EPOS GSP 601 Gaming Headset Review - Stormtrooper But Make It Gamer
For the average person, when it comes to picking out a new headset, it's often a case of convenience over everything else. Is it cheap? Does it work on Zoom? Great. Add to basket. However, when you're a gamer, there's so much more to consider. Sound quality is obvious, but there's also clarity of the mic, plus comfort. We've all had that issue where you've been gaming for a few hours and the top of your head begins to ache - or even worse, your ears.
Gamers also tend to stick to a brand they know and love. Personally, I've stuck with the same brand of headphones for several years now. So when I was given the opportunity to review the EPOS GSP 601 Gaming Headset, I figured why the hell not.
The GSP 601 comes in white, with copper accents. There is also a functionally identical GSP 602, which is exactly the same headset bar the colours (it comes in a bolder choice of blue and copper).
They both retail at £199.99, which certainly isn't cheap, but is it worth it?
Click to enlargeWhat's In The Box?!
The first thing you notice when you open the box is how beautifully they're presented. It feels like an event. Like there should be confetti and horns blaring in the distance.
The headphones are nestled in black firm foam, with the accompanying wires and handy user's guide in the bottom. I also couldn't help but notice the weight of them. They're certainly well-built. There is also an option of choosing the cover plate colour for the side, either copper or plain white. I opted for white, and changing over the sections was pretty easy to do.
You're also supplied with a cable composing of headphone and microphone jack, as well as a standard 3.5 millimetre.
Click to enlargeMy First Mistake
Initially, I decided to test them out with my laptop and the 3.5. This is where the problems began, as I couldn't hear anything out of them. It turns out that you need to be pretty firm when putting the jack into the headphones themselves. Yup, I'm a bit of an idiot.
Once I'd figured this out, the sound quality was great. There's a dial on the right-hand side of the headphones (that blends in so beautifully into the design, I didn't even notice it at first) which can be used to raise and lower the volume. This is a pretty cool addition, and very useful, especially during gameplay.
While gaming, I could hear other members of my team very clearly, and they commented that my voice was coming through clearer than usual (with no prompting!). Although, the mic does pick up the surrounding noise too. I guess it suffers at the hands of its own success, as the microphone was potentially too good.
The boom arm is very sturdy. Another interesting point is that lifting the arm mutes the mic (there's a 'click' that tells you when it's off), however this only works during gameplay and not on Discord, for example. So, don't let yourself get caught out whispering to your dog how much you love them, thinking that no one can hear you.
Click to enlargeComfort
Clearly, comfort was the main point of focus for this particular headset. It feels like your skull is being hugged by a big squashy headcrab. Sturdy, but super comfortable. In all honesty, I don't think I've ever come across a more pleasant and cosy set of headphones.
After a few hours of wear, there are the occasional times when you have to move it slightly to readjust and prevent any soreness on the top of your head, but compared to my usual headset, it's negligible. The leatherette earpads felt great, as it covered my entire ear. This was particularly useful when it comes to noise-cancelling. Even without sound playing, I struggled to hear anyone who spoke to me whilst wearing them which, when gaming, is great.
Click to enlargeStormtrooper Realness
Okay, so one thing I need to mention is how it looks while you're wearing it. I thought I looked pretty cool, however after three separate people asked where Darth Vader was, I started to realise that maybe I should've kept the copper cover plate. When you opt for the all-white look, it does come across very Stormtrooper-esque.
This isn't necessarily a criticism, as let's be honest, there's absolutely nothing wrong with resembling a defender of the Galactic Republic against the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Still, it's definitely something you should be aware of if you're considering shying away from the copper.
Click to enlargeLet's Get Technical
When it comes to the specs, the GSP 601 and GSP 602 headsets use an interchangeable one or two-prong 3.5 mm cable to connect to PC, Mac, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and all other consoles and mobile devices with a 3.5 mm jack input. As previously mentioned, they come with ergonomic leatherette earpads with adjustable pressure to ensure sound attenuation even when you're in a noisy environment.
Click to enlargeAll in all, I'm so happy I tried this headset. It is so comfortable, and for me that's a massive thing. I wear headphones for a large portion of the day, so that is something I am always looking for. In terms of sound quality - I think it's fantastic. The only criticism would be the mic picking up too much background noise, but if you're using these for predominately gaming - it's definitely the right choice.
Images via EPOS
