Manufacturer EPOS has introduced two new headphones for gamers. These are not only lightweight but also compatible with several devices such as PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and smartphones. We present the new headphones to you.
This is what it’s about: The audio manufacturer EPOS has introduced the EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid and EPOS GTW 270, two in-ear headphones aimed primarily at gamers.
These headphones are an independently developed product by EPOS and not a collaboration, as was the case with the EPOS | Sennheiser GSP 670 or the EPOS | Sennheiser Game One/Zero.
EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid – Wireless In-Ear Headphones for Gamers with Microphone
Wireless in-ear headphones in the high-end range for gaming are still rather exotic. EPOS is venturing into the market as one of the few manufacturers with a high-priced product and offers a wide range of features for its new GTW 270.
Construction of the Headphones: The headphones are in-ear headphones. They rely on a closed design, which means you will only perceive outside noises to a limited extent. For connectivity, the headphones use Bluetooth 5.1, and the hybrid variant also comes with a dongle.
Powerful Codec for Good Sound: EPOS uses the AptX codec. This is supposed to ensure that music reaches you in full quality. Without a powerful codec, the data volume must usually be reduced during Bluetooth transmission, which negatively affects sound quality.
The sounds do not reach the listener in their full resolution anymore. AptX aims to prevent the loss of quality. The compression is particularly noticeable with high-quality sound material.
Additional Features: According to the manufacturer, the headphones should provide up to five hours of battery life after a 90-minute charge. The Razer Hammerhead offers around 10 hours of battery life, which is double.
Additionally, dual microphones are built into the in-ear devices. These are designed to provide particularly clear sound and filter out background noise.
The GTW 270 Hybrid is also waterproof according to the IPX05 standard, protecting it from sweat and light rain. Thus, they are suitable, for example, if you want to game on your smartphone or Switch while on the go.
What does the Dongle bring? The hybrid version comes with a dongle. The advantage of a USB dongle is that latency over radio is usually slightly lower than over Bluetooth, and radio and Bluetooth can interact only to a limited extent.
Bluetooth, on the other hand, is much more flexible, but some devices like the PS4 do not allow a connection of Bluetooth headsets, where the dongle is then helpful. The dongle of the GTW 270 Hybrid uses USB-C, an appropriate adapter from USB-C to USB-A is also included in the box.
| EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid | |
|---|---|
| Design | In-Ear (closed) |
| Connection Type | Bluetooth |
| Frequencies | 20 Hz – 20 kHz |
| Compatibility | PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and smartphones |
| Price: | 199 € (with dongle), 169 € (without dongle) |
How much do the headphones weigh? The total package of charging station, headphones, and accessories weighs 384 grams. The headphones themselves weigh around 100 grams in total and are thus significantly lighter than other gaming headsets, which usually weigh more than 250 grams.
Price and Availability: There are two different variants of the headphones. The EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid also includes a USB-C dongle, while this is missing from the EPOS GTW 270.
The prices are 199 € for the version with dongle and 169 € for the device without dongle. The headphones are available from January 21, 2021.
In-Ear Headphones for Gamers: Do Such Things Already Exist?
On the market, there are already a few in-ear alternatives for gamers. The most well-known wireless alternative is the Razer Hammerhead True Wireless. However, it only uses Bluetooth 5.0 and does not offer a dongle. The Razer Hammerhead True Wireless also does not provide aptX; instead, it relies on its own solution with a game mode that aims to reduce latency.
Wired Alternatives: Alternatives in the wired segment would also include the Cloud Earbuds from HyperX or the Bose QuietComfort 20. The latter, for example, offers a noise-canceling technology from Bose.
More Gaming Headsets: If you are looking for a good gaming headset, take a look at our best list on MeinMMO: Here we present you the best gaming headsets that you can currently buy.
