PS5 Pulse 3D Wireless Headset – Review

The Sony headsets have been a longstanding tradition in gaming, as we see with every new Sony console coming out we also receive a new Playstation headset.

Just like all of the previous Playstation headsets that we’ve seen come out, the new PS5 Pulse 3D Wireless Headset is a really strong competitor within the sound department, and offers detail-rich stereo as well as surround sound. However, the feature that really sets this headset apart from the other headsets for consoles are its new features such as the 3D Tempest AudioTech support. 

Release Date and Price

The original Sony PlayStation Pulse 3D Wireless Headset was white and was released to the public in October of 2020, which was almost two whole weeks before the PS5 was released, on November 12th. Then there was also a Midnight Black version, which was launched much later, in October of 2021. The headset is compatible with both the new PS5 as well as its predecessor, the PS4, and is basically the replacement for the Sony Platinum Wireless Headset that came out with the PS4 back in 2017. 

The Sony Pulse 3D Headset will set you back $99, which definitely sounds expensive when you compare it to other third-party headsets that you may find out there, but if you think about everything that this headset brings to the table then the price is actually quite reasonable. 

If your budget isn’t that big for a pair of headphones for your PS5 then you could check out some alternatives, such as the Turtle Beach Recon 200, which is not only compatible with the PS5 but comes in at a low price of $49.99. You will also have to accept that if you want to pay the lower price for this headset you’ll need to sacrifice the sound performance as well as the overall feature set that it has. 

Build and Design

The new Pulse 3D Headset gives a very similar aesthetic and style to the PS5, thanks to the awesome two-tone black and white colour scheme that it has. Looking at the awesome new design that this headset has, you’ll also notice that it is a lot sleeker too and even comes with an adjustable top strap so that you are able to get it to cradle your head and sit securely. Overall when it comes to its design, Don’t have managed to create the perfect balance between both a classic look but also a space age vibe, without leaning too much in one direction or the other. 

The PS5 Pulse 3D Wireless Headset weighs in at 295 grams, which is what you could expect the average pair of over-ear headphones to weigh, so it really isn’t too heavy or too light. Inside of the actual cans of the headset you’ll find some medium sized, 40mm drivers. The clamping force that this headset has, which is basically the amount of pressure that the cups will put onto your head, isn’t too much and is just enough to keep them securely on your head. 

Just as you may have seen in the previous Sony Headsets, Sony has decided to use a leatherette material for the earcups again, but there have been little to no complaints because these feel soft and supple, however when it comes to the plastic bridge that it has it is said to be a bit flimsy. Although it may have been a little better to go with a silk and metal combo instead, the pleather stays pretty cool and comfortable, even during long gaming sessions, and the plastic really keeps the price down, which a lot of gamers will appreciate. 

When you look to the exterior of the left ear cup you’ll find various controls, such as a rocker for game and chat audio that can raise either individually, a mic monitor toggle so that you can hear yourself, a volume rocker, a mute button and finally a power switch. You’ll also find a 3.5mm jack, which you can use to connect to any 3.5mm device you want via the included cable. Then lastly you’ll also have a USB-C port for charging this headset, since it is wireless. 

Another thing to probably take note of, with regards to the design, is that if you are looking for a pair of headphones to take with you anywhere you go then these aren’t the best option for you because this just isn’t the type of thing that you’d wear outside of the house. 

Performance

As you could expect from Sony’s official headset, they are extremely easy to set up and it is virtually as easy as just plugging them into the PS5’s USB port, via the included dongle, and turning them on. After you’ve done these simple steps, the console will automatically connect to the Pulse 3D Wireless Headset and you’ll get all audio there instead of the TV’s speakers. 

Once you have everything sorted and connected, the headset will sound amazing, with great stereo and simulated surround sound. If you are upgrading from the more traditional headphones then you’ll notice much more detail and clarity in even your songs on Spotify with your new headset. Some games such as Fall Guys and Genshin Impact don’t really see much of a boost when it comes to the audio but overall this headset stereo and simulated surround experience truly is awesome and definitely something that you will appreciate. 

The main reason as to why most gamers will be purchasing this headset is because of its compatibility with Sony’s new Tempest 3D AudioTech, which they are implementing in all of the first-party games in order to give them a much more realistic and immersive sound quality. For example, if you were playing a game like Spider-Man: Miles Morales, you’d be able to hear a lot more realistic city sounds, and it would basically just immerse you even more into the game. 

Although the list of games that had supported the new 3D Tempest AudioTech was pretty small and only included games like Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Spider-Man Remastered, Astro’s Playroom, Sackboy: A Big adventure as well as Demon’s Souls, they’ve now expanded it to plenty more games. 

The mic was definitely a little bit disappointing and could even be compared to a speaker phone as on the receiver’s end you sound fine but not crystal-clear. However, one awesome feature that this headset has is its built-in mic monitoring, which basically allows you to hear yourself when you’re talking. This is definitely a feature that first-person shooter gamers will enjoy because the action of the game can sometimes overpower the char audio, and this feature will make sure that you’re coming through loud and clear. 

When it comes to the battery life of this headset then Sony claims that the Pulse 3D Wireless Headset should last you about 12 hours on a single charge, which will vary depending on how loud you’ll have your audio set to. Sadly, this does fall about three hours short when compared to some of these headsets rivals from brands like Astro, Razer, Turtle Beach and others as well. This isn’t necessarily a deal breaker because if you just remember to plug them in at the end of each session you should not have any problems. 

So, in conclusion this is a great headset and although it may not be the best when it comes to clarity or soundstage, thanks to its workman-like performance and easy setup as well as the support for 3D Tempest AudioTech, it really is a headset that a lot of gamers will be pleased to use. 

Final Words

So after this article hopefully you’ve gotten a better understanding as to what you can expect from buying the PS5 Pulse 3D Wireless Headset and whether or not it may be a good fit for you. If you are a gamer who is looking to buy a PS5 and experience Sony’s Tempest 3D AudioTech then this is definitely the headset for you. On the other hand if you are a gamer who is expecting to get Dolby Atmos levels of surround sound or you want to be able to take your headphones with you anywhere then these may not be the best option for you and you’ll be better off with a different type of headset. 

If you have a PS4 we have put together a list of gaming headsets for you here.