EPOS H6 Pro Review

The EPOS H6 Pro is a top-tier device, but the headset comes with a relatively large price tag, and the caveat is that it has an open back design (although this is a good thing if you're playing with friends in the same room or want to be aware of your surroundings). The open back makes the EPOS something of a specialty device. That said, you can't do better if this is your desired design.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

The comfort metric accounts for the lion's share of a headset's overall score for a good reason: you won't get much use out of your headgear if you don't want to wear it. Given the importance of this metric, it is good news that the EPOS H6 Pro is as comfy as a Cadillac. The assertion of superior comfort is evident through our thorough analysis of the headset's features and extensive hands-on testing. Specifically, we test how long testers can comfortably wear the device, the construction materials, ear cup design and sizing, padding type, adjustability in the headband, and the weight. When all these contributors to comfort are added up, the EPOS ranks near the top of its class.

In our test for comfort, we had a variety of testers (with a variety of head sizes) wear these devices and take note of the comfort and the amount of time that they could use the device before they wanted to take it off. All told, the EPOS H6 Pro is so comfortable that most testers didn't have enough time in their day to keep it on long enough for it to become uncomfortable. As such, we rank it as a 10+ hour device. Few others match this high bar for comfort.

The headband and ear cups are the two components of a headset that contribute to its comfort. The headband on the EPOS H6 Pro is constructed of ​​leatherette with a metal backing. The padding on the headband is a bit thin, but the ear cups help hold it up, so the headband largely goes unnoticed. As for the ear cups, these are made of medium squishy foam, covered in a micro-mesh material that allows the ears to breathe, or at least we did not have any issues with feeling hot as with other devices in our tests. The ear cups conform to the head with dual-axis hinges and are spacious despite having an unusual shape. Also, the ear doesn't come in contact with any hard bits on the inside. Finally, the EPOS H6 Pro weighs 11.4 ounces (about average for its class), so you won't feel like a top-heavy bobblehead.

Audio

As you might imagine, audio is an important metric in the assessment of gaming headsets. Indeed, the audio evaluation is a close second to comfort. In this series of tests, we look at positional sound in actual gameplay and a test designed by Razer, a competitive gaming hardware company. We also assess voice audio to check the quality of in-game communication. Finally, we assess the sound blocking or noise canceling capabilities and the quality of the music produced by the headphone's speakers. Again, the EPOS H6 Pro proved itself to be a leader by earning one of the best performances in class despite its total lack of noise canceling capabilities.

Razor's audio-focused video uses the sound of a helicopter circling overhead with a display showing where the chopper is relative to the listener. If the headset is of decent quality, the wearer can discern the bird's location with sound alone. We use this test on all of the headsets in our review because positional sound references provide a gamer with a decisive advantage — not to mention that it's a more immersive experience.

We also run a similar set of tests using the game Counter Strike: Global Offensive. We use both gunfire and footsteps in these tests to determine the positional audio quality. No matter the point on the compass, the EPOS H6 Pro delivered sound effects that allowed the user to easily detect the location of the noise. We could not have described a better performance than the one delivered by this device. The EPOS headset set the bar for the class.

As for the voice audio quality, the EPOS H6 Pro is very clear, with a full sound that will not allow distorted sounds in the heat of battle. However, the EPOS is an open back device, meaning there is no sound canceling of external noise. As such, we only recommend this headgear for group gaming in person or for use in a quiet room.

As for music, again, the quality is quite high with the EPOS. We tested this device with various music genres, and the sound was true and crisp across them all. Specifically, the bass was the weakest point in this portion of the audio evaluation. The mid-range was heard by all as very nice and pronounced, arguably the best of the devices we have tested. Similarly, the treble quality has good highs that don't get washed out by the bass or mids. All told, the music produced by the EPOS is vibrant and full. After using this device, we believe it would be hard to go back to an average headset.

Microphone

The microphone is a key component of any gaming headset, and as such, we give all the mics a careful combing over. We like to see a mic that captures hi-fi voice so players can hear loud and clear by their gaming compatriots. Additionally, we look at the muting effectiveness. We are happy to report that the EPOS H6 Pro has a high-quality microphone.

To ascertain how the EPOS H6 Pro's mic sizes up to the competition, we make an audio recording using a standardized script and then compare the quality side-by-side. We found that its recordings were quite crisp and true to the speaker's voice. However, there were some slight issues with the sibilants, particularly with hard 'C' sounds. Aside from that, there was no feedback or scratchiness to speak of.

Lastly, the EPOS microphone picked up very little background noise, even when we tested it with loud speech within 6 feet of the device. And, the EPOS's muting, activated by simply flipping the mic arm into a vertical position, is absolute. Once set, there is no static or feedback-type buzzing.

Ease of Use

Lastly, we have the ease of use analysis. While ease of use is the lowest weighted metric, it remains a critical portion of the review because no matter how well a device performs, if it's a pain to set up and operate, that will detract from the satisfaction one has with their purchase. The ease of use assessment is the one place where the EPOS received a below-average score. However, to be clear, this subpar performance is due to the device's short cord.

First off, the EPOS is a plug-and-play device, ready to use right out of the box. This device does have software for advanced features, but most will find it unnecessary. The headset also has onboard controls for mute and volume. The mute function activates by turning the mic arm to the vertical position while the volume wheel is on the right ear cup, making it easy to access but hard to adjust accidentally.

The factor that brought down its performance in this metric is its cord which is just 4 feet, 5 inches long — way too short for our liking. On the upside, the cord is quite flexible, thus making it less disturbing, and at the same time, it appears to be fairly durable. Finally, the headset's microphone arm is easily removed if you don't need it. However, if you do need it, it stays where you set it and has enough flexibility for micro-adjustments. Aside from the issues with the cord, the EPOS is pretty easy to use.

Should You Buy EPOS H6 Pro?

From our perspective, the main motive for considering the EPOS is if you want an open back headset. If you are in the market for such a device, we think this is the best option and enthusiastically recommend it. However, if you do not need an open back headset, we recommend looking at some other products in our review.

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