The Sony PULSE 3D Wireless is a gaming headset designed primarily for PS5 consoles. It's fully compatible with PC as well as PS4 and PS5 consoles, whether you're using its wireless USB receiver or the included 1/8" TRRS cable. It supports Tempest 3D Audio, a virtual surround sound feature on the PS5 advertised as generating a more immersive listening experience, though it only works with certain games. Unlike most gaming headsets, it has an integrated mic instead of a boom mic. Although you can use the headset with any console or even your phone using the included cable, you can only access the sound customization features when you connect to a PlayStation console.
Our Verdict
The Sony PULSE 3D are decent for neutral sound. The headphones' sound profile lacks a bit of low bass, which flattens the thump and rumble of sound effects in action-heavy games, but its well-balanced mid-range yields clear and present dialogue as well as vocals and lead instruments in music. Unfortunately, its uneven treble range can give some notes a slightly dull, veiled quality. While it has a graphic EQ and presets, these features are only available on the PS5. It also has virtual 3D audio, which is only available in some games.
- Fairly well-balanced sound profile.
- Limited sound customization features.
- Closed-off soundstage.
The Sony PULSE 3D are bad for commuting, though they aren't designed for this purpose. These headphones let in a lot of ambient noise, especially the low rumble of bus and plane engines and the chatter of other commuters. They're not very portable or comfortable. They aren't Bluetooth-compatible, so you can't connect wirelessly with your phone, but you can listen to audio and use the mic by plugging the included 1/8" TRRS cable into your phone.
- Decent build quality.
- Bulky design.
- Terrible noise isolation capability.
- Uncomfortable, somewhat unstable fit.
The Sony PULSE 3D are middling for sports and fitness and aren't meant for that purpose. The headphones are lightweight but bulky and unstable on your head, so they will slip out of place during workouts. You need to use the included 1/8" TRRS cable to connect with your phone, which can get snagged on something while moving.
- Decent build quality.
- Bulky design.
- Uncomfortable, somewhat unstable fit.
The Sony PULSE 3D are inadequate for office use. Like many headphones meant for gaming, they do an awful job of blocking out the chatter of coworkers. They aren't very comfortable and can't connect to your computer over Bluetooth. They don't support handy features like multi-device pairing. Thankfully, they don't leak much audio and have enough battery life to easily get you through a day at work and the commute back home.
- Decent build quality.
- Terrible noise isolation capability.
- Uncomfortable, somewhat unstable fit.
The Sony PULSE 3D are decent for wireless gaming. The headphones transmit audio with low audio latency on PCs and PlayStation consoles using its wireless USB receiver. If you're gaming on PS5, you can also access EQ presets and a 5-band graphic EQ to help you adjust their sound to your liking. Unfortunately, the integrated microphone can make your voice sound a little muffled, and it struggles to isolate speech from loud background noise.
- Low wireless audio latency.
- Virtual surround sound feature for PS5.
- Limited sound customization features.
- Mediocre microphone noise handling performance.
The Sony PULSE 3D are decent for wired gaming. It comes with a 1/8" TRRS cable that allows for full audio and microphone compatibility with PlayStation as well as Xbox consoles and PCs. However, people on the other end of the line may hear your voice as being very quiet while using it on a wired connection with PCs. These headphones can also be a little uncomfortable to wear for extended periods.
- Low wired audio latency.
- Virtual surround sound feature for PS5.
- Limited sound customization features.
- Mediocre microphone noise handling performance.
The Sony PULSE 3D are sub-par for phone calls. The headphones block out very little background noise, so it's hard to hear calls you make in noisy environments. The integrated microphone makes your voice sound relatively natural but also a little veiled, and it struggles to isolate your voice from even moderately loud ambient noise.
- Fairly well-balanced sound profile.
- Terrible noise isolation capability.
- Mediocre microphone noise handling performance.
Changelog
- Updated Apr 12, 2024: We've added a comparison between these headphones and the Sony PULSE Elite Wireless in Recording Quality.
- Updated Nov 23, 2023: The following test group has been updated following TB 1.6: Wireless Connection (Dongle). There have also been text changes made throughout the review, including to the usages and product comparisons to match these results.
- Updated Nov 23, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.6 , which updates how we measure latency. We've updated and renamed the following test groups: Wired Connection, Bluetooth Connection, and Wireless Connection (Dongle). We've also added new codec latency measurements and provided an audio sample of recorded latency.
- Updated Jul 24, 2023: Made minor edits to the text to bring it up to date.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Sony PULSE 3D Wireless come in a few different colorways: White, Midnight Black, and Gray Camouflage. We tested it in 'White', but our results are also valid for the other variants.
If you encounter another variant, let us know in the forums, and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Sony PULSE 3D are gaming headphones compatible with PCs and PlayStation consoles. They have a sleek, distinctive look and low wireless audio latency for gaming, not to mention a 3D audio feature for a more immersive gaming experience. Unfortunately, they aren't very comfortable and have an integrated mic, which doesn't perform as well as the boom mics found on other similarly-priced gaming headphones like the Logitech G535 LIGHTSPEED Wireless.
If you're looking for alternatives, look at our list of recommendations for the best PS4 gaming headsets, the best PS5 gaming headsets, and the best gaming headsets.
The Sony PULSE 3D Wireless and the Sony PULSE Elite are both closed-back gaming headsets that share the same monochromatic aesthetic that's borrowed from the PS5. Unlike the PULSE 3D, the PULSE Elite have Bluetooth connectivity and a dedicated retractable boom mic with great recording quality and excellent noise handling. They're also more comfortable and have a longer continuous battery life. On the other hand, the PULSE 3D can deliver audio more consistently, are better built, and have a more intuitive control scheme.
The Astro A50 Gen 4 are better for wireless gaming than the Sony PULSE 3D Wireless. The Astro are far more comfortable, better-built, and have a better microphone. However, the Sony can also be used on a wired connection. They also leak less audio and charge faster, though they do have slightly shorter battery life. That said, while they can access a graphic EQ and presets, this feature is only available on updated PS5 consoles.
The Sony PULSE 3D Wireless and the Sony INZONE H3 have different strengths, and you may enjoy either. The PULSE are better-built wireless headphones, have more consistent audio delivery, and their passive soundstage performance is better. You can also use them wired. On the other hand, the INZONE are wired-only headphones that are more comfortable, have a more neutral default sound profile, which some users may prefer, and have a better overall boom mic performance.
The SteelSeries Arctis 7P Wireless are better gaming headphones for the PS4 and PS5 than the Sony PULSE 3D Wireless. The SteelSeries are more comfortable and feel better-built. They have a better performing boom microphone, a longer-lasting continuous battery life, and support SteelSeries Engine so you can tweak their sound using this software's graphic EQ or presets. However, the Sony deliver audio more consistently. While you can also customize their sound using their graphic EQ and presets, this feature is only available on updated PS5 consoles.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
Test Results
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