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PlayStation 5, the next-generation gaming console from Sony, has incredible graphical improvements compared to previous generations.
However, in addition to much better graphics, this time Sony is investing a lot for the sound system of the upcoming gaming console.
In this article, first we will go over the new audio technologies that are coming to PlayStation 5 and then we will review the best headsets for PlayStation a gaming console.
Sony has already announced the full specs and the design of the upcoming PS5. Interestingly enough, in the sound department there are brand new features and technologies that are introduced.
In Sony's latest technical video released on Youtube, Mark Cerny explained every single aspect of the audio system of the new PlayStation 5.
It is a long and technical video, the part about the audio technologies in the new PlayStation 5 starts around 39:20. If you have some time that you can invest, that is a video you need to watch
PlayStation 5 Audio Goals
Audio isn't just about playing a sound track during the game, Sony has ambitions goals when it comes to the audio system of the new PlayStation 5, and summaries these in three main groups.
- Great audio for all
- Hundreds of advanced sound sources
- Presence and locality
We will go over each of these and see how these reflect when looking for the best headset for the new PlayStation 5.
PlayStation 5 Introduces 3D Audio
3D Audio is one of the technologies that Sony is talking extensively with the PlayStation 5 console release.
Sony is moving to a future in which virtual reality is the key part of gaming, and sound, being one of our senses, is a crucial part of this experience.
3D Audio achieves Sony's biggest and the ambitious goal of presence and locality. Locality in it's basic for is how stereo headphones and speakers came to life in the first place.
That is why Sony uses 3D Audio terminology as this is a lot more advanced than making sound come from just right or left ear.
Imagine a scene where rain drops are falling to the ground. In a scenario like this, every rain drop is at unique distance and angle from the observer.
In this example, no single rain drop should make the same sound when it hits the ground. That is the level Sony wants to achieve.
Built-In Advanced Sounds in PS5
All of these goals and the experience that Sony wants to achieve can not simply accomplished by improving hardware or the chip design however.
The new PlayStation 5 introduces all these advanced technologies, however developers will also need to do their part to use the full potential of PlayStation 5's audio system in their games.
All these 3D sounds are actually more than just regular sound files. They are recorded using advanced techniques so that It can be used in a 3D system.
That is what Sony is trying help developers with. With the PlayStation 5, Sony will include 100s of advanced sound sources for developers to easily use in their games.
With this investment, Sony is hoping to boost the 3D audio availability in many upcoming game releases without the developers needing to buy-in to the technology.
Tempest Sound Engine for PlayStation 5
This 3D Audio improvements aren't easy to handle. Very similar to how graphics chips got extracted out from CPU and became their own processing power, Sony is doing the same thing with It's sound engine.
Tempest Sound Engine is essentially PlayStation's dedicated sound processing unit that is re-engineered using AMD's latest graphics chips.
This new dedicated sound chip architecture is what enables Sony to implement all these advanced sound technologies, while not effecting the performance of other parts of the system such as CPU and Graphics.
Tempest Sound Engine brings great sound processing power the PlayStation 5, however making sounds feel realistic is a completely different challenge.
To achieve realistic sounds, and provide the data that is necessary to create the desired effects, Sony is using a technology called Head-Related Transfer-Function (HRTF).
Using more than 20 different microphones which all positioned differently, Sony is able to capture and re-create sounds with 1000 different locations.
If you would like to learn about HRTF and the details of this technology, there is a great paper published by Sony.
Sony Pulse 3D Wireless Headset for PS5
With every generation of new gaming consoles, Sony also releases It's own gaming peripherals and accessories for the console as well.
PlayStation 5 is no different and Sony has invested a lot in to the audio performance of the new PlayStation 5 gaming console.
In addition to the other accessories, Sony is releasing a brand new gaming headset for the new PlayStation 5 which is called Sony Pulse 3d Wireless Headset.
Not every detail is public about the new headset, but It is expected that Sony will showcase all the brand-new audio technologies in this headset to gamers.
Sony started accepting pre-orders for the Pulse 3D Headset on October 30th and the initial release price of this headset is currently $99 in the United States.
On November 1st, pre-release headsets are sent to Youtubers. And make sure to watch this unboxing of the new PlayStation 5 Pulse 3D wireless headset.
Headset Connectivity for PS5 Controller
Unlike gaming on a computer, when you are gaming on a console such as Playstation 5, you sit a lot further than the gaming device.
That's not an important thing to consider, unless we are talking about the headset connectivity for the gaming consoles.
In the previous generation of PlayStation, audio port is on the controller itself, which makes things a lot more simpler and usable compared to using connecting your headset to the gaming console, which would require a very long cable.
The other option which is becoming more and more popular recently is the wireless headset connectivity. This technology enables headsets to connect to the gaming console without any cables during gaming using the Bluetooth technology.
So far based on the information Sony released about the new PlayStation 5, we know that the new PS5 controller will also have a audio headphone jack.
Which is very good news for some of the gamers, who aren't happy about the battery life and latency of the wireless gaming headsets.
Best Headsets for PlayStation 5
Based on the factors we have just went over, We have reviewed the best headsets for PlayStation 5
