Sony Sets November 12 Launch for Pulse Elevate Speakers
Photo Credit: Playstation
Sony will begin shipping its Pulse Elevate desktop gaming speakers on November 12, according to the company's announcement, closing out nearly a year of waiting since the PlayStation-branded speakers were first revealed. The speakers carry a $220 price. They slot into the growing PlayStation audio lineup alongside existing headsets and accessories.
Pre-orders open September 1 at PlayStation Direct and third-party retailers, per Sony. Buyers can choose between white and Midnight (black) finishes, matching the color schemes Sony has applied across other PlayStation accessories. However, PlayStation hardware allotments tend to move quickly. As a result, prospective buyers may want to secure orders early, since pre-order windows for Sony peripherals do not always stick around long.
The centerpiece of the Pulse Elevate design is a set of planar magnetic drivers, a driver type Sony credits with high-fidelity reproduction. The company states the speakers can "reproduce sound with near perfect accuracy along the entire audible spectrum, so you can hear games exactly how the developers intended." Each unit also includes woofers to fill out the lower end. Therefore Sony positions the Pulse Elevate as a full-range desktop solution rather than a compact accessory.
Sony has built the speakers around the same PlayStation Link wireless standard used elsewhere in its audio range, promising low-latency connectivity for gaming. A PlayStation Link USB-C adaptor comes in the box, and the speakers support Tempest 3D AudioTech for spatial audio on compatible titles. An onboard microphone with background noise suppression rounds out the feature set. In turn, that makes the Pulse Elevate usable for voice chat as well as playback.
Connectivity extends well beyond the PS5. Sony confirms the Pulse Elevate can pair with the PlayStation Portal, PC or Mac, and can also operate as standard Bluetooth speakers, with multipoint pairing support that allows more than one device to stay connected at once. As a result, that flexibility puts the speakers in reach of users who want a single desktop audio system spanning console, computer and mobile sources.
Customization runs through either a PS5 or a PC, where owners can adjust presets and other settings to tune output to their preference. The speakers can also tilt. That gives users some control over how sound is directed toward a seated listening position at a desk.
Some details remain unstated. Sony has not published the full technical specifications for the Pulse Elevate, and the company has not disclosed exact battery life, saying only that the speakers will play audio for "hours" on a charge, according to the PlayStation announcement. However, those figures will matter to buyers weighing the wireless design against wired desktop alternatives. We are keeping an eye out for the complete spec sheet as the launch approaches.
At $220, the Pulse Elevate lands at a price that reflects its planar magnetic driver design and its integration with the broader PlayStation ecosystem. The combination of Tempest 3D AudioTech, PlayStation Link and cross-platform Bluetooth support signals Sony's intent to make the speakers a hub for desktop listening rather than a console-only accessory. In contrast to a strictly wired peripheral, the wireless design broadens where the speakers fit. With pre-orders beginning September 1 and shipments starting November 12, the launch window gives interested buyers roughly two and a half months to decide before units reach doorsteps.
