Product test
Playstation wireless headset tested: put on ... and taken to heart
by Martin Jud
Sony Pulse Explore review: listen up, gamers
1.3.2024
Want to hear PlayStation 5 surround sound and make phone calls at the same time? This works wonderfully with the Sony Pulse Explore. But only if you have the right ears.
What you need to know in advance: the biggest disadvantage
The main drawback for some gamers may be the size, shape and weight of the Pulse Explore. My wife, for instance, can’t use them because her ears are rather dainty. The earphones get in the way of her outer ear – or vice versa. Either way, she just doesn’t find them comfortable.
The good news is I’ve found a solution. And it doesn’t involve using the Sony attachments. The white-transparent tips from my silicone attachment collection shown in the picture fit perfectly in my ears thanks to the thicker material and nothing pinches. Not even after hours of use.
What you get: Sony Pulse Explore at a glance
If the Pulse Explore aren’t already out of the running given the pitfalls outlined above, it’s worth taking a look at their specifications.
The earphones come with four sets of attachments as well as the charging case, a PlayStation Link USB adapter and a USB cable. Here’s an overview of what the in-ears offer:
The built-in battery is meant to last for up to five hours and the charging box featuring PlayStation design adds another ten hours on top, which is comparatively little.
When I tested them out, the earphone batteries easily made it to the specified five hours as long as I only listened to music via one source. The first earphone cut out after about five and a half hours. When connected via PlayStation Link and Bluetooth, the earphones’ runtime is closer to five hours. This kind of capacity is plenty for me, especially as I rarely or never listen to music, game or even do both at the same time for more than five hours at a time.
What you don’t get: lack of Bluetooth control and smartphone app
Sony actually has an app for its Bluetooth headphones that lets you tailor it to you, such as adjusting the sound using an equaliser. However, this app doesn’t work with the Pulse Explore.
I can live with that, but what I really miss is the ability to control my Bluetooth device via the earphones. If I want to change the volume or skip a track, I have to do this on my smartphone. Although the Pulse Explore have volume buttons on each headphone, these are only for controlling the device connected via the USB dongle.
For me and many other users, it’d probably be better if the Bluetooth volume could be set with one earphone and the PlayStation Link volume with the other. This is even more of a disadvantage when I link the headphones to my smartphone while out and about. When I’m gaming on the sofa and my smartphone is always right there anyway, it doesn’t bother me as much.
How good the sound is when listening to music and gaming
Bombs by Faithless is fantastic on the Pulse Explore. But the track also gets under your skin in other ways – stop all wars!
Delay-free surround sound for your gaming pleasure
One advantage of PlayStation Link over Bluetooth is the sound customisation options. You can activate surround sound in the PS5 settings under Sound > 3D audio for headphones and adjust it using profiles. Similarly, there’s now also an equaliser in the sound settings on the Control Centre. I like it. Even with just a few volumes, it provides a real advantage.
If you want to enjoy 3D sound with a PC, you can do the same there – and with all other headphones. Just use software such as Dolby Access to bring that virtual surround sound to your ears.
Ingenious simultaneous connection with two devices
Apart from the great sound, the best thing about the Pulse Explore for me is that I can connect them via Playstation Link as well as Bluetooth. And all at the same time. I use it in particular for games that I’m not playing for the first time, such as The Outer Worlds. I set the music volume to 0 in the game options and replace the rather spherical soundtrack with thumping guitar riffs and heavy bass. This makes it twice as much fun to fill my opponents with bullets.
Apart from anything else, it’s also practical to be able to make phone calls while gaming. The microphone quality has been good ever since an update at the end of January – as long as you wear both earbuds. I sound loud and clear enough, but lower tones and basses could do with being captured and reproduced with more vigour.
In a nutshell
Recommended for gamers with certain caveats
The Sony Pulse Explore are great, but only meet my expectations after I stop using the attachments included and switch to my own. All the ones supplied are too soft, meaning the rather heavy earphones press uncomfortably in my ear canal. This shouldn’t really be the case. Just as questionable is the fact that for some smaller ears, they’re simply the wrong shape or too big to get past the pinna or outer ear. For many people, the earphones will likely be out of the question simply because of their fit or weight.
However, if everything sits properly or has been made to sit, you’ll reap the rewards with plenty of fun. As well as great lossless sound thanks to PlayStation Link, you also get to enjoy latency-free (3D) game sound. And once you get used to the advantage of having two simultaneous devices connected, you won’t want to go back. Even though you can’t operate devices connected via Bluetooth directly via the headphones.
I can only recommend the Pulse Explore with certain caveats. Due to the many potential drawbacks and the high price, it’s worth considering your purchase carefully.
Pro
- Lossless (PS5 surround) sound with low latency thanks to USB dongle. It also comes with Bluetooth
- Can simultaneously play sound from your smartphone and PS5/PS Portal or PC/Mac
- Provide a powerful and balanced sound with sufficient bass
- Spatial sound can be refined with PS5 equaliser and surround personalisation is also available
- Good microphone recording quality when using both earphones but not much bass
Contra
- Rather heavy at 6.7 g per earbud
- The ear tips they come with are too soft, which can make the heavy earphones uncomfortable and pinch
- Not always comfortable for smaller ears due to size and shape
- No noise cancellation, transparency mode or smartphone app
- You can’t operate a Bluetooth device via the headphones
Header image: Martin Jud
Martin Jud
Senior Editor
martin.jud@digitecgalaxus.chI find my muse in everything. When I don’t, I draw inspiration from daydreaming. After all, if you dream, you don’t sleep through life.
