EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid review: light on features for the cost

The GTW 270 Hybrid Headphones for $ 199 from audio company EPOS are, to my knowledge, the first truly wireless headphones designed for gaming – but the headphones themselves aren’t the biggest selling point. The USB-C Bluetooth receiver that comes with the headphones gets this distinction.

It’s much more compact than the standard flash drive-sized USB dongles included with many headsets. It is also more capable of working with the low latency aptX codec (aptX LL) which provides good quality sound with no noticeable lag. By using the receiver, the GTW 270 Hybrid can be particularly ideal for fast-paced games where sound cues matter for success; but really, it’s good to have for any title.

However, there is a catch: the microphones do not work when listening to audio through the USB-C receiver. (The headphones’ built-in microphones, however, work when paired to a device via Bluetooth.)

This is more of the technical limitations of aptX than of EPOS decision making. In order to prioritize bandwidth for sound quality and responsiveness, only the playback channel is active when listening using the USB-C dongle. This is a potential deal breaker for some gamers who may want to be able to participate in a voice chat with friends on their consoles. But to EPOS credit, the latency between the dongle and the headphones really seems non-existent.

These gunmetal-colored buttons have a simple and understated design so they don’t get too out of your ear. They are not too heavy and the fit is comfortable, thanks to the interchangeable silicone tips that help to get a good seal in your ear. As for the controls, they only have one multi-function button that manages music pausing and resuming, changing tracks and taking phone calls. In other words, without the USB-C dongle, it’s not that special. (EPOS offers a version for $ 169 without a dongle.) For general use – like phone calls or music – you can get more for less if you check out some of the options in the affordable wireless earbuds buying guide from my colleague Chris Welch.

Apart from gaming, these headphones can be used like any other wireless set to connect to your phone, tablet or laptop via Bluetooth. They support Bluetooth 5.1 (with SBC or aptX codec, depending on which device you’re connecting to) for music, videos, games, and phone calls, and EPOS says you can pair them with up to eight devices. Pairing is done by keeping the button on the charging case pressed.

Speaking of the charging case: it has an all-metal design which is unfortunately very easy to scratch. It charges via USB-C; on a full charge, EPOS says it can provide up to 15 hours of extra battery life for the headphones. During the review period, the GTW 270 Hybrid Earphones hit the five-hour battery life mark, which matches the company’s claim. And if you’re someone who takes an occasional sweaty jog or just doesn’t want to get caught in the rain, these are IPX5 water resistant.

I have spent the past few weeks using the headphones to play alternate games on my PS5, Switch, and work laptop several times a day. (In case you’re curious, there’s an included adapter that lets you plug the dongle into a device with USB Type-A ports.) The GTW 270 Hybrid works like any wireless gaming headset, but the Truly wireless form factor has obvious advantages. I love that they allow me to move around without being inhibited by the wires, and their use doesn’t isolate me (or ruin my hair) as much as bulky tin cans. The receiver is pre-paired to the headphones and they connect almost instantly.

I also like the convenience of being able to use only the right earbud (the right one controls bluetooth transmission, so listening only through the left earbud doesn’t work), so I can keep one ear available to listen to dropped packages. This, of course, is nothing new for people who already use truly wireless headphones. It’s just new to experience this freedom with a gaming headset.

I sampled the Souls of the demon redo, 2018 God of War, ring-shaped adventure, and Ghost of Tsushima, as well as a few other games, during the review period. While they don’t have the widest soundstage or clearest frequency separation I’ve heard for listening to music, they do shine with in-game audio – in particular, with surround sound effects. and bass. The overall sound quality is not extremely robust and there is a limit to the immersion of the surround sound effects, given the small drivers of the headphones. But the sound is not too compromised. Unless you’re a die-hard gamer who needs to hear every detail in a crystal-clear presentation, this will probably be fine for you.

The GTW 270 Hybrid would be very close to ideal if the microphones worked while connected using the USB-C dongle. Alas, they don’t, so using the dongle will be almost pointless for those who frequently play multiplayer games with friends. (It’s a slightly different story if you play a lot of single player games and don’t mind not having a microphone to play with.) Since the headphones aren’t very useful for playing without the dongle, this is fine. means you’re making a big compromise, and it’s one that none of the best gaming headsets I’ve tested (most of which are cheaper than this one) ask you to make. It’s up to you.

Photograph by Cameron Faulkner / The Verge