What Is the Pulse 3D Wireless Headset?
Gaming consoles have become increasingly more powerful and can handle high-end 4K graphics and the best sound engineering. However, just because a console is built with such capabilities doesn’t mean the user can always make use of them. After all, to truly utilize the PS5’s 4K streaming capabilities, you’d need a 4K TV to go along with it. Likewise, while the PS5’s 3D audio may seem sleek and cool, it’s not exactly something everyone can experience. That is unless you buy Sony earphones or headphones specifically made for the feature. This, my friend, is why the Pulse 3D headset Sony specifically crafted for their new console exists. Yes, that’s right. The Pulse 3D Wireless headset is a wireless pair of headphones designed just for the PS5. It’s built with an over-ear design and can tune into the console’s signature 3D audio. The product overall looks neat, sleek, and matches the PS5 not only in functionality but in aesthetics as well.
Pulse 3D Wireless Headset Specs
Pulse 3D Wireless Headset Review
Here, we take a look at the various aspects of this wireless headset and determine whether it’s a good purchase in today’s competitive market.
Design
Upon first glance, the Pulse 3D Wireless headset looks like the perfect pair of headphones for the PS5. Like the famous console, it comes in two colors. The first version carries a two-tone, black and white aesthetic with a no-frills design – similar to the original PS5. On the other hand, the second version matches Sony’s later-released Midnight Black PS5 and also comes in the same color. Apart from this, the Pulse 3D Wireless headset looks almost like a smooth 3D render. There are no bumps, sharp edges, or protrusions on the product like you might find on other gaming headsets. It just follows the simple, basic shape most other over-ear headphones have. Like other headphones, the Pulse 3D Wireless headset houses basic controls on the ear cups. On the left, you’ll find options to control the volume of the game and chat audio. You can also find the mic toggle, mute, and power button in this area. With these, you’ll be able to navigate most of what you need on the fly. Over time, each button will become familiar and offer an intuitive navigation experience. However, we will say that they’re not exactly the most comfortable to press. Lastly, the Pulse 3D Wireless headset also provides you with a 3.5mm jack. This allows players to establish a wired connection instead of a wireless one when the product is charging. However, you’ll have to deal with the controller’s battery draining if you choose to use it this way. Overall, the design of the Pulse 3D Wireless headset is decent. Its leatherette ear cups and solid plastic body do make it feel slightly cheaper. However, Sony chose to build it this way because it brings the manufacturing costs (and price) down.
Durability
Unfortunately, while the design of the Pulse 3D Wireless headset looks seemingly elegant, it’s not exactly the most durable. The plastic casing of both the ear cups and headband feels cheap and thin. What’s more, the leatherette ear pads themselves feel flimsy and underwhelming. They’re also somewhat rigid and uncomfortable to the ears, especially if you have a large head. Overall, don’t expect the Pulse 3D Wireless headset to last as long as something made from premium materials. There are certainly more durable and longer-lasting options out there with better builds. Nonetheless, Sony offers it at a decent $100 price tag, so it shouldn’t be too big of an issue.
Sound Quality
What is special about the Pulse 3D headset? If you ask anyone at Sony, they’d most likely tell you that it’s the product’s sound quality. After all, it was built for immersion and 3D audio, so you can fully utilize the PS5’s sound engineering. That said, what exactly does it sound like, and do the headphones live up to expectations? If you’re using the Pulse 3D Wireless headset with PS5 games, it sounds splendid. You can certainly feel the spatial distance between the camera, characters, and other animals around you. Moreover, the rustling leaves, falling waterfalls, and all other environmental noise sound properly placed in 3D space. The Pulse 3D Wireless headset certainly draws you into games in a way you might never have been before. With them, you can truly feel where you are, your orientation regarding your surroundings, and more. They’re wonderful at detecting audio cues, which is especially useful if you’re playing games that rely heavily on sound. Unfortunately, however, that’s where the praises end for the Pulse 3D Wireless headset. While the product does provide an immersive gaming experience, it doesn’t perform as excellently when it comes to music. Of course, this doesn’t mean that the music listening experience is terrible. It simply means that it provides an okay experience. The bass is solid, although it does sound a bit too much with the volume turned up. On the other hand, the low-frequency response is passable and shouldn’t rattle your ears. Apart from this, the music sounds nice and full overall. Everything sounds clear, whether it’s the vocals or the instruments. However, there’s nothing ground-breaking here, and there are much better options that do a much better job at delivering music.
Mic Quality
The Pulse 3D Wireless headset isn’t exactly a behemoth when it comes to microphone quality. That’s because it doesn’t come with a detachable or retractable boom mic like most gaming headphones. Instead, it provides you pinhole microphones – the kind you’d see on wireless earphones – in front of the power button. As a result, your voice will sound hollow and distant while you’re on a phone call. Sure, this might not be crippling when it comes to in-game voice chat. However, we would have liked it more if the headset came with better mic quality for Zoom calls and meetings. Of course, this doesn’t mean the microphone is completely unusable on the Pulse 3D Wireless headset. Your voice will still come through and sound clear enough for the other person to understand you. Nonetheless, it’s not ideal for everybody, especially if you want to use the built-in microphone for streaming or recording.
Connectivity
Wireless headsets have become more mainstream nowadays because of their numerous connectivity options. That said, how many ways can you connect the Pulse 3D Wireless headset, and are they enough? Firstly, let’s tackle the most common question people might ask: does Pulse 3D support Bluetooth? Unfortunately, the answer is no. You can’t connect the Pulse 3D Wireless headset via Bluetooth because it doesn’t have the option. Hence, you can’t connect it to mobile devices or computers through this method. With that said, you might be wondering how to connect Pulse 3D wireless headset to PS5. The answer? Through the wireless USB receiver. You can use the USB to connect to multiple devices, including desktop computers, the PS5, and even the PS4. Lastly, when using the Pulse 3D Wireless headset, how would you connect it if it’s out of battery? Can Pulse 3D be wired? Thankfully, the folks at Sony thought of this already and incorporated a wired connection into the headphone’s feature set. Thus, you can use the 3.5mm jack to connect it to the PS5 DualSense controller with a wire. Of course, this also means that the wireless controller might run out of battery more quickly over time. Nonetheless, it’s a great workaround if you happen to need to use the headphones when it’s out of battery.
Compatibility
Lastly, let’s talk about the Pulse 3D Wireless headset and its compatibility with various hardware. What is the Pulse 3D headset compatible with? Firstly, we’ve already established the Pulse 3D wireless headset PS5 connection many times throughout this article. After all, it’s a given since Sony specifically tailored the device to their new console’s 3D audio. However, did you know that a Pulse 3D wireless headset PS4 connection is also possible? That’s right. Through the wireless USB dongle, you can connect the Pulse 3D Wireless headset to your PlayStation 4. What’s more, you can even establish a Pulse 3D wireless headset PC or Mac connection through the same means. Can you use the Pulse headset on phones? Yes, you can. However, you can’t establish a connection via Bluetooth, as we’ve established before. Nonetheless, you can connect it to mobile devices through the 3.5mm jack. Of course, that’s only if said port still exists on your phone.
Battery Life
According to Sony, the PlayStation 5 Pulse 3D wireless headset only lasts 12 hours. Of course, what the company says on paper usually isn’t what you get in real-world use. The number is often lower than the estimates you see on spec sheets. Thankfully, some testers have found that the battery on the Pulse 3D Wireless headset lasts longer than that. The Sound Guys found it lasted for 13 hours and 24 minutes in their testing. Of course, that isn’t a large increase compared to Sony’s claims. Nonetheless, it’s surprisingly refreshing to find that the product lasts longer than what the company claims. Unfortunately, while it’s pleasantly surprising that the product has longer real-world battery life, it still isn’t enough. After all, most headphones in the $100 price range can last up to 24 hours. Some can even reach the 30-hour mark. With that said, the battery life on the PS5 Pulse 3D headset is disappointing for gaming headphones of this caliber.
Pulse 3D vs Other PS5 Compatible Headphones
To help you further decide whether the Pulse 3D is worth getting, here’s how it fares compared to other leading and similar products on the market.
HyperX Cloud II Wireless
The HyperX Cloud II Wireless is a decent alternative if the Pulse 3D Wireless headset isn’t for you. That’s because it offers better sound quality in both wireless gaming and music listening. Through the model, you get an accurate, neutral sound profile that’s a tad bass-heavy. If the initial settings don’t suit you, you can even customize the EQ through the accompanying software. Apart from this, the headset is more durable and provides better comfort overall. It also completely overtakes Sony’s headset in terms of battery life, offering you 30 hours of use on a charge. Moreover, the HyperX Cloud II Wireless provides a dedicated boom mic, allowing better call quality than Sony’s headphones. Unfortunately, while the HyperX Cloud II Wireless does have advantages, it also has disadvantages that taint its reputation. For example, the model doesn’t come with Bluetooth connectivity, so there’s less flexibility overall. In addition, it can’t connect to devices via a wire, so it isn’t all the better than the Pulse 3D Wireless headset. Nonetheless, if you’re looking for something with better battery life, sound quality, and mic quality, it’s a good option.
SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless
Are you looking for an alternative PS5 headset that performs better than Sony’s Pulse 3D Wireless headset? If so, we recommend checking out the SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless. The headphones sound better overall, providing a neutral sound profile that’s well-balanced, accurate, and full. In addition, the headphones are more comfortable than the Pulse 3D Wireless headset. This, along with the 25-hour battery life, makes it a great companion for longer gaming or music-listening sessions. It’s also the better option if you’re planning on commuting or using the headphones during workout sessions. Although admittedly, it’s more built for gaming than these latter two applications. Apart from these, it’s also the better performer when it comes to microphone quality. That’s because it incorporates a boom mic instead of pinholes like the Pulse 3D Wireless headset. Moreover, it’s compatible with not just the PlayStation but also other consoles as well. Unfortunately, the SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless isn’t perfect and has a few quirks you have to deal with. For example, the model doesn’t fare any better when it comes to the build quality and uses cheap materials. Furthermore, the audio quality is inconsistent, and the noise isolation is nearly nil. Nonetheless, if you want a better performer for a similar price, it’s a great choice. Also Read: SteelSeries Arctis 9 Review
SteelSeries Arctis 7P Wireless
Sony doesn’t have a monopoly on PS5 headphones, and by no means does it trump the competition. Some headphones are arguably better than the Pulse 3D Wireless headset when it comes to the overall quality. The SteelSeries Arctis 7P Wireless is one such model – and we certainly recommend it. Through the model, you get a clear, neutral sound quality that should perform well in calls, games, or music listening. In addition, what makes it better than the Pulse 3D Wireless headset is that it comes with adjustable settings. Therefore, if you dislike the headset’s initial sound quality, you can always tweak things through the graphic EQ and presets. Apart from this, the model also comes with a dedicated boom mic. This immediately boosts its call quality, whether it’s for casual conversations, meetings, or in-game voice chat. However, the mic does have poor noise isolation compared to higher-end models, so do be wary of that. Regardless, the SteelSeries Arctis 7P Wireless is a better choice than the Pulse 3D. It’s more comfortable, durable, and has a longer battery life than Sony’s PS5-specific headphones. Moreover, it offers more flexibility in both its software customization and applications. You can use it not only for games but also for conference calls, voice calls, and listening to music.
Is the Pulse 3D Wireless Headset Worth It?
With all that said, is the Pulse 3D Wireless headset worth the cost? It depends. If you love playing PS5 games that utilize 3D audio, then yes. After all, it only costs $100 and won’t break the bank for most people. Moreover, while it isn’t the best gaming headset in the market, it does a few things well. For example, it’s the easiest pair of headphones to set up if you’re using it with the PS5. In addition, it’s designed beautifully and doesn’t drop connectivity when already connected. It also delivers decent sound quality if you’re using it on other devices. However, we still recommend it only if your priority is the PS5. On the other hand, because the list of 3D audio-capable games isn’t long, we can’t recommend it to everybody. That’s because the 3D audio is truly the only thing this product has going for it. It has poor battery life, disappointing build quality, and isn’t comfortable to use for long periods. What’s more, the lack of Bluetooth connectivity is especially problematic. You can’t easily connect it to mobile devices unless they have a headphone jack because of this. Overall, it’s simply not for the average person and is only recommended for PS5 enthusiasts who want 3D audio.
