PlayStation pulled back the curtain on two new audio devices today–the Pulse Elite and Pulse Explore. Both are poised to become popular gaming headset options for PS5, but they were designed with the upcoming PlayStation Portal in mind. Along with sporting a brand-new audio technology dubbed PlayStation Link, the Pulse Elite headset and Pulse Explore earbuds are fully compatible with PS5 via an adapter and offer Bluetooth support for PC and mobile.
Here’s a look at both of the new additions to the Pulse audio lineup. PlayStation will be announcing details on preorder availability and launch dates soon. We’ll update this article as soon as we learn more.
Pulse Elite
$150
The Pulse Elite is a premium headset powered by fancy new audio technology called PlayStation Link. This’ll work natively when connected to PlayStation Portal, while a USB adapter (sold separately) will be needed on PS5. But once it’s synced, you’ll benefit from low latency and lossless audio. The PlayStation Link adapter will also work with PC/Mac, so you can utilize the same benefits. That said, the Pulse Elite will also offer Bluetooth support for your devices, and you can connect to two devices simultaneously (one via PlayStation Link, another via Bluetooth). The Elite features a retractable boom mic, AI noise canceling, and an included charging hanger when not in use.
Pulse Explore
$200
If you prefer the portability of earbuds, you’ll want to check out the Pulse Explore. Not only do they feature the same Link technology as the Elite, but they also use dual microphones and onboard AI to improve your experience. They also come with a charging case and provide lossless audio. Like the Elite, they support simultaneous Bluetooth and Link connections and will be compatible with the adapter to use PlayStation Link on PS5, PC, and Mac.
Both the Elite and Explore are the first PlayStation audio devices to use new, custom-designed planar magnetic drivers. In other words, they should sound better than anything else in the PlayStation audio lineup.
