The gaming headset market is a competitive one, especially at this price point, but the EPOS H3 offers enough to tempt some gamers – as long as you can look past the wired connectivity. Carry on reading to find out why.
Design and build
Gaming headsets come in all shapes and sizes, from the understated to the in-your-face, with the latter often with a smattering of RGBs, logos and metallic effects that scream ‘gaming headset’. Thankfully, EPOS opted for the former with the new H3 gaming headset, offering a clean, refined design practically devoid of branding.
Sporting either an all-black or black and white body depending on the colour option you opt for, the headset feels nice in the hand – and when worn too. That’s thanks to a padded headband and equally padded earcups, sporting a soft-touch leatherette finish and memory foam innards to reduce pressure. The earcups look a little small compared to the likes of the Astro A50 Wireless, but I found the fit to be comfortable without any noticeable pressure build-up on the ears or head – even when wearing glasses – through multiple playthroughs of PS5’s roguelike Returnal. The fit of the headband can be adjusted via a stainless steel slider that provides a satisfying click whenever adjusted, and the dual-axis hinge helps create a seal no matter the size or shape of your head. The combination of all these factors make the EPOS H3 one of the more comfortable gaming headsets I’ve tested – a huge step forward from the EPOS-manufactured GSP 670, which I found to be a little too tight for longer gaming sessions.
Despite offering wired connectivity, EPOS decided to ditch in-line volume controls for a large cup-mounted volume wheel on the right. The problem is that, unlike the GSP 670, the dial sits flush within the body of the headset itself. That does negate the issue of accidental volume adjustment, but it also makes changing the volume a bit of a fiddly process – especially in the heat of the moment. You’ll find a bi-directional boom mic attached to the left earcup, which does slightly ruin the look of an otherwise sleek and lightweight headset, and it’s not removable either, meaning you probably won’t be using the H3 as a standard pair of headphones on your daily commute. The upside to a mounted boom mic is the ability to implement raise-to-mute tech. That means the mic is only active while pulled down and close to your mouth, which should eliminate those embarrassing moments where you thought your mic was muted when it wasn’t. We’ve all been there, right?
Performance and connectivity
The EPOS H3 certainly looks the part, but how do the cans sound? Balanced is the term that first comes to mind, and while that might not be the best news for those who adore the thumping bass present on some gaming headsets, the result is an immersive gaming experience with bass that doesn’t overpower the mids and highs. Sporting a custom speaker system, the H3 cans do a great job at handling the mix of low, mid and high frequencies, meaning you’ll appreciate those show-stopping explosions without missing out on the detail of environmental sound.
It’s easy to pick out small details from the soundscape, like the echo of Seline’s post-melee grunts as they bounce off nearby ruins in Returnal, or the clink of empty shells hitting the concrete as you unload a clip onto an unsuspecting enemy in Call of Duty Warzone – elements that are all too easy to miss with bassy unbalanced headphones. It also does an impeccable job with spatial audio, throwing sound in all directions to help create a more immersive experience, with the sound of approaching footsteps in Cyberpunk 2077 actually sounding like they were coming from behind me. The H3’s bi-directional boom mic is equally as performative, offering crystal clear audio in party chat without any complaints from my in-game comrades about volume or annoying background audio pickup. Simply pull it down towards your mouth to activate it, and push it up to mute it. When it comes to connectivity, the EPOS H3 offers a wired connection with a 2mm braided cable and standard 3.5mm headphone jack, making it compatible with just about every console and platform, including the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch, and you’ll get a splitter for PC use too. If you play across multiple platforms and don’t mind a wire dangling down from the headset, the EPOS H3 is a solid option.
Price
We round up the best gaming headsets and the best budget gaming headsets separately for those that want a better understanding of the gaming headset market as it stands.
Verdict
The EPOS H3 headset is a good-looking, versatile gaming headset compatible with just about every console and platform out there thanks to a 3.5mm headphone jack. Of course, that does mean the H3 misses out on wireless connectivity – and that might be a dealbreaker for some. If you can look past the wired connectivity, the H3 looks and feels like a premium headset, and the balanced audio performance allows for an immersive gaming experience. It’s a little light on bass at times, but that allows the mids and highs to shine, allowing you to pick up on detail lost on bassier gaming headsets. The competition at the price point is fierce, but there’s enough on offer from the EPOS H3 to tempt gamers – especially those that play across multiple platforms. Lewis Painter is a Senior Staff Writer at Tech Advisor. Our resident Apple expert, Lewis covers everything from iPhone to AirPods, plus a range of smartphones, tablets, laptops and gaming hardware. You’ll also find him on the Tech Advisor YouTube channel.
