With gaming hardware being everywhere, clouding up every store's hardware section, picking a headset might often turn out to be a voyage in confusion. Are we getting ripped off just because of the "gaming" tagline? Is the product worth your hard-earned cash? Well, in the case of the EPOS H6PRO Open, you don't have to worry about that because they bring a lot of value for the money.
The H6PRO Open is a wired headset, complete with a removable microphone. In the box, EPOS has included two different cables: one with a standard 3.5mm audio jack and the other with two different audio/mic plugs to connect it to standard PCs. As the name might suggest, the H6PRO Open are open backs, offering a wide soundstage that allows you to easily recognize which direction sound is coming from. However, if you're interested in blocking out outside noise, you might want to take a look at the H3PRO ANC headphones instead.
The included braided cable can be also used to easily connect the headphones to a PlayStation controller, Nintendo Switch, or other consoles in order to enjoy heated multiplayer gaming sessions screaming into the microphone, or just quiet offline sessions if you're not trying to wake up your neighbours.
Since, the H6PRO are wired headphones, this means that - while losing the convenient wireless experience - they provide better and more stable sound than many of their wireless counterparts. Also, no charging is needed, so you don't have to worry about them running out of battery at a crucial moment.
The cable provided is long enough for most situations and it is also removable, an important feature that many other wired headsets seem to skip out on. The headphones feature a hands-on volume control on the right ear cup, which does come in handy for a quick in-game volume regulation. Simply spin that wheel - no annoying clicking up and down is required.
The H6PRO can definitely be considered bass prominent, but not so much as to be a noticeable issue. Compared to the my usual sets of headphones, the Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro Plus (which are closed backs), it is easy to notice how EPOS accentuates noises low in the range, while still keeping a wide soundstage. This is not really an issue, since the EPOS H6PRO are not designed with music listening in mind, but rather for gameplay sessions. Still, they can be considered an ideal choice if you're watching a movie on your laptop or TV and don't want to wake up the neighbours or your significant other.
Keep in mind, though, that with these being open backs, there will be a bit of sound leakage. They are, then, a good choice if you're playing in a quiet room, but if there's too much noise around you, you might get distracted, as the breathable ear pads really do their job well in letting the sound expand and, in turn, letting outside sounds in. Playing Warzone 2 with the H6PRO can easily make you appreciate the sound positioning in the wider sound stage, along with the vibrancy of the highs in the sound as you can easily pinpoint enemy footsteps crunching around you. The mid tones are also pretty strong, but they remain clear throughout, so there's no unnecessary sound bloat.
The EPOS H6PRO have a great build quality. They're mostly made of a solid and durable plastic. The leatherette-clad band padding is soft while resting on your cranium, along with a silicone-like fabric inside the cups. Overall, while the headphones seem sturdy, I was not a fan of the soft external foam as, in the Ghost White variant, it can get stained very easily, so be careful if you lug them around the house a lot or they won't stay pristine for long.
The headphones also have a bit of a swivel in the cups so they sit on your ears comfortably and provide stability without suffocating your skin and making you sweat. I wore them for prolonged gaming sessions, even for some Twitch streaming, and they were absolutely comfortable. I did not feel sweaty and the earcups didn't compress my ears, which is a common problem with many headphones. Overall, they are stable and comfortable to wear for prolonged periods of time.
As mentioned, the H6PRO come with a microphone, which is clipped on magnetically and can be detached by applying a little force. Clicking into the side of the headset, it can be muted by pulling it up as well. This is definitely a microphone tailored for gaming, though, as it sounds overall okay, with a kind of metallic quality to your voice. It's definitely not something you might want to use for professional streaming or podcasting, but it is perfect for online gaming sessions. Your voice comes through clear and the microphone does the job.
The EPOS H6PRO Open is a great wired headset for prolonged gaming sessions. Providing solid audio, excellent build quality and great comfort, they are perfect for those looking for a wide soundstage in their gaming sessions. The detachable microphone is also a great functional addition, even if, like most gaming headsets, it's quality is nothing to write home about.
If you are looking for a wired headset and feel a bit lost in the crowded headphones market, you won't go wrong by picking up the EPOS H6PRO Open.
