EPOS H6PRO Review: ‘My new favorite gaming headset for under $200’

EPOS H6PRO REVIEW.

Let’s get right to it: EPOS’ H6PRO headset is my new go-to recommendation for gamers looking to get impeccable audio combined with great comfort and build quality. It’s my new favorite gaming headset for under $200 and I think it can be the “endgame” pair for many users. After testing both the open-back and closed-back versions of this product, I’ve come away enormously impressed. Provided you can put up with a wired connection, this is the new mid-range champ.

First things first

As I found with the H3 Hybrid and B20 microphone that I reviewed recently, EPOS knows how to deliver a satisfying unboxing experience. The packaging is simple yet sleek and the headset is well-protected inside of its foam cocoon.

Inside the box, there’s the H6PRO headset itself, covers for when the microphone is detached, manuals, and two cables. There’s a shorter cable which is nice for listening on the go or plugging into a game controller and a longer cable for dedicated PC use with split headphone and mic jacks. Both cables are high-quality and braided. However, the connection to the headset appears to be proprietary, with the embedded port rejecting any third-party cables I’ve tried. Points are awarded for the fact that it’s detachable and more easily replaced, but buyers will be locked into EPOS wires.

Once out of the box, the H6PRO looks and feels like a flagship. While the H3 Hybrid was nice, the H6PRO goes one step further. Whether you go open or closed, both sets look fantastic. I’m especially fond of the “Racing Green” color, though the other “Sebring Black” and “Ghost White” themes look brilliant, too.

Open vs. Closed

Something that makes the H6PRO stand out is that it comes in two versions: open and closed. For whatever reason, the majority of gaming headsets out there opt for a closed-back design. Essentially, this isolates the sound in the earcup, preventing noise from coming in and out. This means less sound leaking, which is handy when gaming with others nearby, but generally results in a narrower soundstage and overly boomy bass.

The H6PRO closed version sounds impressive but is still clearly impacted by the isolation. There’s a heavy focus on bass and the soundstage isn’t as wide as the open version. It’s great-sounding, but its flaws are the same as most other closed-backs. With that said, I did find the bass decently tight and the highs were present but not fatiguing. As closed-backs go, this is one of my favorites.

However, it’s the H6PRO open version that I’m in love with. Open means sound passes more freely, generally making for less of a build-up of low and high frequencies and so a more natural sound. What’s more, the soundstage is often wider, which is especially useful in video games where directional audio is key. While there’s the downside of sound leaking out and potentially annoying people around you, the advantage for gaming is huge.

Open-back is number one

The lack of open-back gaming headsets on the market is curious, but I imagine it comes down to pairing a design that naturally leaks sound with a close-proximity microphone. And yet, EPOS has done it with the H6PRO, just like it did with other headsets like the GAME ONE.

The detachable mic is solid, too, providing high enough quality audio for talking on Discord, Zoom, etc. In my experience, it rejected the sound leaking from the H6PRO open-back very well and I received no complaints from teammates. Honestly, it’s like EPOS has mastered the magic of combining open-back with a microphone and the competition just can’t emulate that.

Volume control is made easy on the headset itself with the incorporated volume wheel. It’s still a little tough to adjust, but that has the upshot of making it difficult to accidentally turn up or down. I’d still like to see a little dimple, though.

Get comfy

When it comes to comfort, both versions of the H6PRO are supremely comfortable. The earpads and headband are impressively high quality and the clamping force is perfectly balanced. I felt no fatigue whatsoever during the marathon listening sessions I’ve had over the past week.

Closed-back headphones often come with a tighter clamping force and/or earpads that quickly trap in heat. I’ve found no such issues with the H6PRO. As someone who finds my daily-driver video editing DT 770 PRO pair uncomfortable after an hour or so, the H6PRO closed version is a breath of fresh air.

Wired vs. Wireless

In 2021, I feel like many gamers shopping for a new gaming headset will be looking for a wireless solution. While that’s perfectly valid and I have a bunch of wireless headsets myself, some of us prefer good old 3.5 mm. There’s no latency to worry about, no batteries, no software required, and it all just works. If you’re gaming at a desk, the benefits of wireless only go so far.

The plug-in-and-play nature of the H6PRO also means that there’s no software. For those who like to tune EQ, you’ll need to use a third-party app for that. As for virtual surround sound, Windows, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S all have their free solutions. However, I’d just opt for stereo and lean on the naturally wide soundstage of the H6PRO, especially the open version. Being able to use the H6PRO in “headphone mode” paired with my dedicated XLR microphone, before moving downstairs and playing on the PS5 with the H6PRO in “headset mode” is awesome and easy. All headsets should come with detachable mics and clean ways of hiding the holes.

EPOS H6PRO Review: The final verdict

At $179, the EPOS H6PRO matches the price tag of the wireless H3 Hybrid but offers a significant step up in quality. While I did enjoy using the H3 Hybrid, the price tag was a little too steep for something that wasn’t overtly flagship tier. The H6PRO fixes this with high-quality materials, premium sound, and unwavering comfort.

Provided you can deal with the wire, the H6PRO is the new must-have gaming headset upgrade, especially if you go with the open version. The only niggles keeping it from a perfect score are that fiddly proprietary cable and dimple-less volume wheel. Otherwise, it’s a tremendous victory for EPOS and I’m confident that this will be a hugely successful product.

EPOS H6PRO review unit was provided by EPOS.