At the beginning of June we wrote a review about the Epos H3, a headset with cable that we were ultimately very satisfied with. We were therefore looking forward to the Epos H3 Hybrid, which also has a cable, but also has the option of working wirelessly. A few weeks ago we received a review copy and we started working with this headset for you.
When the news about this headset came in, it wasn’t entirely clear whether the H3 Hybrid will work with or without a cable. Both options eventually turn out to be possible, but if you use the headset for gaming, you will really have to connect the cable. The wireless option is more for connecting to your cell phone so you can have a phone call while gaming as well as listening to music. So you would expect the Epos H3 Hybrid to be exactly the same as a normal H3, but with the option to connect to an additional device. Unfortunately, this turns out not to be the case.
A pretty big difference, and also the biggest downside, is that you always have to turn the headset on to hear sound. You may have plugged your cable into your PC or controller, but you won’t hear anything without turning it on. This immediately takes away the great advantage that you have with the normal H3, because you do not have to worry that the battery is empty. With the H3 Hybrid you will always have to pay attention to whether the battery is still full enough. It is also not the case that you can game for very long with a full battery, because after about twenty hours you will have to put the headset on the charger again. It’s a bit of an odd choice from Epos, but it would be explainable if the sound was better than the H3. But that is not the case either, the H3 Hybrid has less bass and generally sounds less clear. It’s not that the sound is bad, but we prefer the sound of the normal H3.
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What is better compared to the H3 is the quality of the microphone. This picks up less ambient noise and that is of course nice. You also have the option to remove the microphone, for example when you go outside. It makes this headset multifunctional, because in the end you only have one device for gaming and listening to music on the bike. What is less nice is that you can hear yourself through the microphone. When you flip up the microphone, you won’t be bothered by it anymore and you will only hear it if no other sound comes through the headset. Incidentally, this only happens during use with a cable and not via Bluetooth.
In terms of wearing comfort, we have little to say about this model. The headset is comfortable and doesn’t weigh too much. This makes the H3 Hybrid extremely suitable for long sessions, even for glasses wearers. Unfortunately, the ear cups do not close as well as those of the H3, something that was so nice. In terms of design, we are satisfied and it is very similar to the normal H3.
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The Epos H3 Hybrid is a special and certainly not a bad headset. The biggest downside is that you always have to turn the device on, even if you only use it with a cable. The ability to also connect your phone and use it at the same time is very handy. The microphone is fine and it is also nice that you can disconnect it. As far as sound is concerned, it is slightly less than we expected, not bad, but it is a bit disappointing, especially because the H3 Hybrid costs € 179 and the H3 ‘only’ € 119. So if you don’t value the wireless functions, our advice will always be the normal H3.
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