EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid Wireless Gaming Earbuds Review
EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid Specs
| Platform | Noise Control | Connection | Battery Life |
| PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, Mobile/Tablet | Passive | aptX™ Wireless, Bluetooth 5.1 | 5 Hours (15 Hours in Charging Case) |
Comparing the EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid to other wireless gaming earbuds on the market, it performs admirably overall. These earbuds are at the top of the list for response time thanks to the low latency made possible by the aptX™ codec via the USB dongle. They do have some shortcomings, though. These earbuds would have been more appealing to a wider market if they had included features like volume control and a USB-C microphone.
Wireless gaming accessories have become increasingly popular, offering gamers the flexibility and convenience they crave. In this review, we delve into the world of gaming audio with the EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid Wireless Gaming Earbuds. Packed with features designed to enhance your gaming experience, these earbuds combine high-quality audio with the freedom of wireless connectivity. Join us as we explore the key aspects of these earbuds and their performance.
The Technology
The EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid stands out from other wireless gaming earbuds because it uses the aptX™ codec, which has extremely low latency. A more rapid and effective method of sending high-quality audio than standard Bluetooth audio transmission is aptX™.
The technique of compression and decompression used during the transfer of data between the source device and the receiver is the key to the quick response time found in aptX™. By compressing the audio data while sending it and then decompressing it for the receiving device, the sound quality is maintained along with the quick response time.
The USB-C dongle used by the EPOS GTW 270 helps these earbuds outperform the competition and offer true wireless response times that we haven’t seen before from wireless gaming earbuds, even though there are products on the market that offer up to 60ms response time via Bluetooth. By further reducing latency, the aptX™ codec makes sure that your game and your audio are in sync.
The EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid is quicker in its default configuration than the Razer Hammerhead, another pair of wireless earbuds created for the gaming market, which reduces response latency to 60ms when set to fast gaming mode.
Gaming
Even though the EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid is appropriate for all applications, the truth is that these were made with gamers in mind. For regular wireless earbuds, there are a ton of options available that provide comparable or even higher quality at a comparable price. So, how well do these earbuds perform for gamers?
Maybe the answer is a little more complicated than that. We discovered that it entirely depends on the type of gamer you are. If you play video games occasionally or as a hobby, these earbuds should meet your needs in most cases. They are incredibly versatile and will give you high-quality audio that is simple to set up.
We found the lack of microphone functionality when using the USB-C dongle to be the biggest drawback. Your gaming preferences will determine whether this is a deal-breaker for you. The problem is less obvious for gamers who prefer single-player experiences where team communication is less frequent. However, this can be a big problem if you play competitive first-person shooter games or even just like to hang out on Discord and chat with friends while playing. But it’s nothing a standalone microphone connected to your mic-in port can’t take care of.
Audio Quality
When it comes to gaming audio, the EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid Wireless Gaming Earbuds deliver impressive performance. Powered by aptX™ low latency codec, these earbuds provide exceptional audio quality with low latency, allowing for a seamless gaming experience. The earbuds offer deep bass, crisp highs, and a balanced soundstage, immersing you in the game and enhancing your situational awareness.
Performance
Despite the fact that these wireless earbuds are specifically targeted at gamers, we wanted to accurately represent the sound quality for all applications. We, therefore, took a seat and listened to their performances in various musical genres as well.
We were pleased with the EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid’s audio quality during our initial tests. We didn’t feel that the bass was over-amplified or that it interfered in any way with the other frequencies, even though there is some bass boosting present, as is the case for many comparable gaming headsets on the market. In fact, the mid-range and bass seemed to harmoniously coexist in the mix. We were pleased with how well the bass was handled with this device in both the music and gaming tests.
This set of wireless earbuds really shines in the mid-range frequency range. The distinct depth of the mid-range frequency can be appreciated whether you’re gaming or listening to music, and even though it’s not perfect, it still compares favorably with high-end wired gaming headphones in the same market. We found no problems with the mids being flat or overpowered.
We are happy to report that, when it came to the high-range frequency, there were no instances of the dreaded “tin-like” metallic noises that occasionally plague cheap wireless earbuds. Instead, we discovered that the high-range frequency was very similar to the quality we heard in the mids and lows. However, there was a decrease in the treble’s depth, which occasionally made the audio seem a little flat. When playing games versus listening to music, this was more obvious.
Microphone
You should have realistic expectations for the quality of the microphone. As previously mentioned, the low-latency USB-C dongle lacks this microphone feature and is only accessible when using a Bluetooth connection.
The audio is a little bit muffled and distant, but not to the point of being completely inaudible, which is the main flaw in the microphone quality itself. We would have liked a little bit more clarity in this area, given the price point.
Noise Cancellation
The EPOS GTW 270 does not have a dedicated noise canceling feature, but you can still expect some isolation from the in-ear design, which, to be fair, does provide some noticeable isolation and helps with the immersion aspect of gaming. Naturally, the isolation won’t be as strong as it is with true noise-canceling headphones.
Wireless Quality
The GTW 270 Hybrid Wireless Gaming Earbuds utilize Bluetooth 5.1 technology, ensuring a stable and lag-free wireless connection. With a range of up to 20 meters (66 feet), you can enjoy gaming without being tethered to your device. The earbuds also feature a USB-C dongle, providing an alternative connectivity option for devices without Bluetooth support.
Setup
In modern motherboard designs with a USB-C port, the dongle can be inserted directly. In any case, you can use the USB-A to USB-C adapter cable as a bridge to enable greater compatibility with a huge variety of devices.
One may naturally take the earbuds out of the charging case and attempt to pair them with the device while holding them in the hand or even in the ear. You must, however, keep the earbuds inside the charging case while pairing.
When the dongle is inserted into your device, you’ll notice a blue light on the dongle that flashes rapidly to indicate that it is looking for the earbuds to pair with. The pairing process will now be finished when you turn on your charging case while the earbuds are inside. The LED will turn on when the earbuds are connected, letting you know.
If your device doesn’t automatically switch it to the EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid by default, you might need to adjust the audio output device. In our testing, we discovered that as soon as the dongle was paired, Windows 10 would instantly switch to the earbuds as the default audio device.
Design & Feel
The EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid has a stylish appearance all around. A wrapped teal accent completes the otherwise grayscale design on the inside of the box. With gray, silver, and black tones, all three of the device’s main components are also pleasing to the eye.
Neither the design nor the color scheme is offensive. EPOS chooses not to take the same route as many other gaming audio products that heavily rely on accents in bright colors. Instead, a businessman on the street could easily find these earbuds discretely tucked inside his ear.
Your earbuds won’t be moving around inside the charging case constantly when you take them out with you because they fit neatly inside and are held there by a magnetic connection. On both of the earpieces, which, for the record, feel substantial and durable, there is also a tiny LED light. Regarding the build quality, there aren’t any issues at all.
A single button, five tiny LED lights to show pairing and charging progress, and a single brand logo are all that the charging case has to offer. The building feels sturdy, but we advise against putting the charging case near other metal objects because they could scratch the metal.
The small size of the dongle, which fits into USB-C slots without impeding the nearby USB-A ports on motherboards with native support for USB-C, also impressed us.
Due to the EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid’s IPX5 rating, you won’t have to be concerned about sweat or light rain harming them when wearing them outside.
Depending on the user’s ear shape, the comfort of the earpieces may or may not be subjective. But when it comes to comfort, we found very little to be upset about, and none of our team members found them uncomfortable when used for typical amounts of time. After three hours, I did begin to experience a little discomfort, but after taking it out for a moment, moving it, and putting it back, I was pain-free for another couple of hours.
We didn’t feel as though the earpieces were going to come out of the ear, and they appeared to hold their position very well. They are surprisingly discrete for what they offer and fit neatly inside the ear. However, you should be aware that removing the right earpiece will cause the audio to stop. As a result, if you want to quickly make a phone call or converse with someone nearby but don’t want the audio of your game to stop, you must remove the left earpiece.
The absence of volume control on the earbuds, in our opinion, is a drawback of the design. You might be accustomed to muting or adjusting the volume using a slider or button on the earpiece. However, there is no volume control available with the EPOS GTW 270. All volume adjustments must be made through your device’s settings. Having said that, I had anticipated this to be a much bigger problem during testing.
Although there were still times when I wished I could temporarily lower the volume, I was impressed with the device’s normal volume level. I was concerned that loud shooters would drown out other background noises, which would require more volume. However, in our experience, the volume never seemed unbalanced or excessively loud, or soft.
The set volume level isn’t quite as high as some other earbuds on the market, however, so if you’re looking to really fill your ears with music, you might wish for a little bit more volume.
Battery
EPOS understands the importance of uninterrupted gaming sessions, and the GTW 270 Hybrid Wireless Gaming Earbuds are designed to keep up with your gaming demands. With a battery life of up to 5 hours on a single charge and an additional 20 hours provided by the charging case, these earbuds will easily last through even the longest gaming sessions. The case can be conveniently charged via USB-C, ensuring quick and hassle-free recharging.
Compatibility
The EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid Wireless Gaming Earbuds are compatible with a wide range of platforms, including PC, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Android devices. Whether you’re playing your favorite game on your gaming console or on the go with your smartphone, these earbuds have you covered.
Conclusion
The EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid Wireless Gaming Earbuds offer a compelling audio solution for gamers seeking a wireless and immersive gaming experience. With their sleek design, impressive audio quality, lag-free connectivity, extended battery life, and crystal clear microphone, these earbuds check all the boxes for a top-notch gaming accessory. Whether you’re a casual gamer or a competitive player, the EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid Wireless Gaming Earbuds are a worthy investment for taking your gaming audio to the next level.
