The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Connect your PULSE Elite to the PS5, then open Settings > Accessories > Pulse Elite wireless headset for headset-specific options. Use Settings > Sound > Audio Output for console audio and sidetone, or press PS and select Mic in the Control Center to choose a microphone or adjust its level.
The quickest route depends on the change you want: EQ is available from the Control Center’s Sound menu, the headset’s PlayStation Link button provides a Sound shortcut, and microphone selection and level are grouped under Mic. These controls do different jobs, so knowing which one you need can save time—especially when a voice issue is really a mute-state or sidetone setting rather than an input-level problem.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Which PS5 menu should you use?
PS5 puts PULSE Elite configuration, console output, and live microphone controls in different places. Choose the one that matches what you want to change:
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
| What you want to change | Where to go | What it controls |
|---|---|---|
| PULSE Elite headset options, including headset EQ and setup | Settings > Accessories > Pulse Elite wireless headset | Options associated with the connected headset, including sidetone and 3D audio setup. |
| Console sound output and sidetone volume | Settings > Sound > Audio Output | PS5 audio-output options. Sidetone Volume controls how loudly your own voice comes through the headset. |
| Microphone input device or microphone level | Press PS, then select Mic in the Control Center | Live microphone selection and level controls. |
The headset must be connected for its dedicated settings to appear. Exact labels and available choices can vary with console software and the connected-device configuration.
#1 Best Overall
- Next Generation Gaming Audio
- Multi-Device Connectivity
- Command and Control
- Always Be Ready for Great Play
A useful way to decide is to start with the symptom. If game or other PlayStation Link sound needs tonal adjustment, look for EQ. If you want to hear more or less of your own voice while speaking, adjust sidetone. If other people cannot hear you, open Mic to check the input and level, then confirm that the headset is not muted. If you are trying to change Bluetooth audio volume, the PS Link headset volume button is not the control to use.
These routes overlap in a few places, but they are not interchangeable. The headset’s Accessories page is for PULSE Elite-specific options; Audio Output is where PS5 exposes output settings such as Sidetone Volume; and Control Center > Mic is the direct place for choosing an input and setting its level. For EQ, the PS5 Control Center’s Sound menu provides the preset and custom-mode choices.
Open PULSE Elite sound controls while playing
If you are in a game and want a quicker route to sound controls, quickly press the headset’s PlayStation Link button three times. The button is on the right side of the headband. This opens a PS5 Sound-controls shortcut, so you do not have to leave the game and navigate through the full Settings menu.
Use this when you want to reach sound options without beginning at the Settings home screen. The action is a triple press of the headset’s PS Link button—not a press of the controller’s PS button. Once the Sound controls appear, choose the setting you actually want, such as EQ. If you need a microphone input or level control, the dedicated Mic panel is still the relevant Control Center destination; the Sound shortcut is not a substitute for selecting a microphone.
If the shortcut does not open the expected controls, confirm that the headset is connected to the PS5 and press the PS Link button three times quickly. The headset button is on the right side of the headband. You can also use the full menu paths in Settings, which make it easier to distinguish the headset-specific settings from console-wide output options.
Change the EQ preset or customize sound
To adjust EQ from the PS5 Control Center:
- Press the PS button on your controller to open the Control Center.
- Select Sound.
- Open EQ Presets and select a preset, or choose a customizable audio mode to adjust its frequency sliders.
The listed preset choices are Standard, Bass Boost, and Shooter. The PS5 also provides customizable modes; PlayStation’s February 21, 2024 setup guide says PULSE Elite supports up to three custom EQ presets in addition to the premade presets. Those are the available control options, not a recommendation that one mode is best for everyone. Choose a preset or adjust the sliders based on the sound you prefer.
Think of the preset list as a choice between ready-made modes and custom adjustment. Standard, Bass Boost, and Shooter are named preset options. A custom mode lets you adjust frequency sliders instead of selecting only one of those ready-made choices. If you want to compare modes, select one, listen to the content you care about, and then return to EQ Presets to try another. The available information identifies the choices and controls but does not establish a universally best setting for music, games, or chat.
There is also a distinction between finding EQ through the Control Center and finding headset-specific configuration through Settings > Accessories > Pulse Elite wireless headset. Use the former for the listed EQ Presets workflow. Use the latter when you want to view options associated with the connected PULSE Elite, including headset setup and sidetone. The names and availability shown on your console can vary with software and the connected-device configuration.
PlayStation says EQ settings configured for PULSE Elite are stored on the headset and remain when it connects to other devices. That means the saved headset EQ is not necessarily limited to a session on one PS5. It does not mean every connected device exposes the same PS5 menu or the same options: the menu path described here is the PS5 path, and available settings can depend on the device and audio configuration.
Adjust sidetone
Sidetone is the amount of your own voice you hear through the headset while speaking. To change it, open Settings > Sound > Audio Output and adjust Sidetone Volume. You can also reach headset-specific options, including sidetone, under Settings > Accessories > Pulse Elite wireless headset while the headset is connected.
Use sidetone when your own voice sounds too quiet or too prominent to you through the headset. It concerns the voice you hear locally; it is not the microphone input-level control and does not, by itself, show how loudly the PS5 is receiving your voice. For the input level, open PS > Mic and watch the on-screen meter while speaking. Keeping those two controls separate helps avoid changing the wrong setting when you are troubleshooting chat.
Recommended Free Tools
To adjust it, begin at Audio Output and look for Sidetone Volume. Change the setting, then speak and listen to the result. If you are already looking at the PULSE Elite’s dedicated Accessories page, its headset-specific options also include sidetone. Either route leads to a sidetone control, although exact labels or availability can vary according to console software and the connected-device configuration.
Rank #2
- Hear your Voice Level with Variable Mic Monitoring
- Low-Latency 2.4GHz Wireless plus Bluetooth 5.2 Connectivity
- Amplified 40mm Drivers for Powerful Spatial Audio
- QuickSwitch Button for Seamless Wireless to Bluetooth Switching
- Four Turtle Beach Audio EQ Modes
Unlike a setting that only changes the PS5’s output, EQ and sidetone settings configured for PULSE Elite are stored on the headset and remain when it connects to other devices. Available options can still depend on the connected device and audio setup. In practice, this persistence is useful if you move the headset between devices, but it does not make the PS5’s menu paths available on those other devices.
Choose a microphone and set its level
- Press the PS button to open the Control Center.
- Select Mic.
- Choose the desired microphone input or open the microphone-level control.
- Speak at your normal chat volume and adjust the level until the on-screen meter reaches the Good range.
Using the meter while speaking gives you a practical starting point: it shows how the console is receiving your voice rather than asking you to guess a level. If the meter does not respond as expected, check that the intended input device is selected and that the headset microphone is not muted.
Make sure you are changing the microphone level rather than sidetone. The meter is the useful reference for the PS5’s input level: speak at the volume you normally use for chat, then adjust until the meter reaches Good. The sidetone control instead changes how loudly your own voice is fed back to you through the headset. One is about the console’s microphone input; the other is about what you hear.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesIf the selected input is not the one you intend to use, choose the desired microphone in the Mic controls before judging the level. Then speak while watching the meter. If it is not responding as expected, check the PULSE Elite’s physical mute indicator as well. A headset mute state can prevent the mic from transmitting even if you are viewing the right menu. The on-screen meter and the headset indicator answer different questions: the meter shows input response, while the indicator shows the headset’s mute state.
The PS5 also has microphone-status defaults for login and for starting voice chat or a broadcast. These defaults determine whether the microphone is active by default in those situations. They are separate from the live input and level controls in Mic, and separate again from the headset’s physical mute button. If the microphone is silent at the start of a session, review the default that applies to that situation, then verify the current physical mute state and selected input.
Mute or unmute the PULSE Elite microphone
The PULSE Elite has a retractable microphone on the left side. Extend it for chat and retract it for storage. Use the microphone’s mute button to mute or unmute it. The mute indicator is the quick status check: lit means muted; unlit means the microphone is on.
When checking a no-audio problem, make the physical indicator part of the routine. A lit indicator means the mic is muted, so the first step is to unmute it with the headset’s mic mute button. When the indicator is unlit, the mic is on, but that alone does not confirm that the PS5 has selected the intended input or that its level is set appropriately. For those checks, use PS > Mic and watch the meter while speaking.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallYou can also mute the headset microphone with the mute button on a DualSense or DualSense Edge controller. PS5’s microphone-status defaults are separate from the headset’s physical mute button: the console can be configured for whether the microphone is active by default at login or when starting voice chat or a broadcast. Changing a default does not replace checking the headset’s mute indicator when you need to confirm its current physical mute state.
Those are three different kinds of control worth keeping straight: the retractable microphone’s button changes the headset’s mute state; the DualSense or DualSense Edge mute button also offers a way to mute the headset mic; and the PS5 status defaults set whether the mic starts active in specified situations. A default is not the same as a live confirmation that the mic is unmuted now. Check the headset indicator when you need to know its present physical state.
Understand which volume control changes which audio
The headset’s right-side volume button adjusts PlayStation Link audio. A tactile dot marks the plus side. If you are listening over Bluetooth, change that audio’s volume on the connected mobile device. When PS Link and Bluetooth audio play at the same time, the headset’s volume button changes only the PS Link audio, not the Bluetooth-device volume. PS5 sound controls also provide console-side volume adjustments.
This distinction matters most when two audio sources are playing together. The physical button on the headset is not a universal master control for every connected source: it changes PS Link audio. If Bluetooth audio is too loud or too quiet, use the connected mobile device’s volume control. If you are adjusting PlayStation audio on the console, PS5 Sound controls provide console-side volume adjustments.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →The tactile dot helps identify the plus side of the right-side volume control. It does not change which source the button controls. For a quick check, note whether the sound you want to change is arriving over PS Link or Bluetooth, then use the corresponding control. If both are playing, expect the headset button to affect PS Link only.
Rank #3
- Pro Gaming Headset: Based on the award-winning PRO X Gaming Headset, the new PRO X 2 was collaboratively designed with and for pro gamers to help them win
- Clear Audio: 50mm Graphene drivers provide clear and immersive audio with low distortion—capturing the entire soundscape of the game with audio cues like footsteps and actions
- Long Battery Life and Range: Equipped with pro-grade Logitech LIGHTSPEED wireless technology, with up to 50 hours of battery life (2) and up to 30m of 2.4 GHz wireless range (2)
- Comfortable: These noise isolating headphones have rotating durable hinge and rotating soft memory foam earpads—available in leatherette or breathable velour
- Connectivity: LIGHTSPEED wireless, Bluetooth and 3.5mm Aux Cord for connectivity options; USB-A to USB-C cable, USB-A Dongle with 3.5mm port, 3.5mm audio cable included
If an option is missing or does not seem to work
- The PULSE Elite settings page is absent: Connect the headset to the PS5 and look again under Settings > Accessories.
- You cannot hear your own voice as expected: Check Sidetone Volume in Settings > Sound > Audio Output. Sidetone concerns how much of your voice you hear; it is distinct from the microphone input level.
- Your chat microphone is not picking up speech: Open PS > Mic, verify the selected input, speak while watching the level meter, and check that the headset’s mute indicator is unlit.
- The headset volume button does not change Bluetooth audio: Adjust Bluetooth volume on the connected mobile device; the headset button controls PS Link audio.
For a missing EQ or other option, first check that you are in the menu intended for that control. EQ Presets are reached from PS > Sound, while headset-specific options are under Settings > Accessories > Pulse Elite wireless headset. Sidetone is available in Audio Output and among the connected headset’s options. A setting’s exact label or availability can vary with console software and the connected-device configuration, so a menu that differs slightly does not necessarily indicate a headset fault.
For a voice problem, follow the controls in a useful order: select the desired input in PS > Mic, speak while checking whether the meter reaches Good, and inspect the headset’s mute indicator. If you can hear your own voice too much or too little, adjust sidetone separately. If the headset is muted, the indicator is lit; if it is unlit, the mic is on. This sequence separates input selection, input level, physical mute state, and sidetone rather than treating them as one setting.
For a volume problem, identify the source first. PS Link audio is changed with the PULSE Elite’s right-side volume button; Bluetooth audio is changed on the connected mobile device; and PS5 Sound controls also provide console-side adjustments. When PS Link and Bluetooth are both active, the headset button changes only PS Link volume. That behavior is expected and is not evidence that the Bluetooth volume control is broken.
PlayStation’s PULSE Elite settings guidance and PS5 audio settings guidance describe these menu paths and controls. PlayStation Blog’s setup guide, published February 21, 2024, also identifies the headset’s Accessories path and describes its EQ setup. Since the console’s labels and available choices can vary with software and the connected audio configuration, use the paths here as the map and follow the options shown on your connected PS5.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the PULSE Elite settings on PS5?
Connect the headset, then go to Settings > Accessories > Pulse Elite wireless headset. The dedicated page includes headset-specific options, including sidetone and 3D audio setup. If the page is missing, check that the headset is connected.
How do I open PULSE Elite sound controls without navigating Settings?
Quickly press the headset’s PlayStation Link button three times. It is on the right side of the headband and opens a PS5 Sound-controls shortcut. This is distinct from pressing the controller’s PS button.
How do I change PULSE Elite EQ on PS5?
Press PS, select Sound, then open EQ Presets. Choose Standard, Bass Boost, or Shooter, or select a customizable audio mode and adjust its frequency sliders. PlayStation’s February 21, 2024 setup guide says the headset supports up to three custom EQ presets in addition to the premade modes.
Where is sidetone, and what does it change?
Open Settings > Sound > Audio Output and adjust Sidetone Volume. Sidetone is how loudly your own voice is heard through the headset. It is not the microphone input-level control; use PS > Mic for input and its on-screen level meter.
How do I adjust the mic level or check that the mic is muted?
Press PS, select Mic, choose the intended input, and speak while adjusting the level until the meter reaches Good. The PULSE Elite mic is on the left side and retracts for storage. Its lit mute indicator means muted; unlit means the mic is on. A DualSense or DualSense Edge mute button can also mute the headset mic.
Why doesn’t the headset volume button change Bluetooth audio?
The right-side headset volume button controls PlayStation Link audio, not Bluetooth-device volume. Adjust Bluetooth sound on the connected mobile device. If PS Link and Bluetooth audio play together, the headset button still changes only PS Link audio.
Do EQ and sidetone settings stay with the headset?
PlayStation says EQ and sidetone settings configured for PULSE Elite are stored on the headset and remain when it connects to other devices. The menus and options available on another device may differ from the PS5 controls.
The Bottom Line
Use Settings > Accessories > Pulse Elite wireless headset for headset-specific options, Settings > Sound > Audio Output for sidetone and output controls, and PS > Mic for microphone input and level. EQ is under PS > Sound > EQ Presets, and a quick triple press of the headset’s PS Link button opens a Sound shortcut. For chat checks, watch the mic meter and remember: a lit headset mute indicator means muted.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
