Sony PlayStation Wireless Stereo Headset 2.0 – Black
Sony PlayStation Wireless Stereo Headset 2.0 – Black (PS4/PS3/PS Vita)
Switch between pre-set sound modes optimised for games, movies and music, with even more custom sound modes available from the Headset Companion App for PS3 and PS4 (downloadable from PlayStation Store).
Use your headset on the go for up to eight hours thanks to its rechargeable battery and easily transportable, foldable design.
Stay on top of vital details such as mic level with an on-screen headset status display via your TV.
| Dimensions: | 19 x 13.5 x 3 cm; 900 Grams |
| Model: | 9281788 |
| Batteries Included: | 1 Lithium Ion batteries required. |
| Dimensions: | 19 x 13.5 x 3 cm; 900 Grams |
This is an excellent headset but don’t overpay due to the ongoing shortage of stock. Headset has 7.1 virtual surround sound on the PS4, Presets optimized for specific modes such as gaming, music and films. Excellent ergonomic design makes it foldable for easy travel and storage
Up to 8 hours use on a full charge. Crystal clear sound and internal microphone, On screen headset status display.
Inside the box you get the dongle that acts as the receiver, a very short micro USB cable, a headphone jack, travel pouch and warranty documentation.
You will immediately notice they are light and well designed with Sony’s design touches prevalent all over the headset such as the X, square, circle and triangle logo on the exterior of the ear cups. They are well padded and extendable for all head sizes large and small.
Once you have them on your head you will notice they are light — particularly if you are coming from something like the Tritton Warheads, Tritton Pro or most Turtle Beaches — and also super comfy. We found these remarkably more comfortable than most headsets we have used and suffered no issues after prolonged hours of use. We also like how you can customize the face plates though felt quite content with the design straight out of the box.
The wireless feature is the reason why most people will be reading this review and whilst it makes them that bit more expensive, its totally worth it.
It represents great value anyway in that it works on the PS3 and the PS Vita as well as the PS4 and you can also use it as a headset for your smartphone/tablet though you should note the wireless functionality (and the 7.1 surround sound for that matter) does not work on the PS Vita or any smartphone and so you will have to have it wired to the device.
The internal microphone is a very clever design choice and one of the stand out features of this headset — meaning there is no external microphone that extends from your headset to your mouth. You could be forgiven for thinking this would effect the amount of sound that can be picked up but we found it works fine without any issues. In fact we found it can pick up the slightest whispers without any problem at all.
On to the sound itself, as I mentioned it is 7.1 Surround sound on the PS4 and PS3 and boy does it pack a punch on your ears. It really shows why audio should be enjoyed this way and whether its loud explosions or creeping through dark corridors, you get a level of immersion that cannot be enjoyed in any other way.
The low base tones are weighty and it copes with picking up the higher pitched tones and slightest sounds really well. There is some serious noise reducing technology at work as well as we found very little background hissing, if at all and could hardly hear anything in the real world.
The audio chat is crystal clear and there is a mixer control so you can control the balance of game and audio volume. The headset also has preset modes so you can flip from music to gaming which does have notable differences if you like to have custom modes.
Other notable features is the handy status display on screen so you can keep an eye on the battery life. You also get a mute button which is always handy and you can in addition download a companion app so you can pre-set specific sound profiles for different games making the experience even more bespoke conveniently.
The headset is not perfect however and we have a few points worthy of noting.
I cannot figure our why Sony did not use Bluetooth and instead opted for wireless technology particularly as it has been a pioneer in Bluetooth technology in the past decade and both consoles have inbuilt Bluetooth. Opting for wireless technology we felt reduces the battery life though impressively I was still getting 6 hours plus (slightly beneath the 8 hours it advertises).
The short micro USB cable that comes with the headset is also a comical length.
You are getting a remarkable headset which is well designed, super comfortable, and light. There are a few design choices such as not using Bluetooth that prevent it from being perfect but overall you are unlikely to be left disappointed.
If you are looking to pick up a set be wary of astronomical prices as there has been a shortage in stock which has seen the price rise. Don’t go paying a premium to pick these up, they will come down to normal prices eventually.
I’ll leave a quick and honest review of this headset as I, like most others, had a few mixed emotions before buying them.
A lot of people who bought these before me (I purchased mine 2 days after Christmas 2017) seem to have problems with the design, e.g. plastic breaking, loose internal wiring, microphone problems, poor design quality etc.
After 4 months or so, these headphones have survived mutiple impacts due to frustration and have been dropped on the carpet on countless occasions (clumsy siblings manage to destroy everything). So far so good, very good sound quality, no microphone issues, and certainly no damage to the structural integrity of this product.
At first, I was very apprehensive of spending 50 on a pair of these. I was so impressed that I bought a second pair in white for my dad. Their connectivity is very reliable and battery life is noteworthy. On few occasions, providing you’re as forgetful as me and leave them without charging them on Rest Mode whilst you aren’t playing, they have died on me mid-game. But, thankfully they function whilst wired, so it didn’t interrupt any future games.
To say the least, I would very happily recommend these headphones. The freedom of wireless is very good, being able to get up after a game and dash to the kitchen for a quick drink without taking them off is a massive bonus. Just don’t be clumsy and forget to charge them like me!
All in all I love these headphones when it comes to audio performance both as a gaming tool and regular headphones, although they’re a little large on the ear for out and about mobile use. Still while they can be used in that way they weren’t really designed for that, they’re gaming headphones and in that regard they perform great. My only complaint is that the hinges that allow them to be folded when stored a a bit flimsy, overly delicate in my view, so great care needs to be taken to ensure that these hinges don’t break, I think I’m presently on my third pair in two years. Having said that they’re a massive improvement in this regard, and in with regards audio quality, than the more expensive Turtle Beach products I’ve had in the past. Take great care of them and you’ll be happy with them in my view.
1. It’s critical you put them on the right way, it’s not obvious just by picking them up, if not the mic will not work, which is a bit weird
2. The buttons are difficult to learn, at least for me, I’m constantly taking them off to check if I’m pressing the correct button as they all feel the same, a little annoying as this could have been rectified with textured buttons.
3. Fitment, I’ve got a big head, these get uncomfortable after an hour or so, the pads press on the edges of my ears to the point they get sore.
Overall I can live with the deficiencies, 3 seems to be sorting itself out, as I use them more, can’t give it the full 5 stars due to the buttons as I find them annoying.
QUALITY: 9/10 – It is digital, rather than full surround sound, but it is excellent for anyone looking to up their game or have a portable surround sound experience. Notable mention to the microphone too. Its very clear, and I have no issues with my friends hearing my, even when I’m trying to be a bit quieter once the better half is in bed. Build quality is brilliant too, but the folding mechanism may begin to fail over time.
COMFORT: 10/10 – I’ve read other reviews saying this gets sweaty. I personally haven’t found that problem and have worn it for 4+ hours straight.
OVERALL: 9.5/10 – I honestly didn’t think I’d enjoy full surround sound as much as I did, but I use it pretty much any time I’m playing. One of my good friends got this on my reccomendation, and he was similarly impressed. I’d absolutely recommend again.
Feel free to ask questions 🙂
Now at the bottom of this pile is definitevely the xbox one stereo headset. I’m talking about this headset because its a prime example of what cheaper headsets seem to provide sonically. They have a kind of muffled boxy sound which leaves you with a narrow feeling soundscape which doesn’t do well for immersion. The Sony Stereo headset is exponentially better in this regard! Sounds are crisp and clear and very well placed even in the stereo mode. When you activate the virtual 7.1 surround sound (which is on by default when you first use the headset) this widens the soundscape and is even more specific with sound placement. The virtual surround is really good here, compared to my turtle beach PX24 virtual surround headset I’d say it’s much more accurate on the Sony headset. I would say in fact it rivals the Corsair VOID headset which does a great job of virtual surround.
In terms of general audio quality the highs are crisp and refined without the mids being neglected and the bass is deep and controlled. It might not be as ball bustingly intense as some other headsets but I’d much sooner take a tight controlled bass response over just overkill bass. If anything because the bass is so well managed it actually feels very impactful despite not being as powerful as some other sets.
The icing on the cake is the PS4 companion app. This app lets you upload profiles to the headset which are tailor made for the majority of big titles on the PS4. This includes the likes of Desitny and Uncharted and the excellent Bloodborne! These profiles are really excellent as they use the game’s sound placement and music to their absolute maximum potentials! Dat atmosphere in Bloodborne! You can also load generic profiles like shooter or fighting games and also profiles for films and TV like horror and action. It’s also really easy to upload the profiles too so that’s good.
All told if you’re primarily a PS4 user or even if you’re not and you simply want the best and most convenient headset that will maximise your listening experience this is the one for you! Alternatives for 7.1 virtual surround sets to consider would be the Turtle Beach Stealth 500p or if you don’t mind wires some of the Razer headsets like the Kraken could be worth a look although I’ve heard of some volume related issues people have been having after updates and such like.
Great headset!
No issues with this however, as the mic is built into the headset. It’s also a lot clearer to my friends so the mic is good quality.
The box it came in was huge! It turned up at my door and I had no idea what it was and when I opened it, I was very surprised! There is really no need for it other than I assume protecting the headphones, so I guess that works?!
Connection is instantaneous. Plug in the dongle, turn on the headset and just like that, you’re sorted. A nice touch was that it also instantly connected with my Sony TV (4K, 42″). Not sure if this will work on older models but it was surprising and pleasing that it connected that easily.
The headset itself is very comfortable, with good padding all over. I would note that it is large, both the headset band width and overall size, but this doesn’t bother me. In addition, the buttons on the side are easy to locate without taking the headset off, which makes quick muting simple.
The sound quality is very good, which for the price is to be expected. However, I have had the case in the past where console branded accessories are not up to the standard you would expect, especially for the price, however I can honestly say that these are very good quality headphones.
Battery life is surprisingly good. I have had these two weeks and charged them once in that time, which with the ‘Rest Mode’ function makes things very simple. You could also plug them into a USB adapter and wall charge if you wanted to.
I know the price is very steep in comparison to others on the market (I paid 49 on sale, down from 59), but looking at the reviews most cheaper alternatives seem to have a very short lifespan. These look very solid and I can see no reason why these would last any less than 5 years.
Overall it’s a very solid 9/10.
Just as a quick heads up, for anyone looking at this headset because their wireless one will not connect (as happened with mine), be aware that you can purchase a dongle to connect to your PS4 which should connect all wireless headsets. For me this seemed a little risky as they start at around 40 (which would be a very costly waste of money if it doesn’t work!) but it could be a good alternative if you have a really pricey headset.
It has two connections, one mini usb port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Straight out of the box, the device takes about 2 – 3 hours to charge. and lasts about 8 hours. 🙂 You get a Mini USB cable included which you can use to charge the headset. Unfortunately, the usb cable is so short (approx. 15cm?), you will probably want to go out and buy a longer one. You also get a 3.5mm headphone cable so you can connect these headsets to the phone jack.
You also get a wireless USB dongle which you plug into your playstation. This offers the 7.1 virual surround sound, and games sound nice. One other thing i found out was, if you plug the USB dongle into your Windows 10 PC. You can use these headsets with your PC games and Movies too! Absolutely fantastic! Do not think you’re restricted to just Playstation devices. This headset is totally versatile, and will work with most of your other devices (either via the 3.5mm jack or via the wireless dongle)
You also get a pouch to put all the bits and cables into along with the headset for easy transportation.
At such a fantastic price, i don’t think you have anything to lose.
– I bought this specifically because 3rd party headsets have no official support and are not integrated to the PS4 with settings and options etc. so all you get is the sound and no customisation. But this one does everything and you even get an on-screen notification to let you know when you’ve changed settings.
This headset is absolutely brilliant and can be fine tuned using the app, it’s crisp and clear and the Surround works well in multiplayer.
– Negatives;
The battery lasts half as long than my Logitech PC headset, this is the only big problem I have
The range is not that good because it’s Bluetooth instead of WiFi, but hasn’t caused me any big problems.
It is not as comfortable, but still good. Can get a little sore after a few hours.
– In response to negative reviews;
I don’t see the problem with the headband cracking everyone is talking about. They either all have massive heads or they are stretching it really wide to get it on which I suspect is what’s happening. I stretch it just enough to get over my ears and it’s absolutely fine. Sony have listened because the new Platinum model has a new metal headband.
For the price you will not find better.
It is lightweight and comfortable, It doesn’t fatigue or tire me out even during marathon gaming sessions. It is over ear and my ears fit snugly inside without touching the cover over the driver.
Soundwise it is impressive. Bass response is tight and present. I don’t think this is one for serious bass heads though as I don’t seem to get a lot of sub bass coming through but there is definitely enough for explosions in game, helicopters flying overhead and if you are watching action movies.
The mids and highs are are brought out beautifully and are crisp without being too harsh. I have noticed a lot more detail and subtle details in games audio which definitely helps with the overall immersion and game experience.
Speaking of immersion, the virtual surround feature works as it should. Its easy to hear exactly where things voices or bullets are coming from. You can turn this feature on or off if you prefer just having stereo.
There is little to no sound leak either. So the misses or anyone else around you won’t hear or be disturbed if you are in game or watching a movie late at night. This also works the other way too, as you will struggle to hear if anyone is trying to talk to you or if your house catches fire or something. So isolation / noise cancellation on the whole is exceedingly good.
Listening to music through these headphones is OK. Its a lot better than some headphones but hardly what you would call HIFI. Sure the sound is good enough but those looking for the most out of their music would fair better elsewhere, I would say these bring out the best of video games better.
The microphone is built in and can be muted by a button on the side of the left can. Its worth mentioning that all of the buttons are easily accessible and memorised so you won’t need to take the headphones off to press anything. The quality of the mic is superb. My friends or fellow gamers can clearly hear me getting frustrated after losing a match.
A nice feature is the way it works with the PlayStation 4. With a quick press of the PS button, you can see the info about the status of your headset on screen. Likewise when you change volume or mute, the icons will display on screen. Using the PlayStation controller, you can adjust volume of the microphone.
There is also the headphone companion app for PlayStation 4, where you can download specific profiles (which I assume is just different EQ settings) Which suits the game you are playing. The profile can then be stored to the Headset. Its a nice feature to have but whether you will tinker about before selecting titles across different genres or not I don’t know.
The battery life has been OK. I suppose it lasts roughly around 4 to 5 hours, maybe a bit longer, but that’s the longest I have gone before charging. Charging via USB is quite quick and if you have a long USB cable then just use it while it is charging.
Currently at 49 I would say it’s a bargai
As someone who games a lot, I mean 8+ hours straight a day this is the perfect headset. Great stereo sound, I can hear the enemies coming a mile away and pinpoint them. Great immersion into the game. Mic is really, good, never had a problem. Much better even than some way more expensive headsets that sometimes have a very faint echo. It was a little quiet when trying to do a youtube video but the sensitivity of the mic can be changed on the ps4. I went through 4 headsets in a month before this one. They were all lower quality or broke. This I haven’t broken despite it living on my floor when not on my head and it’s because of how it folds away. The game/chat mixing buttons are great and the volume and mute. Well placed and give a press feel so you know you have pressed it. Very comfortable too. Can get a little hot when gaming in the summer but that’s just because my room gets over 30C. The only thing I have against it, and I really mean only thing is that when share playing and you mute there is a little notification in the top left to tell you it’s muted. For the person I am share playing to that comes up as a massive black box and is really annoying because I mute my mic a lot to eat or talk to a person irl. Overall I couldn’t have asked for anything better.
I was keen to invest in some decent headphones during my Destiny obsession phase and thought i would take a punt on these. The sound quality is really good, i love the virtual surround sound that helped me spot stuff in games that i normally would miss when the sound was just coming through the TV speakers. There is a little dongle that plugs into one of the usb sockets at the front of the ps4 that needs to be in to use the headset, so there’s one less slot to charge with during gaming, but tbh it just gets me into the habit of charging my controllers than relying on charging them during a session.
The headset is comfy and the battery life is decent, not amazing, but good enough for long sessions (and tbh the headset lets you know on screen that the battery is close to running out). The headset is charged using a micro-usb slot, so you can just charge it like a controller. There is the option of connecting a mini jack from the headphones to the controller so you can continue using them if the battery dies, though i think the surround sound might stop working with this method.
There are some annoying side clips that can pop out when trying to adjust the height of the headphones, a mild pain but you just learn to avoid touching them. Buttons are responsive and helpful. You can alter chat volume & game volume mix, overall volume & turn the virtual surround sound on or off. There is also a ps4 app where you can download game specific profiles, though everytime i check this app there seems to be a distinct lack in support from developers for this. I just have left it on the Destiny sound profile and never really had an issues.
This is the first gaming headset that i’ve purchased and i’m very happy with it.
I brought these for myself as I was attempting a YouTube career. That didn’t go very well but what I ended up with was a good pair of gaming headphones. Before buying these, I used Turtle Beach Stealth 400s which were the worst headphones I’ve ever used. So wearing these Sony ones are awesome compared.
Pros:
These are extremely comfortable, they have big padded cushions that sit around (not on) your ear.
The microphone is built in, so you don’t have an annoying fiddly microphone dangling in front of your mouth.
There’s a setting to allow you to hear your own voice, so it’s like you’re not even wearing headphones while still getting the sound quality.
They well built, I’ve dropped mine a few times (maybe once threw them when I rage quit a game) and they’re perfectly fine.
Sound quality is really good, you can even customise the sound for the type of games you play via a downloadable app from the playstation store.
The price! The price for these are amazing, getting all this for your money means it wipes the floor with it’s competitors, just look at Turtle Beach and Tritton and how much they charge for the same thing.
The battery lasts a long time and I leave them charging while the playstation sleeps anyway.
Wireless range is good too, I can walk into my kitchen and still talk to my friends while making a coffee! I guess this would also work for toilet breaks but I’m not that strange to try it…
Cons:
They’re not surround sound. This is a straight up lie, however, I’ve found that most of them claim this and none that I have tried have ever achieved any form of surround sound.
Bulky, while the ear cushions mean they’re super comfy, it also means they’re super BIG! It feels like my head is double the size! It doesn’t bother me personally but it’s worth bearing in mind.
I’m not 100% whether they work on X-Box or not, so I won’t comment on that.
Overall though, I would say for the price – you won’t get better. Great sound, great build quality and great features.
After getting a surprise PlayStation 4 Console for Christmas, and as a complete newbie to this new level of fun (only having my 10-year-old PS2 beforehand), I decided to enhance my PS4 gaming experience with these headphones, having been swayed by the many excellent reviews on Amazon. And that’s were to go if you want to learn all about the technical stuff. I’m not much of a techie but I know what represents a good product and these wireless headphones are it for sure. No interest at this stage in playing online using the mic etc, so have yet to use that function, although during set-up I did test it out and got great feedback. I love everything about this product – the design, comfort & ease of use, the way it links seamlessly into the PS4 through the Headset Companion App to tweak the PreSet Sound for individual games – it is just that, the perfect companion to my PS4. They really are Plug & Play at its best – straight out of the box, insert USB dongle, switch on and a way you go. On screen instructions are a breeze. Currently only playing what came with the console – DriveClub and The Uncharted Collection – and the presets for these two games are brilliant and make playing them a really immersive experience. I like the 7.1 Virtual Surround Sound as well, but have yet to tinker about with the Custom modes. All in all, I am very happy with these headphones. They may seem an indulgence to some, but we’ve all got to live a little and have some fun.
A lot of people on the net were saying these headphones did not produce decent base. I was a little worried when purchasing them and had Turtle Beach 500p also in my sights. After plugging them into my PS4 and downloading the PS4 Companion I can’t praise these enough in terms of overall sound. The only reason I didn’t give them 5 stars is Activision (Infinity Ward Treyarch) need to produce a sound setup for the Call of Duty series so you can program the headphones using there optimum settings in 7.1 surround mode. The reason I didn’t go Turtle Beach in the end was the fact the dongle plugs into the USB port then you have to run a optical cable from the back of the PS4 into the dongle, this is not the case on the PS Headset.
People were also saying the mic quality was not that good but playing online and speaking to a friend confirmed that the voice chat was clear over the PSN.
These will no doubt reach or surpass your expectations when considering their price tag. They arrive in a very well packaged box (the day after ordering for me) and they come complete with an AUX cable matching the headphone colour you chose (this is about 2m long but im not 100% sure) it also comes with a very short micro USB cable (the same as the cable that charges your PS4 controller, or your PS vita, so you could use the one you already have) anyway, this cable too is matching with the headphone colour. It also comes with a convenient bag to carry them in (always black in colour), and the USB dongle (headphone colour) is included (of course there are instructions and warranties).
Anyway so that is the box. The headphones them selves are of a sturdy rigid plastic lined with rubber buttons and a nice almost memory foam to rest on your head. Through the AUX cable, these are great, they hold as much depth as most headphones and are very comfy to wear. But when charged (about 4 hours for a full charge, about), and plugged in to the PS4 or PS3 (a very easy set up) they are on a whole new level. The sound, the virtual surround sound that is kicks in, and wow do you notice it. On games like COD enemies are easily heard, on games like Bloodborne nightmares are brought to life, the depth is just so great. The Mic itself (not visible) is also crisp and of very good quality. The charge lasts around 4 – 5 hours, sorry I dont know for sure but I am sure you can find out.
The buttons on the side are self explanatory, one for volume, one for mic on or off, one for chat volume, one to turn virtual surround sound on and off ( VSS ) and an on and off switch (only usable when using the USB dongle). They take about 5 seconds for the console to pick up once turned on. If you are an avid gamer, you will love them, if you enjoy music/film through your PS4, they emulate surround sound, which for 70 is remarkable. The only reason I would not buy one is if I either did not have a PS3 or PS4, or if I was not fussed by the sound quality. These work with any AUX device. So get them if you’re a gamer, they are so damn worth it.
Finally some advice; if you hear a high pitch sound when the mic is on, hold down the mute button and you can change the side tone, cycle through this and you will 100% eliminate any feedback.
After owning this headphone for a few months and using it heavily with my PS4, laptop and phone, I can say they are better than i thought.
here are the advantages and disadvantages:
Advantages:
+ works perfectly with PS4, PS3 and PS Vita
+ you can balance game sound and party sound and choose which one you want to hear more
+ there is an app on PS4 that allows you to chose between different modes, which you can switch to by changing the channel to 2 from 1. for example games such as Driveclub, Until Dawn, Uncharted, Assassins Creed have their own settings which makes playing those games more enjoyable. there are options for different genres of music too.
+ Virtual Surround Sound 7.1 is amazing (not as good as the Pulse but still really good)
+ they dont look as weird as the Pulse and you can wear them anywhere you want without looking like you have an alien on your head !!
+ Battery life is good and they charge fast.
+ it comes with a bag which put the headset into by folding it
+ you can plug it in yo your phone and use it without charging it !! it does not need a battery when plugged into your phone !!
Disadvantages
– it is not as good as the Pulse
– if you want a lot of bass, you cans still get it by tweaing with the settings on the app on PS4, but it is not going to be as good as the Pulse
I bought these after getting fed up with having to untangle the cables of a wired headset that I had bought. I wish I’d gone straight to the Wireless version. These are pretty good! Ok, you do need a cable to charge them but I can deal with that. I think it’s marvellous how the microphone is encased within the headband itself and that makes life easier too. You do have to make sure that you have them on the right way. When I first tested the volume of the microphone I could hardly hear my voice and thought “oh no that’s a bit of a crap sound.” Luckily, I had read a review by someone else who informed people that you had to make sure the headphones were the right way round, so I switched the headphones and hey presto my voice came through crisp and clear. The sound is excellent and you can pick up new sounds in the games you have been playing which makes the gaming experience even better. I’ve no idea how those expensive sets that can cost up to 200 or more, but for me these headphones sound pretty good for 49. I’m not sure yet if I can get the App that you can download to work just yet. I tried to open it yesterday but it would not work. Although the current sound is just fine so I’m not too bothered by that. A great headset that is worth buying.
Pros:
– clarity of sound
– adjustable volumes for chat, game and a rocker to change the ratio between them
– mute mic button is on the headset
– comfortable earpieces that really block out the outside world
Cons:
– seem to give me a headache after wearing for a few hours
– mic seems less able to pick up my voice than other external mic headsets
– drained of charge after maybe 4-5 hours of use, so I am charging them all the time
– charging port has a slight lip around it so not all of my cable will fit to charge it (the one supplied is ridiculously tiny)
Verdict. Pretty good but I wouldn’t pay over 50 for them in hindsight. If you need to speak softly into the mic then perhaps a different headset (or exterior mic headset) would be advisable.
This headset is simply put, fantastic.
Pro’s: Excellent sound quality.
Headset feels solid on your head
The functionality is simple but extremely useful (see below)
Cons: The headset is a bit heavy and I noticed my neck was getting tired after ~2.5 hours.
I wanted to comment on the functionality of the headset in some detail. The function that to me, sets this apart from other headsets, is the ability to reduce game noise and bring up chat noise, or vice versa. To do this all you need to do is hit the button on the headset for game noise or chat noise and it will adjust. This to me is extremely useful because I just need to hit one button instead of fiddling with a menu. As well, the mute button is easy to reach (on the back of the left headphone) so that you don’t need to contort your hand to reach the front and risk fumbling the button.
Overall I would say if you are looking for a PS4 headset and want one that isn’t a bank breaker, get this one. It’s honestly the best priced, and highest quality one I have seen and used.
After reading many excellent reviews for the Sony 2.0 headset I had great expectations. They are good but not amazing, my biggest disappointment is that the user cannot hear their own voice when using in game chats so you will end up talking too loudly, i’m sure Sony could fix this with a software update.
The fit of the headset is subjective I suppose depending on the size of the user’s ears, for me after thirty minutes my ears ache badly, the headset is designed to be worn a particular way (front and back) as the area inside where the speakers are placed is set at an angle also the microphone is on the front so if you do put them on backwards the result is people will say they cannot hear you and yours ears will hurt even more than the correct way around. Sound quality is more than adequate and the wireless aspect works flawlessly, battery life is also good enough. You will need to use another of your USB slots for the wifi dongle and charging so I recommend you get a USB hub.
One little thing I would have liked and that would be a way to connect to the PS4/3 without the use of a dongle but this is the only tiny issue I can come up with.
Build quality is great, it folds up for easier storage, the buttons are easily accessible and all on the headset including volume, mute and a switch that not only turns it on but you can connect via an app on your PS4 and download individual games onto the headset for an even better gaming experience.
Purchase it, You wont regret it! especially now that it’s 49
I’m pleased to say I’ve not regretted this purchase at all. When I first put these on and resumed playing Evolve, the game was suddenly so much more immersive and it’s made me fall back in love with the game. It truly makes you feel like you are there and a part of the action. The sound quality is brilliant. I also like how with the wireless function I can kick back and watch the TV in bed with these, watching the Rugby/Football without disturbing those I live with. I’ve also done a 12-hour non-stop gaming stint on these after a full charge, the longevity is great. The mic quality is fine (when in a party with others – not so good outside of party – but meh). It’s also helped me play better – the surround sound is great in pinpointing where you hear sound (which for example, on evolve is important when trying to track the monster, it’s been also when playing FPS). Totally recommend, it’s got a ton of positive reviews for a reason – the price is justified by the quality. Not everybody who buys these are absolutely minted 😉
DESIGN / FLAW: Now i would not want this to put anyone off buying these headsets, as i had to send mine back, but immediately replaced them with the same set. The charger lead when plugged into the headset is extremely exposed and vulnerable. It seems that mine have received a few very minor knocks to the charger lead whilst plugged in. There was no visible damage to the socket but it meant the headset would no longer charge. Looking on SONY forums and the web in general , it would seem this is a common problem that has affected users with the headset no longer charging. Sony were actually no use at all in gaining help and advice.
I contacted amazon regarding a refund for a product i bought 8 months ago. Before i knew it i had received a full refund, before i had even returned the product! I received an email with instructions and printable labels so i could send them back free post and an offer for them to be replaced, with free first class postage. Amazons support was exemplary !
I would strongly recommend being very careful with these when you leave them on charge. Set them away somewhere where the lead will not be disturbed.
SOUND: The sound range is fantastic, really rich and deep sounds which really help to immerse you in which ever environment you are playing in , Battlefield, GTA , Destiny etc. As mentioned theres also a free APP you can download on your PS4 which for the real hardcore sound geeks looks like you can add a fair degree of customisation and pick settings for specific games, theres a good range of them available now. Ive never used headsets to watch movies with, but these are actually really good for that level of immersion too. Voice chat is totally clear and comprehendible. Ive never experienced any issues with the headset regarding voice chat or sound delivery. Top Notch.
WEIGHT: These are solid, yet a fundamentally light headset compared to others. Nothing i found on this headset is flimsy or cheap. They do not feel heavy on your bonce after extended gaming sessions. There are interchangeable face plates so you can customise the look of your headset, however these seems a bit naff to be honest and not something i ever explored further.
COMFORT: At first i thought these looked pretty big, but they fit perfectly. The cups are well cushioned, breathe well so you don’t get sticky ears
The headset is fully adjustable and can fit pretty much anyone. The head band is also cushioned with great materials for all round comfort.
RANGE: These have a good wireless range. I live a flat which usually proves a major challenge for anything set up via Wireless. However i can go from room to room and it maintains connection. Connection never ever drops out whilst gaming.
CONNECTIVITY / INSTAL: You simply plug in a small USB Stick into the front of the PS4, head over to devices and follow the instructions to set up the headset. Takes a few minutes and i have never had any connectivity issues. Some people dont like the USB stick sticking out of the front of the PS4 which is the size of a generic memory stick, but i never had any problems with it.
BATTERY / CHARGE: These charge pretty quickly, and can be charged whilst playing. These easily run through a full evening , 8 hour gaming session no problems. If you use the PS4’s ability to charge whilst shut down, you won’t ever have to worry about the next session. An hours worth of charging will see you through a full session. Overall the headset uses the same lead to charge as a PS4 controller. You also get a shorter cable included.
Overall these are a really good piece of kit that require a bit of looking after in order to keep them working. I wouldn’t advise against buying them , but definitely advise taking care whilst charging. Overall for a moderate to heavy gamer like myself these were perfect. 8 / 10
Pros.
1)Excellent fit. They fit my head perfectly. The earpads are contoured to create a tight seal around your ear. It’s fantastic.
2)PS4 7.1 surround really is as good as everyone says it is.
3)Creating your own profiles on PS4 for different games really helps and it’s easy to use.
4)Compared to many headsets around it, It’s price is something you can’t pass up on.
5)8 Hours is enough but you can charge while on the go with the cable provided or a micro usb phone charger like myself.
6)Sound quality for games and music is amazing, as a result headbanging while not result in them flying off.
7)Fold away design is great for space saving.
Con.
1)Despite the excellent fit if your ears just out a bit your ears will rub against the hard plastic of the inner ear cup. I get it a bit but it doesn’t bother me that much.
2)To PARTY CHAT on PS4 you MUST USE the aux wire and plug it into your controller negating the 7.1 surround use. If I’d known before I wouldn’t have bought these. It’s rather annoying and people can’t hear you in chat for recordings. However if your chatting in game IT ALL WORKS FINE.
3)Audio for PC is quiet. I prefer my music really loud. They fall disapointingly short despite using the aux connection and the wireless USB. Trust me I’ve tried everything.
4)Battery life is kinda short. but the charge on the fly helps.
5)Wireless distance is poor, walk out of a room and you’ll get instant disruption.
6)The plastic used feels cheap but I haven’t snapped them yet and the leather and cloth are all holding up.
That’s my 2 cents. If I’d have known about the Party chat issues I wouldn’t have bought these but for a cheap wireless all purpose stereo (PC) or 7.1 (PS4) that does music and games proud then you can’t really go wrong.
My only real negative is the mic. The quality of the mic is great, my friends have never questioned how I sound. However when I leave it unmuted when not in a party chat, the mic buzzes which you can hear. It also picks up background noise which I can hear through the headset. This only happens when no sound is coming through the headset, so if playing some like CoD, you wouldn’t notice. If you’re playing something less hectic and quiet, like The Last of Us, I’d recommend playing with the mic muted if you’re not in a party chat.
The headphones are very comfortable for several hours use and I’ve had no issues with their durability, when I was looking for headphones I saw some people have complained the hinges are poor but if you take care of them I don’t see any cause for concern.
Slight downside I have noticed with the headphones and some other reviews may mention it, is that you can sometimes hear a very low level beeping through one or both of the speakers. It isn’t a massive or constant issue and is only really noticed when playing at low volume.
I’d recommend these headphones, the inbuilt mic is great as is the sound performance. They’re comfortable for several hours and a single charge will last a good few days of casual gaming and recharges quickly too! No reason not to buy them!
Great item if you have had the ps3 sony bluetooth headset you know this new one has alot to live up to. The sound, balance etc is all good, but the styling isn’t as good ( in my opinion ) and the earmuffs seem to be geared more for kids (hopefully i havent missed a size choice when i bought them ) My biggest and only real ‘complaint’ is the fact the on/off is now a proper selector switch instead of a tap on or tap off switch. Not a real problem until they die, you charge them up, forgetting to switch them off, and whatever the dynamic they are always dead when you come to use them again, maybe i shouldn’t be so forgetful but you didn’t have to worry about this with the old ones. (Smaller dongle than ps3 version fyi)
I love my PS4 and have been a gamer for many years. This has been the best purchase I have made to improve my gaming experience to date (except the PS4 itself).
I have also just purchased this product: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B003DVDY8I?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00 I sit on that in front of my TV and put on my headphones and i am immersed and taken in to the game.
Im able to wear the headphones for long periods without hurting my ears, they fit over the ears and not directly on top of them, enclosing the ears inside completely, which means the noises outside are cancelled out and your ears dont end up squashed after half an hour of use.
The surround sound is absolutely amazing and the sound files that you can download for games is unbelievable. There are only a handful available and if you have ‘The Last of Us’ i highly recommend you download the available sound file, its absolutely unbelievable how amazing it is. I have started playing the game again from the beginning as it feels like a totally new experience with these headphones.
The setup was pretty straight forward. The price I paid for these was 80 and for that price you really do get good value for your money, the quality is very good, they feel sturdy and solid, very well made and look gorgeous.
The Mic is built in to the headset so no annoying bits of plastic sticking out in front of your mouth. The only downside to this is the supplied Dongle, which you use to connect the device to your PS4. The PS4 already has built in Bluetooth so I dont understand why they had to put a dongle together for this and couldnt just use the PS4’s built in Bluetooth functionality. The only thing I can think of is that maybe its not powerful enough in that the headset needs extra power or a faster connection? Not sure, anyhow, the other thing that made this a 4 star instead of a 5 star is that the supplied cable for charging the headset is about 10cm in length (if that). Its ridiculously small and once plugged in the headphones have to sit on top of the PS4 until they are fully charged. I dont understand why they didnt supply a longer cable so one can charge the headset whilst using it? Or even to place the headset somewhere else other than on top of the PS4 when charging, its stupid how short this cable is and unnecessary. Whoever decided on this needs to be fired from the design team at Sony. Apart from the short cable everything is is top notch.
Highly recommended, it will definitely improve your gaming experience 10 fold.
Must buy!
This seriously is the best thing I have bought for the PS4 other than the consoles itself, The battery life is good (better than the controller) still needs charging every 2-3 days but that is fine to me.
Sound is great, there is an app you can download for free which allows you to set profiles for specific games or customise your own settings with an equalizer if you are so inclined. the Default settings have been good enough really with plenty of oomph and good range, in Alien Isolation heavy BOOM BOOM BOOM sounds as an alien clutters around in vents around you, Battlefield 4 has bullets whizzing by your ears and helicopters thumping through the air above you. The audio from players on microphones is excellent and I have been told the microphone on my end is also excellent.
They are comfortable to wear even for long periods.
I have zero faults really.. the only negatives I could mention is the “arms” of the headset have a cover which can come loose if you move the ear cup up or down (though isn’t an issue) and the odd time the headphones say they are connected but there is no sound, which to remedy I have simply turned them on and off a few times or unplugged the dongle and reinserted it. Also initially when I got them I did not like how the headset cuts sound to the TV when they are in use, I’d rather have the ability to play through both at the same time.. May sound silly to some but I dislike communicating with players in a silent room where it sounds like you are just talking to yourself, I’d rather people hear i was gaming and talking than have just my voice coming from a silent room.
I never liked headsets really but I find myself wearing these often because they are just that good.
In terms of value for money they are fantastic (assuming you buy at a decent price – see below) and you’ll really struggle to find anything of comparable quality in this price range.
The sound quality is not quite as crisp as my Audio Technica headphones (which were about 130), but they are wireless, has a mic and a few other options. All in all, for the money, the sound quality is great though. If you turn them up the sound is booming and really sucks you in more when playing action games. The virtual surround sound seems to work well too making it quite easy to place where things are happening in your game environment.
The other appealing feature of this headset is that it looks lovely with a style that perfectly matches your PS4 (as you’d expect as it is the official Sony PS headset!). Even folded it looks nice and it folds much better than many other headsets I’ve owned. And to adjust the height of the ear cups they slide beautifully up and down. I’m sure a decent drop from height would not be recommended, but overall the build quality is really good for a sub-100 headset. Battery life is good too which is handy for any long sessions or movies.
Although I’ve given this 5 stars, I’d caution that it could be slightly more user friendly. I set mine up relatively easily via the USB cable, but have read that others have had problems. The separate problem I encountered is that I accidentally managed to set my headset master volume quite low one day when pressing the ‘ – Volume + ‘ button. Sony support website was useless, but I eventually found a tech forum where someone had resolved the problem for another user.
Turns out the Volume button controls volume for the sound AND the mic although it doesn’t seem very clear as to whether it controls them both at the same time or whether you trigger which one you want to alter. So essentially I’d slid my sound volume down by turning my mic volume up. Really they should have completely separate volume controls to prevent this sort of thing.
The result was that my max sound was a bit quiet compared to before, but with the instructions on the tech forum I found I was able to reset it by pressing the Volume + all the way up to max and then having to press it again and hold it down for three seconds until it beeped. That seemed to do the trick but the headset doesn’t come with handy instructions like that! So if you have a problem then go to google and you’ll find a solution somewhere. Don’t immediately assume you have a defective headset, you’ll save yourself a lot of hassle and time by googling for a solution rather than sending it back for another one.
I noted above that these are great value at 75 or under. I bought them on Amazon for 70 and I would advise sticking to that limit as the price has mostly fluctuated between 60-75 over the last few months of 2014. I notice today they are almost 85 as it’s leading up to Xmas I suppose. If you can wait then I’d do so as they are great value at 70 or under!
Only reason I haven’t given them 5 as on other devices, the sound quality isn’t anywhere near as good. On my phone and on my computer, they just lack a lot of the punch that they have on the PS4. The bass isn’t great when it isn’t on the PS4 and there’s no surround sound. Which is a shame as they’re mega comfy and would love to use them out and about. Overall, I’d certainly recommend these, as the pros outweigh the cons by a ton.
EDIT: While I still stand by the audio quality being very enjoyable, I did find this headset fell apart on me quicker than they should have. They ended up desperately held together with duct tape in like 3 places before crumbling entirely.
First impressions out of the box are good, the headphones are good quality and easily adjustable to fit pretty much any head size. Like pretty much any wireless device these days it needs a charge for a few hours before use to top up the battery. I also highly recommend that PS4 users download the free headphone app from the PS store (it works fine without, this just provides some extra modes for specific games so well worth it).
Overall I am extremely impressed with the sound quality, especially with the ‘virtual’ 7.1 surround sound enabled, this adding a real extra dimension to the gaming experience. The integrated microphone also works extremely well, with both multiplayer chat and PS voice control working well through it. Any gripes? Well, the charge cable is pathetically short but not much else to be honest, I tend to use my Samsung phone charger to charge my PS peripherals anyway. The USB dongle is a bit big too, but not really an issue for me. I’ve also tried the headphones on PS3 and PC (PC using the included adaptor through the headphone jack as normal) and found it to be a very competent performer, although you don’t get the 7.1 sound through PC.
So, well made, comfortable, great sound quality and the other half is happy, highly recommended
Sound is rich and surprisingly the surround is pretty decent. You really can tell if something’s happening behind and to the left, for example.
Comms are perfect – it just instantly flicks on when you turn it on and the on screen info comes straight up on the PS4 – battery, surround mode, etc
They look very cool and really have the Sony style running.
You can adjust the game and chat volume separately
All in all ,i think they’re about perfect to be honest and thoroughly worth the money. Although it feels painful spending that much, they are very significantly better than the cheaper ones – totally wireless, reliable, great sounding and looking, plus custom sound profiles and eq modes.
These headphones are very well made, are very comfortable and sound great. The quick start guide could be better written as it doesn’t tell you that you have to push the ps button on the ds4 controller, select options and then ALL in the audio options as it comes default to just chat. I thought they weren’t working to start with but once the output selection was correctly set , instant audio in my lugholes, great sound, you can hear every foot step, voice and growl etc……..being attacked by clickers in the last of us is now actually a pretty scary experience , especially playing in the dark in the early hours. Get these you wont be disappointed and at this price they are a bargain !
Overall I’m pleased. I’ve had more expensive headphones before and they did have more of a “punch” to the sound, i.e. real bass. These don’t offer such a punch bass-wise, but the quality and clarity of sound is excellent. There’s no detectable “hiss” on them either (maybe when you first turn them on, not when they’re outputting sound though) which is a relief.
Key points:
* Very comfortable
* Wireless is great
* You can charge while you use them if they’re running low on juice
* 7.1 sounds fantastic.. with the right software.
It should be noted that this is Virtual Surround Sound (VSS) delivered to one speaker in each earpiece. Some more expensive headsets offer true surround sound via multiple speakers in each earpiece. Those can sound incredible, the only downside being their expense and weight.
The VSS in this headset sounds great in The Last Of Us (follow setup steps I outline below!), I haven’t yet tried it on Battlefield 4 or other games though. According to critic reviews online the headsets deliver to a high standard if the software delivers i.e. offers the right audio output options. So if you’re not playing a AAA game then don’t expect stunning surround sound, they may not offer anything better than stereo.
==== Setup ====
* There’s a quick start guide with them and that’s it, no real manual.
* Follow the steps in that, including download of the Headset Companion App.
* Make sure your Headset receiver is plugged into a USB port on the PS4, and the headset should be on. You should also connect a Micro USB cable (either the super short one provided or, easier, a longer one you already have) to the Headset and to the PS4’s other USB port.
* Note that on the PS4 dashboard when you visit Settings -> Sound and Screen -> Audio you should choose to output ‘All Audio’ to the headphones. The output type of Linear PCM / Bitstream(Dolby) / Bitstream(DTS) only affects your optical cable output, it doesn’t affect the Headset.
* Load the Headset Companion App when it’s downloaded and installed.
* Choose the Gold headset (on the right).
* Now press Options -> Factory Defaults -> OK. This actually updates the firmware on the headset, more recent firmware = better.
* Once that’s done, turn your headset off then on again.
* Now you’re good to go
==== The Last of Us (TLOU) ====
* You have to use the TLOU profile available in the Headset Companion App to enable 7.1 support for the Headset.
* Enter the Headset Companion App, choose TLOU profile, download and install it, now flick the Headset power switch to position 2 (usually this is “more bass” or your own custom audio profile).
* When you’re in TLOU (you needn’t restart if it’s already running) go to Options -> Audio then choose Surround Sound Headphones and select 7.1 on the ?Channel? option below, though it should default to that.
* Now you’re ready to rock! Awesome Virtual Surround Sound in TLOU 🙂
The Sony wireless headset is excellent. The box they came in looks the part. It felt like I was opening something that deserves to go with the PS4. The headset is well made. The black plastic and leather effect feels good. I am always worried about hinges but they seem to be fine. I have been storing them in the little bag they come with which is a nice touch. The charging cable is small but I don’t have a problem with that because it is unlikely that I would charge and play at the same time. The little dongle is good for the job, and fits in with the PS4 design.
The sound quality is good. I replaced a Turtle Beach X12 with DSS2 setup and it may not be as good. But the previous setup was messy with cables and connecting to the USB power in the front. The wireless headset is perfect. Besides the wireless capability the real strength of the headset is the companion app. I downloaded the shooter profile – for Killzone and it sounds great. Easy setup. Personally I like only 2 setting. 1 for standard and 2 for personalised. The only problem that I can see is if you regularly change between games – a 3rd would be nice.
The headset is comfortable enough. You have to adjust it until it feels comfortable and you hardly notice wearing it. It will take a while to get used to the buttons but this hasn’t been a problem. The instruction manual is poor but you can find help online.
I waited a while to buy these as the price issue was a problem. Amazon were very good on this when they did come and the headset was a great fathers day present. I would recommend this headset if you want a wireless headset that works well with the PS4 without any additional cables. It’s reasonably priced and looks the part.
Update: 15/01/15
I’ve used this headset for a few months now and am still really pleased with them. The virtual surround sound is really effective. It makes the play immersive, an particularly noticeable in games that have dedicated profiles. Last of Us and Destiny for example make excellent use of the dedicated profile. My only grip would be with the app developers who do not seem to have more game specific profiles.
The battery life seems fine. It is annoying when the headset needs to be recharged. It’s not possible to play and charge, but only a few minutes of charge will give you enough charge to get you going. This remains as a 5 star because of the overall ease of use and price for what you get. I’m sure there are better headsets, but you will have to pay for the privilege.
Very good overall sound quality, crisp, clear but sometimes lacking in bass.
Very easy to set up, just plug and play for wireless functionality with PS3, PS4 or PC.
Virtual surround 7.1 not so great.
Fantastic sound quality on Media Player Classic (movies) and Windows Media Player (music).
The long version:
Had these delivered from Amazon about a week ago for 80, bought specifically for PS4 but have been using with PS3, HP DM1 laptop and Samsung N110 netbook.
Tested on PS3 with Gran Turismo 5, Killzone 3, GTA 4, Driver San Francisco, Videozone (PS3 music app), Youtube (PS3 app).
Tested on PC (HP DM1) with Jack Reacher (movie), Robocop 2013 (movie) using Media Player Classic and Windows Media Player for music.
My previous headphones: Sennheiser HD465 (around 50 – 60 full sized mid range wired headphone).
I’m not an audiophile by any stretch of the imagination so I don’t get hung up over miniscule differences in sound quality between different headphones.
The headphones feel reasonably sturdy despite the mostly useless folding design and they look very nice. All the buttons have a good tactile feel to them but need to be pressed firmly. The wireless setup is very simple – just plug the dongle into your Playstation or PC (requires a minute or so to auto-configure PC drivers) and you’re done.
These headphones are definitely not bass heavy when using with PS3. In Gran Turismo 5 for example they definitely lack the growl/rumbling low frequencies of a subwoofer. Same also with Videozone on PS3, the sound lacked at the lower frequencies. I suspect this is more a result of limited sound adjustment controls in PS3 than the actual headphones themselves. However the overall sound quality on PS3 (haven’t tested on PS4 yet) is fantiscally crisp and clear, they do sound very good.
I was particularly impressed with the sound when connected wirelessly to my laptop. The sound of explosions and other effects in movies for instance was fantastic but then even the smaller, quieter audio detail in the movies I watched was very impressive. Interestingly, the wireless dongle works perfectly with a PC even when the PC is connected to TV via HDMI.
I was a bit disappointed with the virtual 7.1 surround sound. To my ears this just sounded like a slightly spatially wider stereo effect and did not sound like surround sound at all. I certainly could not differentiate sounds coming from all directions. The feature only works on Playstation.
In terms of volume, I found the headphones more than sufficiently loud, I didn’t need to use them at maximum volume at all. They are quite comfortable around the ears and don’t feel too heavy on the head.
I’m not sure how good the battery life is as I have only needed to charge them once since first using them about a week ago. I have used them watching a couple of movies on laptop, for about an hour of gaming and for an hour or two listening to music via PS3 and laptop. When I did charge them I believe they were fully charged within around two or three hours. I also found I could use the micro usb charging cable from my mobile, the supplied charging cable is only about a foot or so long.
I also tried the Playstation Companion app from the Playstation Store. This was very easy to use. However I can’t say I noticed very much difference in sound quality between all of the various settings – I’m sure the settings do make a difference but the effects were pretty minimal as far as I could tell. Also note, the headphones have to be connected via cable to the Playstation before any settings can be uploaded from the console.
Have not tested wireless range but I did notice when I went to the bathroom wearing them (one room and short hallway from PS3, about 20 feet distance in straight line) there was some temporary interruption with the transmission. Apart from this the headphones appear completely noiseless, that is I cannot notice any radio/or other sound interference during use even when using at low volumes.
Have not tried the chat/mic feature as yet.
Overall, I would rate these the best sounding headphones I have ever used on my PC and would definitely recommend.
Primarily these are for use with a PS3 or PS4 and that’s where the best experience is had. Battlefield 4 or Infamous Second Son are brilliant, Infamous even has its own tailored sound settings which are loaded via a free app downloadable from the PSN Store. Virtual Surround Sound does a very good job, enabling direction of gunfire etc. to be determined.
I’ve got a feeling that some of the reviews re build quality may be in regard to the old Pulse headset which were notorious for the problem but these are a single band design which must be less prone to the issue. The only obvious week spot is where they fold but with normal use and care I don’t envisage any problems.
Very comfortable to wear although your ears do get a bit hot after prolonged use.
The next best headset is probably the Turtle Beach PX4s but those generally retail for 120 plus so these are fantastic value. Highly recommended.
I’ve been through all the past official wireless headsets that have come out ( 7.1 Stereo Wireless Headset & Pulses ) and have always been impressed, so when this one was announced I was more than eager to get my hands on them.
With the previous models, the Pulses were the “successor” to the 7.1 Stereo Wireless Headset, however with this newer version (also known as the ‘Gold Headset’ in the US), I’m rather unsure whether these are a successor to the Pulses… They both have certain features which are better than each other.
That said, these are undoubtedly very high quality in both sound and comfort.
What’s in the box?
7.1 Wireless Stereo Headset 2.0 | USB Dongle* | Micro USB Cable** | Stereo Cable*** | Carry Case | Manual/Documents.
* This is vital to connect your PS3/PS4 via a wireless connection, do not lose this as you can’t buy these separately.
** Unlike the Pulses, these actually come with a charging cable, HOORAH! Except the cable is rather short.
*** This cable is used to connect the headset to a Vita or a Dualshock 4 controller; using it this way will mean you don’t need to turn the headset on, nor does the headset has to have any charge.
Set-Up & Using
As I’m sure you’re aware of, this headset works with the PS4, PS3 & PS Vita, whichever console you’re planning on connecting this headset to, the set-up is very simple and easy to do, just follow one of the steps below.
– PlayStation 4 –
Wireless Set-Up:
1) Insert USB dongle into the PS4.
2) Turn the headset on.
3) Select the user profile you want to link the headset to (asks every time you turn them on).
If you have two of these headsets, you can actually use them both at the same time using two different user profiles, this means you can even both participate in the same party chat.
Wired Set-Up:
1) Plug the stereo cable into the headset.
2) Insert the other end of the cable into the Dualshock 4 controller.
Whichever set-up you go for, if no game sound is going to the headset, follow these steps:
Settings > Sound and Screen > Audio Output Settings > Output to Headphones > All audio.
Alternatively, hold the PS button down and go to “Adjust Devices”, you can also tweak the settings there.
– PlayStation 3 –
Wireless Set-Up:
1) Insert USB dongle into the PS3.
2) Turn the headset on.
The PS3 should configure everything automatically.
– PlayStation Vita –
Wired Set-Up:
1) Plug the stereo cable into the headset.
2) Insert the other end of the cable into the Vita.
Headset Functions
There are many functions on the headset itself, most of which are only usable when wirelessly connected.
– Pre-Set Sound Mode –
When turning on the headset, if you skip over to ‘2’ rather than ‘1’, you can select to use a special pre-set sound mode which enhances the sound to that specific genre, such as “shooter” or “music” etc…
Though you will need to set it up by firstly downloading the ‘Headset Companion App’, then connect the headset to your PS3/PS4 and upload a sound profile to it through the app.
– Sound/Chat –
This allows you to adjust the ratio of chat to in-game audio; you can have it balanced, or more swayed to one or the other.
– Volume –
Will adjust the overall volume.
– VSS (Virtual Surround Sound) –
Hold this button down to disable/enable, with VSS enabled, you will get the 7.1 VSS.
– Mute –
This will mute/unmute the microphone.
Comfort & Sound Quality
This headset is extremely comfortable overall, both the headband and earpads are super soft which make these very comfortable over longer periods of time.
Sound quality is great, especially when using the specific sound profiles available on the headset companion app. I’ve used the shooter profile on games such as Battlefield 4 & Resogun and am pleased with the results; great sense of direction with clear and crisp sound.
I’ve had to ask others for their opinion of my mic quality as I can’t hear it myself, and everyone I’ve asked has said they can hear me very clearly, which is good as the microphone is completely hidden.
There is one downside to this and the other previous models which didn’t used to bother me, but has been recently, and that has to do with there being no playback when talking on the microphone. Due to the over-ear design, you can’t really hear yourself when talking, so as the volume gets louder, you’ll find yourself talking more loudly.
I hope they can implement an update sometime in the future that will sort this issue out…
Gold Headset -VS- Pulse Headset
– Gold Headset –
+ Foldable design making it easier to store.
+ Slightly more comfortable than the Pulses, probably due to it being more lightweight as well as extra width of headband.
+ Sound has been improved a bit from the Pulses.
+ Longer battery life (up from 6 hours to 8).
+ Cheaper in cost (I paid 75 on first release which is 20-30 cheaper than the Pulses).
– Pulse Headset –
+ Slider controls rather than buttons.
+ Bass impact (was a love or hate feature).
+ Multiple sound profiles available to select through at once.
+ Has an aux port on the dongle for additional wireless usage with certain devices.
Both are great headsets to which both also have their ups and downs compared to each other, however I seem to be using the Golds more.
Overall Opinion
This is a pretty solid headset that’s available for a premium price, though I honestly believe it’s money well spent… They’re comfortable which means I can wear them for long gaming sessions, and with its crisp sound & VSS feature, it makes me feel more immersed with the gameplay.
I’ve been using these for almost two weeks now and couldn’t recommend them enough.
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EDIT – DECEMBER 2014: I’ve owned these for about half a year now and still don’t regret purchasing these. A great buy!
I’ve had them for a week now. I was impressed from the minute I first attempted to use them. I had a game running (Tales of Xillia) on the PS3, plugged in the USB stick and then switched on the headphone. A few seconds later the sound stopped on the TV and started to output through the headphones. Switching them off and moments later the sound is back on the TV. Great that you don’t have to restart games in order to use them.
The microphone works fine, no problems in Battlefield 4 using Party chat with my sister in the USA on the PS4. Having all of the controls on the headset really helps. The volume control is on the back-left and the chat/sound balance is on the front left.
I have no cons for the pricepoint. If we were talking >100 for these then yes, I’d say the composition could be changed and something other than plastic used. There is also some sound leakage on higher volumes as to be expected. But as we are talking less than that pricepoint I must say that these headphones far exceeded my expectations and are well worth the money.
Short charging cable is very handy, I’d recommend using these with the PS4 (as I believe is intended) and having a shorter charging lead for the headphones that can also be used for controllers is a big bonus.
Some are listing the USB stick as a con, I don’t think that’s entirely fair. The USB stick means there is literally no setup to do other than plugging in the USB stick. If anything it means it’s much more accessible and works right out of the box without having to mess with settings. The USB is a con against the PS3 and PS4 that only include a limited amount of USB slots. It’s not really fair to mark down a peripheral just because the target console is lacking in ports.
I tested it in FF XIV the game sucks for controls and even the graphics are so so on the PS4 however the audio on my headset was amazing, I have never used a gaming headset before so when I heard a player run behind me the footsteps got closure then passed behind me and ran off to my right I was in awe of it.
I have not checked the mic I only really got them for when I’m in with my son who plays rust and likes to yell commands at his team. I am happy that I now don’t need to listen to him anymore and better still he can’t hear my content either as there is no audio leak well none from what I heard (daughter stole them for the first few hours) though we will never put the volume up high. Saying that I did check the volume and it’s loud, I even played with profiles which seem to have no affect but that’s because well there is very little choice at the moment (movies and games profile 1 are just blank for you to edit).
My only issue is that every time I use them I have to unplug the USB fob and plug it back in again to get them to work or the audio won’t go to the headset, I checked and the old Pulse headset does not do this so not sure what’s up here could be me as my friend said his pulse works by leaving the fob in and this one should be the same.
I still say 5* for 73 it’s great value for a headset that works on PS3 and 4 letting you enjoy gaming, movies and music clearly and all audio direct to your ears. Buttons feel solid even the build feels solid and comfy, hours of use with no issue, decent battery life (swap android charger from controller to headset and your sorted). I can’t say enough good things but it is early days and if I don’t come back to add a comment then I’ve had no problems arise but if anything goes wrong I’ll make sure to drop back and edit the review.
Compatible with the PS3/4 wirelessly using the dongle, or wired the Vita with the supplied jack, all your bases are covered, and it’s simple to set up, plug in, switch on and you’re done, though don’t forget to set audio output to “all audio” on PS4.
Sound quality is good, hard to be sure but it seems a little better than the previous version, though haven’t used the Pulse so can’t compare it to that, and the companion app should prove useful.
Before release there was concern with the in-ear cup mic, but it was unwarranted. I’ve been told I’m crystal clear.
The charging cable is stupidly short though, frankly its inclusion is pretty pointless, especially if you want to use the set while charging, but it’s a minor niggle, and a longer one is easy enough to find.
Overall, if what you’re looking for is a good, versatile headset for Playstation gaming, you can’t really go wrong with this.