PlayStation Pulse Elite assessment – SoundGuys

The Pulse Elite is the most recent gaming headset from PlayStation, hoping to guide the pack in gaming on the PS5 for a not-so “Elite” worth. That includes planar magnetic drivers, multi-device pairing, and a classy charging hanger, there’s a number of worth right here, however is that this the suitable headset to your setup? I put within the time to attempt it and inform you my ideas.

Editor’s notice: that is the primary model of the article. Updates will observe because the market modifications.

Constructing on the design aesthetic of the PlayStation Pulse 3D gaming headset, the Pulse Elite headset encompasses a swooping white body over massive, black swiveling ear cups that match the look of the PlayStation 5 console. There’s no approach round wanting a bit of ridiculous sporting the domed headset — one thing akin to a Insurgent pilot straight out of Star Wars — however maybe that’s the enjoyable issue you’re in search of.

The headset is light-weight and cozy, with a rubberized suspension band that didn’t weigh on prime of my head an excessive amount of and permits for ample peak motion to suit bigger heads. The delicate, plush ear cups are moderately massive and do an excellent job of making seal with out urgent exhausting. I observed a suction sensation whereas sporting the headset, so that you’ll wish to take away it slowly to attenuate fast modifications in air stress, avoiding the “vacuum impact.”

Another excuse you’ll wish to decrease motion is due to the unfastened ear cups. The ear cups rotate on a ball joint and have an honest vary to suit the form of your head. Nonetheless, I did discover the swivels too unfastened and will hear a muffled rattling sound whereas turning my head from the hinges transferring round. That did turn into annoying at occasions whereas gaming.

The headset encompasses a telescoping mic that simply slides out of the left-side elongated tip. You may modify the versatile increase mic to sit down larger, decrease, or additional away out of your mouth, however watch out to align the stem when pushing it again into the headset. On the suitable facet elongated tip is an LED mild that is still on whereas linked to a tool. It’s current in your peripheral imaginative and prescient whereas sporting the headset, however I didn’t discover it too brilliant to be distracting.

The Pulse Elite comes with a novel hanger for the headset that may be simply mounted utilizing a single screw (not included). The benefit right here is you could feed an included USB-C to USB-A cable from an influence supply (I used the port on the again of my PS5 console) to this hanger to cost the headset whereas it hangs. The hanger makes use of contacts just like those discovered on the underside of the PS5 DualSense controller — although it received’t cost a DualSense controller, in case you had been questioning. Total, it’s a clear and simple option to retailer, connect, and detach the headphones. I strongly advocate utilizing the hangar since there is no such thing as a carrying case, and the leatherette materials across the ear cups is susceptible to scuffs and scratches.

There are solely two bodily buttons on the underside of the suitable facet of the Pulse Elite: a quantity rocker and an influence button that additionally serves to pair to gadgets. The buttons are simpler to seek out than on the Pulse 3D headset, however there’s minimal tactile suggestions.

The ability/pair button has so many capabilities that it may be exhausting to recollect the variety of presses and durations for every operate. Moreover, capabilities different headsets may need devoted buttons, reminiscent of channel mixing, talk-through, and mic acquire, can solely be adjusted utilizing the PS5 interface.

On the finish of the microphone is a bodily mute button you possibly can press for those who don’t need others to listen to you, in addition to a small LED mild that may mild inexperienced every time the microphone is activated.

Utilizing the PlayStation Hyperlink USB adapter, the Pulse Elite headset can join wirelessly to your PlayStation 5 console, PC, or Mac. Fortunately, not like the PlayStation Pulse Discover earbuds, I didn’t expertise any random disconnections utilizing PS Hyperlink with the PS5.

Because it options PS Hyperlink expertise, you possibly can hook up with the PlayStation Portal handheld gaming system and not using a dongle. Nonetheless, not like Apple merchandise, there is no such thing as a automated switching between gadgets inside this PlayStation ecosystem. It’s essential to manually press the PS Hyperlink button on the PlayStation Portal or on the USB dongle to pair the gadgets.

The Pulse Elite additionally helps Bluetooth to connect with your cell phone or pill. Sadly, when paired to a Bluetooth system, the amount buttons on the headphones are disabled, which implies you’ll have to use your supply system to regulate the amount.

There’s no multi-device pairing utilizing Bluetooth, although you possibly can hook up with your PS5 or laptop vis PS Hyperlink whereas paired to a Bluetooth system, so you possibly can hearken to your playlists or take a telephone name whilst you’re gunning down bugs throughout the Milky Approach Galaxy in Helldivers 2.

How lengthy does the PlayStation Pulse Elite battery final?

We couldn’t observe our common testing procedures concerning battery life on the Pulse Elite headset as a result of it mechanically shuts off after half-hour of inactivity with none option to flip off this operate. A well-intentioned design by the engineers at PlayStation however one which led me to endure over two full days’ price of gaming (poor me, I do know). Logging my hours performed with out charging the headset, the Pulse Elite lasted 49 hours and 31 minutes earlier than it wouldn’t activate once more, nicely over the 30 hours, Sony claims. My use included a mixture of gaming by way of PS Hyperlink, listening to music by way of Bluetooth, and generally each concurrently, so your mileage might fluctuate relying in your utilization.

The PlayStation Pulse Elite headset doesn’t have energetic noise cancelation, so passive isolation is your solely ally in blocking out exterior noises. As anticipated, our measurements present little to no isolation from low frequencies, which means low rumbles from engines or close by development work can be audible.

With seal, the ear pads will block out some mid and high-frequency noise above 550Hz. Mid-frequency noise round 2kHz is perceptibly 75% quieter. The headset is a little more efficient at blocking out high-frequency noise sound however nonetheless inferior to different comparable headphones that may attenuate as much as 40 dB or extra. Briefly, surrounding sounds will make their approach by to your ears to some extent.

How does the PlayStation Pulse Elite sound?

The Pulse Elite headset’s sound may be very immersive for gaming on the PS5, however there might be an excessive amount of treble emphasis when listening to music.

Multi-Dimensional Audio High quality Scores (MDAQS)

The chart beneath exhibits how the sound of the PlayStation Pulse Elite headset was assessed by the Multi-Dimensional Audio High quality Rating (MDAQS) algorithm from HEAD acoustics.

An total rating of three.1-3.3 is common in comparison with different over-ear headphones and gaming headsets we’ve reviewed. The Pulse Elite scores highest in Immersiveness, displaying its most important power is in how nicely digital sound sources are represented in 3D house, which lends itself nicely to PS5 video games that make the most of PlayStation’s 3D Audio.

The default sound of the PlayStation Pulse Elite is first rate. Unusually, for a gaming headset, there is a little more emphasis on the upper frequencies than on the low finish. It’s possible you’ll discover some low-end rumble is missing, however there’s sufficient of a bump within the excessive bass to compensate and render kick drums or in-game sound results like enemy footsteps audible.

For music, the mids are very balanced. The guitar strums and vocals in Resort California by the Eagles are clear. The treble response is usually a little inconsistent, nevertheless. For example, in Viva La Vida by Coldplay, some strings and excessive hats are a bit harsh. It’s price noting there’s some audible planar crinkle on this frequency vary as nicely.

Gaming delivered the most effective expertise, particularly on the PS5, since that’s the one place to entry the graphic EQ and presets. The slicing and clashing of metal swords in Last Fantasy VII Rebirth sounded detailed and exact however is usually a bit fatiguing on the ears for prolonged durations. Sound results additionally felt fairly immersive utilizing Sony’s Tempest 3D AudioTech in suitable video games, reminiscent of Venom’s deep, sinister voice taunt you whereas subsumed by the inky symbiote in Spider-Man 2.

Goal Measurements

The default frequency response of the PlayStation Pulse Elite shares similarities with different gaming headsets, reminiscent of a pronounced bump at round 100Hz. As you possibly can see within the chart above, above 100Hz, the sound loosely follows our headphone choice curve, a sound signature we predict most individuals will take pleasure in when listening to music.

The Pulse Elite has just a few peaks between 4.5kHz-9kHz that attain larger than we wish to hear and might sound a bit of piercing relying on the pitch. Nonetheless, the graphic EQ and presets within the PS5 interface helped tame a few of these inconsistencies.

The Pulse Elite headset encompasses a retractable increase mic that’s fairly versatile to bend and place at completely different angles. Total, the recording high quality is sweet. Voices sound pure and are straightforward to know clearly. Even in noisy environments, such because the workplace situations pattern you possibly can hearken to beneath, these on the opposite finish can hear and perceive what you’re saying regardless of the background noise.

PlayStation Pulse Elite microphone demo (Superb situations):

The PlayStation Pulse Elite headset is barely worthwhile for PS5 players. The sound high quality for gaming, particularly PS5 unique titles that make the most of Sony’s 3D audio, is immersive. It’s also first rate for informal music listening, however think about the unique EQ options on the console. $150 is an inexpensive worth for planar magnetic drivers and represents a greater worth than the Pulse Discover earbuds ($199 at Amazon) as an at-home accompaniment to your PS5. The microphone high quality can also be higher, making the headset supreme for calls or on-line gaming. The included charging hook sweetens the deal as a handy option to retailer the headset, enhancing your gaming setup’s aesthetic. Plus, the battery life is great for those who neglect to hold it to cost.

The shortage of energetic noise cancelation, an IP score, or a carrying case doesn’t make the Pulse Elite choice for taking out and about (to not point out the danger of public ridicule given its design). Plus, the shortcoming of the headset’s controls to work with Bluetooth gadgets makes it inconvenient when paired together with your telephone. In case you additionally recreation on a PC or Nintendo Change, I like to recommend a gaming headset that works nicely with all gadgets. You might also wish to look elsewhere for those who encounter a number of noise and wish sturdy isolation or might use a headset with energetic noise cancelation (ANC).  In case you have a tendency to maneuver round rather a lot whereas gaming, think about that this headset is susceptible to being thrown off by jerking your head round — and that the sound of the hinges can turn into annoying.

If you’d like the most effective gaming headphones with planar magnetic drivers, the dialog begins and ends with the Audeze Maxwell. Sony acquired Audeze in 2023, which is why we see planar drivers right here within the Pulse Elite headset. Nonetheless, the Maxwell has a sturdier development and extra connectivity choices for those who hop between consoles and PCs or use Bluetooth multipoint. It presents an unbelievable 64 hours of steady battery, more practical passive isolation, and a extra balanced sound profile. Nonetheless, it’s dearer at ($299 at Amazon).

If you’d like a gaming headset to match your PS5 that has energetic noise cancelation, think about the Sony Inzone H9 ($279.99 at Greatest Purchase). This wireless-only headset has efficient ANC, first rate sound, and microphone. Battery life is great and cozy sufficient to put on for lengthy periods. There’s additionally the more moderen Inzone H5, which has the same design, however the one actual benefit it has over the Pulse Elite is the power to EQ sound on a PC. It goes for a similar worth as ($148 at Amazon) however lacks Bluetooth connectivity.

Lastly, for those who don’t play on-line multiplayer video games and are much less involved with good mic high quality, think about the usual Pulse 3D headset, which might make the most of Sony’s 3D audio for single-player campaigns ($99 at Amazon). The general sound high quality will not be nearly as good, and it has worse isolation, however the massive, plushy ear cups are snug and keep in place with none annoying sounds from unfastened hinges.