I jumped into my Mighty Ape orders because I wanted to check something. What I found was “24th of January, 2017 at 9:31AM”. It’s the date I received the PlayStation 4 Platinum 7.1 wireless gaming headset. This period was before I really attempted any sort of content or media so no review ever came from it. But I loved them. Boy did I love them. I felt they were my first foray into really hearing the game at its best. And they were good until the ear pads gave way. No doubt caused by my unrelenting ability to sweat both in real life and in game.
So how is the new Pulse Elite holding up?
As is all day one products nowadays, they required an update out of the box. Not the worst thing considering how incredible they looked. I even shared those thoughts in an unboxing video. Continuing the pleasing aesthetic of all things post-PlayStation 5, they share the curvy waveform of the duotone console. The Pulse Elite wireless headset does indeed live up to the title of ‘elite’.
A non-adjustable headband confounds at first until you place the headset on. The second internal band adjusts with head size creating a comfortable fit for any who wear it. Underneath the top band is a charging port for a wall mount supplied with the headset, which in 2024 and the reduction of cables in a box is a blessing. It can also charge on DualSense charging stations, but you’d have to hang them over an edge which isn’t viable for quality of life and product. It also charges via USB-C on the right side of the headset where the media controls and power button is.
Volume up and volume down do what they need to do, while power is also your link button. Holding the power button connects your Pulse Elite to the PlayStation Link dongle. The Link is unfortunately required to connect the headset to the PlayStation 5. Its use required for low latency, lossless audio and the ability to connect multiple devices at the same time. Think, using the Pulse Elite and Explore headsets at the same time on the console and through the Portal Remote Player. Thankfully I used a free USB port on the back of the console to keep this out of view.
What this suitably lends itself to though, is the ability to use another Bluetooth device through the Pulse Elite. This meant I could listen to my phone at the same time I was using the Pulse Elite on the PS5. Which is useful for any other type of audio media outside of Spotify which is already an app on the PlayStation. It also means I can use the headset with my phone separately, so expect a new series of “headsets I’ve used at the gym” to pop up soon!
Overall the build quality is very clean, very solid, and very Sony.
The audio is top grade. Which you’d hope for from a $269 RRP piece of hardware. It felt like I really heard the Tempest engine for the first time. Tempest is the widely-touted engine from Sony which delivers true 3D surround sound from your PlayStation 5 console. There was a clarity to them I hadn’t really experienced elsewhere, which meant in games like Skull & Bones, the water had a calm yet threatening aura to it which is suitable for a liquid mass surrounding you.
EQ presets for the Pulse Elite are changed in the Home menu. You have three built-in to the console, suitably supporting shooters, bass and standard settings. You can also create your own presets, and adjust audio according to the way you want to hear it. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy, and you’re on your way to a better listening experience. I also appreciated the option to do this on the console compared to other headsets I’ve used.
And the mic?
Now this is the most interesting part. Let’s put it down to personal use, but it wasn’t clicking with me. Not that I think it’s bad. Its position and build on the headset is incredible, with a mute button built on to it (because we’ve all tried to muffle audio while holding the mic). But party members said I was too “soft” at first, requiring me to turn myself up in the settings. And then I started hearing myself. The Elite and Explore headsets both feature AI Noise rejection. My guess is my big head was keeping the earpieces slightly opened so I could hear…well, me. Pair this with a loud voice, and I felt like I was in a torture chamber. A feedback loop of thine own self.
But I’ll pivot away from this one negative experience keeping in mind that for single player experiences, these puppies PURR (Odd saying right? Because cats purr. Anyway!). Exceptional battery life tops off the delicious sound sundae, for an experience I’ve been relishing when I haven’t been torturing myself. I really felt like Tempest was being showcased with the Pulse Elite.
And I can’t wait to see how this sounds with games I’ll play in future.
PlayStation sound stays solid!
From Gold to Pulse, the headset series from Sony stays solid. While my own experience with the mic won't affect everyone, it was my only setback for the new overhead headset.
Putting this aside and recognising the crisp sound, comfort and battery life, along with features such as connecting to other Bluetooth devices and using them alongside the console, the Pulse Elite is another great piece of hardware for the PlayStation 5 with a price point teetering just outside of higher range products.
