Playstation Gold Wireless Headset Review

Great headsets don’t often come cheap, with a common price tag soaring over €100. Budget gamers will oftentimes have to delve under this price, into the realm of low-cost headsets. These will almost always sacrifice either build, sound, microphone or comfort quality somewhere to weigh down the price tag. However, at €80, does the Playstation Gold Wireless Stereo Headset come close to being the best bang for your buck? Let’s find out.

Starting with the feel and look of the headset, the Gold Headset is somewhat bulky and wide but manages to sport a slim and stylish look. It comes in two different colour schemes; being blue and black or blue and white. Along the circumference of the left ear cup are all the physical buttons, including a volume rocker, VSS(virtual surround sound) toggle, a mute option, sound to chat proportionality rocker and the power slider with options ‘off’, ‘1’ and ‘2’. All buttons have a pleasant feel with proper clicky feedback except the power slider which may sometimes require more force than you’d think with it being rather annoying to select option ‘1’. With all buttons on the left ear cup, remembering localities is easy to pick up. Regarding connectivity, a usb dongle is required for syncing. The dongle doesn’t have the largest range, especially when placed at the back of a PC, but fits in perfectly with the PS4’s design language. There is no Bluetooth connection.

Continuing with build quality, the headband is lined with a plush cushion which readily comforts one’s head in those long gaming sessions. The ear cups have an equal level of softness, due to a thick layer of fake leather and inclined drivers which add much needed space in the cup itself. These cups are adjustable, moving up and down a hidden track; this system may be a pain to adjust and a minute will be expected to be taken to find a perfect fit. On the other side is the plain exterior of the headband, finished with matte which easily attracts fingerprints and the most delicate of scratches.The backplates at the corners of the headband may be swapped for extensive customisation, but this concept is rather gimmicky and extra. The headset itself attempts to increase its portability, and does successfully utilising a folding mechanism. However, the hinges are plastic, so a level of caution is recommended. Apart from that, the plastic will become increasingly croaky over the weeks and feel close to breaking. The build quality is of a high quality, when looking at this price point, with a sturdy uni-body plastic build while exercising an aesthetically satisfying neutral look.

Moving on to what a headset’s all about; the sound. An over-ear experience, unless one’s ears are utterly huge, is graced by the virtual surround sound. Hostile footsteps stand no chance creeping up this time. Note, that this is ‘virtual’ SS and ‘real’ SS will obviously sound much better, yet this is the most recent 7.1 VSS. The moderately immersive audio includes a solid definition of mids and highs with a lacklustre bass. Regarding the different power options; the first option ‘1’ activates the headset with average stereo sound, recommended for PC usage and the second option ‘2’ involves the virtual surround sound and thus, much better audio. This second setting may only be used when connected to the PS4, when the audio profile may be adjusted using the companion app to ensure a great sounding console experience. Unfortunately, when used on PC, there is no VSS or customisation and one will simply be left with an average wireless stereo headset comfortable with ordinary media consumption. This headset has no problem getting loud and with an open ended design, anyone in the vicinity will hear what you hear.

Like any other gaming headset around, there is a form of microphone and on this headset it’s cleverly hidden. Only visible when the left ear cup is pulled all the way down, it’s represented by a small spot. Microphone quality is average when used with the PS4 but is potentially horrible when used on PC. Another aspect to this headset, it being wireless, is the battery, how long will it last? A full charge will marginally hold 8 hours of gaming on the PS4 and approximately 10 hours of PC use. Definitely a respectable battery life, charged by a micro-usb port near the auxiliary jack.

For the €80 price tag, it may already appear worth the money, but the packaging comes with other items. First of all, the regarded packaging is phenomenal, a sturdy cardboard box with a seamless unboxing experience. Along with the headset comes a short micro-usb cable, an auxiliary wire to connect to most mobile devices, a lovely carry case and all the documentation. The carry case, as I referred to it as ‘lovely’, is such since it elegantly fits the headset along with any cables into a soft material comfortably.

To summarise, the Playstation Gold Wireless Headset is a product to consider, with an attractive €80 price tag, proper sound in the right circumstances, pure comfort and solid packaging with delightful accessories. After a year of personal use, the build quality is yet to fail me and the battery capacity remains regular. With the Playstation Platinum Wireless Headset having just released, one could easily grab the previous model for cheap; truly a golden opportunity.
 

Pros;

• Bang for your buck
• Wireless headset
• Stylish and not overwhelming
• Extra features with PS4 connection
• Strong and bulky build quality
• Foldable for portability
• Accessories
• 7.1 Virtual Surround Sound on console
• Connects to PC easily
• Gets very loud
• Good mic for Ps4
• Impressive battery life
• Old-ish product means prices may drop further
• Mids and Highs are alright
• Very comfortable
• May connect to peripherals with audiojack.

Cons;

• Plastic hinges are frightening
• Matte finish attracts fingerprints and scratches
• Cups may be a pain to adjust
• Plastic will creak
• Open-ended; nearby people will hear everything
• Poor mic on PC
• No VSS on PC
• Range on dongle could be better
• Lacks a strong bass
• Power buttons requires force and may induce scratches on the cup
• If the dongle is lost, most function is lost and headset nearly useless.
• No Bluetooth connection.

Target audience;

• Playstation gamers who do not game seriously on PC
• Budget gamers for PS console and PC
• Budget gamers who want wireless experience.
• Budget gamers who desire a good-looking headset.

Who it isn’t for;

• Xbox or Nintendo gamers
• No budget gamers
• Competitive PC gamers
• Audiophiles
• Skype video callers