The first hands on review of the PS5's new Pulse Explore earbuds had CNET waxing lyrical about the audio quality, but a new verdict from PC Mag has raised concerns surrounding the device's design and fit. In a 2.5/5 review, it's suggested the "big tabs that jut up from the earphones make it hard to comfortably place them in your ears". Furthermore, eartips provided in the box are supposedly so thin they can flip out into your ear during wear.
The complaints extend to the earbuds controls: "The top of both earpieces hold very thin, flat volume rockers with a tiny nub to indicate where they are, and pairing buttons opposite them on the bottom. I have several gripes about the volume rockers, which are difficult to reach, operate separately from the connected device (so they won't change the volume on your phone, as most competitors do), and have no distinct tone for when the volume is maxed out."
When playing games, PC Mag reports PS5 titles sound good but 3D Audio doesn't come through very well. While playing Marvel's Spider-Man 2, the reviewer couldn't tell what direction sound effects were coming from. "Whether following distant voices or surrounded by thugs, the soundscape doesn’t feel much deeper than a good stereo mix. Earphones tend to offer worse spatial audio directionality than headphones, even with good processing (which the PS5 certainly has), and that’s unfortunately the case with the Pulse Explore."
The outlet then concludes: "The PlayStation Pulse Explore earphones don't live up to the potential of their underlying technology mostly due to their design. They feel awkward and uncomfortable, and maintaining a consistent fit to get the most out of the planar magnetic drivers is a challenge."
We have been in contact with Sony to try and get our hands on the PS5 Pulse Explore earbuds for a Push Square review, but haven't received confirmation we'll be sent a pair at the time of writing. The earbuds release on 6th December 2023, with a newly updated PS5 Elite wireless headset following in February 2024. Now with two conflicting verdicts posted online, it's difficult to tell whether the PS5 earbuds are any good or not. You can read PC Mag's full review through the link.
What are your thoughts? Have you got a pair pre-ordered? Let us know in the comments below.
[source me.pcmag.com]
Comments 44
It's a bit of a weird one with some earbuds. I had a pretty horrible time adapting to the newer Airpods versus the 1st gen type. Couldn't wear them for more than 45 minutes without them hurting but after a month or so my ears just got used to them.
So half off price by christmas?
Dead on Arrival and I’m fine using a wired headset. Plus you need to use a Dongle on the PS5 which is just stupid!! Imagine you loose the dongle, that’s £200 down the drain!!
@kyleforrester87 I went from AirPods Gen 3 to AirPods Pro Gen 2 and wow!! I could wear this all day
Most earbuds I've tried are hit or miss. I've only ever found one pair I liked wearing for an extended period - Sony linkbuds, which I've heard others say they hated.
I don't get on well with headphones. I prefer buds so I'll give these PlayStation buds a go. Saying that they always did look a little top heavy to me and seemed like they would inevitably flop out of my ears.
Fair enough they seem to be more for use with the Portal than for wearing while jogging or out and about, but hopefully I won't have to go digging for these down the back of the couch after I turn my head too quickly.
@Waitinonpsvr2
For half price off you could buy earbuds from another brand which actually fit comfortably. I really like my Samsung Buds+
@Luigia I am like that now with the standard Airpods.. but I really had to push through the initial pain lol.
This same reviewer gave the the PS Portal 2.5/5 giving it minus points for:-
I'd exercise caution listening to his "expert" analysis.
@Smash41 those are perfectly valid complaints. Do you really not think a reviewer should consider the functionality, the devices already needed to have been bought, the cost, and the alternatives available when reviewing a product?
And considering all of that, 2.5 seems pretty fair to me. Some people will love the Portal and that is fine, but it clearly has some big limitations and large costs associated with it for what it is.
It seems Sony is really pushing Playstation to be seen as a more "high-end" product, copying some of Apple's tactics with these new hardware products, but I just can't see this working. The products are clearly overpriced compared to the alternatives with some pretty important features being missing.
@Smash41 Fair points there.
I prefer to see a hardware product graded on how well it does what it's trying to do in a variety of conditions, rather than it not being the product the reviewer wanted.
@Smash41 This made me chuckle.
@Smash41 Those are all essential things for a reviewer to mention about the Portal so it seems his Pulse review is as valid as they come
to go on on the Portal: it s a fantastic device for what it aims at. It's being used far more than I thought; many hours every day by multiple family members in my household ^^
Really depends on whether you are the targeted audience for this. It definitely has little use for someone who doesn't fight for the TV, nor like to play in various places in the house, nor just sometimes want a more restrained experience vs. the full on blown up 200 inches TV ^^
@Juanalf
It seems the reviewer reviewed the Portal based on what it wasn't rather than what it is.
@TheCollector316 so the reviewer should just ignore the fact it lacks functionality? Seriously, is there where PS fans are right now? Complaining about reviews that are perfectly accurate because you can't stand people not hyping PS up as much as you?
I thought IGN reviewed these a while back and gave them a 7? Or am I misremembering, anyway a lot of this reviewers complaints seems to be because he found them uncomfortable but then comfort and fit aren't universal when it comes to buds anyway because everyones ears are different.
Still getting the headphones instead though because sometimes earphones do give me a headache.
@Kalime78 This is adding to my excitement. I'm buzzing to get going on it Christmas Day.
@lightningbolt79 You're inferring and generalising a bit there. You're allowed to want what you want from reviews.
Different reviewers have different styles. Different people have different needs from reviews.
No need to get stressed.
@Shepherd_Tallon No one is getting stressed. I just don't particularly like the current idea that many fans have of "this review isn't positive enough for me so the reviewer can't be an expert and the points brought up can't possibly be relevant".
Removed - unconstructive feedback
@lightningbolt79
If you read the review, it is crazy to knock down a streaming device because it doesn't play games natively. That's not what it is. Knocking it down because it lacks Bluetooth makes sense, but comparing it to a Steam Deck that is three times the price and plays games natively is silly. The reviewer could just say it isn't for him and then review it fairly for what it is.
@lightningbolt79 Apologies for the assumption.
I get your point though. Fair enough.
The internet is had work sometimes 😂
@Luigia You can purchase a replacement PlayStation Link USB adapter for £20:
https://direct.playstation.com/en-gb/buy-accessories/playstation-link-usb-adapter
They announced it alongside the reveal of the Explore earbuds.
Awaiting Push Square’s review, as I know it will be fair! I am in the market for these but yeah air buds can be tricky. I absolutely despise the commands on the Pulse Headphones though the audio output is pretty legit.
I read other reviews and yeah don’t listen to that guy, he even gave the Portal a 2.5/5
Despite some flaws yeah these devices actually have good reviews
@Smash41 here is my MacBook Air (2020) review: 2,5
CONS
Sony really can't seem to release a good new product without some or other medium to major flaw(s) this year eh.
PSVR2 is a good product with (still) a poor library. They're turning up on the used market in quantities already, after Xmas you'll easily be able to get an as new barely used set for under 300 I'm sure.
PS Portal is a device solely for Remote Play. The same Remote Play with the same problems it's had for years. Lazy product that'll make a disappointing Xmas gift for millions of gamers. By January I expect the used market will be flooded with them.
New PS5 "Slim" redesign somehow manages to make the ugly original design even uglier, but hey now you can pay 30 for a seperate stand! The split matte/glossy panels are worse than on the launch PS4. Just pick one or the other. No die shrink on the APU so not significantly smaller either.
And now PS Pulse headphones, which are overpriced and won't apparently do much if anything better than a cheap set of wired ones. Wired ones that will probably be more comfortable, and won't be sending compressed and/or laggy audio to your eardrums a la Bluetooth.
The thing is, as Nintendo and Microsoft haven't released that much in the way of gaming hardware this year (the revised Series S in black with 1TB seems, to me, even lazier than the PS Portal), Sony still look better by comparison, don't they, even though they're releasing half-arsed products. They win by default. Yay.
@Kalime78 The acid test is if it's still being used regularly in 6 months to a year, then you'll know if the Portal has staying power or it was just a novelty that wore off, as so many things are.
Earbuds for me are always a miss, I'm more of a headphone guy.
Like DAC + AMP + decent headphone = a good enough soundspace that really makes the audio pop out.
Personally I found the pulse 3d headphones to be a poor headset in most ways but the quality was low and the comfort even more so.
Not tooooo surprised about these being abit rubbish as well.
Having said that I've got some wh-1000xm4 earbuds which are excellent so 🤷 should just make the xm5 ps5 compatible instead
It’s not easy trying to copy Apple nor is it cheap. Tho i do like the attempt and will snag these when they are on sale. I use the Sony Inzone H9’s on my PS5 and they are really nice. I got them on sale and they were well worth the sale price but not sure they were worth the full price. Bummed cause now they make them in Black.
@Shepherd_Tallon I love my Linkbuds Sssss... They do ANC on a budget price, are still small enough to be comfortable, and since they do the dual-pairing thing now, they are super easy to bounce between a couple of devices.
@Pandalulz Been using mine for over a year and I still love them!
The only buds I can wear comfortably so far. Such a pragmatic little piece of technology.
@lightningbolt79 Whilst I agree generally with your points when reviewing products. Agreeing that the Portal only does exactly the only thing it was designed to do as a valid negative point is well ridiculous. It didn't promise to do anything else other than this. Back to the point of the article. Guess we'll just have to wait and see what the general consensus is amongst the whole community once reviewed/released.
@NeonPizza Good question
@xDD90x good shout 👍🏻
The price is insane especially considering the headphones are cheaper also earbuds damage the ears a lot more than headphones so I would definitely go with the headphones which I'm considering getting as a Christmas gift if no unexpected costs show up cuz u know everyone is strapped for cash
Sony need to start focus on developing some games, rather than all these lacklustre overpriced accessories they keep releasing.
@zekepliskin hehe, you can try to dismiss my feedback, fair enough, but the way it is currently being used and my family set up, it will clearly be used for a long time, even past the Switch 2. I mean when you have 4 hardcore players in a household and one TV, even 3 Switch doesn't solve the TV problem ^_^
@Kalime78 It should be clear from the way I worded it that I'm not trying to dismiss it, simply saying that you only really know something has staying power and is a good piece of tech if it keeps getting used outside the initial novelty.
I remember all the people I spoke to who raved about their new 3DTVs over a decade ago, saying they were watching everything with the shutter glasses on, most of them gave up doing that and used it like a regular TV after the novelty wore off. I remember my 1080p 55" Sony had 3D features and I kept forgetting they were there as I never needed them. Talking of 1080p TVs, if you have so many gamers in the household why not pick up a couple of cheap 1080p panels? I've been able to get a few for retro PS2/PS3 gaming as everyone is shifting them now they have 4K TVs and the price has been between £10-£30. Solves the problem.
Some things are fun to try enjoy briefly and then forget about (that's how I feel about VR) and some are genuine good innovations that live on, like analogue sticks have been since the 90s.
@zekepliskin sure enough ^_^
I can totally understand people not seeing a use for this device, or labelling it as short lived novelty. But unless I lose my children, or suddenly invest in 3 more TVs, the portal will continue being used in my place for some time.
You're like someone saying 6 seater cars are just novelty to a family of 6 ^_^
@Shepherd_Tallon I mean most reviews are on point, there is some light compression artefacting, some light stutter once in a while, and quite a lot of issues (lag, resolution and so on) if you don't have an absolute pristine 4 bar wifi connection (we had to install a wifi router in the living room). But if set up is proper, enjoyment is proper... the screen is a killer (and I only buy OLED / do video editing in HDR)
@Kalime78 Oh I see, I was trying to have a sensible and civil debate about things like that and you're saying spurious things like "You're like someone saying 6 seater cars are just novelty to a family of 6". No buddy, actually that's nothing like what I'm saying, which you'd know if you'd actually read what I said properly, but that's fine I know I don't have to waste further time trying to politely converse with someone lacking in common sense. All the best.
@zekepliskin ah, don't take it like that, I'm not trying to troll you, just trying to say I see your point about 3DTV and all, but I'm talking about something else, where the need for Portal is more of an essential need in my household situation, versus something like a 3DTV which is more of a nice to have.
I did not mean the 6 seater car comparison to be dismissive, but more to show in our case it is not a gadget, it's addressing a core need that will subsist over time. That being said, maybe you're right and we'll get tired of it. I just don't see it happening ^^ Have a great weekend ! sorry if I offended you ^^
Just wanted to add to the conversation that there is a positive review as well: https://gamingtrend.com/feature/reviews/sony-pulse-explore-wireless-earbuds-review-planar-magnetic-thumpers/
It scores a 9 and it sounds really promising, and you’ve got a 7 from ign as well…. So maybe these buds aren’t so bad! 😁
I’m going to try them out next week and if it plays well with psvr2 I’ll keep them!
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