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To change a PS5 headset’s sound, microphone, or spatial-audio behavior, open Settings > Sound. Use Audio Output for the headset and headphone mix, Microphone for input selection and mic level, and 3D Audio (Headphones) to create a personalized profile or choose a preset. You can also press the PS button and use the control center’s Sound and Mic panels for the most common changes.
The steps below cover wired headsets, wireless USB headsets, a headset connected to the controller, and USB microphones. Menu names can expose different choices depending on the device connected, so select the option that identifies your actual headset or microphone.
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Use the full Settings menus when you are configuring a headset for the first time. The control center is faster when you only need to change volume, mute status, output, or the microphone currently in use.
- From the PS5 home screen, open Settings > Sound.
- Open Audio Output to select the playback device and decide which sounds go to the headset.
- Open Microphone to select the input device and set the microphone level.
- Open 3D Audio (Headphones) to enable spatial audio, create a personal profile, or select a preset.
- For a quick adjustment, press the PS button, then choose Sound or Mic in the control center.
How do I route PS5 game and chat audio to my headset?
Choose the headset as the output device, then set Output to Headphones to the sounds you want to hear. A headset can be connected through USB, the controller’s headset jack, or another available connection; the PS5 lists the compatible device in the output menu.
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Select the output device
- Open Settings > Sound > Audio Output.
- Choose Output Device.
- Select the connected headset, USB audio device, controller headset, or other audio device you intend to use.
- Open Output to Headphones and choose the audio routed to the headset. This setting determines whether the headset carries game sound, voice chat, or the available combined output.
- Turn on Switch Output Device Automatically if you want the PS5 to change to a newly connected audio device without selecting it manually each time.
Set listening volume and sidetone
Open Settings > Sound > Volume and adjust Headphones. The same area includes Controller Speakers volume. You can also press the PS button, open the control center, select Sound, and change the current audio level there.
If your headset supports sidetone, adjust Sidetone Volume until your own voice sounds natural. Sidetone sends a small amount of microphone audio back to you; it is not available on every headset, so the option may be absent.
| Setting | Menu path | What it controls |
|---|---|---|
| Output Device | Settings > Sound > Audio Output | The device that receives PS5 audio |
| Output to Headphones | Settings > Sound > Audio Output | Which available audio is sent through the headset |
| Switch Output Device Automatically | Settings > Sound > Audio Output | Whether connecting a device triggers automatic output switching |
| Headphones volume | Settings > Sound > Volume or control center > Sound | Listening level in the headset |
| Sidetone Volume | Settings > Sound > Audio Output | How loudly you hear your own voice, when supported |
How do I make my PS5 use my headset microphone?
Select the microphone in the control center, then calibrate its level so your speech reaches Sony’s Good range. The available input choices depend on what is connected: a headset microphone, the controller microphone, or a separate USB microphone can appear in the list.
Choose the input and calibrate it
- Press the PS button to open the control center.
- Select Mic, then open Input Device.
- Choose the headset microphone, controller microphone, or USB microphone you want to use.
- Select Adjust Microphone Level.
- Speak at your normal gaming-chat volume and watch the input meter. Move the level until your voice falls in the Good range rather than remaining too quiet or reaching the loudest part of the meter.
You can reach the same microphone controls through Settings > Sound > Microphone. If friends cannot hear you, check the selected input before changing any game-specific voice-chat setting.
Choose what happens after sign-in and when chat starts
Microphone Status When Logged In determines whether the microphone starts On or Mute after you sign in. Choose Mute if you want to prevent an open microphone immediately after entering your account, or On if you routinely join chat as soon as you log in.
Microphone Status When Starting Voice Chat or Broadcast has two choices. Switch to Mute starts each voice chat or broadcast muted, while Don’t Change preserves the microphone’s existing state. The latter is useful when you deliberately leave the mic on between sessions; the former prevents accidental hot-mic moments.
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Use the controller mute button correctly
The controller’s MUTE button can mute the microphone and the controller’s speakers together. Press it again to restore the previous state. If the button indicates that the mic is muted, unmute it before testing the input meter or joining a party.
| Microphone control | Available choices or behavior | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Input Device | Headset mic, controller mic, or USB mic, depending on connected hardware | Select the physical microphone you intend to speak through |
| Adjust Microphone Level | Input meter with Sony’s Good range | Set speech loudness for chat and broadcasts |
| Microphone Status When Logged In | On or Mute | Set the microphone state immediately after sign-in |
| Microphone Status When Starting Voice Chat or Broadcast | Switch to Mute or Don’t Change | Control the starting state of each new chat or broadcast |
How do I turn on or personalize 3D audio for headphones?
Open Settings > Sound > 3D Audio (Headphones). You can run a listening test that creates a profile for your hearing, choose one of five preset profiles, or turn headphone 3D audio off to return to stereo.
Create a personalized profile
- Open Settings > Sound > 3D Audio (Headphones).
- Select Create Personalized 3D Audio Profile.
- Listen to each test sound through the headphones.
- Answer the on-screen questions about where each sound appears to come from.
- When the test finishes, turn on Apply Personalized 3D Audio Profile.
The test is intended to adapt the spatial presentation to your perception of direction. If the result sounds unnatural, run the profile again while wearing the headset in its normal position. You can also turn off Apply Personalized 3D Audio Profile and compare the unpersonalized 3D output with a preset.
Use a preset or switch back to stereo
If you do not want to complete the listening test, choose one of Sony’s five preset profiles in the same menu. Turn Enable 3D Audio for Headphones on for spatial playback. Turn it off to return to stereo; this is a useful comparison when a game’s directional cues sound less clear with the profile enabled.
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TV speakers use a separate menu: Settings > Sound > 3D Audio (TV). The PS5 can measure room acoustics through the controller microphone. Run the measurement again after moving the television, changing your seating position, or substantially changing the room setup, because those changes alter the acoustic conditions used by the feature.
How do I change EQ presets on a supported Sony headset?
With a compatible Sony headset connected, press the PS button, select Sound, and choose EQ Presets. The documented presets are Standard, Bass Boost, and Shooter.
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- Press PS and select Sound.
- Choose EQ Presets.
- Preview Standard, Bass Boost, or Shooter.
- For a custom sound, select one of the three custom audio modes and adjust its frequency sliders.
- Rename a custom mode if you need to identify it later, or reset it to its default values.
Sony lists PULSE Explore, PULSE 3D, and PULSE Elite among the products for which PS5 EQ and 3D-audio settings can be adjusted. The controls shown can vary with the connected device and its configuration, so a headset may not expose every option in this list.
How do the headset’s physical controls work with PS5 menus?
Hardware buttons can change mute, monitoring, and chat/game balance without opening Settings. The PULSE 3D manual documents the following controls.
Mute and microphone monitoring
- Press the headset mute button to mute or unmute its microphones. The indicator is orange while muted.
- Slide MONITOR on to hear your own voice. A high beep indicates that monitoring is on; a low beep indicates that it is off.
- Microphone monitoring turns off while mute is active, so unmute before judging the monitoring level.
Chat/game balance
Press CHAT or GAME to change the relative level of voice chat and game audio. Press both buttons together to reset the balance. This hardware mix is separate from the overall headphone volume: if both sources are too quiet, raise the master headphone level after setting their relative balance.
The same headset can still be routed through Settings > Sound > Audio Output > Output to Headphones. Use the menu when you need to change the device or output routing, and use the headset buttons for quick changes during play.
How do I balance game sound and voice chat?
First set a comfortable overall headphone volume. Then adjust the relative chat/game mix with the headset’s CHAT and GAME controls when those buttons are available; pressing both resets the mix.
- Open the control center with the PS button and select Sound to confirm the headset is the active output.
- Set the overall headphone volume high enough for normal game effects without distortion or discomfort.
- During a party or voice chat, press CHAT to emphasize voices or GAME to emphasize game audio.
- If the balance becomes confusing, press both buttons together to restore the headset’s neutral mix, then adjust again.
Not every headset has dedicated chat/game buttons. In that case, use the headset’s own mixer or the game’s voice and effects sliders when provided, while leaving the PS5 output device and microphone selection unchanged.
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What should I do if friends hear an echo?
Lower the microphone pickup level rather than immediately changing the output device. Open Settings > Sound > Microphone > Adjust Microphone Level and move the microphone fader two to four notches to the left, following Sony’s troubleshooting guidance.
Speak again after each small change. Moving the control too far can make you difficult to hear, so stop when the echo disappears while your speech remains in the Good range.
Why does my wireless headset skip or disconnect?
Nearby USB 3.0 equipment can interfere with a wireless headset adapter. Remove nearby USB 3.0 devices first; if several wireless headsets or USB 3.0 devices are connected, use a USB extension cable to increase the distance between the headset adapter and those devices.
If the connection still drops after increasing that separation, reset the headset according to its hardware instructions and reconnect it before changing PS5 audio menus.
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- Open Settings > Sound > Audio Output and confirm that Output Device identifies the headset.
- Check Output to Headphones and select the audio you expect to hear.
- Press PS, open Sound, and verify that the same headset is selected in the control center.
- Raise Headphones volume in Settings > Sound > Volume or in the control center.
- Check the headset’s physical mute or volume controls, if it has them.
What should I check when the microphone does not work?
- Press PS, choose Mic, and verify the intended Input Device.
- Check whether the controller or headset is muted. Press the relevant mute button to restore the microphone.
- Open Adjust Microphone Level and speak until the meter reaches the Good range.
- Review Microphone Status When Logged In and Microphone Status When Starting Voice Chat or Broadcast if the microphone keeps starting muted.
What should I do if PS5 3D audio sounds wrong?
Re-run Create Personalized 3D Audio Profile and complete the listening test while wearing the headphones normally. If the result still sounds unnatural, turn off Apply Personalized 3D Audio Profile and compare the available preset profiles.
For TV speakers, repeat the room-acoustics measurement after a change to the television’s position, your seating position, or the room arrangement. Headphone profiles and TV-speaker measurements are separate, so changing one does not replace the other.
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Which headset settings are retained, and which depend on the device?
PS5 exposes EQ, 3D-audio, microphone, output, and volume controls through its menus, but the exact controls depend on the connected headset and connection type. Sony states that EQ and sidetone settings configured for the PULSE Elite are stored on the headset after setup, allowing those settings to remain with the headset when it is used in another supported configuration.
The documented PULSE 3D controls are physical mute, microphone monitoring, and chat/game balance. Other headsets may provide different buttons, no sidetone, or no PS5 EQ panel, so do not assume that a control shown for one model will appear for another.
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- Output Device: the headset you are wearing is selected.
- Output to Headphones: the game and chat audio you need are routed to it.
- Input Device: the headset microphone, controller microphone, or USB microphone you intend to use is selected.
- Adjust Microphone Level: your normal speech reaches the Good range.
- Mute state: neither the controller nor headset is muted.
- Chat/game mix: voices and game audio are at a usable relative level.
- 3D audio: the personalized profile, preset, or stereo mode matches your preference for that game.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does PS5 3D audio require a specific headset model?
The PS5 provides a headphone 3D-audio setting for a connected headset, but the controls available in the menus vary by device and configuration. Sony documents EQ and 3D-audio adjustments for PULSE Explore, PULSE 3D, and PULSE Elite; other headsets may expose fewer options.
How often should I repeat the PS5 TV-speaker 3D-audio measurement?
Sony does not specify a time-based schedule. Repeat it when you move the television, change where you sit, or significantly alter the room, because those changes affect the acoustic measurement.
Why is my voice still quiet after I select the headset microphone?
Selecting the input device only chooses which microphone is active. Open Adjust Microphone Level and speak normally; raise the level until the meter reaches the Good range, while checking that the headset or controller is not muted.
Can I stop every new broadcast from opening with a live microphone?
Yes. Set Microphone Status When Starting Voice Chat or Broadcast to Switch to Mute. You can then unmute deliberately when you are ready to speak.
What does sidetone do, and why is the option missing?
Sidetone feeds a small amount of your own microphone signal back into the headset so you can monitor your voice. Sony notes that sidetone is not available on every headset, so the setting appears only when the connected device supports it.
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