EPOS H3Pro Hybrid Gaming Headset - PC Headphones with Microphone - Noise-Cancellation, Adjustable, Smart Button Audio Mixing, Bluetooth, Gaming Suite, Surround Sound - Racing Green

Even though I paid for a *new* product, I received the headset in used condition. The manual was folded against the creases, nothing was wrapped in plastic, and there were several accessories un-banded. Regardless, I was anxious to see if the headset would work so I plugged in the USB dongle and started setting it up in Windows 11 Pro.I immediately ran into issues connecting to the EPOS Gaming Suite software, but I expected as much, based on the reviews. Plus, I own an older Sennheiser Game One headset with driver issues (Sennheiser and EPOS gaming headsets used to be the same brand).The driver issues with this headset are pretty much the same as my older headset. You can get audio to come through fine with plug and play (legacy drivers) but if you want to connect to the EPOS Gaming Suite, you’ll need their proper drivers. It’s also worth noting that the EPOS Gaming Suite software worked when I connected the included USB-A to USB-C cable to the headset… but who wants to use a cord with a wireless headset?So, I needed to get the USB dongle working or I was going to return the headset. I screwed around for a couple hours updating firmware, uninstalling/reinstalling drivers and software, until I was about ready to print the return labels. Then finally I made one simple change, and everything worked. I went to Device Manager -> Audio Inputs and Outputs -> Headset (EPOS H3PRO Dongle) -> Update Driver.Boom. Everything worked.I admit this hassle isn’t ideal for the average consumer; however, I’m glad I stuck with it and got it working. As far as the actual hardware is concerned, I'm totally satisfied. It sounds and feels better than my old headset. It has a snug fit that only slips when you tilt your head too far forward. The ear cups are firm, but cushioned, and do well to form a good seal. The volume limit could stand to be a little louder, but the clarity is very good. You aren't going to get thumping bass or anything, but frequencies are well separated and clear. The software also has an equalizer to play with. There are 2 surround modes - 2.0 does well for louder stereo music, and 7.1 is good for most games/movies. The noise cancelling is kind of strange as it only seems to cancel lows - like the sound of my voice, but it’s not bad. The wireless aspect is amazing and battery life is an absolute non-issue. I plug it in whenever I’m done using it (usually 14-hour sessions), and I’ve never had it reach less than 60% charge. You can also attach it to the USB-A to USB-C cable which is about 6 feet long if the battery dies. I haven't used Bluetooth so I can't comment on that.Overall, the hardware is great, the software isn't bad, and the driver support is lacking. If you use the USB dongle like me, just update the drivers in Windows and you should be good to go.

Before the negatives let's talk about the pros.-Great sound quality-very comfortable-long battery life-decent mic-Nice feeling construction-amazing customer serviceNow to the cons.They simply don't work. I had issues with my first set disconnecting when connected to my phone via Bluetooth and to my PC with the wireless USB dongle. I checked everything and had a warranty pair sent and was able to keep my first pair. Second pair had the same issue after about a week and I let the company know. I asked if I could send them back for a refund. Epos agreed and sent me a prepaid shipping label to return them. Life got in the way and I didn't send it back for over a month as they were still in use for my work. The company then sent me a third pair and I gave them to a friend to try out. I will not be returning these and plan on using them as a wired headset where I have the least issues.To outline the actual issues, cutting out wireless connections, mic would also cut out and sound tin-ie for a lack of better description. They have also just started to turn themselves off. A restart always fixes every issue I have had but is annoying none the less. My recommendation is to buy a wired headset if you want something wired or buy a different wireless headset if you want it to actually work wirelessly.

Update Mar 2024:I've come to hate these headphones so much. The Bluetooth on them is the worst I've ever had in a device. They disconnect or go to sleep constantly, sometimes it's really difficult to get them to pair, but the worst part is the crackling, I can't enjoy any music or hear someone who's talking to me.Also you cannot rely on flipping up the boom mic to be fully muted as sometimes the internal mic will take over. This has led to some embarrassing moments.These are so infuriating, don't buy them.---------------------Update after 8 months:The bluetooth on this headset is straight trash. It is constantly stuttering and cutting out when watching videos. Luckily I primarily use the dongle for work. I've tried disconnecting and power cycling both devices and sometimes it just makes no difference.The tightness has loosened up considerably, so now if I look down at the ground the headset will start to slip off.I took these on an airplane for my last trip and the noise cancelling really helped a lot, and the battery lasted through the whole trip (US coast to coast).Overall I don't think I would buy it again, although it's still working for my needs. Changed my rating from 4 to 3 stars due to the rage induced by faulty bluetooth.-------I will first admit I am not a gamer but often have 6+ hours of meetings per day so I need something comfy. I've been using a Corsair wireless gaming headset with a Windows laptop for the past 3+ years so that is my main basis of comparison. That poor headset is finally starting to fall apart from such heavy usage, so I was in search of a feature-rich replacement that can last at least an equal amount of time.What I liked about that headset was that it had a flip-to-mute mic and large, comfy earpads that didn't pinch my ears. It was way too big for my tiny head though, so my search focused on headsets that will fit smaller heads. This one absolutely fits the bill. It's even a bit snug on me on the smallest setting! It is more snug to the head so if I tilt my head or look down it will not come off. It doesn't pinch my glasses too much, but since these earpads are a little bit smaller than the Corsair, they are not particularly dangly-earring-friendly (ouch). I haven't worn them 6 hours straight yet, but off and on throughout the day. No headache yet!The features that this EPOS headset has, that the Corsair headset doesn't have:- you can connect to your computer through the dongle or cord, and connect to your phone through bluetooth. This allows me to listen to music or videos while I work, but not use company VPN bandwidth doing so. Seems easy to manage switching back and forth.- the flip-to-mute boom mic is also completely removable, which is cool if I want to walk around my neighborhood with a headset on- it even has a second internal mic, which I haven't tested yet.- battery life is super excellent. Could probably get through a few days of work without charging it. With the Corsair one I would always charge it overnight.- passive noise cancellation is pretty good, since these fit snugger than the Corsair ones. It's pretty peaceful.Negatives:- the earpads are not as breathable. It might be worth getting an extra set so I can rotate them out and clean them. Kinda sweaty on hot days.- one other minor thing I miss is that the Corsair boom mic had a red light on it to let you know you are muted. This one cannot be hardware muted in the down position, you need to rely on hearing the click when you flip it up. Not a big deal as the flip-to-mute is what I wanted most.My team says the sound is good on their end (through Zoom, Microsoft Teams). However, initially I had an issue with hearing my own voice through the headphone earpiece, which I DID NOT LIKE. I discovered this is known as side tone, which you can reduce or turn off using the software that goes with the headset (yay!). I don't think these headphones will excite audiophiles, but the sound is clear and decent enough and the software has a lot of equalizers and noise cancelling settings you can play with.