Pulse Elite review: PS5’s new headset is best by default
15.02.2024 - 14:13
/ digitaltrends.com
/ Giovanni Colantonio
/ Sony
Pulse Elite MSRP $150.00 Score Details DT Recommended Product Pros
- Discrete microphone
- Innovative charging mount
- Great sound quality
- Long battery life
- Dual connectivity
Cons
- Loose fit
- Distortion at high volumes
- Portal integration is lacking
PlayStation has been busy over the last two years. The brand hasn’t just been busy pumping out award-winning games during the PS5 era; it’s been building an Apple-like tech ecosystem right under our noses. That reality became fully clear last year when Sony launched its PlayStation Portal handheld. The accessory came with one odd catch: it didn’t support Bluetooth. To use a wireless headset, players would need to buy some specific earbuds or headsets that support Sony’s new PlayStation Link tech. It was a smart, but frustrating move that gave PlayStation owners incentive to keep buying first-party Sony accessories.
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Just a few months removed from the Portal launch, we’re seeing the next step in Sony’s product playbook with the Pulse Elite. Sony’s latest headset isn’t just custom-made for PS5 and its 3D audio features; it’s one of the only wireless headsets you can use with PlayStation Portal right now. That makes it a device that you almost have to buy.
The good news is that the Pulse Elite is a fairly good investment if you’re fully bought into the PS5 ecosystem. It’s a long-lasting headset capable of capturing crisp sounds across the console’s library. But its loose fit and high price tag will leave you wishing that you had the option to entertain another option.
Design and comfort
The Pulse Elite is designed to match the PS5, so opinions on its aesthetics may vary. It follows a familiar black-and-white motif and features the same bold geometry that makes the PS5 so distinct (and hard to place in an entertainment center). The most noticeable design quirk is that it has two white arms on either side that protrude a bit past the earcups. It looks a bit awkward at first, but they have yet to get in my way.
It’s certainly a visual statement, but one with some function. The Pulse Elite’s microphone is stealthily housed in the left arm. It can be quickly unsheathed from the tip by pushing the plastic forward, revealing a flexible mic arm hidden within. It’s a great design detail that lets players keep their microphone hidden when it’s not in use without having to keep track of a detachable add-on.
My favorite design innovation here, though, is the Pulse Elite’s unique charging system. There’s a traditional charging port underneath the right arm (I can use the same cord I use to charge my DualSense controllers), but you’ll notice an odd
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