If you’re a gamer, you know the struggle of finding a solid pair of earbuds that can keep up with your gameplay. You need great sound quality to hear every footstep and gunshot, a microphone that sounds crisp when chatting with teammates, and preferably some flashy gaming-centric design if you ever stream. Not to mention battery life that won’t quit mid-battle royale. It can feel impossible to find earbuds that check all those boxes without breaking the bank.
But fellow gamers, the search is over. Popular UK gaming YouTuber Geek Street just dropped an in-depth review of the new PlayStation Pulse 3D Wireless Headset that covers everything you could want to know about how these affordable earbuds perform. With over 350k loyal subscribers, Geek Street knows his stuff when it comes to evaluating gaming tech and accessories. Let’s dive into his review of the latest Pulse earbuds to see if they live up to the hype.
Unboxing the Slick PlayStation Aesthetic
After a quick intro, Geek Street jumps right into unboxing the Pulse Explore earbuds. Right away we get a taste of the slick PlayStation branding, with the dark blue and white color scheme on both the earbuds themselves and the charging case. For you streaming gamers out there, this is a subtle way to rep your PlayStation pride.
Geek Street shows off the contents of the box, which includes the earbuds, charging case, USB-C charging cable, and instruction manuals. Standard stuff, but always handy to know exactly what you get. The minimalist design of the earbuds themselves catches the eye, with a focus on clean lines instead of excessive flourishes.
Analyzing the Features and Design
Next up is Geek Street ’s analysis of the physical design and features. He notes the earbuds have an IPX4 water resistance rating, which means they’re splashproof and sweatproof. For gamers who rage hard during intense multiplayer matches, this is an absolute must. Nothing ruins a headset faster than sweat damage.
The included silicone ear tips come in three sizes, ensuring you can find a comfortable and secure fit. Geek Street highlights how the ergonomic shape of the earbuds and light 29 gram weight helps them stay put during long gaming sessions. No need to keep fiddling with the buds and adjusting positions.
Pairing the earbuds is a breeze with fast Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity. Geek Street walks through the process of pairing with both PlayStation consoles and other mobile devices, noting the smooth experience across the board. With support for Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair on Android and Windows respectively, connecting these buds to your gadgets takes seconds. Very user-friendly.
Testing the Audio Quality and Microphone
Now onto what really counts - how do these earbuds sound? Geek Street puts the Pulse Explore buds through their paces across music, videos, games and calls to test clarity, volume, bass and general audio quality. His verdict? For the affordable $100 price point, the sound profile is impressive. The 12mm drivers deliver clear mids and highs at louder volumes, with thumping (but not overpowering) bass performance.
Geek Street was particularly impressed by the 3D spatial audio support when using the earbuds with a PS5 console. This gave games a super immersive surround sound feel, letting him pinpoint subtle audio cues during gameplay. Exactly what you need to catch enemies sneaking up or identify which direction gunfire is coming from.
The built-in microphone also earned high marks, with Geek Street noting his voice sounded full-bodied and crystal clear during test calls. No garbled or tinny sound here. Teammates will have zero issues hearing your voice comms with these gaming earbuds.
Putting Battery Life to the Test
No gamer wants to deal with their headset dying mid-stream, so Geek Street puts the 16 hour battery life claim to the test. After multiple days of heavy use for music, gaming, videos and calls, the Pulse Explore earbuds still had juice left before he had to pop them back in the charging case.
For most gaming sessions the battery should last well over 6 hours even at louder volumes. The case itself provides an extra 16 hours of charge, giving you insane combined battery life. Geek Street says with moderate use, he can go days without having to charge the case itself. Safe to say battery life will never leave you hanging.
The Verdict: Ideal Earbuds for PlayStation Gamers
After putting the PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds through their paces, Geek Street says his overall recommendation is positive. For just $100, these earbuds deliver everything PlayStation gamers need - strong wireless connectivity, excellent audio and mic quality for gaming and chat, a comfortable/secure fit, durable design and ridiculously good battery life.
While features like active noise cancellation are missing, Geek Street says for the price point the Pulse Earbuds punch way above their weight. The spatial audio and gaming-tuned sound profile make these earbuds ideal for immersive PlayStation gaming. And they work great with other devices too if you need a solid all-around pair.
So fellow gamers, if you’re seeking earbuds tailor-made for your PS5 setup without breaking the bank, the PlayStation Pulse Explore are easily worth your consideration. Geek Street ’s thorough hands-on review says it all - these earbuds are ready for serious gaming.
Geek Street's Recent Data
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Subscribers | 353000 |
| Total Views | 143745296 |
| Number of Videos | 892 |
| Average View Count (90 days) | 41221 |
| Average Comments (90 days) | 145 |
| Average Engagement Rate | 1.9% |
| Viewership/Fan Ratio | 11.68% |
| Comment/View Ratio | 0.35% |
