PowerA LucidSound LS500 Review

Design and Comfort

"LS500" is really a family of headsets. The PlayStation versions are the LS500P in black and white, the Xbox version is the LS500X, and the multiplatform edition (PS5, PC and mobile) comes in Sunset Paradise and Sunrise Paradise designs. Reviewers mostly covered the P and X versions, and the specs appear to be the same across them.

Weight is the headline comfort feature. PowerA lists 265 g, while PC Gamer cites 261 g, so expect roughly 260 to 265 g either way. A mesh headband and moisture-wicking cloth earcups help, and Tom's Guide reported wearing it for seven hours straight without heat or itching. PC Gamer calls it glasses-friendly, though not as good as Turtle Beach's designs.

Comfort reports are not unanimous. Cog Connected's review of the Xbox version found the one-size frame couldn't be tightened and felt loose on their head, while Mediaberry described the headband as firm and under-padded. Fit seems to depend on head size and shape.

Build quality is the weaker side. The shell is plastic, PC Gamer says it feels "cheap," and Tom's Guide says the cups sound hollow when tapped and questions long-term durability, though it also notes a lightweight metal frame. Controls are a highlight: a volume wheel and an "LS" button on the left cup handle mute, battery readout and EQ cycling, while the right dial controls mic monitoring on the dongle or track skipping on Bluetooth.

Sound Quality

The LS500 uses 50 mm custom-tuned drivers. No independent lab measurements were found, so everything here comes from reviewer impressions. Tom's Guide describes crisp, non-piercing treble and balanced mids, but bass that is "a little lacking," with some tinny moments. PC Gamer likewise found treble and bass clear but the low end light if you're used to bass-boosted headsets. games.gg points to a wide soundstage with a restrained low end.

The positive side is positioning. Tom's Guide rated the directional audio "excellent," which matters more than bass weight in competitive shooters. Its FPS preset also pushes the mids forward. The headset offers three presets, Signature Sound, Bass Boost and FPS, cycled from the earcup. There is no app, so you can't build a custom EQ. Mediaberry's review of the Xbox version found the bass fine with enough rumble, but that was the only dissent we found.

Microphone and Latency

There is no active noise cancelling here. PC Gamer says it was dropped to keep the price down, and no source quantifies how much passive isolation the closed cups provide.

The flip-to-mute boom mic is omnidirectional with noise filtering. Tom's Guide calls it decent and says it isolated voice well in a noisy office. PC Gamer thinks it is fine for chat but not for streaming, and says mic monitoring never worked for them.

The bigger limitation is that the mic only works over the 2.4 GHz dongle. PC Gamer, games.gg and PakGamersHub all report that it is inactive in Bluetooth mode, so this is not a headset for phone calls on the go.

Latency has not been measured. PowerA only describes the dongle connection as "low-latency wireless" and publishes no millisecond figure. Reviewers who used it for gaming did not flag lag, but treat that as anecdotal.

Battery and Connectivity

Battery life is where the LS500 stands out. PowerA rates it at up to 50 hours on the 2.4 GHz dongle and up to 70 hours on Bluetooth, using an 800 mAh Li-ion cell. That is well beyond what most headsets at this price promise, and you may go weeks between charges.

The dongle has both USB-A and USB-C connectors, which is convenient across consoles, PCs and some phones. Bluetooth 5.3 is supported for casual listening, but you can't run Bluetooth and the dongle at once, and multipoint is not supported. Supported Bluetooth codecs are not published. Warranty terms are also unclear: PowerA's site lists two years, while Amazon listings say one year.

Who Should Buy the LS500

• Budget gamers who play for hours and value battery life and a light fit over premium materials.
• Competitive FPS players who want clear directional cues and quick on-headset controls.
• Anyone who wants a simple, app-free setup with a dongle that works across consoles and PCs.

If you want fuller bass and a sturdier build, Tom's Guide recommends the Cherry XTRFY H3 at $99. Those willing to spend more should look at the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7, which has a stronger overall package. If you mainly want Bluetooth music on a very low budget, the Sony WH-CH520 is another low-cost option.

Final Verdict

The LucidSound LS500 does the basics well for $69.99. It is light, comfortable for most people, easy to control and unusually long-lasting, and its directional audio suits competitive play. The price shows in the plastic build, the light bass, the absence of an app and a mic that goes silent over Bluetooth. With no independent measurements available, its sound and latency rest on reviewer impressions. If battery life and comfort matter more to you than bass punch, it is a good value, but bass-focused listeners should look elsewhere.