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On a PS5, press the PS button, open Control Center > Sound, and adjust the PULSE Explore earbuds from there. The Sound panel contains EQ Presets, volume, and supported microphone and sidetone controls. You can also open Sound controls by quickly pressing the PlayStation Link button three times on either earbud. For positional headphone audio, use Settings > Sound > 3D Audio (Headphones).
This guide explains what each control does, which setting suits a particular listening goal, and why the earbud volume buttons behave differently for PlayStation Link and Bluetooth audio. It also separates controls that are often confused, such as EQ, 3D Audio, sidetone, microphone level, and Audio Focus.
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Open the PULSE Explore sound controls
The fastest route is the PS5 Control Center:
- Press the PS button on the DualSense controller.
- Select Sound in the Control Center.
- Choose the control you want, such as EQ Presets or volume.
There is a shortcut when the earbuds are connected through PlayStation Link: quickly press the PlayStation Link button three times on either earbud. The same Sound controls open without navigating through the Control Center. Sony documents both methods in its PULSE Explore audio-settings support guide.
Menu names and feature availability can change with PS5 system software updates. The paths below match the US PlayStation support documentation available on October 13, 2026. If a menu is missing, first confirm that the earbuds are connected through PlayStation Link and that the PS5 software is current.
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Know which audio control you are changing
Several PS5 controls can change how the same game sounds, but they do different jobs:
- EQ changes the balance between frequency ranges, such as bass or the frequencies where gunshots and footsteps are heard.
- Volume changes how loud the PlayStation Link signal is overall.
- Sidetone changes how loudly you hear your own voice in the earbuds while speaking.
- Microphone level changes the input setup used for your voice; it is not the same as sidetone.
- 3D Audio changes the headphone output mode and spatial processing. It is separate from EQ.
- Audio Focus boosts a selected range or quiet sounds and is an optional accessibility-oriented headphone feature.
Changing the wrong control can make troubleshooting confusing. For example, raising sidetone will not make a game louder, and enabling 3D Audio will not automatically apply a bass boost.
Choose an EQ preset
In Control Center > Sound, select EQ Presets. The PS5 offers three built-in choices and three user-adjustable audio modes. You can preview a selected mode before leaving the panel.
| EQ option | What it emphasizes | When to try it |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Balances low and high frequencies. | General play, mixed game genres, music, or the most neutral starting point. |
| Bass Boost | Emphasizes bass. | When explosions, low-end effects, or a warmer presentation are your priority. |
| Shooter | Emphasizes gunshots and footsteps. | When you want those sounds to stand out in a shooter. |
| Audio Mode 1 | User-customizable frequency sliders. | For a personal profile you can tune and preview. |
| Audio Mode 2 | User-customizable frequency sliders. | For a second custom profile, such as a different game or listening preference. |
| Audio Mode 3 | User-customizable frequency sliders. | For a third custom profile. |
How to tune a custom mode
- Open PS button > Control Center > Sound > EQ Presets.
- Select Audio Mode 1, Audio Mode 2, or Audio Mode 3.
- Move the available frequency sliders to change the balance.
- Use the preview option to listen before applying the profile.
- Return to the game and make small changes rather than moving every slider at once.
A practical way to tune is to start with Standard, change one part of the spectrum, and listen to a familiar section of the game. If dialogue becomes masked, explosions become tiring, or footsteps sound unnatural, move the slider back toward its previous position. Previewing after each small change makes it easier to identify what helped.
There is no single objectively best EQ. Standard is the balanced reference, Bass Boost adds low-frequency weight, and Shooter is voiced to make gunshots and footsteps more prominent. A custom mode is useful when those broad descriptions do not match your hearing, game, or comfort level. The official EQ instructions are in Sony’s PS5 audio-output and EQ support page.
Adjust overall volume
For PS5 audio, use either of these paths:
- Settings > Sound > Volume
- PS button > Control Center > Sound
You can also press the volume button on either PULSE Explore earbud. That button changes the volume of audio arriving through PlayStation Link.
Why the earbud buttons do not change phone volume
The earbud volume buttons do not control the volume of a connected Bluetooth device. Adjust Bluetooth playback on the phone, tablet, or other Bluetooth source itself. If PlayStation Link and Bluetooth audio are playing at the same time, the earbud button still changes only the PlayStation Link level. This distinction is easy to miss because the same physical button is used in both situations; Sony explains it in the PULSE Explore volume and audio-settings documentation.
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Set microphone level and sidetone
Sidetone is the amount of your own voice that you hear in the earbuds. It is separate from game volume: increasing sidetone does not make the game louder, and lowering it does not mute other players.
Change sidetone volume
- Press the PS button.
- Open Sound in the Control Center.
- Adjust Sidetone Volume when that control is available for the connected setup.
A low sidetone level can make your voice barely audible to you; a higher level lets you monitor your speech without removing the earbuds. Set it to a comfortable level while speaking normally rather than shouting to test the microphone. Sidetone is monitoring for the wearer, not a separate volume control for teammates hearing the microphone.
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Select a microphone or change mic level
- Press the PS button.
- Select Mic in the Control Center.
- Choose the microphone and adjust its input level using the on-screen controls.
The DualSense and DualSense Edge mute button can quickly mute the PULSE Explore microphones. When both earbuds are connected through PlayStation Link, the left earbud’s microphone is enabled. Sony lists these controls and behaviors in its official PULSE Explore support instructions.
Set up 3D Audio for headphones
3D Audio is configured separately from EQ. EQ changes frequency balance; 3D Audio changes the headphone output mode and its spatial processing. You can use a personalized profile or a preset, then decide whether to enable the feature for headphone output.
Create a personalized 3D profile
- Open Settings > Sound > 3D Audio (Headphones).
- Select Create Personalized 3D Audio Profile.
- Follow the on-screen prompts while wearing the PULSE Explore earbuds in your normal listening position.
- Save the resulting profile when the setup finishes.
Wear the earbuds normally during the prompts. If their position changes substantially between setup and play, the profile may not sound as familiar as it did during calibration, so repeat the process if the menu offers that option and you want to try again.
If you do not want to create a profile, the same menu offers five presets. Choose one and listen to familiar game audio before deciding whether it suits you. The presets are alternatives to personalization, not additional EQ bands. There is no requirement to use a personalized profile if a preset is more comfortable.
Turn headphone 3D Audio on or off
Enable 3D Audio for Headphones in the 3D Audio settings to use the selected profile or preset. Turning the option off switches headphone output to stereo. If a game sounds unexpectedly different after changing this setting, check the toggle before changing your EQ.
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Use Audio Focus when quiet sounds are hard to hear
Audio Focus is an optional headphone feature, not an EQ preset and not a replacement for 3D Audio. It is intended to make selected ranges or quiet sounds more audible.
- Open Settings > Sound > Volume.
- Select Audio Focus.
- Choose one focus type: Boost Low Pitch, Boost Voices, Boost High Pitch, or Boost Quiet Sounds.
- Select an adjustment level: Weak, Medium, or Strong.
Current PS5 system software is required. Sony warns that Audio Focus can produce loud sounds, so check the headphone volume before enabling or increasing it. Start with Weak, listen to a familiar scene, and only move to Medium or Strong if the selected sounds remain difficult to hear. If dialogue or subtle effects become uncomfortable, lower the level or turn the feature off. See the official PS5 Audio Focus support page for the feature’s requirements and controls.
Which combination should you use?
Choose settings by the result you want rather than treating one profile as universally superior. Change one major setting at a time and preview it in the game or content you actually use.
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- EQ: Standard
- 3D Audio: use a personalized profile or a preset if you prefer spatial output; disable it for stereo.
- Audio Focus: leave it off unless you specifically need a frequency or quiet-sound boost.
This gives you a neutral frequency starting point while keeping the separate spatial-audio decision under your control.
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- EQ: Bass Boost
- Volume: raise it only to a comfortable level.
- Audio Focus: avoid adding another boost unless a particular sound remains difficult to hear.
Using several boosts at once can make the result louder or less comfortable, so change one control and preview before changing another.
Footsteps and gunshots in a shooter
- EQ: Shooter
- Preview the preset in the game you play most.
- Adjust volume and sidetone independently; neither setting changes the EQ emphasis.
Shooter is an emphasis profile, not a guarantee of better competitive performance. Room noise, game audio mixing, your hearing, and personal preference still affect what you can distinguish. If the preset makes voices or other effects tiring, Standard or a gentler custom mode may be more comfortable.
A profile for a particular game or listener
- EQ: one of the three custom Audio Modes.
- Move frequency sliders gradually.
- Preview the mode, then save the version that is comfortable for longer sessions.
Keeping separate custom modes lets you retain different adjustments without overwriting the others. You can reserve one mode for a bass-heavy game, another for a shooter, and a third for a personal listening preference, then compare them from the EQ Presets panel.
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Settings that stay with the earbuds
PlayStation’s official 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.” That means an EQ or sidetone change made for the PS5 can remain when the earbuds are later connected elsewhere. It does not make a Bluetooth device’s volume controllable from the earbud buttons: Bluetooth playback volume is still adjusted on that device.
This stored-setting behavior is useful when moving between a PS5 and another device, but it also explains why a profile can seem to “follow” the earbuds. If the sound is different from what you expect after reconnecting, check the EQ and sidetone values rather than assuming the other device created a new profile.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshoot common audio-setting problems
The Sound panel does not show the expected options
- Confirm that the earbuds are connected through PlayStation Link, not only paired to another device by Bluetooth.
- Open Sound from the Control Center with the PS button, or triple-press the PlayStation Link button on an earbud.
- Check for PS5 system software updates, because menu labels and feature availability can change.
- If a control is described as available only when supported, verify the active output and microphone before looking for a different menu.
The volume button changes the wrong audio
If the button changes game or chat audio but not phone playback, that is expected: the button controls PlayStation Link only. Change the Bluetooth source’s volume on the phone or other connected device. When both sources play at once, do not expect one earbud button press to balance them independently.
You cannot hear your own voice correctly
Open the Mic controls and adjust Sidetone Volume. Sidetone is monitoring of your own voice, not the microphone’s output level to other players. If the microphone itself is muted, use the DualSense or DualSense Edge mute button to unmute it and verify the selected mic in the Control Center. Test while speaking at a normal level; shouting can lead to an unnecessarily low sidetone setting.
3D Audio sounds wrong or is unavailable
- Go to Settings > Sound > 3D Audio (Headphones).
- Check whether Enable 3D Audio for Headphones is on.
- Select the personalized profile or one of the five presets.
- If you prefer a conventional left-right mix, turn 3D Audio off to return to stereo.
Compare the same scene after each change. EQ and 3D Audio are separate, so changing the EQ will not substitute for enabling the 3D switch.
Audio Focus makes the sound too loud
Lower the headphone volume before testing Audio Focus again, then use Weak instead of Medium or Strong. Turn the feature off if the boosted range remains uncomfortable. Audio Focus is designed to increase audibility and can raise perceived loudness.
A custom EQ does not sound like the preset
That is normal: Audio Modes 1, 2, and 3 use your own frequency-slider positions, while Standard, Bass Boost, and Shooter are predefined choices. Reopen Sound > EQ Presets, select the custom mode, and preview it. If you want the neutral reference back, select Standard rather than trying to reset every slider manually.
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Quick reference
| Task | PS5 path or control | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Open Sound controls | PS button > Control Center > Sound, or triple-press the PlayStation Link button on either earbud | The triple-press is a shortcut. |
| Change EQ | Sound > EQ Presets | Standard, Bass Boost, Shooter, and Audio Modes 1–3. |
| Change PS Link volume | Settings > Sound > Volume, Control Center > Sound, or either earbud’s volume button | The earbud button does not control Bluetooth-device volume. |
| Adjust sidetone | Control Center > Sound > Sidetone Volume, when supported | Sidetone is how loudly you hear your own voice. |
| Select a mic or mic level | PS button > Mic | DualSense and DualSense Edge mute buttons can mute the earbuds’ microphones. |
| Set 3D Audio | Settings > Sound > 3D Audio (Headphones) | Create a personalized profile, choose one of five presets, or disable 3D Audio for stereo. |
| Use Audio Focus | Settings > Sound > Volume > Audio Focus | Choose Low Pitch, Voices, High Pitch, or Quiet Sounds, with Weak, Medium, or Strong adjustment. |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change the PULSE Explore EQ on PS5?
Press the PS button, open Control Center > Sound, select EQ Presets, and choose Standard, Bass Boost, Shooter, or Audio Mode 1, 2, or 3. The three Audio Modes use adjustable frequency sliders and include a preview option.
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The earbud buttons control PlayStation Link audio only. Adjust playback volume on the connected phone, tablet, or other Bluetooth source. This remains true when PlayStation Link and Bluetooth audio play at the same time.
How do I hear my own voice in PULSE Explore earbuds?
Open PS button > Control Center > Sound and adjust Sidetone Volume when the control is available. Sidetone controls how loudly you hear yourself; it does not change game volume or the level sent to other players.
How do I turn on 3D Audio for PULSE Explore?
Go to Settings > Sound > 3D Audio (Headphones), create a personalized profile or choose one of five presets, then enable 3D Audio for Headphones. Turn the option off to return to stereo.
Which PULSE Explore EQ is best for shooters?
Shooter emphasizes gunshots and footsteps, so it is a reasonable starting point. It is not guaranteed to improve performance; game mixing, hearing, room noise, and comfort still matter. Preview it and compare it with Standard or a custom mode.
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Can I make quiet dialogue or effects easier to hear?
Use Settings > Sound > Volume > Audio Focus. Choose Boost Low Pitch, Boost Voices, Boost High Pitch, or Boost Quiet Sounds, then select Weak, Medium, or Strong. Check volume first because Audio Focus can produce loud sounds.
Do PULSE Explore EQ and sidetone settings stay when I switch devices?
Yes. PlayStation states that equalizer and sidetone volume settings are stored on the earbuds and retained when they connect to other devices. Bluetooth playback volume is still controlled on the Bluetooth device.
Which microphone is used when both earbuds are connected through PlayStation Link?
The left earbud’s microphone is enabled. You can select the microphone and adjust mic level from the PS button > Mic controls in the Control Center.
The Bottom Line
For most PS5 owners, start at PS button > Control Center > Sound. Choose Standard for a balanced mix, Bass Boost for more low end, Shooter for stronger gunshot and footstep emphasis, or one of three custom Audio Modes for your own slider settings. Set overall PlayStation Link volume separately from Bluetooth volume, use Sidetone Volume to monitor your voice, and configure 3D Audio under Settings > Sound > 3D Audio (Headphones). Treat Audio Focus as an optional additional boost, and check volume before enabling it.
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