The Tool Desk
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Choose the right PS5 control
Several PS5 menus affect what you hear or how your voice is handled. Use the headset’s Accessories page for PULSE Elite-specific settings, Sound for console audio output and sidetone, and the Control Center’s Mic panel for microphone input and level. These controls have different jobs, so going to the right one first can save time.
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- Headset configuration: Settings > Accessories > Pulse Elite wireless headset. The headset must be connected for its device-specific settings to appear.
- System audio and sidetone: Settings > Sound > Audio Output. This is the route for console-wide output options such as Sidetone Volume.
- Microphone input and level: Press the PS button, then select Mic in the Control Center. Use this when you need to choose an input or set how loud your voice is sent.
- EQ presets: Press the PS button, select Sound, then EQ Presets. This is where you can choose or adjust a listening profile.
In short, start at Accessories when you want to configure the PULSE Elite itself, Audio Output when you want to change output or sidetone, and Mic when the issue concerns your transmitted voice. The labels and available options can vary with PS5 software and the connected audio device.
Change PULSE Elite settings and open the Sound shortcut
Use the headset settings page
- Connect the PULSE Elite to your PS5.
- On the console, open Settings > Accessories > Pulse Elite wireless headset.
- Choose the headset option you want to configure, such as sidetone or 3D audio setup, and follow the on-screen controls.
The device-specific page is the straightforward place to begin when you are looking for settings tied to the connected headset. If it is not listed, first verify that the headset is connected, then return to Settings > Accessories. Options can depend on the console software and the device currently connected.
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Open Sound controls from a game
To reach the PS5 Sound controls without navigating back through Settings, quickly press the headset’s PlayStation Link button three times. The button is on the right side of the headband. This opens a shortcut to the console’s Sound controls; it is not a separate set of headset menus. Use it when you want quick access to sound controls while playing, then use the full Settings menus when you need the Audio Output page or other console settings.
Adjust EQ and sidetone
Choose or customize an EQ preset
- Press the PS button to open the Control Center.
- Select Sound > EQ Presets.
- Choose Standard, Bass Boost, or Shooter, or select a customizable audio mode and adjust its frequency sliders.
Standard, Bass Boost, and Shooter are the named premade choices. Customizable modes let you work with frequency sliders rather than selecting only one of those presets. PlayStation’s February 21, 2024 setup guide says the PULSE Elite can store up to three custom EQ presets in addition to the premade presets. That gives you room to retain more than one personal adjustment, if you want distinct profiles for different listening situations.
There is no universal best preset in these controls. Pick the preset that fits what you are listening to, or use the sliders to create a profile that suits your preference. A preset changes the headset’s listening profile; it does not adjust microphone input, mute status, or the amount of your own voice returned to your ears. If your concern is chat clarity from the microphone, use the Mic controls instead of treating EQ as a mic-level setting.
Set sidetone volume
Sidetone is how loudly you hear your own voice through the headset while using its microphone. It is useful to distinguish this from microphone level: sidetone is about what you hear locally, while the PS5 microphone level control is about the input level shown in the console’s Mic panel. If your voice sounds too loud or too quiet to you in the headset, change sidetone. If you need to adjust the level of the microphone input, use PS > Mic.
To change the console output setting, open Settings > Sound > Audio Output and adjust Sidetone Volume. Select a level that lets you monitor your voice comfortably. The available control offers a way to change how loudly your voice is heard through the headset, but no single level is prescribed for every player.
The headset-specific PULSE Elite settings page is also a route for headset options, including sidetone. PlayStation’s guidance identifies the device page under Accessories, while the PS5 audio settings also expose Sidetone Volume under Audio Output. If you are already in one of those menus, use the sidetone option there; if the label or available choices differ, remember that options can vary with the connected device and audio configuration.
EQ and sidetone settings configured for the PULSE Elite are stored on the headset, so they remain when you connect it to other devices. This persistence is distinct from changing the audio output settings of another device. For example, the PULSE Elite can retain its configured headset settings when moved to another device, but that does not mean the other device’s own output controls have been changed.
Set microphone input and level
- Press the PS button to open the Control Center.
- Select Mic.
- Choose the microphone input or level control you need.
- To set the level, speak at your usual chat volume and adjust it while watching the on-screen meter. Aim for the Good range.
Use your normal speaking voice while setting the level rather than relying on a guess. The meter gives immediate feedback as you adjust. If it is not in the Good range, change the level and check again while speaking. The goal is to use the PS5’s meter as a guide for the selected input, not to alter how loudly you hear your own voice; that listening feedback is sidetone.
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The Mic panel also lets you choose the input device. This is separate from changing the headset’s EQ and from changing PS5 audio output. If the console is using an input other than the one you intend, check the selected input in the Mic panel before changing other sound settings. Available choices can vary depending on what is connected.
PS5 also has configurable microphone status defaults for login and for starting voice chat or a broadcast. These defaults determine whether the microphone is active at those moments. They are separate from the PULSE Elite’s physical mute button: a default describes the console’s starting behavior, while the headset mute control switches the microphone on or off directly. If you want the headset mic muted by default in a particular situation, review the PS5 microphone status defaults; if you need to mute it immediately, use the physical button.
Mute or unmute the headset microphone
The PULSE Elite’s retractable microphone is on the left side. Extend it for chat and retract it for storage. Press the microphone mute button to switch the mic on or off. Check its indicator: a lit mute light means the microphone is muted; an unlit light means it is on. This indicator is a useful direct check if other players cannot hear you or you are unsure whether the mic is active.
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Adjust volume for the audio source you are using
The headset’s right-side volume button changes PlayStation Link audio. A tactile dot marks the plus side. If you are listening to Bluetooth audio, adjust its volume from the connected mobile device instead. When PlayStation Link and Bluetooth audio play at the same time, the headset’s volume button changes only the PlayStation Link level; it does not change the Bluetooth device’s volume. PS5 audio can also be adjusted through its Sound controls.
This source distinction matters when the button appears to have no effect. First identify which audio you are trying to change. For PS Link audio, use the headset volume button or PS5 Sound controls. For Bluetooth audio, use the connected mobile device’s volume controls. When both sources play together, do not expect one headset-button press to change both levels; it changes only the PS Link side.
Quick checks if a control does not behave as expected
- The PULSE Elite settings page is missing: Confirm that the headset is connected to the PS5, then check Settings > Accessories again. Device-specific settings are available while connected.
- You hear too little or too much of your own voice: Change Sidetone Volume under Settings > Sound > Audio Output, or use the headset-specific settings page. Sidetone is voice feedback in your headset, not the microphone input level.
- Your chat level seems wrong: Open PS > Mic and adjust the microphone level while speaking, using the Good range on the meter as a guide. Confirm the selected input if needed.
- The microphone seems unavailable: Check whether its mute indicator is lit. If it is, press the headset mute button to unmute. Also confirm that the retractable microphone is extended for chat.
- Bluetooth volume does not change with the headset button: Adjust it on the connected mobile device; the headset button controls PlayStation Link audio.
- EQ changes do not solve a microphone issue: EQ is a listening profile. For voice input, use the Control Center’s Mic panel; for hearing your own voice, adjust sidetone.
- The triple-press shortcut does not show the menu you expected: The PlayStation Link button shortcut opens PS5 Sound controls. It is not the Accessories headset page or the Mic panel; use Settings or the Control Center for those.
Menu wording and available settings may differ with console software and connected-device configuration. PlayStation’s February 21, 2024 setup guide describes the headset settings path, while the PS5 audio settings identify the system Sound and microphone controls. If your screen differs, use the available on-screen labels and the control category that matches the setting you want.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the PULSE Elite settings on PS5?
Connect the headset, then open Settings > Accessories > Pulse Elite wireless headset. Device-specific settings appear while the headset is connected.
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How do I open PS5 Sound controls without leaving a game?
Quickly press the PULSE Elite’s PlayStation Link button three times. The button is on the right side of the headband, and the shortcut opens the console’s Sound controls.
Where do I change sidetone on PS5?
Open Settings > Sound > Audio Output and adjust Sidetone Volume. Sidetone controls how loudly you hear your own voice through the headset. The headset-specific Accessories page also includes headset settings such as sidetone.
How do I change my PULSE Elite microphone level?
Press PS, select Mic in the Control Center, choose the microphone level control, then speak at your normal chat volume while adjusting it. Use the on-screen meter and aim for the Good range.
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How can I tell whether the PULSE Elite mic is muted?
Check the headset’s mute indicator. A lit indicator means the microphone is muted; an unlit indicator means it is on. Press the mic mute button to switch states.
Why doesn’t the headset volume button change Bluetooth audio?
The right-side volume button changes PlayStation Link audio. Adjust Bluetooth audio from the connected mobile device. If both sources play together, the headset button still changes only PlayStation Link audio.
Do PULSE Elite EQ and sidetone settings carry over to other devices?
EQ and sidetone settings configured for the PULSE Elite are stored on the headset and remain when it connects to other devices. This does not change the other device’s own audio output settings.
Can I set the PS5 mic to be active or muted by default?
PS5 has microphone status defaults for login and for starting voice chat or a broadcast. These defaults are separate from the headset’s physical mute button.
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The Bottom Line
Use Settings > Accessories > Pulse Elite wireless headset for headset-specific setup, Settings > Sound > Audio Output for sidetone and output settings, and PS > Mic for microphone input and level. For a quick Sound shortcut, triple-press the headset’s PlayStation Link button. Check the mute light and identify whether you are adjusting PS Link or Bluetooth audio before troubleshooting.
Quick Recap
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