Wireless headsets are a dime a dozen these days, and with so many options, it’s really hard to choose which one you can spend your hard-earned money on. Clearly, if you’ve got the budget for it, more expensive headsets will surely scratch the itch. If you’re on a tight budget, though, and want something that can pair up with your PS5 nicely, a sound consideration would be Sony’s own Pulse 3D Wireless Headset.

Launched a little over 2 years ago, the Pulse 3D Wireless Headset is the predecessor to Sony’s Gold Headset for the PS4, and it remains one of the cheaper wireless headsets in the market today that’s packed with features that perfectly complement your PS5.

Let’s check it out!

Pulse 3D Wireless Headset – Comfort and Fit

Speaking of complementing the PS5, the design of the Pulse 3D Wireless Headset is rather sleek, and depending on what variant you get, will instantly pair up well with the cover plates on your console.

The headset is mostly made of plastic with a rubber band that holds it on your head. There are other bands that use a softer material, so while this isn’t the most comfortable alternative, the overall build is lightweight enough to offset the pressure on the top of your head.

The earpads of the Pulse 3D Wireless Headset are covered in leatherette, so those living in warmer territories may want to take this into consideration. Despite that, they are comfortable enough for long play sessions.

Now, this is where it gets a bit tricky… the Pulse 3D Wireless Headset fits my head quite well because of its combination of a narrow frame and small ears. The earcups of the headset are a bit small compared to other alternatives, so those with larger ears may have some problems with fit and comfort.

Also, because of the way the headset is built, you may or may not get a good seal around your ears. From my personal experience, the earcups fit pretty well but the seal wasn’t 100%, so mileage may vary. The earcups hardly swivel as well, so there’s very little you can do to adjust the fit and seal.

Overall, with regard to fit and comfort, the Pulse 3D Wireless Headset offered me a comfortable time while playing. Of course, mileage may vary.

Pulse 3D Wireless Headset – Connectivity, Features, and Sound

Around the left earcup, you’ll find all of the controls that you can use to customize the experience. The on/off switch, the 3.5mm jack for wired sessions, the USB Type-C slot for charging, the mute button, the volume controls, game/chat balance, and mic monitoring.

While some may prefer this setup, I didn’t quite like that everything was on one ear because the cup got too crowded, making it easy to press something else, especially if you have large fingers. While they are spaced well enough, it’s really a “pick your poison” type of thing. As a personal preference, I would have wanted the more utilized controls and ports (volume, mute, 3.5 jack) on the right cup.

Connecting the Pulse 3D Wireless Headset to your PS5 is pretty easy. When I say pretty easy, I mean “just plug in the USB dongle and turn the headset on” easy. It automatically gets detected by your PS5, and there’s hardly anything you’ll need to do after to make it work.

On the PS5, there are controls to tweak the EQ settings, so whatever you choose here will be up to you. I prefer mine a bit flat, but since this is a gaming headset, expect a bit of boost on the bass. That said, the sound quality of the headphones is quite decent for the price, and most users will feel satisfied with the product and its features, especially if used on the PS5.

3D audio is translated properly and goes really well with titles like Returnal, Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart, and much more. Overall immersion levels are elevated, and there’s not much more you can ask given its price.

You can also use the Pulse 3D Wireless Headset on your PC, but don’t expect it to be fully featured. It will serve you well with basic listening and chat use, but power users will want to look elsewhere. Also, it has to be said that there is no option to connect via Bluetooth, so if this is a deal breaker for you, take caution.

As for playback, Sony has advertised the Pulse 3D Wireless Headset to offer up to 12 hours of playback. Based on my tests, I got around the same length of use, but this will obviously depend on some things to consider like volume. 12 hours is decent, and while some other similarly priced cans offer longer playback, 12 hours before another charge could be enough for most people.

Pulse 3D Wireless Headset – Verdict

Overall, the Pulse 3D Wireless Headset is a pretty good product that goes hand-in-hand with the PS5. For its price, it is packed with features that make it a fantastic option for budget-conscious gamers, despite the lack of Bluetooth connectivity. Comfort and fit will be the biggest offender here, and will really vary from user to user, so this is one big thing to consider.

The Pulse 3D Wireless Headset is now available across PlayStation-authorized retailers.