UPDATES: 1(.5) - Despite the claim by Sony that the pads were glued, Wicked Cushions confirmed they are not. They are working on a replacement pad with about a 4 month ETA (tops). 2 - Sony said that if you apply an EQ profile on PS5, it instantly saves to the headset, and will follow that sound profile on PC and the Portal. 3 - I confirmed the Pulse Elite works on the switch with the Pulse Link USB adapter if you are in docked mode. 4 - You are all awesome people
the consistent update👍 will you be doing a comparison video with other headsets? And compare the advantages/disadvantages of using non-Sony PlayStation headsets on strictly ps5? I’ve experienced many headsets that aren’t ps5 dedicated headsets to sound worse and low volume on ps5 than using it on PC.
Joe, thanks for the update. The fact that the earcups are not replaceable creates cause for concern regarding their long-term durability. Also, would really appreciate it if you or any of your followers could answer any of my other questions posted in a previous comment (posted below). So far, none of the YT reviews I've watched have addressed them: 1) What size are the drivers? 2) Does the wireless dongle work with wifi or Bluetooth, as with the Maxwell? 3) Are the earpads replaceable? [Answered. Thx, Joe.] 4) Can the Pulse Elite be used while charging? 5) How good is it for listening to music? 6) Will you be dropping a follow-up EQ settings video for the Pulse Elite, to approximate its SQ to the Harmon curve? 7) What Bluetooth codec(s) does the Pulse Elite support?
You are hands-down one of the best reviewers on TH-cam. I do have one criticism, which relates to planar technology - which nobody points out. The drivers are extremely fragile. I went through 2 Penrose headsets, before I looked online & realised the issue is widespread. I'm referring to the foil crinkle sound from the driver, which even occurs when the headset is switched off. The sound is horrendous. This can be caused by essentially creating a vacuum seal. The change in pressure can disrupt & permanently damage the driver. Audeze hand wave this issue as normal. It absolutely isn't! They advise to be very careful putting the headset on. But should adjusting the fit of a headset with kid gloves be an acceptable caveat? I think not. For this reason alone, I avoided the Maxwell. I looked online & the same issues persist. I'm not scaremongering. But this needs to be highlighted. If you have an old planar magnetic headset you are willing to sacrifice, you can test it. Once on your head with a tight seal, push on the ear cup a few times & the driver will be permanently damaged. That tin foil noise does not go away. I will be interested to know if Sony have overcome this design flaw? I suspect not. It's a fundamental issue with planar magnetic drivers, which I will avoid until this fragility is solved. I hope you see fit to provide this warning on future reviews involving planar tech. Keep up the great work. 👍
Further to my previous. If you do the test I suggested on an old planar magnetic headset. You can even do this by placing the headset onto a flat surface and pushing down onto the earcups. I know exactly what the result will be. But it may be worth a video on this issue. It would be refreshing to see this highlighted, because so far, not a single reviewer has brought up this problem. When it happened to me, I was just adjusting the headset on my head for a tighter seal. That is completely unreasonable, and Audeze passing this off as normal - then providing instructions to be very careful when putting the headset on - is admission of the design flaw. Planar drivers sound great. But this design flaw is completely unacceptable. Try it! Just ensure you pick a headset you no longer use.
I rate IGN's review of the Pulse Elite 5/10. I rate this review here 11/10. You explained every single detail that we could have asked for. Thank you good sir. You've got yourself a new subscriber.
This is the 4th review I found on the Elite, and it’s by far the most detailed one. You spend most of your time on the sound quality which is the most important thing about headsets (other reviewers spent more time on how to set it up, buttons etc.). Not only do you provide an entire frequency response database (!) of dozens of headsets, you even put the creme on top and give us a quick comparison to other popular headsets! I couldn’t stop watching, this was exactly what I was looking for. Thank you so much.
Thanks so much! Just to cover the "grey" area with sponsor haha... I consider this more a partnership than sponsor. Sponsor would put off a more biased vibe and that wasn't the case here. In fact, Sony was completely hands off with my review process which is amazing. I loved that they trusted the process!
I didn't expect you to come out with this so quick. You do such stellar work! Pre-ordered these a while ago, hoping they'd be good for gaming and gaming alone. Thank you!!!
Just preordered the headset. Wasn’t planning on getting em , but I couldn’t help myself. A lot of features for the price. Price wise they are “ relatively “ inexpensive.
Side note, reading some other feedback - if you own a PlayStation Dualsense Edge controller, the extra FN buttons actually allow for quick ability to game/chat mix (which will be better to not lift your hand away from the controller anyway). Obviously this means you have to buy the controller but someone really into shooters probably owns it or is considering both - which is still cheaper combo than the Astro A50x
I use the edge for Witcher 3, spiderman (for web shooters) manual shifting on racing games like GT7 and the crew, domed joysticks and fine tuned joystick settings for rocket league, and obviously settings for fortnite. The controller is on par with the pulse elite headset. The joystick curve tuning is extremely useful and flexible, pretty much the only thing I tune besides button mapping on the paddles and the half domed paddles are genius.
I have the DualSense edge, amazing controller but it’s a bit heavy and the battery life isn’t very good. Make sure you put it on charge or you can also run it wired, comes with a 3m braided cable.
I’m going to Best Buy today to buy my me a pair of gaming headphones and after a lot of research and reviews it pretty much came down to two headsets. The ps5 pulse elite vs the steel series nova 7p. I’ve been watching so many reviews this past week on both headsets and but none of them have gone into the detail that u have. I was torn between the two until the fact that u said the nova 7p still dosent sound quite as good as the pulse elite despite being slightly more expensive and that sealed the deal for me. I’m definitely going with the pulse elite. Thanks again for helping me make an informed decision and u just earned my sub!
Absolutely stellar review, thank you for this and congrats on the sponsorship! As an owner of both the Pulse Elite and Explore, as well as the H9, I also did quite a lot of (unprofessional) testing and have come to similar conclusions. The only thing I disagree on is that I think the Elite has a hard time keeping up in games that don't rely on positioning and clarity, which it excels at. Games like Final Fantasy 7 or other more soundtrack-heavy games loose a bit of punch when using the Elite as compared to the Explore, which I personally really enjoy using for these kinds of games. Overall, I'd say the Elite is a very good headset to buy if you only plan on getting one, especially if you play a lot of shooters, racing titles or other games with a realistic sound setting. If you play all sorts of stuff, I think the Explore are a better jack of all trades - although those come with other issues like the tip fitment and significantly shorter battery life, of course.
Man, I thought I was crazy because I purchased both the explore and elites thinking I'd just end up liking the headset a whole lot better since I didn't really see any positive reviews of the earbuds. After getting the EQ update and using a different set of ear tips other than the ones that Sony provided the ear buds sounded like night and day. While the headset is a tad louder to me, I just think the overall sound of the earbuds were slightly better in the games I tested which really shocked me. I love both setups but at the end of the day I just might end up only keeping one, and so far it's looking like the explore earbuds.
This is an excellent review. Really great quality content and love the use of the sound chart to show performance. I’m excited to experience these. I’ve never spent more than $80 on a head set and felt that this was one that might be worth it. It seems like you’re getting $400 features and quality for $150. This unbiased review solidifies that for me. Thanks for the information. Subscribed and liked.
@@GadgetryTech Just a little feedback on your review, I saw another video that covered the chat mix ability in the same EQ settings and also the ability to edit the chat mix from the premium dual-sense edge controller. I was bummed to know the rocker was removed but the ability to control it on the controller was an important piece of information for me. Your review is still amazing, just a piece of information I saw in another review. Cheers!
@@Neerano Sold 😜 Sounded great for FPS but I wanted a set to double up for music listening and these were poor for that. Plus the loose ear cups were annoying as you could hear them shifting about on your head. As the construction was so cheap this made a hollow/echoey noise which was off-putting. They are quality drivers in a £50 headset housing imho.
I think this is my next headset. You helped me buy my old HS80s. The functionality plus your review on the sound stage and comfortability sold me again. I was eyeing the Audeze Maxwell but to your point it costs 2 of the Pulse Elites. You got me again.
Congrats on your channel growth and company collaboration. These are a testament to the value of your work and the respect you have from the overall community. I wish you continued success and happiness, and thank you for all your hard work for us all. Take care and all the best for the future.
Planar magnetic drivers sound great but are fragile so buyers beware. Especially while putting them on. Don't press hard on the ear cups when placing them on your head when adjusting them etc. Excess air pressure from pressing can damage the thin metal membrane which will introduce a crinkling noise or crackling. Audeze Maxwell users were complaining about this a lot on Reddit. I personally never experienced the issue with mine. Maybe Sony/Audeze solved the issue but it's something to keep in mind. My only beef is non replaceable ear cups. Your video alone shows that they are already looking stressed and cracked. Shame because that means they probably cut corners on the material/foam, will crack, flake and lose their shape quickly altering the sound. For 150 bucks though it's something I think most people could overlook.
Pulse 3D vs Pulse Elite comparison from reviews I’ve watched: The Pulse Elite has: • Much better comfort. • Simultaneous Bluetooth (PS + Phone audio) • Over double the battery life • A better mic • Possibly has much better response and less latency due to PS Link • Planar Magnetic drivers (different from dynamic drivers used in almost all headsets) start at a minimum of £300. Pulse Elite has them at under £150. The sound quality is in another league. So what are you sacrificing from the Pulse 3D? - Sidetone control buttons - Game to chat mix buttons - Very ugly design on the Pulse Elite (imo) - The cups aren’t as rigid and are slightly flimsier on the Pulse Elite. This approach improved comfort for different head shapes but might have decreased build quality. Pulse 3D rrp is £90/ $100 Pulse Elite rrp is £130/ $150
Amazing review. I got my PS5 Slim yesterday (first one since PS2, a looong time ago) together with this headset, and the quality is amazing, it worth every cent.
Man I just got these and they are legit. Im not an audiophile but I do game with Sony H7 and Tygr 300R. I've been lucky not to experience any disconnect issues mainly on PC. But man! The detail and how 'seperate' everything sounds is crazy. These are so good I even started noticing stupid ambient sounds in Apex Legends that I've never head before haha.
I already pre-ordered a pair waiting on this review. I'm not happy to hear about the chat mix, every other pulse headset since the 1st Gen on PS3 has had this function. Makes me think they either couldn't justify the addition for the price or they want us to buy the dualsense edge controller.
I’ve tried to watch a ton of reviews on theElite, I’ve been racking my brains as to which headset to buy for my PS5. Mostly I’m wanting clear direction of footsteps of enemies playing COD, I think you’ve just sold these to me! Thanks, man!
Congratz on the partnership! And I would like to say: that was one of the best reviews I ever listened to! Liked! And listened the whole video. So interesting to hear all that. Damn couple of months back bought the nova 7 on my ps5 😂 should waited for these!
Novas are just way more comfortable. Base can be more impactfull on them as well if you eq they sound amazing. Had the Maxwells and returned them in favor of the Novas. Maxwells sounded better but man were they uncomfortable. Also pleather pads are not great on these. Actually would never use them and they are a big part why they sound good. So Novas are my daily driver for now. Sound good enough dont cook my ears and are supremly compfy. Only minus is the mic but I have an external one anyway.
16% of amazon reviews are the same issue, "disconnects". Why was this not addressed? It seems to happen more on day one consoles but also on the newest model. Disabling 2.4ghz router band does not help much. Nor using a dock. This is a big deal and none of you reviewers covered this big issue.
how it compares the Pulse Elite to the TB Stealth Pro in terms of sound? and how is the passive noise isolation? I found with the TB I rarely have to use ANC as the passive noise isolation is very good
The only review I need to watch on these! Fantastic work as always 👏🏻 I love how much attention to detail you put into your reviews and that you cover pretty much everything. No stone left unturned! Very surprised to hear you say they’re more clear/detailed than the A50X though. Was not expecting that at all, but I do appreciate you mentioning it as that’s the headset I’m currently running.
Haha, thanks!! It was shocking. Part of that detail difference is the increased treble, but even if you EQ it down, it's quite shocking how good they are
I got the elite and was really disappointed in it. For any adults out there wondering, The ear cups are actually smaller than those on the pulse. Even though that your cups are softer they still sit on your ear and not over it! After 15 minutes your ears start bothering you just like the pulse did. The controls on the side are extremely small and hard to use especially if you have larger fingers. All in all this headset is not worth $150 which is why I returned it as soon as I got it!
Great review, thank you! I love how seamlessly you drop in comparisons with quite a few other headsets on a number of metrics. Plus you covered everything I would wonder about were I considering the headset. As is, I checked out this review AFTER I already purchased the Sony PULSE Elite headset so…heh glad I didn’t make a mistake!
Thanks! In countless blind tests, humans have not been able to discern a sound quality difference from 16/44 to anything above that. Chances are if you can hear a difference with oversampling, it's because the DAC isn't performing well in the lower sample rates. For a wireless headset, the lack of compression sounds great
@@GadgetryTech thanks brother interesting considering HD audio is essentially anything over 16bit 44.1Khz. It’s a fad! I used to do audio engineering as a job, there is a reason to record at higher sample rates and bit depth which means you can capture more detail (lower end harmonics and mid details that are harmonics of higher frequencies) but as far as I can tell from what you say in reproducing those harmonics 16bit 48khz is more than enough! Thanks mate well done on that partnership.
These are shockingly close tbh. This may be the closest performing wireless headset to the Stealth Pro when it comes to FPS. The Nova Pro Wireless are the only others in the contention for best/better FPS options
@@GadgetryTechthank you so much for the reply. Thats a bummer, I could have save £100 from my stealths purchase then lol. I decided I did not like my Nova pro and swapped. Just could not get enough bass, which the stealths have plenty, so maybe I would have been slightly annoyed with the elites. At least that’s what I need to tell myself to make myself feel better haha.
@@Cloud-strife83 the one instance they talked about the mic they didn’t even play an actual recording of the mic from this headset. Instead they just applied a filter to audio from another mic to make it sound like a bad mic.
@@Adrianhernandez-ex8cj It’s definitely not as bad as IGN made it sound with that bs filter they used on regular audio. It’s also noticeably not as good as the other two competing headsets mentioned in the microphone test part of this video.
I'm assuming the EQ won't save to the headset. So, did you use Sonar when playing on PC? I've got the A50 X pre ordered but I'm also interested in these. Thanks!
@@GadgetryTech But i saw another review that mentioned, that the EQ settings made on the PS5 will save on the Headset itself and applies to any connected device. Would be interesting to know what is true. I think on the Maxwell the presets also stayed on the Headset
Congrats on the partnership wiith Sony, Joe. Your reviews are the best!!!! Recently, after watching some of your videos, I bought a EPOS H6PRO (openback) and I'm loving it to bits. Thank you so much and keep up the good work. Love from Brazil!
you are easily my favorite reviewer. Keep up the high quality work. We appreciate your depth and you deserve the world. Easily the next tech review giant.
Use a USB extension cable to have the PS Link adapter plugged in closer to you. Don’t place the dongle behind anything, make sure it has a clear line of sight to you and the headset. If it ever does disconnect you just unplug the dongle and plug it back in and then press the power button on the headset and it will reconnect instantly.
Not purely from a tonality perspective when it comes to music, bass extension, and more palatable treble. The Elite seemed to work a little better for FPS for me though! And they did get more comfortable than before...
Oh man I’m pumped for this one. Especially after hearing you say the imaging is finally good on a planar headset. I bought and still use the Penrose years ago because of you. And I am going to finnaly break free of the Penrose and buy this one because of you. You are literally the only TH-camr that doesn’t say “this rocks!” To every single head set and you have no idea how much that is appreciated lol.
refreshing hearing a tech review from someone that actually understands tech. not like those guys with 18 mil subs for their uneducated opinion... youre an unicorn around here. I wish these gaining headsets would do noise cancelling too. when I use my AirPods Max ( not ideal, I know) for gaming it's such a game changer. I can hear other player's steps and movements WAY before I can w non canceled ones.
Hey, first time seeing any of your videos. I just wanted to say thanks for doing such good work with this review & not only talking about the features from the talking points Sony wanted you to hit. I'm specifically referring to your sound/audio analysis using your audio rig. Very informative and useful! Keep up the good work!
This is the best Pulse Elite review. THANK YOU! You got a new subscriber here, keep up the good work. Edit: I just got them today. Definitely worth applying the EQ you suggested, specially on the SUB BASS because for some music it kinda sounds distorted when volume is too high.
Man, I was only looking for a phone review, and now you got a new subscriber! I wonder why your review isn't the first in search..i guess is because internet relies on controversies
Hey man, just came across your channel and just wanted to say thank you for this review. I’ve been looking for a new headset and was not even considering the Pulse Elites because of how much I dislike my 3Ds. I have glasses which already is a discomfort but the 3Ds just squeeze the hell out of my head and slip down off my ears all the time. I thought the pads were squishy and soft but watching this video and seeing the Elites pads I can see they’re not. Going to be grabbing the Elites this December because of this review.
Great review! Wanted to add since it wasn't mentioned in the review, and since there is a lot of conflicting information at the moment, that the headset works great with PSVR2. The reason there is so much confusion (besides the fact that Sony doesn't offer any instruction or information), is that unlike the Pulse 3D or Gold with PSVR, the PSVR2 goes on OVER the headset. Headphones first, then the VR. Used them for a couple of long Gran Turismo sessions and it worked great. It's a better setup actually, because you often want to take off the VR, but keep headphones on. FWIW: Been use the Pulse 3D, the audio in Gran Turismo 7 is improved dramatically with the Elite. It's a very noticeable difference, and I'm the type who usually can't tell sound quality apart much in headphones.
Ear cups, are they removable ? Im very sensitive to high treble. Feel like this one has more treble and less Bass. The sound stage is pretty poor to Nova7 and Cloud 3 wireless. I saw in your graphs.
@GadgetryTech you deserve it bro and I hope a lot more companies approach you I love my Nova 7 Wireless, it’s a great headset, but now I’m going to buy the Pulse Elite, because it has the planar magnetic drivers, which means it has great detail retrieval and you mentioned that in the video, but what made instantly decide to order it is, when you said it has insane imaging. Planar magnetic driver detail and insane imaging, it’s an easy decision for me
This is a great review and the detail you go into is so impressive and really helpful. I picked up the Arctis Nova 7 in October & those have been great but was feeling regret at not waiting for these. Are the pulse elites enough of a leap to make it worth upgrading? The cushions not being replacable feels like a bit of drawback. Keep up the great work!:)
Loved this review! Canceled my previous order and ordered through your link. Can't wait for these to replace the OG ones! Rebirth is going to sound glorious !
Hi Joey, greetings from Germany. Thank you very much for all of your reviews. You helped me alot choosing a new gaming headset which i can also use on my mac for daily work. First of all ive ordered the Astro A30s. But i dont like mic. Therefore i ordered the Pulse Elites now (After watching your deep dive). Hopefully they‘ll be Great for Teams COD and Helldivers. Thanks!
Hi amazing review! Would you recommend these headphones to someone who does not own a PS5? I was thinking of using them as my main new headphones for the PC
Thanks for the great review! Validates my pre-order. Looking forward to the arrival off them. Only dissapointed the lack the chat balance controls, which used to be one of the biggest upsides of Sony's own gaming headsets.
Joey, you are awesome! Thanks for taking the time and congratulations on the colab with Sony. It is definitely well deserved!!!! Hey, I just watched a compare video and that reviewer picked the Pulse over the Maxwell. As far as I know, this is a well respected headset reviewer and I have considered him to be a realistic and trusty guy. But to put the Pulse over the Maxwell makes NO sense to me. I know everybody is different but, how could this be? Would you pick this set over the Maxwell? PS: I ordered the Maxwell yesterday. Now I’m wondering if I made the right choice.
Great review Joe. as I have the model one and the Maxwell's. My headphone journey is over for now. Unfortunately, I now have tinnitus non stop ringing in my ears.so people out there please be careful with your listening volumes, because this is my own fault,having headphones to loud.
Thanks for the review, would have been nice to see if they fit better over the PSVR2. I have these on pre order and have the last model, I do find the old ones a bit awkward over the headset.
Awesome review, I've been waiting for someone to do some kind of comparison between these and the Ozone H9's so thank you for that. Guess I have a decision to make lol.
Looks like I found the perfect gift for my nephews birthday next month. Hes turning 13 and plays COD or Fortnite online with his friends via PS5. Thought about getting him the Audeze Maxwell like I have. But the weight is a concern. These seem perfect for his needs. Thanks for the review!
Thanks! Yeah this sounds perfect for your Nephew! That noise rejection will help save him embarrassment too when the fam is yelling at him in the background to turn off games and go to bed haha
It sounds like this headset is an excellent value at this price with the performance and all of the features. One question though. Does the lossless audio really matter with the Playstation Portal being that the signal is almost definitely being compressed through Wi-Fi to the Portal before it is even sent to the headset?
UPDATES:
1(.5) - Despite the claim by Sony that the pads were glued, Wicked Cushions confirmed they are not. They are working on a replacement pad with about a 4 month ETA (tops).
2 - Sony said that if you apply an EQ profile on PS5, it instantly saves to the headset, and will follow that sound profile on PC and the Portal.
3 - I confirmed the Pulse Elite works on the switch with the Pulse Link USB adapter if you are in docked mode.
4 - You are all awesome people
the consistent update👍 will you be doing a comparison video with other headsets? And compare the advantages/disadvantages of using non-Sony PlayStation headsets on strictly ps5? I’ve experienced many headsets that aren’t ps5 dedicated headsets to sound worse and low volume on ps5 than using it on PC.
Joe, thanks for the update. The fact that the earcups are not replaceable creates cause for concern regarding their long-term durability.
Also, would really appreciate it if you or any of your followers could answer any of my other questions posted in a previous comment (posted below). So far, none of the YT reviews I've watched have addressed them:
1) What size are the drivers?
2) Does the wireless dongle work with wifi or Bluetooth, as with the Maxwell?
3) Are the earpads replaceable? [Answered. Thx, Joe.]
4) Can the Pulse Elite be used while charging?
5) How good is it for listening to music?
6) Will you be dropping a follow-up EQ settings video for the Pulse Elite, to approximate its SQ to the Harmon curve?
7) What Bluetooth codec(s) does the Pulse Elite support?
You are hands-down one of the best reviewers on TH-cam. I do have one criticism, which relates to planar technology - which nobody points out. The drivers are extremely fragile. I went through 2 Penrose headsets, before I looked online & realised the issue is widespread. I'm referring to the foil crinkle sound from the driver, which even occurs when the headset is switched off. The sound is horrendous.
This can be caused by essentially creating a vacuum seal. The change in pressure can disrupt & permanently damage the driver. Audeze hand wave this issue as normal. It absolutely isn't! They advise to be very careful putting the headset on. But should adjusting the fit of a headset with kid gloves be an acceptable caveat? I think not. For this reason alone, I avoided the Maxwell. I looked online & the same issues persist.
I'm not scaremongering. But this needs to be highlighted. If you have an old planar magnetic headset you are willing to sacrifice, you can test it. Once on your head with a tight seal, push on the ear cup a few times & the driver will be permanently damaged. That tin foil noise does not go away.
I will be interested to know if Sony have overcome this design flaw? I suspect not. It's a fundamental issue with planar magnetic drivers, which I will avoid until this fragility is solved.
I hope you see fit to provide this warning on future reviews involving planar tech. Keep up the great work. 👍
Further to my previous. If you do the test I suggested on an old planar magnetic headset. You can even do this by placing the headset onto a flat surface and pushing down onto the earcups. I know exactly what the result will be. But it may be worth a video on this issue. It would be refreshing to see this highlighted, because so far, not a single reviewer has brought up this problem.
When it happened to me, I was just adjusting the headset on my head for a tighter seal. That is completely unreasonable, and Audeze passing this off as normal - then providing instructions to be very careful when putting the headset on - is admission of the design flaw.
Planar drivers sound great. But this design flaw is completely unacceptable. Try it! Just ensure you pick a headset you no longer use.
That's pretty awesome about the Switch compatibility!!
I rate IGN's review of the Pulse Elite 5/10.
I rate this review here 11/10. You explained every single detail that we could have asked for. Thank you good sir. You've got yourself a new subscriber.
Not sure why anyone would get anything from IGN at this point
This is the 4th review I found on the Elite, and it’s by far the most detailed one. You spend most of your time on the sound quality which is the most important thing about headsets (other reviewers spent more time on how to set it up, buttons etc.). Not only do you provide an entire frequency response database (!) of dozens of headsets, you even put the creme on top and give us a quick comparison to other popular headsets! I couldn’t stop watching, this was exactly what I was looking for. Thank you so much.
Thanks so much! So glad you found it helpful
You deserve every single sponsorship coming your way. Amazing channel
could not put it better!
Thanks so much! Just to cover the "grey" area with sponsor haha... I consider this more a partnership than sponsor. Sponsor would put off a more biased vibe and that wasn't the case here. In fact, Sony was completely hands off with my review process which is amazing. I loved that they trusted the process!
Agreed @@AmaroAmaral
THE best YT channel for headphone reviews hands down 👍
@@GadgetryTechis the GT FPS profile what you would tune for COD warzone specific?
Congrats on the partnership Joey!!!! Keep up the great work!! Love the reviews!
Yeah boyeee!
A crossover I didn't expect 😮
How do you only have 50k subscribers?! I was expecting at least 500k from a video of this quality. Excellent video man!
Thanks so much! The channel growth is getting there so I'm grateful for what I do have. I appreciate the kind words.
I agree! His reviews are top-notch. I don't typically subscribe to channels - but hit that button because this channel deserves way more!
Love how this video went into the audio quality like an audiophile. Really gave it to us in detail
I got you
Well this is an audiophile gear channel also.
I didn't expect you to come out with this so quick. You do such stellar work! Pre-ordered these a while ago, hoping they'd be good for gaming and gaming alone. Thank you!!!
Thanks! No Sleep til Brooklyn
Just preordered the headset. Wasn’t planning on getting em , but I couldn’t help myself. A lot of features for the price. Price wise they are “ relatively “ inexpensive.
Side note, reading some other feedback - if you own a PlayStation Dualsense Edge controller, the extra FN buttons actually allow for quick ability to game/chat mix (which will be better to not lift your hand away from the controller anyway). Obviously this means you have to buy the controller but someone really into shooters probably owns it or is considering both - which is still cheaper combo than the Astro A50x
This is probably why it doesn't have it on the headset; Sony probably expects gamers that get the Pulse Elite to have the DualSense Edge as well.
That’s awesome to hear but it does suck for ppl that don’t have the controller. Thankfully I got mine from used at a huge discount
Thanks for the info, because I do have the DS Edge controller.
I use the edge for Witcher 3, spiderman (for web shooters) manual shifting on racing games like GT7 and the crew, domed joysticks and fine tuned joystick settings for rocket league, and obviously settings for fortnite. The controller is on par with the pulse elite headset. The joystick curve tuning is extremely useful and flexible, pretty much the only thing I tune besides button mapping on the paddles and the half domed paddles are genius.
I have the DualSense edge, amazing controller but it’s a bit heavy and the battery life isn’t very good. Make sure you put it on charge or you can also run it wired, comes with a 3m braided cable.
I’m going to Best Buy today to buy my me a pair of gaming headphones and after a lot of research and reviews it pretty much came down to two headsets.
The ps5 pulse elite vs the steel series nova 7p.
I’ve been watching so many reviews this past week on both headsets and but none of them have gone into the detail that u have. I was torn between the two until the fact that u said the nova 7p still dosent sound quite as good as the pulse elite despite being slightly more expensive and that sealed the deal for me. I’m definitely going with the pulse elite. Thanks again for helping me make an informed decision and u just earned my sub!
Way better review than the bigger channels. Good audio quality content and actually bothered to compare with competitors. Subbed.
Thanks!
Dude... that noise rejection test. SOLID. That was so cool man.
Absolutely stellar review, thank you for this and congrats on the sponsorship!
As an owner of both the Pulse Elite and Explore, as well as the H9, I also did quite a lot of (unprofessional) testing and have come to similar conclusions. The only thing I disagree on is that I think the Elite has a hard time keeping up in games that don't rely on positioning and clarity, which it excels at. Games like Final Fantasy 7 or other more soundtrack-heavy games loose a bit of punch when using the Elite as compared to the Explore, which I personally really enjoy using for these kinds of games.
Overall, I'd say the Elite is a very good headset to buy if you only plan on getting one, especially if you play a lot of shooters, racing titles or other games with a realistic sound setting. If you play all sorts of stuff, I think the Explore are a better jack of all trades - although those come with other issues like the tip fitment and significantly shorter battery life, of course.
Man, I thought I was crazy because I purchased both the explore and elites thinking I'd just end up liking the headset a whole lot better since I didn't really see any positive reviews of the earbuds. After getting the EQ update and using a different set of ear tips other than the ones that Sony provided the ear buds sounded like night and day. While the headset is a tad louder to me, I just think the overall sound of the earbuds were slightly better in the games I tested which really shocked me. I love both setups but at the end of the day I just might end up only keeping one, and so far it's looking like the explore earbuds.
From someone who never comments and someone who watches a ton of reviews, this was an incredible review. Thank you!
Thanks so much Rick!
This is an excellent review. Really great quality content and love the use of the sound chart to show performance. I’m excited to experience these. I’ve never spent more than $80 on a head set and felt that this was one that might be worth it. It seems like you’re getting $400 features and quality for $150. This unbiased review solidifies that for me. Thanks for the information. Subscribed and liked.
Thanks so much! I really hope you enjoy them!
@@GadgetryTech Just a little feedback on your review, I saw another video that covered the chat mix ability in the same EQ settings and also the ability to edit the chat mix from the premium dual-sense edge controller. I was bummed to know the rocker was removed but the ability to control it on the controller was an important piece of information for me. Your review is still amazing, just a piece of information I saw in another review. Cheers!
Absolutely the ONLY review I need to watch on these - I have a set pre-ordered already! Will be watching to the end to see if I keep the pre-order :p
Thanks WhiteHart! F1 starts soon. Let's goooo
@@GadgetryTech can't wait 👍
Same here 🙂
@@WhiteHartMart So how are they?
@@Neerano Sold 😜 Sounded great for FPS but I wanted a set to double up for music listening and these were poor for that. Plus the loose ear cups were annoying as you could hear them shifting about on your head. As the construction was so cheap this made a hollow/echoey noise which was off-putting. They are quality drivers in a £50 headset housing imho.
holy crap your review is aa=mazing, i was kinda blown away by how you objectively approached sound quality
I think this is my next headset. You helped me buy my old HS80s. The functionality plus your review on the sound stage and comfortability sold me again. I was eyeing the Audeze Maxwell but to your point it costs 2 of the Pulse Elites.
You got me again.
You sure you want that hideous thing on your head?😅
This headset has the same tech as the Maxwell. Sony bought Audeze. This headset should be $400 dollars.
@@thedarksideoftheforce6658 yeah, was thinking, good on Sony for giving us this gem. Got it now, it's impeccable.
@@thedarksideoftheforce6658if jt were 400$, it should have better quality tho
I preordered this apprehensively but actually glad I did now. Stellar review!
Hey any feedback ? did it treat you well? Im curious if you dont mind sharing your experience
I getting it now about 2 days with my PS5, I am hyped 😅 Good review by the way, nice and detailed 👍🏼
What a phenomenal review! I'm so happy you're the first review I found of this. Subscribed!
Thanks so much for the sub. Glad you found it helpful!
Great review. I was bummed about the dongle at first, but when you explained that it is for lossless audio, made me change my mind.
You deserve everything you get. Best gadget & tech review channel on TH-cam in my opinion. Simply because of how concise your product reviews are.
Congrats on your channel growth and company collaboration. These are a testament to the value of your work and the respect you have from the overall community. I wish you continued success and happiness, and thank you for all your hard work for us all. Take care and all the best for the future.
Thanks Simon!
this or the TB stealth pro? great review as always. your quality has improved over the years man. glad im here for the ride!
Same question
Planar magnetic drivers sound great but are fragile so buyers beware. Especially while putting them on. Don't press hard on the ear cups when placing them on your head when adjusting them etc. Excess air pressure from pressing can damage the thin metal membrane which will introduce a crinkling noise or crackling. Audeze Maxwell users were complaining about this a lot on Reddit. I personally never experienced the issue with mine. Maybe Sony/Audeze solved the issue but it's something to keep in mind.
My only beef is non replaceable ear cups. Your video alone shows that they are already looking stressed and cracked. Shame because that means they probably cut corners on the material/foam, will crack, flake and lose their shape quickly altering the sound. For 150 bucks though it's something I think most people could overlook.
Pulse 3D vs Pulse Elite comparison from reviews I’ve watched:
The Pulse Elite has:
• Much better comfort.
• Simultaneous Bluetooth (PS + Phone audio)
• Over double the battery life
• A better mic
• Possibly has much better response and less latency due to PS Link
• Planar Magnetic drivers (different from dynamic drivers used in almost all headsets) start at a minimum of £300. Pulse Elite has them at under £150. The sound quality is in another league.
So what are you sacrificing from the Pulse 3D?
- Sidetone control buttons
- Game to chat mix buttons
- Very ugly design on the Pulse Elite (imo)
- The cups aren’t as rigid and are slightly flimsier on the Pulse Elite. This approach improved comfort for different head shapes but might have decreased build quality.
Pulse 3D rrp is £90/ $100
Pulse Elite rrp is £130/ $150
nice summary :)
Amazing review. I got my PS5 Slim yesterday (first one since PS2, a looong time ago) together with this headset, and the quality is amazing, it worth every cent.
I was waiting for this review. Thanks a lot!
I am so happy to hear about the imaging, and that's a strong selling point imo.
See you in the next vid!
Man I just got these and they are legit. Im not an audiophile but I do game with Sony H7 and Tygr 300R. I've been lucky not to experience any disconnect issues mainly on PC. But man! The detail and how 'seperate' everything sounds is crazy. These are so good I even started noticing stupid ambient sounds in Apex Legends that I've never head before haha.
I already pre-ordered a pair waiting on this review. I'm not happy to hear about the chat mix, every other pulse headset since the 1st Gen on PS3 has had this function. Makes me think they either couldn't justify the addition for the price or they want us to buy the dualsense edge controller.
They definitely want you to buy the edge all my advertisement on the explore page has the edge promotion.
I’ve tried to watch a ton of reviews on theElite, I’ve been racking my brains as to which headset to buy for my PS5. Mostly I’m wanting clear direction of footsteps of enemies playing COD, I think you’ve just sold these to me! Thanks, man!
Pre-ordered already. Awesome review!
how did you find it do u advice me to purchase it ? and how was the mic
Your passion for Audio is outstanding ❤
Congratz on the partnership! And I would like to say: that was one of the best reviews I ever listened to! Liked! And listened the whole video. So interesting to hear all that. Damn couple of months back bought the nova 7 on my ps5 😂 should waited for these!
Nova 7 is still such a great headset though! No regrets to there
Novas are just way more comfortable. Base can be more impactfull on them as well if you eq they sound amazing. Had the Maxwells and returned them in favor of the Novas. Maxwells sounded better but man were they uncomfortable. Also pleather pads are not great on these. Actually would never use them and they are a big part why they sound good. So Novas are my daily driver for now. Sound good enough dont cook my ears and are supremly compfy. Only minus is the mic but I have an external one anyway.
Congratulations on working with Sony. The success is much deserved. Your work ethic and due diligence should be applauded. More success on the future!
So happy to see you getting these for early review! Your reviews are top notch. GG.
Thanks Juice!
U deserve more subs . Excellent work again.
16% of amazon reviews are the same issue, "disconnects". Why was this not addressed?
It seems to happen more on day one consoles but also on the newest model. Disabling 2.4ghz router band does not help much. Nor using a dock. This is a big deal and none of you reviewers covered this big issue.
Incredible review. Thank you a million times 🙏🏻 So detailed and technical, but you made it very easy to keep up and digest. 10/10 review.
Thanks so much! I'm trying to explain things as thoroughly as possible without directing a 2 hour movie lol.
how it compares the Pulse Elite to the TB Stealth Pro in terms of sound? and how is the passive noise isolation? I found with the TB I rarely have to use ANC as the passive noise isolation is very good
The only review I need to watch on these! Fantastic work as always 👏🏻
I love how much attention to detail you put into your reviews and that you cover pretty much everything. No stone left unturned!
Very surprised to hear you say they’re more clear/detailed than the A50X though. Was not expecting that at all, but I do appreciate you mentioning it as that’s the headset I’m currently running.
Haha, thanks!! It was shocking. Part of that detail difference is the increased treble, but even if you EQ it down, it's quite shocking how good they are
@@GadgetryTech I’ll be picking up a set next week for sure. Really keen to test them myself
This is my first time watching a video from this channel and you aced this review. subbed!👌
Welcome to the fam! I appreciate you
I got the elite and was really disappointed in it. For any adults out there wondering, The ear cups are actually smaller than those on the pulse. Even though that your cups are softer they still sit on your ear and not over it! After 15 minutes your ears start bothering you just like the pulse did. The controls on the side are extremely small and hard to use especially if you have larger fingers. All in all this headset is not worth $150 which is why I returned it as soon as I got it!
Awesome review man. Quick question, do they fit ok over the PSVR 2, and do they have monitoring?
They have side tone
After watching your video I bought my pulse elite headphones and very happy with them. Thank you and I hope you keep growing, amazing work!
Curious as to how the side tone sounds as well. I don't think that was mentioned. Thank you sir.
Great review, thank you! I love how seamlessly you drop in comparisons with quite a few other headsets on a number of metrics. Plus you covered everything I would wonder about were I considering the headset. As is, I checked out this review AFTER I already purchased the Sony PULSE Elite headset so…heh glad I didn’t make a mistake!
Thanks so much!
Great review BUT no mention that the link adaptor is lossless but only operates at 16 bit 48khz. Whereas other headsets can go to 24bit 96khz
I’ve only seen audeze Maxwell able to use 24bit 96khz via usb dongle. Not to mention ps5 audio is way different than pc.
Thanks! In countless blind tests, humans have not been able to discern a sound quality difference from 16/44 to anything above that. Chances are if you can hear a difference with oversampling, it's because the DAC isn't performing well in the lower sample rates. For a wireless headset, the lack of compression sounds great
@@GadgetryTech thanks brother interesting considering HD audio is essentially anything over 16bit 44.1Khz. It’s a fad! I used to do audio engineering as a job, there is a reason to record at higher sample rates and bit depth which means you can capture more detail (lower end harmonics and mid details that are harmonics of higher frequencies) but as far as I can tell from what you say in reproducing those harmonics 16bit 48khz is more than enough! Thanks mate well done on that partnership.
I'm looking for the best FPS/Footstep headset. Couriouse if they can beat the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro?
By far, one of the best reviewers on gaming headsets I’ve seen. Just wish I had found your videos years ago!
You did not mention the stealth pro , How do they compare for imaging for fps as you previously said stealth pro were the king for wireless imaging ?
These are shockingly close tbh. This may be the closest performing wireless headset to the Stealth Pro when it comes to FPS. The Nova Pro Wireless are the only others in the contention for best/better FPS options
@@GadgetryTechthank you so much for the reply. Thats a bummer, I could have save £100 from my stealths purchase then lol. I decided I did not like my Nova pro and swapped. Just could not get enough bass, which the stealths have plenty, so maybe I would have been slightly annoyed with the elites. At least that’s what I need to tell myself to make myself feel better haha.
This channel has video quality worthy of half a mil to a mil of subscribers, how is it at less than 100K?
Been waiting for your review since they were announced. Absolute treat seeing your in depth perspectives 😁
I appreciate your calm and detailed approach to your reviews. You've become one of my go-to channels for tech reviews before I buy.
The fact that you not only did a proper mic test (unlike IGN), but also provided multiple examples of better mics on other headsets…. THANK YOU!!! 🙌
Can you explain why ign didn't do a proper mic test ,not defending them
The mic is really not that bad man it’s good
@@Cloud-strife83 the one instance they talked about the mic they didn’t even play an actual recording of the mic from this headset. Instead they just applied a filter to audio from another mic to make it sound like a bad mic.
@@Adrianhernandez-ex8cj It’s definitely not as bad as IGN made it sound with that bs filter they used on regular audio. It’s also noticeably not as good as the other two competing headsets mentioned in the microphone test part of this video.
You've been saying for a long time that you'd want to work with a company like Sony to get Products early. Glad you have that partnership now!
I'm assuming the EQ won't save to the headset. So, did you use Sonar when playing on PC? I've got the A50 X pre ordered but I'm also interested in these. Thanks!
Right, it does not. I use Sonar when playing on PC!
@@GadgetryTech Thanks! Now I’m torn. As usual. I think I’ll get both and return one lol.
@@GadgetryTech But i saw another review that mentioned, that the EQ settings made on the PS5 will save on the Headset itself and applies to any connected device. Would be interesting to know what is true.
I think on the Maxwell the presets also stayed on the Headset
Congrats on the partnership wiith Sony, Joe. Your reviews are the best!!!! Recently, after watching some of your videos, I bought a EPOS H6PRO (openback) and I'm loving it to bits. Thank you so much and keep up the good work. Love from Brazil!
How does this compare to audiophile stuff like the HD 560s, Sundara, etc?
you are easily my favorite reviewer. Keep up the high quality work. We appreciate your depth and you deserve the world. Easily the next tech review giant.
Guys, what about disconnecting issue? The reddit thread is huge and looks scary.
Use a USB extension cable to have the PS Link adapter plugged in closer to you. Don’t place the dongle behind anything, make sure it has a clear line of sight to you and the headset. If it ever does disconnect you just unplug the dongle and plug it back in and then press the power button on the headset and it will reconnect instantly.
@ well, it’s working better than expected, currently it disconnects once a week I think. I do not use any extension cords.
I’ve been looking for the right review all day. You earned a sub today!
So glad you found it helpful!!
All I want to know is if it beats my Maxwells exclusively for ps5
Not purely from a tonality perspective when it comes to music, bass extension, and more palatable treble. The Elite seemed to work a little better for FPS for me though! And they did get more comfortable than before...
@@GadgetryTechso basically I’m good with the maxwells but if they give out I know which way to go for ps5. Thanks dude love the channel!
Oh man I’m pumped for this one. Especially after hearing you say the imaging is finally good on a planar headset. I bought and still use the Penrose years ago because of you. And I am going to finnaly break free of the Penrose and buy this one because of you. You are literally the only TH-camr that doesn’t say “this rocks!” To every single head set and you have no idea how much that is appreciated lol.
it looks so goofy lol 😂 like one of aloy’s armor set 😂
Congrats on the partnership. My elites are arriving tomorrow. Thank you for the great, detailed review.
yo that mic noise rejection is amazing! very excited to get mine, luckily i pre ordered them so they'll be here soon. thanks for the review!
Congrats, bro! All the hard work is paying off.
Best review I've seen of these! Thanks for the detailed breakdown and the pinned updated comment!
I'm Sound Designer and Sound Engineer and I really liked your review !
refreshing hearing a tech review from someone that actually understands tech. not like those guys with 18 mil subs for their uneducated opinion... youre an unicorn around here. I wish these gaining headsets would do noise cancelling too. when I use my AirPods Max ( not ideal, I know) for gaming it's such a game changer. I can hear other player's steps and movements WAY before I can w non canceled ones.
Im rocking the Turtle Beach 700 G2, one of the best headsets I've ever used IMO _😁_
Hey, first time seeing any of your videos. I just wanted to say thanks for doing such good work with this review & not only talking about the features from the talking points Sony wanted you to hit. I'm specifically referring to your sound/audio analysis using your audio rig.
Very informative and useful! Keep up the good work!
Thanks so much Shadow-King! I'm glad it was helpful. I try to do in-depth analysis on everything I cover.
Now this is the review. Grear job!
They made a smart move working with you. Literally bought this only because you reviewed it. Can't wait for them to come in.
This is the best Pulse Elite review. THANK YOU! You got a new subscriber here, keep up the good work.
Edit: I just got them today. Definitely worth applying the EQ you suggested, specially on the SUB BASS because for some music it kinda sounds distorted when volume is too high.
You are a good reviewer and educative. Keep up the great work!
Man, I was only looking for a phone review, and now you got a new subscriber! I wonder why your review isn't the first in search..i guess is because internet relies on controversies
Hey man, just came across your channel and just wanted to say thank you for this review. I’ve been looking for a new headset and was not even considering the Pulse Elites because of how much I dislike my 3Ds. I have glasses which already is a discomfort but the 3Ds just squeeze the hell out of my head and slip down off my ears all the time. I thought the pads were squishy and soft but watching this video and seeing the Elites pads I can see they’re not.
Going to be grabbing the Elites this December because of this review.
Great review! Wanted to add since it wasn't mentioned in the review, and since there is a lot of conflicting information at the moment, that the headset works great with PSVR2. The reason there is so much confusion (besides the fact that Sony doesn't offer any instruction or information), is that unlike the Pulse 3D or Gold with PSVR, the PSVR2 goes on OVER the headset. Headphones first, then the VR. Used them for a couple of long Gran Turismo sessions and it worked great. It's a better setup actually, because you often want to take off the VR, but keep headphones on.
FWIW: Been use the Pulse 3D, the audio in Gran Turismo 7 is improved dramatically with the Elite. It's a very noticeable difference, and I'm the type who usually can't tell sound quality apart much in headphones.
How are you so not at 100k yet? Keep it up! Loving the content.
I don’t usually subscribe due to lazyness reasons, but for this review I had to go out of my way to hit the button, it was well deserved sir!
Ear cups, are they removable ?
Im very sensitive to high treble. Feel like this one has more treble and less Bass.
The sound stage is pretty poor to Nova7 and Cloud 3 wireless. I saw in your graphs.
Extraordinary well comparison, good job!
Was waiting for your review I just pre ordered them
niiice
@GadgetryTech you deserve it bro and I hope a lot more companies approach you
I love my Nova 7 Wireless, it’s a great headset, but now I’m going to buy the Pulse Elite, because it has the planar magnetic drivers, which means it has great detail retrieval and you mentioned that in the video, but what made instantly decide to order it is, when you said it has insane imaging. Planar magnetic driver detail and insane imaging, it’s an easy decision for me
Got these preordered. Can’t wait! Fantastic and thorough review.
Awesome! Thanks so much
This is a great review and the detail you go into is so impressive and really helpful. I picked up the Arctis Nova 7 in October & those have been great but was feeling regret at not waiting for these. Are the pulse elites enough of a leap to make it worth upgrading? The cushions not being replacable feels like a bit of drawback.
Keep up the great work!:)
Loved this review! Canceled my previous order and ordered through your link. Can't wait for these to replace the OG ones! Rebirth is going to sound glorious !
Hi Joey, greetings from Germany. Thank you very much for all of your reviews. You helped me alot choosing a new gaming headset which i can also use on my mac for daily work. First of all ive ordered the Astro A30s. But i dont like mic. Therefore i ordered the Pulse Elites now (After watching your deep dive). Hopefully they‘ll be Great for Teams COD and Helldivers. Thanks!
Great review. I just ordered these and can't wait to link my phones music to my games!
Hi amazing review! Would you recommend these headphones to someone who does not own a PS5? I was thinking of using them as my main new headphones for the PC
Thanks for the great review! Validates my pre-order. Looking forward to the arrival off them. Only dissapointed the lack the chat balance controls, which used to be one of the biggest upsides of Sony's own gaming headsets.
Joey, you are awesome! Thanks for taking the time and congratulations on the colab with Sony. It is definitely well deserved!!!!
Hey, I just watched a compare video and that reviewer picked the Pulse over the Maxwell. As far as I know, this is a well respected headset reviewer and I have considered him to be a realistic and trusty guy. But to put the Pulse over the Maxwell makes NO sense to me.
I know everybody is different but, how could this be? Would you pick this set over the Maxwell?
PS:
I ordered the Maxwell yesterday. Now I’m wondering if I made the right choice.
Great review Joe. as I have the model one and the Maxwell's. My headphone journey is over for now. Unfortunately, I now have tinnitus non stop ringing in my ears.so people out there please be careful with your listening volumes, because this is my own fault,having headphones to loud.
Thanks for the review, would have been nice to see if they fit better over the PSVR2. I have these on pre order and have the last model, I do find the old ones a bit awkward over the headset.
Awesome review, I've been waiting for someone to do some kind of comparison between these and the Ozone H9's so thank you for that. Guess I have a decision to make lol.
Looks like I found the perfect gift for my nephews birthday next month. Hes turning 13 and plays COD or Fortnite online with his friends via PS5.
Thought about getting him the Audeze Maxwell like I have. But the weight is a concern. These seem perfect for his needs. Thanks for the review!
Thanks! Yeah this sounds perfect for your Nephew! That noise rejection will help save him embarrassment too when the fam is yelling at him in the background to turn off games and go to bed haha
It sounds like this headset is an excellent value at this price with the performance and all of the features. One question though. Does the lossless audio really matter with the Playstation Portal being that the signal is almost definitely being compressed through Wi-Fi to the Portal before it is even sent to the headset?