PS5 Pulse Elite Headphones, review.

With the launch of PS5 in 2020 and with Sony’s track record in terms of sound hardware, very few of us were surprised that the Japanese were betting everything on a platform with their own audio devices . An understandable movement, but what did catch us by surprise was that, just two years after its release, the Pulse would see a second generation that would seek to cover more of the market while at the same time being an option to take into account after the redesign of PS5. In this case, and regardless of the strategic analyzes that we could do, I am happy to say that the Sony Pulse Elite , the high-end of the new generation, are headphones that perform at a level above what I expected, although it will be difficult dazzle those who have those not at all old from 2020.

It should be noted that the Pulse Elite are, in fact, a second model of the second generation of Sony’s PS5 headphones, launched this February 2024 at a price of 149.99 euros on Amazon . The Pulse Explore, in-ear headphones launched at the end of 2023, are the most affordable option of the two and in 3DJuegos you can read their analysis detailing whether or not this particular intermediate version is worth it .

(Almost) identical design

As I already mentioned in the review of the AOC Agon Pro screen , the design in terms of hardware is stagnant . It is not a slap on the wrist to the technology industry, much less a negative point of the Pulse Elite, it is reality and in it Sony is committed to pure and simple conservatism . Almost like that joke about the dolls in The Simpsons with the phrase “but the hat is new”, the black and white arched design of the original Pulse 3D now gives way to an identical visual aesthetic with the white fringes hugging the ear cups of the headphones .

Playstation 5 Pulse Elite Wireless Headset /PS5

Today on Amazon — € 148.99 PcComponentes — € 148.99

*Some prices may have changed since the last review

It’s a minor improvement in terms of aesthetics, let’s face it. The Japanese bet the least on visual improvements and that has two readings. On the one hand, we find the phrase ” if it works, there is no need to change it “; while on the other hand, there is the visual identity. If Sony wants the Pulse brand to be a benchmark for headphones designed for its console, risky design changes must be minimal.

A slightly more elaborate microphone

Although at first glance they are identical, the Japanese are committed to adding certain changes. If you remember those original Pulse 3D, the microphone was embedded in the chassis of the headphones, something that made it clear that the possibility of talking with them was nothing more than an addition rather than something tangential. Now, Sony is betting (thanks to the aforementioned “hug” design) to include an extendable microphone on the left temple of the Pulse Elite.

I assure you that if it weren’t for the instructions, I would barely know it was there. Although it is somewhat flimsy to the naked eye and to the touch, with a certain looseness that I don’t like at all and that makes me think about how it will hold up over time, they are an addition that, although it leaves something cold , is still an improvement. Of course, in terms of performance , although it is better than those Pulse 3D, they will not replace an additional peripheral either . It doesn’t look for it either, that’s true, but Sony wants the experience to be extremely good for the player who wants to play with nothing more than a controller and headphones.

To do this, the Japanese rely on AI noise cancellation when we use their microphone, and it shows. The volume is somewhat low and perhaps the dependence on additional software and the equalization included in the first PS5 update in 2024 will be a problem in the end or for use on PC and mobile phones, but for now we are talking about a considerable improvement.

Sony knows what it is doing with the battery

The second surprise in its design is a slot that, like the microphone, is easy to overlook, but fully attacks the battery. In this case, the Pulse Elite have seen more improvements inside than outside, as is clear from the images, and one of them is not the battery life, but the battery charge itself. In the upper arc of the headphones, the one that is not in contact with our head, the Japanese have placed a charging connector that, together with its stand (which could have been a little more worked on), emphasizes the idea of ​​being in front of a premium peripheral .

This gives us two options for charging the battery , each one better than the last. On the one hand, we have the aforementioned connector that offers the possibility of anchoring the stand to the wall (we will have to use a small screw and make a hole in the wall, it does not have any anchor with glue) from which a USB Type C cable ; We will only have to place it in the appropriate position, something difficult if you do not have it at eye level, and it will begin to charge. On the other hand, the well-known USB Type C connection, which this time is relegated to the right pin of the headphones.

Although they are two options without any drawbacks, they do have differences. Sony has incorporated fast charging to the Pulse Elite, which according to its indications gives us 2 hours of constant play with just 10 minutes of charging . According to the tests I have done, the headphones connected directly via USB Type C do offer about 100 minutes of use (an hour and a half) in just 10 minutes, while connected to the stand the time takes just over 15 minutes.

It’s a minimal difference but what about the entire battery? Having a stand complicates the fact of having to constantly charge the headphones, but after 3 days of playing in four-hour sessions , the battery did not drop below 50% . In total, it took me 27 hours between charges to have to be forced to connect the cable to continue playing.

Above average comfort

I have glasses and I’m quite picky about headphones, and in order not to get out of habit with the Fox animated series, now Disney, it’s like I’m not wearing anything . Away from the joke, I usually find it very difficult to face several hours of gaming with headphones without getting fed up due to the pressure of the temples of the glasses or the heat. I play 90% of my time with in-ears, but the Pulse Elite have been left in the drawer most of the time these last few weeks.

Although it is true that they do not represent a huge design change compared to the Pulse 3D, I did not expect less in terms of comfort , and that first generation offered above-average ergonomics . The double arch in the upper part of the head means that the Pulse Elite (like the Pulse 3D) have an invariable design that prevents us from being able to manually regulate the opening of its temples, so everything depends on the peripherals themselves adapting to our head without us having to do anything.

That along with the pads , which although they have not seen a transcendent improvement, with the same round design, their texture is somewhat gentler than the 2020 generation. We are talking about synthetic leather in a plastic construction throughout, but I have been able spending an entire afternoon playing without feeling like I had them on, and for me that is an achievement like few others. If you have glasses, they are a must without a second’s hesitation.

How do they work? This is the performance of the Pulse Elite

But we get to the important thing, how do they work? In this case I would like to comment on one of the small novelties of the Pulse Elite and that is that Sony has improved its connectivity with the ability to connect them simultaneously to PS5 and mobile (in this case I have used it with iOS, but there are no problems with Android according to your instructions) via Bluetooth. This allows us to answer calls while we are immersed in the game, something that most competing brands already include, but, again, I did not expect to have it here. All this without delay whether on PC, PS5 or mobile. Although in these first two we continue using the PlayStation Link signal dongle , the device has seen improvements in latency, although it is true that on occasions I have had problems with at least one disconnection and problems initiating pairing that perhaps can be attributed to firmware of the system.

Be that as it may, in pure and simple performance they represent a tremendous improvement compared to the Pulse Explore. Those headphones offered uninspired, somewhat insipid performance that did not excuse the generational leap. Although the Pulse Elite is not a giant leap, it means that the Japanese have outlined their mistakes and emphasized their successes, and this is clear thanks to Audeze .

The American company, known for its magnetic driver technology and acquired by Sony in 2021 , signs the innards of the headphones with planar magnetic drivers, larger than the standard ones and, therefore, much more precise in terms of sound fidelity. In the case of the video game, with a very wide range of sounds , Audeze technology together with the PS5 3D Audio offers well-balanced and detailed audio .

As with the previous generation and Pulse Explore, the PlayStation Link connection dongle is included in the box and is used to connect it to PC

Although they lack features like active noise cancellation and ear detection sensors, the Pulse Elite doesn’t need them, at least in an everyday, home environment. I can assure you that the experience playing Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 with them has been outstanding, even though I have needed to set it to the PS5 digital equalizer to slightly emphasize the bass.

Are the PS5 Pulse Elite worth it?

Not only is it a difficult question to answer for many devices, but in the case of the Pulse Elite they add an additional degree of complexity due to the short time on the market of their first generation. One thing is clear to me and that is that they are absolutely worth it instead of the Pulse Explore , much more limited and 80 euros more expensive than these supra-aurals . Likewise, if you have never made the jump to the Pulse 3D and want headphones to connect to a PC or PS5, it wouldn’t last a second.

If you have the Pulse 3D, the situation is somewhat more difficult. I come from those original Sony headphones for PS5 and it is true that the novelty has been diluted, but the improvements are worth it. Negative aspects such as battery life are considerably improved in this new generation. In everything else, Sony smoothes things over and makes it clear that these are the headphones that should have been launched with the PS5. The Pulse Elite are good and comfortable, two words that for me earn any type of outlay, especially with a price range as competitive as this one.