INTRODUCTION

   Whenever a new game comes out for the PC and it's worth spending time to check it out i tend to use most of the gaming peripherals i have in line to review. Yes, not many great titles have come out for the PC lately so sometimes i have no choice but to use older ones (like COD Modern Warfare, Star Citizen, World of Warships and Cyberpunk) but thanks to the arrival of God of War and Forza Horizon 5 a while ago I’ve been able to put even more headsets, mice and keyboards to the test. Since acquiring the gaming section/segment of Sennheiser a while back EPOS has released numerous award winning headsets one of which is the H3 Hybrid Closed Acoustic Gaming Headset with Bluetooth which is obviously what today's review's all about.

   ΕPOS is an audio company developing and selling devices for business professionals and the gaming community. Based on leading and advanced technologies, the newly established Danish company EPOS will deliver high-end audio solutions designed for Enterprise Solutions and Gaming headsets – with design, technology and performance as paramount parameters. EPOS derives from Latin and ancient Greek and is used to describe epic stories, speech and poetry. The name encapsulates our dedication to create solutions that enforce ways of communication and unleash human potential through the power of audio. EPOS operates in a global market with offices and partners in more than 30 countries and builds on more than 115 years of experience in sound and innovation. Find more information about EPOS at www.eposaudio.com.

   Just like the "regular" H3 model (review here) the H3 Hybrid may also be available in the same 2 colors (Onyx Black and Ghost White) but this time over it sports two angled 40mm dynamic stereo drivers that feature a frequency response of 20-20000Hz with 116dB sensitivity together with a bi-directional, noise cancelling detachable boom microphone (with lift to mute function) that features a frequency response of 100-7500Hz with a sensitivity of -20dB. These numbers are actually similar but not identical with those of the original H3, probably due to the addition of Bluetooth v5.2 wireless connectivity and the built-in 7.1 virtual surround sound card. With that out of the way we once again find the same dual axis hinge system which improves comfort and the same volume roller/knob on the exterior of the right earcup and leatherette and soft fabric dressed large memory foam earpads. The H3 Hybrid also features detachable 3.5mm (consoles, PC and portable devices) and USB-C (PC/PS4/PS5/MAC) cables and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack which can power the headset for up to 37 hours when used via Bluetooth (24 hours via 3.5mm and up to 19 hours for both).

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

The H3 Hybrid (Onyx Black) arrived inside a black and green box that has a picture of the left earcup at the front beneath the company logo.

A product description in 6 languages is located on the left side just over the bundle contents and system compatibility.

At the rear of the box EPOS has placed a full product picture showcasing its detachable boom microphone and connectivity.

Packing is very good with the headset placed inside a piece of black foam and the rest of the bundle inside a secondary cardboard box.

Aside the H3 Hybrid headset inside the box you will also find an boom arm cover cap, 1.5 meter long 3.5mm braided console cable (headset/mic), 2 meter long USB-A to USB-C PC/Console cable, safety guide, compliance information paper, wireless information paper and the quick guide.

THE H3 HYBRID

The EPOS H3 Hybrid is made out of plastic, stainless steel, leatherette, fabric and memory foam and weighs just 298g (278g without the boom microphone).

As for size we're talking about a rather medium sized gaming headset almost identical to the H3.

Typically, EPOS has placed both their name and logo on both sides of the headset as seen above.

The drop-down bi-directional boom microphone has a rubber section right in the middle which gives it a relatively good degree of flexibility.

As mentioned earlier you can remove the boom microphone by pulling it out and replacing it with the bundled plastic cap as seen above.

The on/off power button is located Infront of the left earcup while the USB-C port is located at the base and the 3.5mm port at the rear.

The volume control roller/knob is located on the exterior of the right earcup just in front of the Bluetooth button and the 3 LED battery indicator.

Using a dual axis hinge system doesn't only improve comfort levels, it also makes the headset more "compatible" with different head and ear shapes.

Once again instead of using leatherette for the entire earpad (these are detachable and can be replaced) EPOS used a far softer material for the front section.

Unlike the "regular" H3 only the interior headpad of the H3 Hybrid is made out of leatherette, the rest is made by fabric.

The stainless-steel slider can extend up to 41mm on both sides (82mm total) via 10 visible increments.

EPOS GAMING SUITE

For optimal control over the H3 Hybrid you should download the EPOS gaming suite software.

So, from the 1st speaker tab you can adjust the volume, choose one of the 4 available presets (esport/flat/movie/music) or create your very own, switch between stereo (2.0) and virtual surround sound (7.1), set the reverberation level and perform a sound test.

From the microphone tab you can enhance your voice (warm/clear effects), mute the microphone, perform a microphone test and adjust the gain, side tone and noise gate features.

The settings tab is where you can check the current software and firmware versions, perform updates if available (the headset can only be updated while plugged into a USB port), change the function for the smart button (surround sound/preset switcher) and enable/disable the auto sleep feature.

CONCLUSION

   When I first received the H3 Hybrid from EPOS roughly a month ago I started using it with my music players via 3.5mm and honestly, I wasn’t impressed. At the same time, I was also testing a few other 3.5mm headsets and that made things even worse to a point that I stopped using the H3 Hybrid for about a week. However, then I started testing its bluetooth and USB-C capabilities and everything changed. Audio was far more vivid and accurate, bass levels were very good (for a pair of 40mm drivers) and even positioning audio was seriously very good in games (all of them really). Now I don’t know why 3.5mm performance is far from great but if you’re considering buying the H3 Hybrid for that use I strongly suggest looking at other models by EPOS. The detachable boom microphone may not be the best I've ever seen used with a headset but it offers clear communication with other people without lag/delay so it should be more than sufficient for most people out there. As for battery life by using bluetooth connectivity (and after at least 5 recharge cycles) I recorded up to just over 31 hours with the volume turned almost to the max and so no problems there either, as a matter of fact this is a pretty impressive result (would be for any full size closed headset).

   Retailing currently for USD143.10 inside the USA (Amazon.com) and for 151.80Euros inside the EU (Amazon.de) the H3 Hybrid by EPOS is priced just as you’d expect for a wired and wireless gaming headset. Overall if you exclude its somewhat less than stellar 3.5mm performance the H3 Hybrid scores very high marks when connected either via USB-C or Bluetooth and since that’s also true for its 7.1 virtual surround sound (positioning audio) it clearly deserves the Golden Award.

PROS

- Build Quality
- Clear & Accurate Mids & Highs
- 7.1 Positioning Audio Performance
- 3.5mm, USB & Bluetooth Connectivity
- Comfortable (Dual Axis Hinges / Memory Foam Earpads)
- Up To 37 Hours Of Battery Life
- Flexible & Detachable Bidirectional Boom Microphone
- PC Gaming Suite Software (Easy To Use)

CONS

- 3.5mm Performance (Could Be Better)