I always love to open a box and instantly feel, smell, and see the quality and this was my experience with the Epos H3. The headset is solidly designed with robust connections between the ear cups and the headband, and the adjustable microphone. The cups are padded and comfortable, and background noise is dimmed immediately when you put them on, even without power. The audio cables have a pleasant textured feel.
Bluetooth doesn't cut it when it comes to gaming due to latency, and the Epos H3 eliminates that problem as well as needing to charge batteries. As an analogue wired headset, you simply plug it in and play. It has wide compatibility supporting both a 3.5mm four-pole headset jack and a pair of 3.5mm three-pole jacks for separate audio output and microphone input. This means you can use it from PC to laptop to console to tablet to phone (well, phones with a headphone jack or adapter, anyway).
The unit is built to last and includes a two-year warranty. It is an evolution of the Epos Sennheiser GSP 300 series headsets, building on this audio legacy while advancing Epos’ own engineering advances and gamer feedback. Two examples include the cable being detachable from the headset so it can be easily replaced, and the headband redesigned to decrease pressure on the head.
The volume control is simple and intuitive, and the headband includes a stainless steel slider with marked intervals so you can easily reset it to your most comfortable fit.
There's no denying it's a great headset. However, it's also specifically tuned for gamers, more than simply being a corded headset and avoiding Bluetooth latency. It includes a custom speaker system with excellent low-frequency performance without compromising an accurate midrange that lets you enjoy bass while also hearing all nuanced audio from your game. The high-frequencies are clear, assisting positional audio when your game or music supports surround sound.
The microphone is studio quality and noise-cancelling, engineered to maximise clarity for natural-sounding in-game communication. It is mounted on a robust boom arm for optimal voice pick-up. Lifting the boom arm immediately mutes the microphone. Now you can taunt your opponents or collaborate with your teammates knowing they will hear your every word.
I've mentioned comfort above, but it can't be understated; the Epos team worked long and hard on the fit and feel of the H3 to make it as comfortable for lengthy consistent use. The earcups fit around the ear without placing pressure and provide an acoustic seal for passive noise cancellation. The speakers are angled to avoid contacting the ear. The ear cups are attached by a dual-axis hinge that comes from Epos high-end headsets. The earpads are built from memory foam covered in soft leatherette.
The Epos H3 comes in black and white, available with an RRP of $179.
