Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) just dropped the Pulse Elevate, its first-ever PlayStation-branded desktop speakers, and honestly, I’m torn. On one hand, I’m hyped, and on the other, I can’t believe they announced this right after I bought my bookshelf speakers.
And before we go any further, let’s be clear: this isn’t some neutral, balanced take. This post is written by a PlayStation fan boy. If it comes off as biased, that’s because it is.
What is the PlayStation Pulse Elevate?
Launching in 2026, the PlayStation Pulse Elevate expands the Pulse family, which already includes the Pulse Elite wireless headset and Pulse Explore wireless earbuds, giving players a new option alongside headsets and earbuds.
The Elevate works with PS5, PC, Mac, and PlayStation Portal, and comes in Midnight Black or White. Sony has noted that the white model will only be available while supplies last, hinting at limited production. That’s odd, especially when most PS5 accessories are White while the Midnight Black is a special edition colourway, like on the DualSense and PlayStation Portal.
At the core are studio-inspired planar magnetic drivers, tuned with Tempest 3D AudioTech on PS5 for detailed positioning. This is what excites me the most, as the Pulse Explore earbuds proved that planar drivers can be tuned with surprising clarity for gaming, so I’m curious to see how much more detail the Pulse Elevate can reveal on a desktop setup.
The speakers also have woofers to handle bass, but there’s no dedicated subwoofer in the package. Without knowing the driver sizes or power output, I’m sceptical whether these woofers alone will deliver the low-end rumble needed for cinematic games and explosive action.
For connectivity, the Elevate supports PlayStation Link, which Sony describes as ultra-low latency and lossless, plus simultaneous Bluetooth for pairing with other devices. A PlayStation Link USB adapter is included for systems that don’t have Link built in.
That’s handy for a PC, but it raises the same frustration many fans have had: the PS5 still requires a dongle for PlayStation Link. The PlayStation Portal has it built in, so why not the Slim, or even the Pro?! Maybe Sony is saving the integrated PlayStation Link for the PS6?
Beyond sound, the Elevate includes an integrated microphone with AI noise rejection, letting you jump into voice chat without wearing a headset. I’m not entirely sure how effective that’s going to be, given the distance the microphone will be from your mouth and the loud sound from the speakers.
Each unit is battery-powered and comes with a charging dock, so you can use them portably or keep them on your desk. What Sony hasn’t clarified yet is how charging will behave over time. So if the speakers are constantly docked, will they bypass the battery to preserve long-term health, or will they keep trickle-charging? That could make a big difference for daily desktop use.
The speakers are also “orientation-flexible”, able to sit vertically or horizontally, according to Sony. Though from pictures and video, the vertical orientation looks more like just the speakers tilted up. Nothing against that, as it directs sound to your ears if the speakers are placed at a lower elevation.
Volume and mute controls are on the speakers themselves. EQ adjustments, sidetone, and other settings can be customised on PS5 and PC, though Sony notes that some PC options will only become available after launch through software updates.
If you’re using these speakers in a desk setup, you can just reach over to the speakers for quick volume control. But in a TV and couch setup, not having a remote control could be frustrating.
And then there’s the big unknown: how will surround sound be implemented here? Sony emphasises Tempest 3D AudioTech support, but whether the Pulse Elevate can convincingly simulate surround from two desktop speakers remains an open question.
Right now, Sony has a lot of blanks on the spec sheet. We still don’t know the actual power output, which would tell us just how much punch these little desktop speakers can deliver, and the driver sizes.
Then there’s the battery story. Sony hasn’t revealed the capacity or expected runtime, which feels like a pretty big omission considering these are supposed to be portable. We also don’t know about charging times. Is there fast charging, or will you be waiting hours to top them back up?
Pricing and Availability
Sony hasn’t revealed the price or exact release date yet, only that the Pulse Elevate will arrive sometime in 2026. Availability in Malaysia and other regions also remains unconfirmed.
But given its place in the PlayStation Pulse lineup, alongside the Pulse Elite headset and Pulse Explore earbuds, it’s safe to expect this won’t be a budget buy.
The Inzone range is Sony’s more affordable line of gaming headsets (and monitors), but PlayStation Pulse has always been positioned as the premium tier. With planar magnetic tweeters and wireless desktop hardware in play, the Pulse Elevate is likely going to carry a higher price tag to match.
I guess I should start saving now
So yeah, guilty as charged: this post is written by a fanboy, and it probably shows. The PlayStation Pulse Elevate has me genuinely excited, even if Sony’s still holding back on some important details.
I’m eager to hear how those planar magnetic tweeters sound in a desktop setup, but I’m also side-eyeing the missing subwoofer and the whole PlayStation Link dongle situation. At the same time, that’s part of the fun: speculating, nitpicking, and waiting to see how it all comes together when these speakers finally launch next year.
Until then, I’ll be over here, half-grumbling that Sony/PlayStation dropped these right after I bought my bookshelf speakers, and half-counting the days until I can actually try them out.
Sony announces PlayStation Pulse Elevate speakers… right after I bought new bookshelf speakers
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