PlayStation
Platinum Wireless Headset :
Is it the best PS4 headset money can buy?
First
things first, though: Sony’s commitment to style and design really shines
through in the Platinum headset. Aside from the rather annoying diamond-shaped
USB dongle taking up another precious USB slot on the front of your PS4, the
Platinum headset is exceptionally well designed.
A mix of
brushed stainless steel and the same matte-black plastic the PS4 is made from,
the Platinum really nails the high-end feel. Its clean lines, sturdy build and
smart placement of discrete audio controls mean these could easily pass for a
pair of normal over-ear headphones. They fold away neatly, too, and come with
their own carry pouch for easy storage and transportation.
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.
Those ear
cushions are subtly angled, too, so that they fit snugly over your ears without
pushing the speaker cone right up against them. A small detail, but a welcome
one, and it makes the headset comfortable to wear for long periods.
Chat and
battery
Despite all
the features, Sony’s Platinum headset isn’t strictly intended for the pro-level
player. Instead, it’s for gamers who want the best audio experience for casual
or semi-serious play.
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.
It also
means your voice isn’t channeled 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.
Sound
quality and features
Design is
only part of the reason you pick a headset, however. The most important factor
is sound quality and, thankfully, Sony’s Platinum headset delivers that in spades.
Using
large, 50mm drivers, the PlayStation Platinum headset is capable of delivering
crisp highs and punchy bass, and the virtual 7.1 surround sound makes a big
difference when playing titles such as Destiny and Battlefield 1.
Guns have
weight; melee attacks have true presence; you can hear the rustling of grass
around you and the crunching of boots on gravel. Don’t worry if shooters aren’t
your thing, either: every game on the PS4 benefits from the 7.1-channel virtual
surround-sound tech in the Platinum headset. Sony has also been working with
developers to create bespoke sound profiles for some games. At the time of
writing, only Uncharted 4 and The Last Guardian have profiles, but both make a
drastic difference to how you experience them.
In The Last
Guardian, those cavernous rooms feel truly empty: you hear the echo of
footsteps resonate in your ears, and you can hear the sound of creaking wooden
walkways as they bend and strain in the wind,The
PlayStation Platinum headset also supports a mode called “3D Audio”. While 7.1
surround sound may seem like more than enough, 3D audio somehow manages to rip
you out of your sofa and put you into the action more than you would have ever
thought possible.
Currently
only available in Uncharted 4, although slated to appear in more games soon, 3D
audio works by placing you within spherical sound spaces, plotting sound
effects and audio in the space around you, a bit like Dolby Atmos but for
headphones.
Verdict
The
Platinum headset isn’t Sony’s first 7.1 virtual surround-sound headset. That
would be the Gold wireless headset, which launched a couple of years ago. If
you’re on a tighter budget, the Gold headset is still definitely worth looking
at. The chief difference between the Platinum and the Gold is driver size and
3D-audio compatibility.
The Gold’s
40mm drivers still deliver impressive sound, but having used both during my
Platinum headset review, it’s clear that Sony’s higher-end headphones have the
edge on sound quality.
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