Starting off our Epos H3Pro Hybrid Headset review, you probably feel when it comes to gaming headsets, they are a dime a dozen. With so many options to choose from where should the average gamer start? Most newer gamers or those on a budget will typically aim for a low market price; in these circumstances, they will choose price over comfort and quality. This is not to say that all headsets under one hundred dollars ($100) are not worth it, but most under that price tag will break easily and need to be replaced before the year is up.
So, does that mean a high price tag headset is worth investing in? You might expect us to say yes, but the answer is also no. Over the last two decades, we have had the opportunity to try out a variety of headsets. Just at Niche Gamer, we have tested the Epos H6Pro, HyperX Cloud II, Steel Series Arctis 7P+, and the Corsair HS80. Now we are reviewing the Epos H3Pro Hybrid Headset to let you know how it compares to other headsets we have used or reviewed in the past.
Past Headsets
In full disclosure, over the last two decades, I have used a variety of headsets; specifically, I have used: Turtle Beaches, Trittons, Plantronics Rigs, Astro A40s, Skull Candies, and Hyper X headsets. Before reviewing Epos H3Pro Hybrid Headset, I would rotate between the A40s, HyperX Cloud II, and the Plantronics Rig 600. Each headset came with its own positive and negative aspects.
With the A40s, the customization, individual parts, and sound quality were excellent; the main problems with the A40s were the mic’s sensitivity/sound quality, the ability to adjust the volume without a mixer, and how easy the 3.5MM cable would break or create static in the headset. For the most part, we have been able to get past most of these negative aspects with some time and effort. In fact, the A40s have survived since PAX 2020.
On the other hand, the Rig 600 and Hyper X had problems that weren’t easy to fix or manage. With the Rig 600, the microphone broke and we were unable to fix it. This caused a bunch of static when using the mic; the Bluetooth was great but ultimately the microphone was more important. Then there is the HyperX Cloud II wired; the biggest problem with the HyperX headset was that after being dropped a few times, the cord would create a lot of static and the 3.5MM jack wouldn’t always register.
With these factors in mind, we put the H3 Pro Hybrid gaming headset to the test to see how its functionality compared to my other three headsets.
Device Usage
Starting off, the Epos H3Pro Hybrid headset is not wireless for all devices. The headset connects to laptops and the PC through the use of the USB dongle. Meanwhile, you can connect your phone and Nintendo Switch through Bluetooth pairing; only one of the two devices can be paired at the same time.
The headset can be connected to other Bluetooth-accessible devices but is on a case-by-case basis. Users can connect the Epos H3Pro Hybrid headset to their PCs through Bluetooth but this gets rid of the multichannel receiver. Instead, users can plug in the USB receiver to directly connect to their PC without having to use the Bluetooth connection.
Sadly, you are unable to connect to your Xbox Series X, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, or PlayStation 5 through Bluetooth. Instead, you will need to use a 3.5mm jack to connect the headset to the controller. While connected to the controller, users can still cast audio to the headset through Bluetooth or the USB dongle.
When you compare it to other Bluetooth devices, the inability to even plug the dongle into the consoles for full wireless capability is baffling. Why not create a device that is fully wireless or fully connected. We get that the device is meant to be a hybrid but being limited on how to use it on a console really limits who would buy this device.
Practicality
Although we already talked about the Epos H3Pro Hybrid headset’s mixed connectivity, there are other components to look at. Overall the headset is a standard size compared to the Hyper X and Astros.
Similar to the Hyper X headset, the Epos H3Pro Hybrid headset has a limited range of motion for the earpieces to move. The headset can only be muted by moving the microphone all the way up. The microphone can be taken off and replaced with a side panel for when on the go. The headset earpieces can be adjusted with each side sliding up and down
Both the Bluetooth and dongle connectivity makes headset use easy when not gaming. So if you are on the go with your laptop, switch, or phone then it is easy to use. Sadly, the box does not come with a carrying case like our Tritons so you will have to find a way to carry it around or just wear it.
Another concern is the device’s requirement for power. Even when plugged into a controller, the device still needs to be charged. When charged, the headset has great battery life. The noise-canceling can reduce the battery life but it is great while on a plane.
Comfort
When talking about comfort, there is a good variety of factors. How does the headset feel after sitting on my head after a few hours? Can I wear my glasses while playing? Will my ears hurt after use? How do they feel after being on the head or resting around the neck?
So let’s answer these questions. After a few hours with the headset on, found that our ears were getting sore. If you are wearing glasses and a moderate size head, your head will get sore quickly. When using the Gunnars, we could only wear this headset for at best an hour before it would become uncomfortable.
As someone who has big ears, this headset felt uncomfortable but was bearable. When having it rest on your head off of the ears, it can put a lot of pressure on the skull. If wearing it around your neck and you have a moderate to thick neck you can feel like you are being choked. For smaller people, it can rest comfortably.
Sound Quality
Overall, the headset’s sound quality worked better than expected. With multichannel audio, we were expecting that one device’s audio might be distorted. Thankfully, the Epos H3Pro Hybrid headset was able to distinguish which audio should be prioritized based on audio level. The noise-canceling made it easier to relax in a crowded environment and eliminated most of the white noise on the plane.
While playing on consoles the game audio sounds great but you can easily forget that you are wired into a controller; well that’s the case until your cat knocks the controller on the floor or you go to stand up to do something. Game-wise, the Epos H3Pro Hybrid headset provides players with crisp dynamic sound quality allowing you to even hear a pin drop from a grenade.
Final Thoughts
The Epos H3Pro Hybrid headset can be good for gaming if you don’t mind cords. The Epos H3Pro Hybrid headset is comfortable for those with a small/average head but not great for those with glasses, long earrings, big ears, or big heads. For a battery-powered headset, this headset has a great battery life but requiring a battery even when connected to a controller is unreasonable.
As a whole, the Epos H3Pro Hybrid headset is great if you want to play your switch while working on your computer or listening to music. The audio quality sounds great and the noise-canceling works wonderfully in loud settings.
At the end of the day, I will probably just stick with my A40s for gaming on consoles and only use the Epos H3Pro Hybrid headset on my PC, laptop, and while out and about.
Update: We revisited using the Epos H3Pro Hybrid Headset on the PS4 and found that after forcing an update it was compatible. Additionally, we were able to test it on a PlayStation 5 and found it to work.
A copy of the Epos H3Pro Hybrid headset was provided to Niche Gamer for review purposes. You can find additional information about Niche Gamer’s review/ethics policy here.
