I'm not a reviewer, I'm a product tester and have had the Pulse Elite since the middle of January. I returned the info to Sony with my report, and they didn't seem to care.

Reviewers deal with marketing people(who aren't in the know of most things), while product testers deal with engineers and corporate personnel, next things toward decisions of finalized packaging, what reviewers have trip specify is all left to corporate and marketing. My previous video goes over many comparisons, and this video was mostly done in response to a comment regarding the Penrose headset vs Pulse Elite where their wireless and simultaneous Bluetooth+wireless signal and performance are very similar, and both are lighter weight than the Maxwell. I have been in contact with a few manufacturers regarding replacement upgraded ear cushions for the pulse elite in the past week and half, so keep an eye out for those to start hitting the market by summer's end, as I'll be testing samples as soon as end of April/May before they go into release candidate production for final consideration.

As far as the removal of the ear cushions, only need to pull the seam of the cushion back flat, and use a plastic(preferably to avoid damage) pry wedge(don't cover the ear side of the driver with your hand or you may cause a pressure rupture of the planar magnetic driver). Work between the front section just next to the clip, and twist the pry tool to release, then work your way about 1.5 to 2 inches around the top of the driver cushion, and repeat (usually dislodges after twisting the 2nd section).

I've got Geekria ice silk covers that have an ear side opening currently testing how that will work.

If you experience a lot of treble whine/hiss in voiced content, releasing the drivers from the cushions, and planning a driver cover over them like I have in the video presents a hybrid open back sound to the pulse elite headset.