volume button still follows the audio connection you are controlling, and Bluetooth-device volume must be changed on that Bluetooth source.
Because EQ and sidetone persist, check them when moving from the PS5 to another device. A profile that sounded appropriate for a game may still be active elsewhere. Volume behavior is different: the earbud buttons target PlayStation Link, while Bluetooth loudness remains under the Bluetooth device’s control.
A practical setup sequence for a new game
- Set the PS5 volume to a comfortable level using Settings > Sound > Volume or Control Center > Sound.
- Open EQ Presets and begin with Standard.
- Switch to Bass Boost if the low end is too restrained, or Shooter if gunshots and footsteps need more emphasis.
- If none of those balances works, select one of Audio Modes 1–3, move its frequency sliders, and preview the result.
- Configure 3D Audio (Headphones) with a personalized profile or compare one of the five presets. Confirm that Enable 3D Audio for Headphones is on if you want 3D output.
- Set sidetone and microphone level from the Mic and audio controls while speaking normally, not while shouting.
- Use Audio Focus only when a specific class of sound remains difficult to hear, and start at Weak.
This sequence separates loudness, tonal balance, spatial processing, voice monitoring, and accessibility boosts. Changing one category at a time makes it easier to tell which adjustment helped.
Troubleshooting common problems
The Sound panel does not appear
- Press the PS button and select Sound from the Control Center rather than looking in the game’s own audio menu.
- Try the three-press PlayStation Link button shortcut on either earbud.
- If the shortcut does nothing, confirm that the earbuds are connected to the PS5 through PlayStation Link and check for a pending PS5 system update.
The EQ option is missing or seems unchanged
- Open Control Center > Sound > EQ Presets; EQ is not located under the microphone menu.
- After changing a custom mode’s sliders, use its preview and leave that mode selected.
- Remember that EQ changes frequency balance, not overall loudness. Use the volume control if the entire signal is too quiet.
The earbuds change game volume but not phone volume
This is expected when the earbuds’ volume buttons are controlling PlayStation Link. Adjust the Bluetooth device’s volume on the phone, tablet, or other connected source. With both connections active, the buttons continue to control PlayStation Link audio only.
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Chat audio is uncomfortable
- Lower or raise Sidetone Volume to change how loudly you hear yourself.
- Use PS button > Mic to select the intended input and set its level.
- Press the DualSense or DualSense Edge mute button when you need an immediate microphone mute.
- If both earbuds are connected over PlayStation Link, check the left earbud because its microphone is enabled.
3D audio sounds wrong for your ears
- Return to Settings > Sound > 3D Audio (Headphones) and run Create Personalized 3D Audio Profile again, following each prompt carefully.
- Compare the personalized result with the five presets at the same volume.
- Turn Enable 3D Audio for Headphones off to compare stereo output. If stereo is preferable, leave 3D disabled; the setting is a choice, not a requirement.
Audio Focus makes the output unexpectedly loud
Lower the PS5 headphone volume before changing Audio Focus strength, then use Weak rather than Medium or Strong. Audio Focus can raise perceived or actual loudness, so Sony recommends checking volume whenever the feature is enabled or adjusted.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I change the PULSE Explore EQ on PS5?
Press the PS button, open Sound, and select EQ Presets. Choose Standard, Bass Boost, Shooter, or one of Audio Mode 1–3. The three Audio Modes provide frequency sliders and a preview.
Which EQ is best for shooters?
Shooter is the purpose-built choice because it emphasizes gunshots and footsteps. It is not automatically best for every game or listener, so compare it with Standard and a custom mode at a comfortable, equal volume.
Why do the earbud buttons not change my phone’s Bluetooth volume?
The buttons control PlayStation Link audio only. Adjust volume on the phone, tablet, or other Bluetooth source. This remains true when PlayStation Link and Bluetooth audio are playing simultaneously.
How do I hear myself more or less while talking?
Change Sidetone Volume in the PS5 audio controls. Sidetone changes the voice feedback you hear inside the earbuds; it does not change your game volume or the level sent to other chat participants.
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When both earbuds are connected through PlayStation Link, the left earbud’s microphone is enabled. You can select the input and adjust its level by pressing PS and choosing Mic.
How do I turn on PS5 3D audio?
Go to Settings > Sound > 3D Audio (Headphones), create a personalized profile or select one of five presets, and turn on Enable 3D Audio for Headphones. Turning it off uses stereo output.
What if I only need voices or quiet sounds boosted?
Use Settings > Sound > Volume > Audio Focus. Select Boost Voices, Boost Quiet Sounds, Boost Low Pitch, or Boost High Pitch, then choose Weak, Medium, or Strong. Start at Weak and check volume because the feature can produce loud sounds.
Do EQ and sidetone settings follow the earbuds to another device?
Yes. PlayStation states that equalizer and sidetone volume settings are stored on the earbuds and remain when you connect them to other devices. Bluetooth-device volume still has to be changed on that device.
Quick reference
EQ: PS button > Sound > EQ Presets.
Volume: Settings > Sound > Volume, Control Center > Sound, or either earbud’s volume button for PlayStation Link.
Microphone: PS button > Mic; use the controller mute button for a quick mute.
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3D audio: Settings > Sound > 3D Audio (Headphones) > Create Personalized 3D Audio Profile, or select one of five presets.
Audio Focus: Settings > Sound > Volume > Audio Focus; choose a focus type and Weak, Medium, or Strong.
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How do I change the PULSE Explore EQ on PS5?
Press PS, choose Sound, and select EQ Presets. Pick Standard, Bass Boost, Shooter, or Audio Mode 1, 2, or 3; the Audio Modes provide adjustable frequency sliders.
Why doesn’t the earbud volume button change Bluetooth volume?
It controls PlayStation Link audio only. Change volume on the connected phone, tablet, or other Bluetooth source.
How do I turn on 3D audio?
Open Settings > Sound > 3D Audio (Headphones), create a personalized profile or select one of five presets, and enable Enable 3D Audio for Headphones.
What does sidetone change?
Sidetone changes how loudly you hear your own voice. It is separate from game volume and does not change the microphone level heard by other players.
Which microphone is active?
If both earbuds connect through PlayStation Link, the left earbud’s microphone is enabled. Use PS > Mic to choose the input and adjust its level.
What is Audio Focus?
Audio Focus is under Settings > Sound > Volume. It boosts low-pitch sounds, voices, high-pitch sounds, or quiet sounds at Weak, Medium, or Strong levels.
Do EQ and sidetone settings persist on other devices?
Yes. PlayStation says those settings are stored on the earbuds and remain when you connect them to another device.
The Bottom Line
Use PS > Sound > EQ Presets for Standard, Bass Boost, Shooter, or a custom Audio Mode; use the PS5 volume controls or earbud buttons for PlayStation Link loudness; and use PS > Mic for input, level, and sidetone-related controls. Set up 3D audio under Settings > Sound > 3D Audio (Headphones), and use Audio Focus only when a specific sound needs emphasis. Compare changes at a comfortable, consistent volume.
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