Sony’s latest headset is a great option for any PS5 player, but it looks a bit wild.
The PlayStation Pulse Elite doesn’t look like any headset I’ve ever owned, and I’ve owned tons. Priced at $150, the wireless headset has a “futuristic vision” reminiscent of the 60s, standing out from a flood of black and neon designs and flashing LEDs. Its architectural form and simple elegance even set it apart visually from other Sony peripherals like the PS5 Pulse 3D.
As a competitive multiplayer gamer, I’m committed to the quality of the headset on my head – can I hear the footsteps of an enemy Tracer sneaking behind me in a competitive match of Overwatch 2? Can my teammates hear my calls clearly without my microphone picking up the noise of my cat scratching at the closet where I keep his food?
The older, cheaper Pulse 3D headphones are still a solid option for PS5 players, as are the newer Pulse Explore Wireless earbuds introduced alongside the PlayStation Portal (if you’re okay with earbuds, I’m not). But at the price of $150, the Pulse Elites are an excellent option for those seeking high-quality sound and comfort while gaming.
The PlayStation Pulse Elite Review
The PlayStation Pulse Elite features a matte white, hyper-futuristic headband with a flexible black strap resting on the crown of the head. The ear cups are large, smooth, and soft, with a matte black plastic exterior. The headset is fairly lightweight (only 12.2 ounces), which I prefer because I usually wear them for hours on end, but for someone who equates weight with quality, this could be off-putting. They look pretty silly, especially from the front, but as someone with a small head and even smaller ears, most headsets look odd on me. Although some have complained of discomfort, I found the Pulse Elites to be really comfortable – plus, they pass the glasses test and don’t clamp where the ear cups meet the temples. Will the super-soft ear cups eventually peel off like my Beats over-ear headphones? Only time will tell.
While the Pulse 3Ds feature hidden dual microphones to pick up your voice while gaming, the Pulse Elite features a fully retractable microphone integrated into the left side of the headband. It’s a pretty nice detail, and the microphone is fairly easy to retract and extend, but I’m not sure how it will hold up over time. There’s a mute button on the microphone and an LED indicator to show when your voice is muted. Playing Helldivers 2, my teammates confirmed that I sounded good and they couldn’t hear the incredibly loud mechanical noise caused by my upstairs neighbor’s faulty refrigerator.
On the right side of the headset are ports for the charger (USB-C) and a headphone cable (not included with the Pulse Elites), a power button, volume control, and a PlayStation Link button that syncs the headset with the included USB dongle (which must be plugged into your PS5). If you’re not a fan of dongles and rearranging your cables, this might bother you.
The Pulse Elites have something I’ve never seen on any other headset: a “charging hook” and screw to mount it on your wall. However, if you have a gaming room or corner in your home dedicated to gaming, this could be a cool feature that makes storing your headset super easy. However, I live in a small apartment and appreciate interior design, so there’s no chance I’m drilling a hole in my wall for this oddly looking headset to hang next to my mid-20th-century style entertainment unit, sorry.
As for the internals, the Pulse Elites boast planar magnetic drivers that are sleek and “studio-worthy” yet rare in lightweight headphones. As a result, the Elites offer a beautiful 3D sound landscape with deep bass that doesn’t sacrifice clarity and clear, clean sound. Helldivers 2 sounds great with these – the booming explosions feel massive without destroying my eardrums, the dialogue is crystal clear, and while my teammates’ calls for help are a bit quieter than I’d like (as is often the case with headphones), some adjustments in the PS5 settings help. The creepy moments of Alan Wake 2 are even more immersive with the spatial sound, as I feel fully immersed in Sam Lake’s eerie worlds.
The Pulse Elites don’t feature noise-canceling features, but the size and thickness of the ear cups were sufficient for me to block out noise, without requiring me to constantly remove one ear cup and yell “WHAT” to my poor fiancé when he asks me a dinner question.
PlayStation Link technology provides a low-latency connection to the PS5 via the aforementioned dongle (or PlayStation Portal, Mac, and PC without) by tapping the link button on the headset. You can also connect the Pulse Elites to your phone or tablet via Bluetooth, but the headset sounds best on a PS5.
As for battery life, I couldn’t confirm that the Pulse Elite lasts the claimed 30 hours, but I can say that the quick charge feature of the battery (which gives you two hours of playtime after just 10 minutes) is a pretty cool feature. Charging the Pulse Elite can be done via the included USB-C cable, or if you’re using the “charging hook” near an outlet, there’s also a charging port there.
Should You Buy the PlayStation Pulse Elite?
While the Pulse Elites can be used with other devices, you’re probably only seriously considering buying these if you’re a PS5 owner and gamer. In that regard, I’d say this is a fantastic option for you, especially for just $50 more than the Pulse 3Ds. If you prefer earbuds (sicko), you might consider the Pulse Explores, but the buds will cost you $200 instead of $150. You might even consider Sony’s Inzone range of headsets – but if you want wireless audio, noise-canceling features, and a battery life of over 30 hours, you’ll need to shell out more.
If you’re someone who wants to look good while wearing a headset (maybe you’re a streamer, or maybe you’re very vain, that’s okay), you might hesitate to buy these simply because they look pretty silly. I don’t care how I look while gaming (if you were to peek through my living room window while I’m in the middle of a session, you’d see me lying on the couch covered in food crumbs), and I care more about the comfort these provide.
At the price point, the Pulse Elites are a great option for PS5 players looking for a dedicated headset. There’s a big quality difference between a $150 headset and a $300 headset, but the Pulse Elites feel like a headset that would cost closer to $200, so I give them a thumbs up.
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