Sony's $99.99 Pulse headset brings planar magnetic drivers to a budget

A budget headset with high-end drivers

Sony has announced a new PlayStation Pulse wireless headset priced at $99.99, and it carries a driver technology the company has previously reserved for pricier models. According to The Verge, custom planar magnetic drivers sit inside the headset's plain ear cups, and they produce clear, detailed audio whether the wearer is playing games, listening to music, or doing both at once.

The tuning is described as balanced rather than bass-heavy or harsh, with a default equalizer that The Verge calls pleasing and punchy. As with other Pulse headsets, the EQ can be adjusted through the PS5 interface. This is not Sony's first gaming audio product with planar magnetic drivers, but at $99 it is the most affordable one yet.

Two connections at once

The Pulse's standout feature is its ability to receive audio over PlayStation Link and Bluetooth at the same time. PlayStation Link is Sony's own low-latency, lossless wireless connection, and the headset ships with a USB-C Link dongle for quick pairing with a PS5, PC, or Nintendo Switch 2.

A dedicated Bluetooth button on the ear cup handles pairing, and it can also pause or resume Bluetooth content or answer and end calls. The integrated volume rocker controls Bluetooth audio only when no device is connected through PlayStation Link; in simultaneous mode, the rocker adjusts the volume of the Link-connected device alone. Owners of the PlayStation Portal can connect the Pulse directly to the handheld without the dongle, as they can with the Pulse Elite and Explore.

Comfort and design

The Pulse comes with a white or black headband that has a soft-touch underside and enough give at the top to distribute weight. The headset is lightweight, and its size adjustments extend well beyond what The Verge's reviewer needed for a large head. The ear cups can rotate 180 degrees in either direction, a rarity among the headphones The Verge has used.

A more capable Pulse Edge is coming

Sony is also preparing the Pulse Edge, a wireless headset without an exact launch date or price. The company says it will have twice as many magnets in its drivers, eight rather than four, along with active noise cancellation and a detachable boom mic that will likely deliver better voice audio than the standard Pulse's built-in microphone. It will also include game and chat audio controls, a 3.5mm jack, and a carrying case.

Who the Pulse is for

The $99 Pulse is light on extras compared with do-everything headsets that offer noise cancellation, multiplatform connectivity, or swappable batteries. The Verge's assessment is that Sony's focus on sound quality and comfort makes it worth considering for PS5 owners on a strict budget for their next wireless headset.