EPOS H3 Review

Manufacturer: EPOS
Where to Buy: EPOS
RRP: £119.99

EPOS have consistently delivered excellent headphones for gamers to use, with a reputation for comfort, high quality sound, and fair pricing. After spending the week with the H3, I can confidently say they have added yet another product that meets those standards.

It’s becoming more and more essential to have a good set of headphones when playing. While an average set of ear buds will do the job, to truly get immersed in a game you need that extra level of quality. The H3 has absolutely got you covered in that aspect. I’ve been fortunate enough to sample a wide range of sets over the years, and while I usually end up going back to a favourite pair after a while, I’m not so sure that’ll be the case with these.

For starters, they are incredibly comfortable. Compared to my go to set at the minute they are as light as a feather, while the soft ear cups are barely noticeable in use as they go over the ear rather than resting on them. As I’ve noted before, I usually find that even at max length the headbands of some sets don’t quite stretch over my big head, but the H3 does so with room to spare. I especially like the like indictors on the side that let me know how far it has been adjusted so I can get it back there easily. The head band is pretty soft too, though in all honesty my mop of a haircut usually takes care of cushioning anyway so I didn’t really notice when in use. They also seem as though they will be pretty hard wearing and durable. The headband is solidly built and the ear cups have a solid outer shell to them. I do worry about catching the mic arm on things as it is not detachable, but it does sit fairly snug to the headband when flipped up and there is a little bit of give to help with accidental hooking of cables and the like.

Being a wired set, they plug in via the controllers 3.5mm jack. In another neat touch, this cable is actually detachable from the headset itself, which should help prevent breakages as well as make it easy to replace if the worst does happen. The cable has a braided effect to it, and a decent length as well: not so long that it dangles everywhere, but not so short I need to hold the pad close up.

The microphone follows in the EPOS style in that unfortunately it isn’t detachable, though it more than makes up for this in the sheer excellence of the audio quality. Billed as a studio quality mic, the clarity in picking up my voice was brilliant. It also did a great job in filtering out background noise (such as my kids chatting away while playing Minecraft right next to me) and only picked up the occasional heavy breath. Muting is as easy as flipping the boom arm up, and the arm itself is nicely positioned while also having a sturdy adjustable section to fine tune placement.

Most importantly, the actual audio that comes through them is top notch. I’ve been playing Evil Within 2 and Knockout City while using the H3, and have found them to perform excellently. EW2 especially was a highlight; the grunts and groans from the infected monstrosities around me as I played came across ultra clear (maybe too clear, that is one creepy game), while the bass when things kicked off helped sell those meaty punches and bites when I – inevitably – died again. The fantastically up-beat tempo of Knockout City’s soundtrack meanwhile came blasting out of the ear cups with fantastic clarity, further enhancing the fun time vibes that game oozes. The warning buzz as someone is targeting me was easily perceptible through the chaos, as was the thumping impact of a successful hit.

Even at high volume things remained nice and clear too. Adjusting the volume is done via a built in dial on the right ear cup. While it has raised bumps that aid with turning it, I personally found it a little awkward to use, and would have preferred a more traditional rocker or something I could grip properly. It’s a minor gripe though, and one that’s more of a personal preference than anything wrong with the set.

At £119.99, they’re not the cheapest set out there, but then you get what you pay for. Even if you’re not an audiophile, the difference in quality in comparison to some cheaper sets is massively noticeable. I’d even go so far as to say these rival a pair I have that cost twice the price in almost every aspect. As I said at the top, there are lots of options out there, and there’s no denying that even some of the cheaper ones still do a fantastic job, but I really think that the H3 are worth the extra cash for the quality they bring to the fold.

Conclusion

EPOS have done it again; the H3 is another stellar set of headphones that really does help immerse us in the gaming experience. They are ultra comfortable, sound great and have a fantastic mic built-in. They’re not cheap, but for the quality involved I feel they are more than worth the entry fee, especially if you’re big into atmospheric titles where the bass and clarity really need to shine.

Hardware provided by the manufacturer for review purposes.