On the PC:
When plugging in the USB dongles that of Win-7 is immediately recognized and the drivers downloaded and installed automatically. Then (right click on loudspeaker transmits the taskbar), the device must "speakers (Wireless Stereo Headset)" will be selected as the default device in the Windows control of the playback equipment.
Immediately all the sound to the headset is routed, bypassing the motherboard's sound card (which would Dolby Surround 7.1 this). Consequently, only the pre-installed Sony sound plays without changing opportunity. The "Pulse Elite Edition Manager (PEM)", so the software to control the headset can be installed on your PC is not. The 6 preset modes (Game, Music, Movie, Shooter, Fighting, Racing) function, you can switch through and the voice says to same. But the difference is minimal, actually only the Bass Impact earlier start. The VSS switch (surround) and Mic-Mute switch are disabled. The "sidetone feature" to hear his own voice more or less or not (by pressing and holding the mic mute buttons), although beeps, but it does nothing. Whether the microphone on the PC is working at all, I could not test (Skype, TeamSpeak?). The overall Windows volume control (which is that of the built-in sound card) can not. So you have to turn up the volume on the player (music or film), and then settle on the headset itself.
I had before, the firmware of the Pulse headset to the PS3 update of a friend (5 other preinstalled modes: Football, Horror, Action, techno, hip-hop), but I have let it remain, because I would be able to change anything anyway.
While this is all already in the description and in the manual of the Pulse headsets. But I did not realize that the headset bypasses the Main board's own soundcard that preloaded sound of my music did not really fit for it, and I can not help it.
For SOUND:
This is something bassy, ups and downs and voices clear medium frequencies a bit muddy. In Rock, Metal, Indie, the sound is good, and vocals as Norah Jones listen good. Techno and HipHop optimal, strong clear bass. For me personally, in the long run tiring, because you can not fix this on your PC. Other music as ethno-folk or classical sounds not very clean and deep-heavy, older CDs is something tinny or muffled, no sense of space, no distinction of instruments. This happens everywhere else where classical instruments exist, including in movies.
Movies listen to depending on the scene either very good and powerful, in the next scene, when it comes quietly and with music, not so great.
If you connect the headset with the supplied analog 4-pin audio cable to the PC, I get the direct analog sound, so you can mix and Dolby whatever the idea, but just analog and wired and mediocre sound. The Pulse own sound processing is turned off. Analog Pulse offers only average sense of hearing. And just cable. Not the whole point.
While gambling ('m just casual gamers):
I have in the game anyway surround ability only comes my preloaded on Pulse, heavy bass sound in the way. High and low frequencies and direct votes by NPCs not cope over the medium frequencies but what the listening experience some limits (for music in background voices and sounds).
With RAZER SURROUND:
I Razer Synapse Online surround installed, and in fact the sound will only be guided by the PC and about the Pulse Headsert we hear digital 7.1. Preinstalled are at Razer but only 4 modes, including games and techno and hip-hop, or by 8x equalizer that although the volume on the headset also controls, but not enough to improve the Sony's bass-heavy and otherwise somewhat dull sound , Is Razer Synapse once installed, you can turn on or off the surround on the headset. If "a" is amplified the sound in "off", however much quieter. Full blast then comes to too little. Since there has been no improvement in music, Razer surround back out. The default settings of Sony pulses are too dominant.
The bass IMPACT:
Very interesting thing. Does the deepest bass by vibrating the skull transferred, not necessarily enhanced bass of the sound itself. Nevertheless, a very impressive experience. In Highway to Hell feels right in front of a 3-meter-high box. Well, maybe 1 meter high. All sounds clearly. The separation between the bass in music and voices is actually quite good, so one does not feel anything in deep voices. But if the film by rotating a motor, also rattles before the whole head with (the Racing mode!).
In the long run I felt the bass impact of my skull as tiring, which is why I'd rather have it turned off. Is certainly a matter of taste, but really works. Even without Bass Impact of Sound is a little bassy, as I said, depending on the style of music ok or disturbing.
The smartphone:
Ideally I would have the headset still used with my smartphone, wirelessly when I drive times by train or'm on vacation. And it is indeed! My Smartpone (Android 4.1.2) allows the micro-USB port adapter apparently no current out (could be with other smartphones differently), so I plugged in the USB dongle to an external 3000 mAh Power Bank, which I otherwise as an emergency power source for charging my smartphone on the road use (12 euros). I can also put to any USB power source to the USB dongle. Then the supplied analog audio cable from the phone into the USB dongle (transmitter) from Sony Pulse stuck, and go. Since the smartphone the analog sound is transmitted, I can adjust it there about the various sound modes or equalizer. The volume is no less than on the PC, Bass Impact and sound modes go.
You can be smart but not control from the headset (ie pause, forward, backward) how to do it in Bluetooth.
The analog input to the USB Dongle of Sony Pulse is obviously only mono-directional (ie 3-pole), because language is not there, transferred to the phone. I can hear, although what is said, but did not speak, and because the audio cable is plugged in the mobile phone inside the smartphone eigenene microphone is turned off, so you do not hear me. That is, going to listen to music, wireless and relatively simple (with external power source for the USB transmitter) but not make calls. Accordingly, it would go well with any MP3 player. The range is logically the same as on the PC.
REACH:
Without interruptions 7-8 m in the apartment, through doors and walls. Near my Wi-Fi router interruptions, but no crashes. No Better Than with Bluetooth.
Battery life:
about 6 hours, which just so enough during the week after work. At the weekend you have ever interim store, where you can continue to use while the Pulse.
In order to assess:
If it had been just about the performance on the PC, I would have only given 3 stars. Listening to music and gaming on the PC, the Pulse is not optimal. Since the pulses headset is primarily intended for the PS3 and there all settings are to function and the headset is otherwise very solid, a star so. Moreover, it is still at each analog audio source wireless use, provided that there is power to the USB dongle. If the PS3 software sometimes be available for the PC, it could be 5 star.
CONCLUSIONS & RATES:
for the PS3, it may be the best headset, good bass, clear voices, bass impact, and settings options. On PC it is serving, but has not quite convinced me with music. To listen to music on smart phone running it actually quite good, except that you also have to carry the dongle with cable and power source in your pocket.
With Bluetooth everything should be easier. I got myself and the Creative Evo ZX. While it provides better BT reach, the sound was poor in all versions and types of music, both with and without SBX. The G930 Logitech is too einseig gamer-oriented (I doubt that quiet music can be heard well on), and it has no further connection options (not via USB cable, not analog, no BT), but replaceable battery! The Z300 from TB would probably be ideal level of equipment, unfortunately, but apparently despite good battery life still immature (range, announcements, Surround, beeping, no settings). After a long Recherschieren I then decided to use the Bose AE2w which, although has no settings, 100 euros more expensive than the Pulse, but a very good sound returns, also bass, and despite Bluetooth!
