Aside from picking the right mouse and keyboard, choosing a good pair of headphones is just as important. It’s vital that you find the right headset for your gaming needs, especially if you’re a competitive gamer looking to upgrade your sound quality. If that’s you, then you can’t overlook the EPOS H6 Pro headet.
I’ve previously looked into the difference between open and closed headphones and found that open headphones give a better, more accurate soundstage. At the time, I was into playing Counter Strike, a game where listening to the audio is crucial. This led me to buying a pair of open headphones along with a fairly cheap microphone. Since the EPOS H6 Pro’s offer a Sennheiser quality headset, I was eager to try them out.
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EPOS H6 PRO – What are its features?
When you buy the H6PRO, the accessories that come with it are bog standard. It comes with the GSA 30 PC cable, GSA 30 console cable, 2x H6PRO cover and the usual safety and quick start guide. At first glance, the design is minimalistic and simple. It feels lightweight, weighing at only 309g. The wires that come in the box are 3.5mm connections, one which is a 2.5m splitter cable with two connections for mic and headphones, and the other is a shorter 1.4m cable. There’s no USB connectivity which means it’s pretty much a plug and play and doesn’t require software drivers. It’s compatible with any platform as long as it uses a 3.5mm jack.
One of the interesting features is the magnetic, detachable microphone boom. This is notably convenient for those who already own a dedicated microphone or if you simply don’t need to use a microphone. You can easily remove it and replace the microphone with a cover to adopt an even more cleaner aesthetic. The H6PRO’s don’t feature an in-line volume control – instead, the volume is changed via a volume wheel located on the right ear cup which lets you quickly adjust while gaming. Where is the mute option you might ask? The microphone is designed with a lift to mute system indicated with the sound of a click so gamers won’t accidentally mute by unintentionally hitting the mute button.
EPOS H6 PRO – Pillow-like Comfort
In the past, I’ve used a fair share of uncomfortable headphones. Either they had a hard headband or small ear cups that didn’t cover my ears. EPOS on the other hand has very much thought this through. I’ve been using these headphones for my marathon sessions , and I can honestly say that they are the most comfortable headphones I’ve ever used. The headset has a slim headband with padding, and it also has a slider on each side with labelled increments. The H6PRO features large ear cups that sit over your ears rather than on top which is perfect for those who play games for a long period of time. I personally prefer this type particularly for long duration gaming as those that sit on top end up being uncomfortable.
It should be noted that I also wear glasses and a common issue is that headphones can cause discomfort because they’re too tight. I don’t have this problem with H6PRO. In fact, they’re a little loose as I’ve noticed sometimes the ear cups would touch the front of my ears which means I need to push the headphones back a little. Whilst it’s not uncomfortable, it does get a little bit annoying having to adjust every now and then. But in general, I enjoy them – they’re really comfortable and I can use them over long sessions.
EPOS H6 PRO – Sound quality
But what about the audio quality? I must say, the sound quality is wonderful. I personally play a lot of Valorant these days where listening to footsteps is extremely important as it can either lose or help you clutch a round. With its expansive soundscape, I was able to clearly locate the enemies’ positioning and prefire corners to eliminate the opposition. However, I did have an issue with getting used to the audio volume. When I first started using them, it sounded quieter than usual and this is because open-back doesn’t isolate your environment’s audio and you’ll be able to hear everything in your surroundings. I had to increase all of my audio settings to max and even then, it doesn’t sound as loud as my previous headphones. However, I adjusted to this quite quickly though, even if it might’ve taken a few hours for me to get used to have quieter audio. I also play in a quiet bedroom, so there isn’t much sound interference. If your environment is noisy, this might be an issue for you.
To test the microphone, I jumped onto Discord to play with some friends and recorded a few videos via OBS to compare with my standalone Blue Yeti microphone. With Blue Yeti, it picks up every tap of my mechanical keyboard and would easily trigger the input. But with H6PRO, it was the opposite and I had to increase the input volume. Although I find H6PRO’s audio sounds quieter, it does a good job at keeping the background noise at bay and still sounds crisp and clear. Overall, I have no complaints about the audio quality. The volume needs adjusting, but no major issues.
EPOS H6 PRO – Are they worth your time?
I’m usually not the type to spend ridiculous amounts of money on gaming gear, but I’ve come to terms with the fact that cheap often means poor quality. With H6PRO being somewhat of a high price point, I find that you get the value of what you’ll pay for.
The EPOS H6PRO gaming headset is very versatile with its innovative design. They feel extremely comfortable, and the incredible audio performance is just as promised by EPOS. When you first purchase the headphones, it comes with a 2 year warranty period and the microphone is also covered under the warranty depending on how it was damaged. But if you want to replace ear pads or cover plates, they’re available on the EPOS website. It comes in 3 different colours; black, green and white and it retails for £149.00. If you’re happy to spend that amount of money for the H6PRO, it’s safe to say it’s definitely one to consider. You will not be disappointed.
Featured Image Credit: SENNHEISER