With any audio device, sound quality and performance are always the first port of call. Making sure that both input and output are as clear and consistent as possible. However, outside of analyzing a product's auditory performance, things like battery life, comfort, and how easy products are to use are also factored into the testing process. You need something for constant use. Since this headset is wireless, you'll need to charge it every now and then, and unfortunately the charge-up time for this one is pretty slow. Much like the 'Gold' Wireless Headset 2.0, being a first party product also gives the Platinum headset several benefits. For one, HUD icons for battery status, microphone mute, and the surround sound mode in use are all integrated into the PS4 front-end (displaying next to the controller battery icon). It's a luxury third parties can't tap into, where most rely instead on LED flashes on the headset to gauge battery life. It gives it an edge, and likewise for the simplicity of setup - a wireless USB dongle is all you need, rather than routing to an external processing unit via an optical cable.

headset issues How to troubleshoot PlayStation wireless headset issues

That point changes slightly when you’re playing a game that uses 3D surround sound instead of simulated 7.1 –again, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End is the only one that offers it at the moment – and sound effects do have a better presence thanks to 3D Audio’s ability to create “100 virtual speakers”.

Years after their initial launch, the PlayStation Platinum remains one of the best PS4 headsets

The current selection of EQ presets betrays the Platinum Wireless Headset's decidedly un-musical focus. The three music presets are Bass Boost, Hip Hop, and Techno, while the two movie presets are Action and Horror. The non-game-specific gaming presets are limited to only Fighting and Shooter, though in fairness those are the two most common console gaming genres that require a headset. Virtual Surround

PlayStation Platinum Wireless Headset review | TechRadar

All said, though, it’s hard to find a better value headset that’s this easy to use and sounds this good overall. Those qualities definitely exist at a higher price, but if you’re looking for something you can set up without a fuss, Platinum is a gamer’s best friend.Astro's reputation for gaming headsets has been the envy of other manufacturers for the better part of a decade now. Like all previous versions of the A50, this refreshed model is about as expensive as the market gets, but it's also right at the high-tide line for quality.

Platinum Wireless Headset review | Eurogamer.net Sony Platinum Wireless Headset review | Eurogamer.net

There’s a lovely balance of directness and spaciousness to the sound, so central effects and dialogue are delivered with plenty of intensity but exist in a three-dimensional soundscape that lends plenty of atmosphere to the action. Speaking of, a lot could be done in the design department to make them look a lot less massive sitting on top of your head, and despite two metal alloy bars floating across the top, the headset’s plastic sections feel fragile. However, it is worth activating 3D Audio when playing a game that supports it. While there are still some occasions when the sound seems a little unnatural, voices in particular, the surround sound effect is much more convincing than VSS, with strong spatial placement of effects that seem to extend above and below you. Some will still prefer the unprocessed stereo delivery, but if you’re playing one of the few games that does support 3D Audio, it's well worth giving it a go. Playing through Drake’s latest adventure with the Platinum headphones on gave the cinematic video experience a matching aural one similar what you’d find at a movie theater. Obviously it wasn’t as immersive as using a traditional 7.1 speaker setup, but the Platinum Headset did help us realize the level of detail the development team at Naughty Dog put into the game.On the debit side though, these are far from the most stylish-looking headphones we’ve ever worn. The oversized earcups and double band bridge give it a sort of monstrous quality, like they were designed for a giant’s head rather than regular people. That said, while the headphones work on mobile devices, they probably wouldn’t be the pair of cans you’d take to the gym or elsewhere and thus maybe the design won’t bother you as much as it did us. So, if you’re looking for the perfect gaming microphone for team play, you might be disappointed by what the Platinum has to offer. You do get noise cancelling, and this works just as effectively as it does on other headsets on the market. Because the Platinum headset uses integrated mics as opposed to a boom mic, however, you’re left feeling like you’re just talking into a room. Both the PS Move Motion Controllers and the PlayStation VR Aim Controller will work with supported PS VR games on PS5. It also means your voice isn’t channelled directly into the headset’s twin microphones, so it can sometimes sound muffled and quiet on the other end. But for your average player the microphone quality is perfectly fine, and an improvement over the mono chat headset included with the PS4. The free Headset Companion App on the PS4 lets you load a variety of preset and custom EQ modes to the headset wirelessly. The app offers a choice between a handful of different game, movie, and music genres with their own tweaked EQ settings, plus a few modes designed for specific games like The Last Guardian and Uncharted 4 . You can also create three different custom EQ settings with a three-stage (Bass, Mid-range, Treble), six-step equalizer. The headset can only hold two EQ presets at a time, assigned to the 1 and 2 positions on the power switch. Fortunately, it only takes seconds to load new presets onto it.

Sony PlayStation Platinum Wireless Headset Review | PCMag

If you've got the cash for it, we think that the SteelSeries Arctis 9 and the Astro A50s are pretty unrivalled when it comes to the best wireless headsets available on PS4. While some others may undercut in terms of price, the sound quality of these are paramount. How we test the best PS4 headsets Of course, that being said, there are headsets out there that offer more pronounced surround sound –one area that we felt the Platinum’s could’ve improved upon. Footsteps and gunfire imparted a general sense of directionality, but they didn’t have the same precision on Sony’s PlayStation Platinum as we’ve heard on other headsets. The Platinum Wireless is an interesting mix of plastic, metal and rubber. The top band consists of two metal bars that offer a lot of rigidity and hold the headset firmly in place. Beneath the top band is a rubber strap that cradles the top of the noggin, and then all the rest is plastic. The headphones fold up neatly, perfect if you need to take them with you, and are a medium weight –not too heavy, but not so light that they feel breakable, either. If you’re looking for an exact number, the Platinum Headset weighs 318.2g.

Sony goes premium with its surround sound, 3D audio gaming headset, but is it worth the money?

The one odd aspect of 3D audio is that anything in the centre of the mix, like Nathan Drake's dialogue, sounds excessively loud at first. It's almost as if the noise is coming from inside your head, rather than in front of you, where it logically should be. We also suspect headphones with a wider soundstage - ones that aren't closed-cup as is the case here - could convey that sense of space a little more effectively. In general though, 3D audio's benefits over a 7.1 mix is as clear as day on the Platinum headset, especially moving from the virtual surround of Sony's last effort. And you’d be hard-pressed to find a pair that feels as comfortable to wear, with cosseting ear cushions that are soft enough that you rarely feel any pressure against the side of your head, even when wearing glasses, while a suspended headband relieves pressure on the top of your head. Speaker drivers are little parts within the headphones that actually produce the sounds you are hearing. 50mm is referring to the size of their diameter. While it's nice fluff for marketing, you'll find that most people don't notice a huge difference in terms of sound quality between different sizes. Design and brand is more important than anything in this case, and Sony boasts that the 50mm drivers utilized in the Platinum Wireless Headset "provide amazing clarity and range of sound to your virtual world, from soaring highs and mids to a rich bass." The bottom line Our best headsets guides are updated as regularly as possible since new products are always coming onto the market, and we endeavor to deliver an honest recommendation on which are worth considering which is why we believe it's important to keep up to date with what products are relevant.