TheDrop + EPOS H3Xaims to be different, dropping the software and focusing on great-sounding components.
The headset is a collaboration between online retailer Drop and EPOS Audio, formerly a division of Sennheiser.
That said, there are differences, both major and minor.
Kris Wouk / How-To Geek
One major difference is the headband, which isn’t taken from the H3 at all.
Instead, this is taken from the pricierEPOS H3 Hybridheadset.
The clamping force of the headphones is slightly on the tight side compared to some others.
Kris Wouk / How-To Geek
Fortunately, it’s a good thing here.
Overall, the H3X is quite comfortable, despite the tight fit.
That said, you do get two different cables.
Kris Wouk / How-To Geek
You may notice that the mini jack side on each cable has a red stripe.
This is to help you check that the cables are plugged in all the way.
Overall, the H3X have been tweaked to deliver a flatter, more neutral sound than the H3.
Kris Wouk / How-To Geek
Related:What Is Digital Signal Processing (DSP)?
Many gaming headsets overemphasize the low end for wow factor in games, but this can negatively affect music.
That’s not a bad thing, just somewhat unexpected.
Kris Wouk / How-To Geek
Gaming headsets often sound very close up for music, without much of a sense of soundstage.
There was just enough bass, but any less, and it might have been too little.
Gaming and Voice
To test gaming performance, I played a few rounds of Halo Infinite.
Kris Wouk / How-To Geek
Here the H3X showed yet another strength, as the positional audio is very precise.
It was easy to catch the footsteps of someone trying to sneak up behind me.
There is an onboard volume control, which makes adjusting on the fly fairly simple.
The built-in microphone takes a smart approach to muting.
When you flip the mic up and out of the way, this mutes the microphone.
Want to start chatting?
Just flip the mic downward and it’s unmuted.
With this design, you never have to second guess whether your mic is on or not.
Voice quality through the built-in microphone is good, but keep in mind we’re talking about a headset.
For chatting with teammates in-game or coworkers on a video call, the mic is just fine.
Microphone Audio Sample
Should You Buy the Drop + EPOS H3X?
The headset isn’t perfect.
While the build feels fairly solid, it still feels plasticky, which isn’t for everyone.
