Sony Pulse Explore Earphones Review: A New Era in Gaming Audio

Sony has launched a new pair of wireless earbuds that are designed for PlayStation gaming and music listening: the Sony Pulse Explore earphones. These earbuds feature planar magnetic drivers, PlayStation Link technology, AI-enhanced noise rejection, multi-device connectivity, and a charging case. But how do they perform in terms of sound quality, comfort, and battery life? And are they worth the $199.99 price tag? Here is our review of the Sony Pulse Explore earphones.

What are the Sony Pulse Explore earphones?

The Sony Pulse Explore earphones are wireless earbuds that are compatible with PlayStation 5 consoles, PC, Mac, PlayStation Portal remote player, and mobile devices. They are part of Sony’s PlayStation accessories line, which also includes the PULSE Elite wireless headset and the PULSE 3D wireless headset. The earbuds come with a PlayStation Link USB adapter, which provides a lossless and low-latency wireless connection to PS5 consoles, PC, and Mac. They also support Bluetooth 5.2, which allows you to connect to your phone or tablet. You can even listen to audio from a PlayStation Link and Bluetooth device simultaneously, such as taking a phone call while gaming.

The earbuds feature planar magnetic drivers, which are a type of driver that uses a thin, flat diaphragm to produce sound. Planar magnetic drivers are known for their high-fidelity, low-distortion, and wide-frequency response. They are often used in studio headphones and high-end audio equipment. Sony claims that these drivers can deliver lifelike sound in your favorite games, with rich details and deep bass. They also support 3D Audio, which is a feature of PS5 games that creates a realistic and immersive sound field around you.

The earbuds have dual microphones with AI-enhanced noise rejection, which is a technology that uses artificial intelligence to identify, isolate, and remove unwanted noises from your voice. This can help you communicate clearly with your teammates or friends, without any background noise or interference. The earbuds also have easy-access volume buttons and a PlayStation Link button, which lets you switch between PlayStation Link compatible devices.

The earbuds have a battery life of up to 6 hours per charge, and up to 24 hours with the charging case. The charging case is a white and black case that matches the design of the earbuds and the PS5 console. It has a USB-C port for charging, and four LED indicators to show the battery level of the earbuds and the case.

The earbuds come with four pairs of silicone eartips, in different sizes, to help you find the best fit for your ears. The earbuds weigh 8 g each, and the charging case weighs 60 g. The dimensions of the earbuds are 25 x 20 x 18 mm, and the dimensions of the charging case are 70 x 40 x 30 mm.

How do the Sony Pulse Explore earphones sound?

The Sony Pulse Explore earphones sound crisp, clear, and detailed, thanks to the planar magnetic drivers. They can reproduce a wide range of frequencies, from 10 Hz to 40 kHz, with minimal distortion and high accuracy. They can also handle high volumes without clipping or crackling. The earbuds have a balanced sound signature, with neither too much nor too little bass, midrange, or treble. They can deliver a satisfying punch in the low end, a clear and natural vocal in the midrange, and a bright and airy sparkle in the high end.

The earbuds are especially impressive when it comes to gaming audio, as they can create a realistic and immersive soundstage, with accurate positioning and directionality of sound sources. They also support 3D Audio, which is a feature of PS5 games that enhances the spatial awareness and depth of sound. With 3D Audio, you can hear sounds coming from above, below, behind, or in front of you, as well as from different distances and angles. This can help you locate enemies, allies, and objects in the game world, and also increase the sense of immersion and realism.

The earbuds also perform well when it comes to music listening, as they can handle different genres and styles of music, from rock to pop, from classical to jazz. They can reproduce the nuances and subtleties of different instruments and vocals, and also convey the emotions and moods of the songs. They can also handle complex and layered tracks, without sounding muddy or congested.

The earbuds have a good microphone quality, thanks to the AI-enhanced noise rejection technology. The microphones can capture your voice clearly and loudly, without any distortion or clipping. They can also filter out any background noise or interference, such as wind, traffic, or other people talking. This can help you communicate effectively with your teammates or friends, whether you are gaming, chatting, or calling.

How comfortable are the Sony Pulse Explore earphones?

The Sony Pulse Explore earphones are not very comfortable, unfortunately, due to their awkward shape and flimsy eartips. The earbuds have a large and bulky design, with a curved white panel that wraps up and forward from the black body. This panel makes it hard to insert and adjust the earbuds in your ears, as it can interfere with the shape and size of your ears. It also adds extra weight and pressure to the earbuds, which can cause fatigue and discomfort over time.

The earbuds also have thin and soft silicone eartips, which are prone to flipping inside out or falling off. The eartips do not provide a good seal or fit in your ears, which can affect the sound quality and isolation of the earbuds. The eartips can also feel uncomfortable or irritating in your ears, especially if you have small or sensitive ear canals. The earbuds come with four pairs of eartips, in different sizes, but none of them seem to fit well or securely.

The earbuds are also not very stable or secure in your ears, as they can easily fall out or move around. They do not have any fins or nubs to help them stay in place, and they also do not have any water or sweat resistance, which can make them unsuitable for sports or exercise. The earbuds are also not very discreet or elegant, as they stick out of your ears and draw attention to themselves.

How is the battery life of the Sony Pulse Explore earphones?

The Sony Pulse Explore earphones have a mediocre battery life, compared to other wireless earbuds in the market. The earbuds can last up to 6 hours per charge, and up to 24 hours with the charging case. This is not very impressive, considering that some earbuds can last up to 10 hours per charge, and up to 40 hours with the charging case. The earbuds also do not have any fast charging feature, which can help you get some extra juice in a short time.

The charging case is a white and black case that matches the design of the earbuds and the PS5 console. It has a USB-C port for charging, and four LED indicators to show the battery level of the earbuds and the case. The case can hold up to four full charges for the earbuds, and it can also protect and store the earbuds when not in use. The case is fairly large and bulky, though, and it may not fit easily in your pocket or bag.

Are the Sony Pulse Explore earphones worth it?

The Sony Pulse Explore earphones are not worth it, in our opinion, unless you are a hardcore PlayStation fan who wants to experience the best possible gaming audio on your PS5 console, PC, Mac, or PlayStation Portal remote player. The earbuds have some impressive features, such as the planar magnetic drivers, the PlayStation Link technology, the AI-enhanced noise rejection, and the multi-device connectivity. They also sound crisp, clear, and detailed, and they support 3D Audio. However, they also have some major drawbacks, such as the poor design, the uncomfortable fit, the mediocre battery life, and the high price. For $199.99, you can get better wireless earbuds that offer more comfort, battery life, and features, such as the Anker SoundCore Liberty 4 NC, the Jabra Elite 7 Pro, or the Apple AirPods Pro. You can also get a good gaming headset, such as the Razer Blackshark V2, the SteelSeries Arctis 7P, or the Sony PULSE 3D wireless headset, which can provide better comfort, sound quality, and microphone quality for gaming.

Conclusion

The Sony Pulse Explore earphones are wireless earbuds that are designed for PlayStation gaming and music listening. They feature planar magnetic drivers, PlayStation Link technology, AI-enhanced noise rejection, multi-device connectivity, and a charging case. They sound crisp, clear, and detailed, and they support 3D Audio. However, they are not very comfortable, due to their awkward shape and flimsy eartips. They also have a mediocre battery life, and a high price tag. Unless you are a die-hard PlayStation fan, we do not recommend these earbuds, as there are better options available in the market.

If you want to learn more about the Sony Pulse Explore earphones, you can visit their official website⁵ or read some reviews from other sources¹²⁴ [