EPOS H3PRO Hybrid Review: ‘The Does-It-All Gaming Headset’

EPOS H3PRO HYBRID FOR PC, PS5, PS4, XBOX SERIES X|S, XBOX ONE, AND NINTENDO SWITCH.

EPOS is back at it again with the H3PRO Hybrid gaming headset. After being impressed by the H3 Hybrid towards the end of last year, I’m happy to finally get my hands on the “PRO” variant and see what makes it so pro and whether those features justify the premium pricing. This is my EPOS H3PRO Hybrid review.

The same but different

Unboxing the EPOS H3PRO Hybrid was a familiar experience. The headset itself looks very similar to the H3 Hybrid, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, only with an additional slider toggle for Active Noise Cancellation. Then there’s a cover plate, to hide the microphone port when not in use; a 3.5 mm cable for connecting to Xbox and Switch systems; a USB-A to USB-C for charging and/or connecting to PC, PS5, and PS4; a low-latency dongle for wireless connectivity on PC and PlayStation consoles, and an extension for the dongle to optimize connectivity by moving it from behind systems or monitors/TVs.

Buy the EPOS H3PRO Hybrid on Amazon here.

The build quality of the H3PRO Hybrid is extremely similar to the H3 Hybrid, which combines lightweight materials with an overall solid construction. While I wouldn’t go tossing them into a backpack without a case, they still seem like they’ll last the thousands of gaming hours expected from a high-priced gaming headset.

Setting up and connecting the EPOS H3PRO Hybrid is very simple, and I quickly paired it with my PS5 and phone to test the dual connectivity feature.

Dual connectivity is still awesome

As seen with the H3 Hybrid, the dual connection allows system audio to be combined with another input via Bluetooth. In my usage, I plugged the dongle into my PS5 and received low-latency game sound. I then paired my phone using Bluetooth to get voice chat through the Discord app.

Dual connectivity is the perfect solution for cross-play gaming with friends, as everyone can use Discord as opposed to the built-in game VOIP which can be inconsistent and of lower quality. I’m encouraging all of my gaming friends to grab a dual connectivity headset ASAP to avoid the frustration that comes with in-game chat. Oh, and if your mother phones in the middle of an intense battle royale match, you can answer the phone while still playing, so no worries there!

There are two microphones that can be used for chat. The one on the boom is obviously the primary mic, which offers the best quality. However, there is another microphone built into the headset so, if you leave the boom mic behind, you can fall back on the secondary mic. This is great for those using the H3PRO Hybrid as both a gaming headset and on-the-go headphone solution.

Ditching the cables

With the H3PRO Hybrid, the dual connectivity combines two wireless solutions in a cable-free package. Connect to the dongle and connect to your Bluetooth-supported device, and away you go. This gives it a leg-up on the H3 Hybrid.

The ANC is also exclusive to the H3PRO Hybrid. As ANC solutions go, it’s fairly basic. It can either be on or off. When enabled, the battery life does take a significant hit, dropping from around 32 hours to about 16 hours at ~80% volume, which I don’t think is worth using it full-time. With that said, the ANC can come in clutch during specific situations. The example that impressed me was when I turned on my large fan during a particularly hot afternoon. Combined with the closed-back design, I couldn’t hear the fan at all with ANC disabled. If you have a particularly loud fan or rumbly air conditioner, then you may find a good use for this.

Also, if you rock the H3PRO Hybrid outside, which is perfectly possible, then the ANC can be used to block out traffic noise, the hum of planes and/or trains, and other low-frequency distractions.

Fun sounding

As for the overall sound quality, it’s very similar to the H3 Hybrid. It’s a “fun” sound, pushing bass and treble ahead of neutrality, which I think is ideal for a headset targeting casual and mainstream gamers. It’s exciting to listen to, while still being accurate in terms of positioning for tracking footstep noise and audio cues while gaming. As promised, the sound was delivered with no perceptible latency, so that’s obviously good for competitive titles like Apex Legends!

Comfort also mirrors the H3 Hybrid. Again, it forces me to wear it a little more forward than usual on my head, but that’s fine once you’ve gotten used to it. The clamping force is just right and I like the clear numbering on the adjustable headband, which makes resizing between multiple users very easy.

For further tuning and installing the latest updates, EPOS’ Gaming Suite is well worth a download. I especially like the 9-band EQ that allows for further customization of the sound.

EPOS H3PRO Hybrid Review: Is it worth buying?

At $279.99, the EPOS H3Pro Hybrid is going to be a big investment for many. Those who do end up dropping almost $300 on this headset should be able to see the value in the simultaneous wireless connectivity between multiple devices as well as Active Noise Cancellation. There are certainly moments where the combination comes in very handy, but it won’t be for everyone.

The EPOS H3PRO Hybrid is the “does-it-all gaming headset” whose versatility comes at a premium price.

H3PRO Hybrid review unit was provided by EPOS.