Do you want a headset that can connect to almost everything? One that will let you jump into an online game and chat with teammates, them just as quickly switch over to your phone’s music playlist? The EPOS H3PRO Hybrid Wireless Closed Acoustic Gaming Headset might be for you.
Connect to (Almost) Everything
EPOS H3PRO Hybrid is the most convenient headset I have and it comes from its hybrid nature. Just being able to connect to my PC, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, phone, and TV is incredibly useful.
It connects to devices in three ways; via the USB dongle, Bluetooth, and phono cable. Surprisingly, you can even connect to the dongle and Bluetooth at the same time. This lets you listen to a podcast from your phone while adding in some calming music from your PC. Or more practically, I’ve been playing games on my PC, turning on music on my phone, and then walking down the store, all without taking off or pressing buttons on the H3PRO Hybrid.
Setup was easy. After charging it up, I just plugged the USB dongle into the PC, turned on the headset and it automatically started working. PlayStation required selecting the audio device, while I just pressed the Bluetooth button and then connected via the menu for my Nintendo Switch and phone.
High-Quality Sound
The EPOS H3PRO Hybrid looks good, but more importantly, it sounds good. Much like the cheaper H3 Hybrid, it can be a touch bassy, but everything comes through clearly. Music and gaming both sound great here.
Active Noise Canceling is included on this headset. I was pleasantly surprised to see it, as it’s not usually a feature on gaming headsets. It isn’t perfect noise-canceling – I can still quietly hear my cat meowing for a second breakfast while it’s on, unlike higher-end headsets like the Bose QuietComfort 35 II. But it’s also nowhere near as expensive and works quite well when paired with the isolation that the headphones provide. I usually keep it turned on as it certainly does improve the experience.
The microphone is quite impressive too. There’s none of that background sound that often comes with budget headsets or even pricier ones like the SteelSeries Arctic 7. I found that it clearly picked up my voice and it’s great for voice calls or online gaming. Just want to use these as headphones most of the time? The microphone is detachable and it includes a cover to place over the port.
While I’m impressed by the microphone on the EPOS H3PRO Hybrid, I still recommend a proper microphone like the EPOS B20 for serious streamers and other content creation. It’s certainly good enough for a starting streamer though.
Adjustments and Buttons
The build of the headset itself is lightweight, but sturdy. I’ve not experienced any issues, even with frequent adjustments of the headband which can fit tiny or large heads. I’ve been wearing it for 8+ hour sessions without it feeling uncomfortable.
The ear cups are a tall and narrow shape. Sadly I don’t have a variety of ears to test them out with, but they fit snugly on mine. The cups themselves are covered in a soft velour-like material, which I personally prefer to the leather-like material that some use.
The EPOS H3PRO Hybrid comes with a handful of buttons and a volume wheel. The buttons are all fine, with a helpful voice telling you when you power on/off and a few more bits and pieces. The volume wheel does take a bit more effort than I’d like to adjust volume and (on PC at least) it moves up and down in 8% leaps. It looks cool, but a standard dial with more fine control would be preferred.
Battery
According to the marketing material, the EPOS H3PRO Hybrid lasts anywhere from 18.5 to 38 hours. It all depends on what you’re doing with it, but my own tests find this to be about correct.
If Active Noise Canceling is activated, it tends to be on the lower side of that range. If turning it off and using Bluetooth instead of the dongle, it’s on the higher side.
What I find really useful is that it tells you the approximate amount of charge left every time the headset is turned on. It fully charges within a few hours too, so it’s unlikely that you’ll be left with a dead battery.
Range
There’s only one area where the EPOS H3PRO Hybrid falls short against comparable headsets and that’s range.
It’s somewhat ironic that this is a headset that can go anywhere, yet unlike even the budget-priced Gioteck TX70, it can’t go around the house – at least when connected to the USB dongle.
If you’re just using the EPOS H3PRO Hybrid to play games or listen to music in your room, this won’t bother you at all. If like me you’re blasting music through your headset from the PC as you wander the house vacuuming or washing the dishes, it might not do the job. Though of course you can just connect it to a Bluetooth device and play music from it as a workaround.
Verdict
The EPOS H3PRO Hybrid is a solid purchase. While pricey for a gaming headset, it includes the features and quality to justify it. On top of that, it sounds great, looks great and it’s incredibly comfortable. Downsides are minimal or only matter in very specific situations. I don’t hesitate in recommending it.
EPOS H3PRO HYBRID IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Purchase: EPOS Store
If you would like to see more hardware and accessories, you may be interested in our review of the EPOS B20 Streaming Microphone. Or if you’re looking for a headset to fit in a lower budget, the EPOS H3 Hybrid or Gioteck TX70 Wireless Headset may interest you.
Many thanks go to EPOS for a review unit.
A gamer since the days of Amstrad and DOS and someone who has dabbled in a variety of professions. He enjoys a wide variety of genres, but has been focusing on visual novels and virtual reality in recent years. Head Editor of NookGaming. Follow him and the website on @NookSite.
