Again in September final 12 months, we reviewed a relatively wonderful headset from EPOS. We referred to as the H3 Hybrid “wonderful” and “versatile”. However EPOS didn’t need to cease there. There’s now a PRO model of that headset.
The EPOS H3PRO Hybrid – a little bit of a mouthful, fact be instructed – is an incremental enchancment on final 12 months’s H3 Hybrid. Which itself was an enchancment over the wired-only H3. Complicated? It’s a bit; EPOS has a lot of headsets. We’ve tried a number of of them, and so they’re all wonderful in their very own methods. Is the H3PRO Hybrid sufficient of a step up from the H3 Hybrid to warrant its existence (with a a lot steeper price ticket besides)? We’re unsure, in all honesty. There’s no denying this can be a implausible headset. Nevertheless it is going to price you.
Other than the totally different colourways, there’s not an enormous quantity of distinction while you have a look at the H3PRO Hybrid and the H3 Hybrid side-by-side. They’re the identical dimension, virtually the identical weight, and so they’re each made with prime quality supplies. They each have an adjustable delicate head band, with a sturdy metallic inside. They each have the identical delicate however hard-wearing ear cups, and a microphone that may be indifferent. And so they each boast wonderful audio high quality.
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On paper, the H3PRO Hybrid has barely higher audio high quality. In line with EPOS, the PRO has a barely greater speaker sensitivity, and decrease whole harmonic distortion (THD). Reality be instructed, we are able to’t actually inform the distinction. The H3 Hybrid sounds wonderful. The H3PRO Hybrid does too.
So what is the distinction, then? Primarily, it’s within the headset’s connectivity. Whereas final 12 months’s H3 Hybrid allowed for connection over Bluetooth or 3.5mm jack, the H3PRO Hybrid throws a proprietary wi-fi dongle into the combo. Meaning you should utilize true wi-fi on PS4 and PS5 consoles – beforehand, your solely choice was to attach by way of your console’s controller audio jack.
It’s a really good contact, and regardless of the way you determine to attach the H3PRO Hybrid, it’s seamless. Similar to the non-pro model, you possibly can join a number of units without delay, too. In case you’re utilizing it in your console, you may also use the Bluetooth to hook up with your cellphone; superb if you wish to keep plugged into calls and notifications, or need to use a third-party app to talk with associates.
However right here’s the kicker: the H3PRO Hybrid is £90 dearer than the H3 Hybrid. It’s £239, making it EPOS’ most costly headset up to now – and placing it squarely within the high-end gaming headset vary. As implausible as this headset is, we’re unsure we are able to justify that price ticket, significantly not when the £149 H3 Hybrid was already so wonderful.
Whereas the audio high quality is barely higher, in regular utilization you’re not going to note. Basically then, you’re paying £90 additional merely to attach it to a PlayStation console wirelessly. £90 simply so occurs to be the worth of Sony’s personal 3D Pulse Wi-fi Headset, designed particularly for PS5. It’s a fraction of the worth, and top-of-the-line headsets for PS5 in our opinion.
There’s no doubting that EPOS’ H3PRO Hybrid – or certainly any of the H3 headsets – have a greater construct high quality than the 3D Pulse. The distinction with Sony’s headset is that it’s been particularly engineered to utilize PS5’s 3D Audio capabilities. And so when you’re particularly in search of a headset to make use of only for PS5, it’s exhausting to advocate anything.
If it’s versatility you need, nonetheless, EPOS have the market cornered right here. Each the H3 Hybrid and H3PRO Hybrid can join to simply about any machine you possibly can think about, whether or not or not it’s wi-fi or by way of the three.5mm jack. The truth that you possibly can so simply detach the microphone, too, reworking a premium gaming headset right into a pair of premium headphones, is a boon. There’s no denying that the H3PRO Hybrid is an unbelievable headset, however until cash isn’t any object and also you completely should join wi-fi to your PlayStation, the H3 Hybrid presents higher worth in our opinion.
The H3PRO Hybrid is offered to buy instantly from EPOS. It’s accessible in three colors: Sebring Black, Ghost White and Racing Inexperienced.
A pattern unit was supplied by EPOS for the needs of this assessment.
