Sony is set to revolutionize the gaming audio experience for South African gamers with the launch of their latest innovation, the Sony Pulse Explore wireless earbuds. Priced at R3,799.99, these earbuds are designed to offer a unique blend of immersive gaming audio and the convenience of multitasking during your gaming sessions. We’ve had a chance to test these earbuds, and here’s what you need to know about this exciting addition to Sony’s gaming ecosystem.
The Pulse Explore earbuds have been crafted with PlayStation 5 enthusiasts in mind. Sony’s new PlayStation Link wireless protocol, combined with lossless, ultra-low-latency audio, offers an unparalleled gaming experience. By plugging in the included USB dongle, you can enjoy seamless, high-quality audio with your PS5, PC, or Mac. What’s more, Sony has also integrated support for PlayStation Link into their new PlayStation Portal handheld streaming gadget, making it even easier to immerse yourself in the gaming world.
For those who enjoy the flexibility of Bluetooth, the Pulse Explore earbuds offer plain old Bluetooth support. What makes this truly exceptional is that you can use both the PlayStation Link and Bluetooth simultaneously. Imagine seamlessly switching between your gaming audio and taking phone calls or listening to music during your gaming sessions. It’s a feature that South African gamers are sure to appreciate.
Sony has gone the extra mile in crafting the Pulse Explore earbuds. These earbuds are equipped with planar magnetic drivers, a technology less common than the dynamic drivers found in most earbuds. This technology is known for its ability to reproduce soundscapes with ultra-low distortion, delivering rich details and deep, clear bass that allows you to hear exactly what the game developers intended.
During our testing, the Pulse Explore earbuds stood out for their exceptional clarity and separation. It’s easy to distinguish small details and individual sound effects, even in the midst of chaotic action in games like RoboCop: Rogue City. If you’ve ever wanted to feel like you’re right in the middle of the action, these earbuds deliver. Sony’s 3D audio technology is masterfully represented, providing gaming environments with a real sense of depth and immersion.
However, when it comes to music, the experience is a bit mixed. The tuning of these earbuds may be light on deep bass for any purpose beyond gaming. While they excel in the gaming arena, they might not entirely replace your high-end Sony 1000XM5 for music lovers.
The Pulse Explore earbuds may not be the smallest in size, but Sony has ensured they’re comfortable to wear. Each earbud has an identical design with a volume rocker on one side and a PlayStation Link button on the other. Sony includes four sets of silicone ear tips in the box, catering to a wide range of ear sizes. This means that whether you have small or large ears, these earbuds should fit comfortably.
The location of the volume rocker on the earbuds may take some getting used to, but after a few hours of gameplay, it becomes more intuitive. It’s important to note that the physical volume control only adjusts your in-game and PS Link audio; it has no impact on connected Bluetooth devices if you have one paired at the same time.
One surprising aspect of the Pulse Explore earbuds is the absence of active noise cancellation, especially considering their R3,799.99 price tag. Sony is primarily advertising noise rejection, which relies on the two built-in microphones. These microphones are claimed to use AI to filter out ambient noise during multiplayer gaming rounds. While this may be effective for gaming, it’s a feature some users might miss for other daily activities, like commuting or working in noisy environments.
Battery life is an important consideration for wireless earbuds, and the Pulse Explore earbuds do reasonably well in this department. They offer five hours of continuous playback on a single charge. To extend your listening time, the charging case provides an additional 10 hours. While this may be slightly less than the recently announced InZone gaming earbuds from Sony Electronics, the Pulse Explore’s unique feature of using two sources simultaneously sets them apart.
Sony claims that the Pulse Explore earbuds are compatible with the PS5, PC, Mac, and mobile hardware. While the article doesn’t mention anything about compatibility with the Nintendo Switch, our testing revealed that they work seamlessly with the Switch as well. By plugging in the PlayStation Link dongle using a USB-C adapter, the Switch immediately switches over to USB audio. Just like on a PS5, there was no noticeable latency, and the detailed sound from the Pulse Explore earbuds truly shone during Super Mario Bros. Wonder. You could also opt for standard Bluetooth pairing with the Switch, although that might introduce a bit more latency.
While it’s still early days in our testing, the Sony Pulse Explore earbuds have made a strong impression. They excel in delivering rich gaming audio and showcase the reliability of PlayStation Link across different platforms. In a market filled with countless gaming headphones, these earbuds offer a unique blend of features for South African gamers.
If you’re seeking a smaller, lighter form factor with native PlayStation 5 integration, the Pulse Explore earbuds are certainly worth considering. They provide an immersive gaming experience, clarity, and impressive 3D audio, all while allowing you to seamlessly switch between gaming and other audio sources. Their comfort, unique design, and compatibility with various devices, including the Nintendo Switch, add to their appeal.
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