There are a handful of wireless headsets designed for the PlayStation 4, all varying in quality and features. Sony had already designed a PLAYSTATION 4 VR HEADSET set for their own console in the Gold wireless headset, but they’ve upped the ante with the Platinum iteration. The new headset offers virtual 7.1 surround sound, a redesigned frame, and customizable audio settings. Let’s break down the Platinum Wireless Headset’s design, features, and sound quality to see if it’s worthy of the $160 price tag
Design and Ergonomics
The sleek polished aluminum band along the top of the frame feels sturdy. The thick rubber headband just under the frame rests easy on your head, and the headset’s flexibility makes it easy to slip on and off. The rest of the housing is made of plastic. The earcups slide along the inside of the frame to adjust for fitment and elbows are situated just above the earcups that allow you to fold the headset inward. Though it doesn’t fold symmetrically, it becomes compact enough to store conveniently. A small travel pouch comes packaged and allows you to easily take the headset on the go. Overall, the minimalist design is aesthetically pleasing and solidly built.
The leather upholstery would indicate that the ear pads are thick, but the padding only goes in about half as deep. The firm padding provides adequate comfort, but it should be noted that the headset tends to clamp over your head fairly tight. Regardless, it was comfortable enough to wear during a two-hour session for testing. Leather slightly limits breathability, so it may get warm inside the headset, but the ear pads don’t create a perfect seal which helps alleviate this issue. The inner audio drivers have a slanted contour, which are supposed to align flush to the user’s ears. The problem is that everyone has different shaped and sized ears, and bigger ears may press up against the inner drivers. This can cause discomfort of varying degrees. As a consequence, the ergonomics of the Platinum headset will differ from user to user.
The USB charging port is also on the left earcup, but the packaged cable is much too short to charge and use the headset on the PS4 simultaneously. The 3.5mm port allows the headset to be used wired with other devices, and a 3.5mm cable comes with the package. The Platinum headset connects wirelessly through the packaged USB dongle and seamlessly works with the PS4 and PC.
Sony has left the battery life of this headset undefined, simply saying it’s equipped with an “extended-life” battery. We charged the headset overnight and it lasted for the entire duration of our tests, which amounted to about 10 hours with the dashboard battery indicator still at two of three bars.
The integrated microphone hidden under the left earcup captures clear audio, but didn’t cancel outside noise as well as we hoped considering the dual microphone design is intended to do just that. It’s a great ergonomic design that cuts the cumbersome nature of inflexible boom mics.
