Sony - PULSE Explore

I love mine. Its all i use. Super convenient to pop one out if im talking to someone. Sound is nice. Comfortable with 3rd party silicone

Adding in here when paired with Bluetooth you have dual mode capability to answer calls and listen to media/games at the same time. It uses different “channels” is a simple way to describe it

Yea they weirdly don’t market this enough. I stumbled on the feature when I had a casual YouTube video playing in the background on my phone while I joined a party chat with my friends on the portal. Super neat feature

Best earphones I've ever had. I used turtlebeach, razor, steel series, PS4 and PS5 headsets. These are better than all. I have actually been walking around in games like Ghost of Tsushima, Horizon and the Witcher. It's changed gaming for me

Yes, I have them. It's cool because you can connect you PS5/Portal and phone a the same time if you like to game and listen to podcasts.

I have the sony pulse explore buds and while I dislike them overall (way too many connection problems) they do have a feature I LOVE: you can listen to your game \*and\* music at the same time via bluetooth on your phone for example. The Arctics gamebuds to \*not\* have this feature, correct? I didn't see it called out, so am assuming they do not have this particular feature. thanks!

Battery life is no good, 5 hours only.

5 hours only using it with PS Link, if you use dual connection with PS Link AND Bluetooth it runs out ever faster. I like them but battery life sucks! I hope they can improve it a bit with some updates.

Can't stand headphones for longer than 15 minutes so Pulse Explore for me. They sound great and are very comfy!

This disconnect issue was why I returned mine. It happened very frequently for me. Shortly after the return there was an update released back in I think January which did not mention any disconnect fix but I didn't see much complaints after. I have been researching last couple days and these complaints are like 4 months old but now seeing this post I think I'll reconsider and hope they release a V2 soon

I've tried other options, but I stick with the included ear buds for most of my time played. The Pulse Explore earbuds were light with better sound, but didn't like the microphone switching to Pulse Explore over headset (closer to mouth and better quality). I have the Pulse Elite which I use when playing Helldivers 2, but I don't feel like using that with the PSVR2 for reasons below: * Added weight / discomfort over already having a VR headset on my head. * PSVR2 uses the faster port in front (left) that Pulse Elite works more reliably with. If the Pulse Elite would work reliably using the slower port in front (right), then I would give it a try for PSVR2 for less physically active games for the better audio and mic. For more physically active games, I think I will always prefer the included wired earbuds that are light and can't fall off since they are tethered to the headset.

I bought those explorer earbuds, and the one on the right side broke in less than two months. It started disconnecting and then stopped connecting... It was a huge waste of money.

I bought the Explores used and purchased the foam tips. Even the smallest does not fit my ears well. I actually run them with no tips. The sound isn’t awesome but they do stay in comfortably for my ears.

Buyer beware! I bought these recently and paired them to my PS5. The left one doesn’t work at all, and the right one pairs and works for about 20 seconds before it disconnects. I’ve patiently tried all of the available troubleshooting I could find, updated the dongle, turned off the PlayStation and turned it back on, held the link button for 12 seconds to re set. And don’t get me started on the “use it with 2 devices at the same time claim”. I paired them via bluetooth to my iphone and they disconnected the second I removed the buds from the charging case. They WILL NOT pair with the phone while not in the case😂. I love Sony’s stuff and own the Sony WF5’s and the WH5’s and they both work as advertised and sound great but they don’t connect to my PS5 or my PS Portal, which makes no sense - Sony product doesn’t work with Sony product? but I had high hopes for the Pulse Explores. Unfortunately it turned out to be the worst $200 I’ve ever spent hoping customer service can make it right👎😩

I’m so jealous. I can’t even take mine out of the case without them disconnecting from my phone. Good to hear the function does work. Maybe I got a bad pair.

I had trouble keeping them in my ear until I learned how I was actually supposed to put them in. I didn’t realize you were supposed to place them in facing horizontally screw them into your ear 45 degrees…. Been fine ever since

I use the Sony PULSE Explore set at work. It supports full Bluetooth for my cellphone and uses a wireless dongle for PC and PS5 voice connection. Audio quality leaves some "tone" and bass to be desired, but they're light to my ears and fit well. And i havent had complaints qith quality. They do have a little fragile feel to them, and there's an occasional disconnect on PS5, but I think that's more of console issue not a headset issue. One reason I grabbed these is because they connect via USB for the work PC, then run DJ on your phone through Bluetooth. This will drain the batteries down, but I get almost a full day out of them when I'm in this zone.

Honestly I have these and they are connected to my phone and portal at the same time and it’s fantastic.

When you take them out and put them in your ear go ahead and press the bottom button and when you hear the beep you should be reconnected

Yup they are now my main headphones for my phone as well incase my air pods and people say they can hear everything around me I use the pulse and they only hear me in the same environment

Good with PlayStation and Portal. Too quiet on iPhone

Pulse explore is literally your only choice on the portal. Other than that you’re using wired headphones. I used a set of Sony wired earbuds (the best ones I could find) and they still weren’t great. I’ve since got a set of Inzone buds (Sonys PC focused gaming earbuds) which work great with the PS5 and sound way better than the Pulse explores. They’re 2.4ghz as well so zero lag, and come with an adapter that plugs into the USBC port. No good for the portal unfortunately though. I did try on its USB port lol.

As far as the breeze/ wind. I found out there is a side tone option hidden deep within the PS5 settings somewhere because I had the same frustration. After I turned off the side tone it was no longer an issue.

As an older gamer dealing with some high frequency hearing loss and tinnitus, I was looking for wireless earbuds that would offer high quality sound at lower volume to use with my dadstation (aka Portal). Typically Sony, these the only wireless earbuds compatible with the Portal (otherwise you need a clunky dangling dongle; how that is not worse than wired earbuds, I donno.) Fortunately, the Sony Pulse Explorer earbuds deliver a high quality sound experience as a near perfect companion to the Playstation PS5 and Portal that truly brings out the sound design details of games. Apparently, this is because Sony acquired an audiophile-grade audio company, Audeze, and then incorporated its proprietary planar magnetic drivers into some of its Sony Playstation headphones. These reproduce sound in a totally different way. You can absolutely tell the difference but some people prefer the standard cheapo drivers because they are loud, but also full of distortion once you hear the difference. Save your ears, turn it down, and listen for the details. However, if you prefer louder earbuds and/or you expect to be playing Portal in noisy environments, then these won’t be suitable. Furthermore, as a general purpose earbud to pair with your smartphone, they unfortunately have a wind noise problem that is too apparent while walking around on even a slightly breezy day. I found I can twist them to point downward and the wind deflects more silently, but the sound isn’t as isolated. If you have the money and want to save your ears so you can keep gaming when you’re an old fart like me, these just might do the trick. While they are specialized for gaming, they will make your music library absolutely sing in quiet listening environments, but probably won’t be the only pair of earbuds you’ll ever need. **Pros** - Exceptional sound quality, especially for detail, clarity, and separation at low volumes - EQ has significant effects; bass boost is very noticeable (controlled on PS5 but applies to all sound connections) - Zero latency while gaming - Good battery life **Cons** - Minimal isolation; no sound cancellation; not loud - Wind noise while walking around because of earbud shape - Volume controls don’t work over a Bluetooth connection - Ear comfort is good but not excellent; Sony design form over function - Bulky charge case; Sony design form over function - Needs a USB dongle for zero latency; dongle not compatible with other Playstation headphones so you may have to swap dongles - Expensive

UPDATE: (please upvote for visibility) Thanks to an observation by u/Lazydayz23, the reason I was experiencing so much external wind noise (and general lack of noise isolation) is because I unknowingly had the "sidetone" option turned all the way up in the PS5 Audio settings for headsets. Once I turned this option down (so you can hear yourself during chats), the wind and noise issues were resolved. That makes perfect sense, since the mics were live broadcasting the environment (arguably the exact opposite of noise cancellation!) I can't edit the Original Post its seems but please reconsider my comments about wind and isolation given the important but deeply hidden "sidetone" feature! Thanks for everyone's thoughts and comments.

Per another commenter here, using PS Link and Bluetooth simultaneously will drain the battery more than usual.

Thank you for this. I will update the review with this note. Turning down the sidetone controls resolved it for me.

Yes, the microphone works for calls over Bluetooth. Quality is good, not amazing.

Thank you. Will try these tips out. Really enjoying the sound quality the more I listen so if I can upgrade to a true comfort fit for $10 it’s gonna be worth it.

Yes, they pair as Bluetooth headphones/headset to your smartphone. The wind noise issue I mentioned does not occur with AirPods so that could be a dealbreaker if you wear them outdoors frequently. You might also miss how Apple integrates AirPods more seamlessly than regular Bluetooth earbuds.

Agreed. But they feel expensive given that the Portal is the same price and consumers expect noise cancellation features at the price point.

5 hours is “good” but 8-10 hours would be “excellent.”

That has happened to me as well. Getting reconnected isn’t as simple as pressing the PS Link buttons either. Zero latency wireless audio shouldn’t be this tricky.

I don’t care if you buy them tbh

But no other brand can connect wirelessly to the PSP Portal with zero latency and no bluetooth dongles. Hence, the review. If folks want wireless latency-free audio on their Portal, it will cost $400 total. I don’t make the rules.

Completely wireless on Portal; requires a dongle for the PS5. Some folks expect the upcoming PS5 Pro to not need a dongle to use PS Link.

Yes, there still some bugs in the PS Link protocol and that USB dongle needs another firmware update.

The PS Link is a bit wonky. Not gonna lie. If you have no patience for wireless connectivity issues then wait for another firmware update or enjoy the convenience of plugging in a 100% reliable corded earbud with 0% latency that costs a fraction of the price and never needs charging.

Yes, paired as a Bluetooth headset and you can listen to music/take calls while connected to the Portal simultaneously.

You can adjust the mix between chat and game volume

The earbud mics

Yes. Details and separation are one of the key strengths of these earbuds planar technology.

Yes, it connects as a regular Bluetooth headset

Yes

Battery life seems good enough for me and battery life still remains strong 188 days since posting this.

Did you try holding down sync button in charging case for more than 20 seconds while plugged in to charger with ear buds nestled in place? (A full 20 seconds, use a timer.) Otherwise, contact Sony for warranty service.

Have you plugged them into your PS5 via USB to check for a firmware update recently?

Yes, they are worth it. Better fit.

I also have that setup but I can play the Pulse Explore earbuds at a drastically lower volume with increased detail, clarity, and separation and my primary concern is hearing loss and my tinnitus.

Yep, totally agree. You have be able to appreciate how well the planars reproduce detail with unrivaled clarity to understand why $200 is a relative bargain in the grand scheme of things.

This is the way. If you haven’t upgraded the tips for optimal fit then you have not heard the clarity, sound staging, and bass response with comfort fit when properly EQ’d in PS5 audio settings. I use [these replacement tips.](https://a.co/d/ayBm70U) If you need headphones that are mostly overloaded bass then you’ll need a set of wired then.

See it’s weird to see all these, but I’ve had mine for months and they connected immediately and never have had any connection issues. Also immediately connect as soon as I take em out

I worked out in them today, they look beautiful. They don't fall out at all. They stay in place like they were glued on, take them to the gym and work out without any problems.

Same, and I also also occasionally connect them to my phone when I forget to charge my other earbuds.

My friends and I have the same issue with random spontaneous disconnects from the ps5. The only way to reconnect is to unplug and replug the dongle on the ps5. Another issue we have is that the microphone quality on the earbuds are pretty bad. Speaking at a low normal volume often results in an incoherent garbled mess of sound. We have tried all the few mic adjustments available, and unfortunately nothing has helped improve the mic quality issues. We don't experience any mic issues when using traditional wired earbuds.

You were wise to return them. I don't know if some are just lemons but I got a pair for Christmas and they are about to go through a wall for all the issues I'm having with them. Random disconnects still happen quite frequently among other issues (one will start buzzing or they seem to just suddenly die despite being charged). I expected better from Sony...

About volume being too quiet on iPhone, did you check this option? iOS Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Headphone Safety > Reduce Loud Audio That was enabled (at 85 db) on mine, and when I disabled it (or increased its limit to 100 db), Pulse Explore went from too quiet at max volume to too loud (as it should be).

I have both of them. Sound quality is great, especially after the last update. Still, both keep disconnecting from the PS5 from time to time, and the only way to "fix" it (for some time) is to get up and remove the USB dongle from the console, before putting it in again. I'd say if you have the Portal and need to choose, go with the Pulse Explore ones (they don't have any disconnecting issues with it). If you don't have the Portal, I'd say to try to find other phones that work with PS5, so you don't have to worry about them disconnecting from time to time.

They’re ok. Doesn’t blow me away but I will say the connection quality is amazing. Sound is fine but I’m not an audiophile

They still disconnect randomly for me... even on the latest firmware and after multiple resets.

It happens way too often to be able to ignore it, or consider it a normal flaw which happens from time to time with tech. I switched to the Sony Inzone Buds since a few weeks and they have not disconnected once… So it’s obviously a design flaw with the Pulse Explore. I use them for music now on my phone via Bluetooth and they don’t disconnect, so I assume it’s something wrong with lossless audio and the PS Link dongle system… fragile connection. Me personally I hated the feeling of just waiting for them to disconnect randomly. It breaks immersion and is simply unacceptable for more competitive or multiplayer games. My advice; Get the Inzone buds if you want a smooth experience on the PS5, the dongle is smaller and almost invisible, and they sound even better!

These made my playstation illiterate. They would constantly disconnect and it would stop reading the usb. I plugged them in for an "update" (tf are you updating??) And the case hasn't held a charge since. So the new version should be dropping any day now

I have the Pulse Explore Earbuds because I travel with Portal. They are not as comfortable as AirPods but great sound. Because they are on their own network you can connect the Earbuds to Portal and your phone at the same time. Background music, taking calls etc is seamless. Having got used to that feature I wouldn’t want Sony to switch to open Bluetooth, the simultaneous connection would be lost.

Weird. Had my pulse since christmas, use it every day or so and never had disconnection issues

İ have a problem with the explorer the right ear keeps disconnecting and not sound coming from it like no control works and such like it Just dies even case doesnt see it correctly sometimes

I have been using pulse Elite and I think they are phenomenal headphones honestly. And they are $50 less than the explores. I bought the explores and thought the sound was decent but that the fit was off and after only an hour or so of wearing them my ears hurt already. The elites though, I’ve been very happy with. Easy connection to portal and PS5. Automatically connects to your phone after you set it up once. I like being able to get lost in a game with them on but also have my phone sound on so if I receive a text or call I hear it on my headphones while playing too.

if you want earbuds, consider Sony INZONE Bud instead. This is what I am currently using after returned my pre-ordered PULSE Explorer. For me, Sony INZONE Bud is much better because 1. Longer battery life 2. more depth on base sound (maybe now is different since you can adjust in PS) 3. No disconnection (main reason why I returned PULSE) 4. more comfortable on my ears. But I use this for PS5 only. I don't use it elsewhere as I have separate earbud for my cellphone and dont' really play too much on portal either. if you want to be connected with Portal & PS together then maybe PULSE will do the job but expect to get disconnected time to time as far as I know, this wasn't fixed still.

Ture, wheen it comest to Portal users... but I still don't recommend PULSE cause of disconnecting issue. It was a major disappointment for me since I looked forward this earbud but after using it for a few days, I decided to return it with no hesitation.

yea, I just wrote my comment based on my usage issue with PS. OP didn't mentioned that he needs it for portal or PS. Even still, i don't recommend PULSE due to major flaw of frequent disconnecting issue. maybe not with portal but at least with PS.

I bought them at full price, and use them with my portal mostly. I have used them with my main system and they are pretty good, but after hours they hurt my ears. I will use my Pulse 3Ds instead when at home. they are not a bargain, but they are functional for the portal specifically. I also feel they work better in party chats, so I can mix the sound how I want it. Doing it over, I would get them again, knowing what I know now.

The random disconnects still an issue then? I loved these but couldn’t get on board with all the disconnections - sounds like this is still an issue?

I honestly hate them. They're so pricey, have fuck all for range, and according to my friends I'd constantly cut in and out or sound robotic in calls, I have the PS5 pro so the dongle has to go in the back of the console, not sure if that causes any issues or not. Either way, was not an enjoyable experience over my $50 pair of Bluetooth headphones

I connect mine to my Sony tv and it sounds better than my pulse do connected to the PS5

I was going to recommend the same thing when I read your post. Glad you figured it out. I would recommend turning the side tone back on only when using the earbuds will voice chatting, so you don’t end up yelling not realizing how loud you’re talking. Have you actually used the Pulse Earbuds in chat during a game yet? I’ve heard they have a big problem with hot mic’ing, since the mic is integrated into the earbud.

Whatever you do, don't buy the pulse explore earbuds. Fucking things are trash.

Constant random disconnections from the ps link dongle. I'll be sitting literally 3 feet away from it and it'll drop 5 times in a few hours. And the only way to fix it is to unplug the reinsert the dongle. Other days it won't disconnect once all day.

They’re okay, but they aren’t great. I’ve had mine for a while, and while they sound pretty good, getting them working can be a chore. Randomly when playing (either portal or ps5) they will just flat out lose connection. This requires multiple attempts to put them in and out of the case at best, or at worst a full re-pairing process. On the PS5 itself, most of the time I have to get up and press the dongle in until it goes into pairing mode, then hold the button on the case until they reconnect. On the portal at least the paring button is right on top. Also going back and forth between systems can be janky. You have to hope the device you’re playing on recognizes them nearby and prompts you to press a button to confirm. If it doesn’t then you have to do the case dance until it does.

It’s been a love-hate relationship, that’s for sure. They’re comfortable to me, sound great, and when they work it’s awesome. But at least once per week they just randomly lose connection to either the PS5 or Portal and require me to spend 10 minutes trying to make them work again.

I haven’t had any complaints on mic function, but if I’m at my PS5 I’m usually using the controller mic because the button is more convenient (just a habit from old headsets that didn’t work with the controller mute button).

I only get that with mine like twice a week. I’m on my second pair though because my first pair stopped connecting. I got new ones on warranty, but I hear you. But when they work, I think they’re great! It’s a shame they’re not so reliable for that massive price.

For me they are exceptional. Been mentioned on other threads possibly but I bought some 3rd party foam earbuds and they dramatically helped with both sound quality and noise cancellation. I love them with my portal out and about and also for music. Funnily enough I do use the original pulse headset in the house as someone mentioned

THe sound for these are really great. These would be awesome if they didn't just decide to disconnect in the middle of games or chats and are fully charged. The amount of money you pay for these for this to be a common issue almost everytime I try and wear them is not worth it. It would be better for me to by a pair of sony headphones for much less than spend over $200 for pair of earbuds I can't even use half the time. When they work, they are amazing. But I just can't use them more than half the time without them disconnecting for no apparent reason

I just got them this week and the audio quality has blown me away, by far the best I’ve heard in earbuds. I tried them on the PS5 as well and they sound way better than the Pulse 3D headset. I couldn’t believe how little latency there is too with the USB adapter. Going forward I am going to use them on PC, Steam Deck, and Switch. All of them support USB audio and for the Deck and Switch you just need a USB C to USB A adapter (they also make ones that turn 180° so the USB adapter hides behind the device). Honestly even at $200 I think they’re a great value.

I honestly don’t think noise cancelation is needed because they have a good seal in the ear that blocks out noise if you use the right tips for your ears And $200 for gaming earbuds isn’t expensive at all especially for planar magnetic drivers. $200 is the going rate for decent audio these days. The inzone gaming earbuds, and AirPod pros are around $200-$250 and Sonys and Bose flagship buds are $300 + So 200 is relatively inexpensive Every other point you made I agree with. I love my Pulse Explorers but they aren’t for everyone. I’d say only get them if you genuinely prefer earbuds over a headset.

You can use the Explorers on the PS5 console itself too

What drives the cost up for the Explorers are the planar magnetic drivers. Those are expensive in of itself. If ANC was added along with ambiance noise the Explorers would be $300 or more. Most console gamers are casual gamers. They are not super hardcore gamers who are going to drop hundreds and hundreds of dollars on headsets, lol. So to keep the price low at $200 with planar magnetic drivers , other features had to be sacrificed such as ANC, ambient noise pass through and proximity sensors. It’s a trade off

They didn’t drop the ball it’s smart move on Sonys part. Because with the dongle you can use PS link on your PS5 laptop/pc too. It’s a multi platform gaming headset. And what the big deal about a noble anyways,as long as it works correctly using dongle (which most gaming headsets require) should be no issue

Now, to be honest, while I love Planar Magnetic drivers and the detailed audio they produce in the Explorers and Elites, I dont think they Should have used them in their audio sets. They should have stuck with standard dynamic drivers. As you said, for a $150 - $200 price tag, consumers are going to expect more features like ANC, ambient noise, rumbling bass, and heavy bass. Planar magnetic drivers are not capable of producing rumbling heavy bass, which so many people have complained that explorers/elites lack. There is a reason why Planar magnetic drivers are not used in mainstream audio devices like AirPods and are only found in high-end headphones marketed toward niche audiophile communities. They are expensive and consume a lot of power, and most people prefer that thumping bass. Planar magnetic acoustics are a niche “acquired taste” sort to speak that few people have.

I use pulse explore with different ear tips. I’d try different ear tips you have laying around before returning.

I just bought these and are picking them up today at Target. I am specifically using them just to play games with my ps5. I was using the Pulse 3D before and I really wanted to steer away from the over the ear design and I much prefer in ear design. I’m on an older gamer as well, 40, and these are much more comfortable compared to over the ear. The price, really didn’t bother. Also, I’m really not a person to be making something super loud as well. I also play in a very quiet environment in a basement in front of a 27 inch monitor

I had all kinds of trouble with the Explore sitting in my ears and even tried foam tips but would still feel loose. Tried some silicone tips I found on Amazon “AZLA SednaEarfit MAX ASMR Standard” and they finally fit snug. I have small ears and the S size in this set wound up fitting best.

I own them. These are some of the most uncomfortable earbuds ever designed. It feels like i'm wearing a medieval ear torture device. They sound like tin cans audio wise - but work well for a microphone. The ONLY reason I bought them was so I can connect to multiple devices and not worry - but the connection drops and scatters so significantly that they're basically useless for that feature. Battery life is okay. There are far far far superior options for the same price. Do not buy these.

Finally got my portal working fantastically well (after seriously pumping up the speeds of my home WiFi!) and have been using it a lot more! It’s sooooooo much better, once you have a stable connection….!! As a result I wanted a decent pair of headphones or buds and obviously looked at both the ‘Pulse Elite’ (which had pretty sniffy reviews online) and eventually grabbed the ‘Pulse Explore’ ear buds, which I’ve been just as disappointed with tbh. They are very ‘tinny’ and lack any real depth/base So much so, I’m gonna be returning them back to Amazon - so what would you guys recommend as to the best sounding headphones/buds, that pair with the Portal? Thx

I have both the Pulse Explore with PS Link and the Pulse Elite over the ear headphones that came out in February. I personally prefer the Pulse Elite headphones with PS Link. Both work on my Portal without any dongles fantastic, but for comfort I game with the Elites

I picked some up last week. I already have the Pulse Elite but wanted something more portable for the Portal and more comfortable for using with VR. Sound quality is great after swapping out the rubber tips. I like the versatility to use lied down (unlike my elite), or with just one bud in if chilling with the family on the portal. The mic and battery life is much better on the elites though.

I love them, they sound fantastic if used with the right ear tips. The ones provided are laughable at best, don't use them, anyone that's tried the Explore will give you a mediocre review because they used the provided ear tips, if you have better ear tips, use them as the sound will immediately become 50% better and if you add a little bass and treble you'll get amazing results. For the EQ you'll need a PS5, don't know why they didn't add that feature to the portal...

The main advantage of the pulse explore is they have lossless audio. Whatever else you get will not be lossless. The audio is very high pitch. I run mine with full bass and lows yet they still have no punch.

I returned mine immediately. Painful to wear. Too big. Case too bulky. Feel cheap. Didn’t connect all that fast!