Best Black Ops 6 Audio Settings to Hear Footsteps Clearly

If you want to get an edge in Black Ops 6, having the right audio setup is just as important as using top-tier weapons or fine-tuning your controller and graphics settings. Sound can reveal enemy positions long before you see them, and dialing in the best audio settings makes footsteps much easier to track.

That said, BO6’s audio options can feel overwhelming. To make things easier, I’ve broken down the best settings you can use this season to ensure you never miss an enemy sneaking up on you.

Start with Headphones

Before tweaking anything in the menus, make sure you’re using a good gaming headset. Directional audio is far clearer with headphones than speakers, especially when it comes to footsteps. Even with perfect in-game settings, speakers won’t give you the same level of clarity.

Best Black Ops 6 Audio Settings

Volume Settings

The key adjustment here is Effects Volume—set it to 100 so footsteps and gunfire stand out. Lowering Music, Dialogue, and Cinematic Music to 0 removes unnecessary distractions. Master Volume can then be set to whatever is comfortable for your setup.

Audio Device Settings

Enhanced Headphone Mode was controversial before launch, but for multiplayer it’s actually worse than leaving it off. Everything sounds slightly muted, so most players should disable it altogether.

Global Audio Settings

The Audio Mix setting is the most important here. Headphone Bass Boost is usually best because it enhances low-end sounds like footsteps. Home Theater can work too, but it’s generally louder and less precise.

Functionality

Enable Reduce Tinnitus Sound to avoid the piercing ringing effect from Flashbangs or Stuns. It doesn’t change gameplay but makes matches far less fatiguing.

Voice Chat Settings

These mostly come down to preference. If you don’t care about in-game chat, just turn it off. Otherwise, these defaults provide a good balance for communicating with your team.

Microphone Settings

When adjusting Mic Level, aim for a strong but not distorted signal. Push to Talk is highly recommended to avoid open-mic background noise.

Console & PC Enhancements

Audio Focus on PS5

1. Open Settings > Sound > Volume.

2. Under Accessibility, select Audio Focus.

3. Choose Boost High Pitch.

This makes high-frequency sounds, like footsteps, stand out more. Test the different focus types in a private match to see which works best with your headset.

Loudness Equalization on PC

1. Open Control Panel > Sound settings.

2. Double-click your headset.

3. Go to the Enhancements tab.

4. Check Loudness Equalization and click Apply.

This Windows feature makes quiet sounds (like footsteps) easier to hear. Console players won’t have access to it, but for PC users it’s a huge advantage, especially in Ranked matches.

Final Thoughts

By combining these settings with a solid headset, you’ll hear footsteps and other key sounds much more clearly in Black Ops 6. Whether you’re grinding Ranked Play or just playing casually, optimizing your audio gives you one more edge to outplay your opponents.