EPOS Impact 1000 headset Review – 1061T ANC Binaural Bluetooth Headset

I have previously reviewed a number of EPOS products, which have all been consumer-focused audio products that originally were part of the EPOS Sennheiser joint venture.

The EPOS Impact 1000 headset is a departure from my previous gaming headset reviews, and this is an enterprise-focused headset that comes with a variety of configurations. It was announced back in March 2023 and sits at the higher end of the EPOS range of headsets.

The EPOS Impact 1061T ANC Binaural Bluetooth headset is the top configuration and is specifically designed to meet the needs of professionals, offering exceptional voice pickup, active noise cancellation (ANC), and a range of convenient features.

Specification

EPOS	IMPACT 1000	IMPACT 5000	IMPACT D	IMPACT DW	IMPACT SD
Connectivity	Bluetooth	DECT	DECT	DECT	DECT
Wearing Styles Available	Monaural & binaural	Monaural & binaural	Monaural & binaural	Monaural & binaural	Monaural & binaural
Microphone	4 digital MEMS	Two microphone noise-cancelling	Ultra-noise cancelling	Ultra-noise cancelling	Ultra-noise cancelling
Bandwith in call mode	Super Wideband	Super Wideband	Wideband	Narrowband, wideband	Narrowband, wideband
Multipoint Connectivity	Triple Connectivity	Triple Connectivity	Single	Dual	Dual
Active Noise Cancellation	Yes (Hybrid & adaptive)	No	No	No	No
Wireless Range	Up to 30 m/100 ft	Up to 180 m/590 ft	Up to 180 m/590 ft	Up to 180 m/590 ft	Up to 180 m/590 ft
Microsoft Teams Certified	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Warranty	2 years	2 years	2 years	2 years	2 years
Additional add-ons	Charging stand	DECT Dongle	Neckband & ear hook	Neckband & ear hook	Neckband & ear hook
Prices (from)	€269/$289/£220	€365/$375/£319	€239/$279/£199

Features

• Powered by EPOS’ BrainAdapt technology – EPOS designs audio solutions built on EPOS BrainAdapt, a group of pioneering technologies that work together to improve cognitive performance. IMPACT 1000 is built on EPOS BrainAdapt technology to reduce brain fatigue with adaptive Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and industry-leading voice pickup powered by EPOS AI, making sure you’re getting your message through.
• Uses EPOS AI to adapt to environments – EPOS machine learning technology scans user environments 32,000 times per second to suppress disruptive sounds and enhances desirable audio to ensure only the relevant sounds slip through to the person the user is talking to.
• Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) – Featuring hybrid adaptive hybrid ANC, the IMPACT 1000 ensures unwanted background sounds are blocked out to enable undisturbed conversation and reduced brain fatigue.
• Built with layers of smart features – Triple Bluetooth connectivity lets users stay connected to three devices at the same time to enable movement while on a call. TalkThrough features allow users to communicate with colleagues without removing the headset while the 360 busylight signals when users are on a call.
• Designed for comfort – Users can experience all-day wearing comfort with lightweight design, soft cushions, headband padding, and Super Wideband for natural sound. Enjoy total ease of use with a contactless charging stand, intuitive on-headset controls, and a suite of smart features.

EPOS Impact 1000 Variants

• Impact 1030
  • Single Sided
  • No ANC
  • No Charging stand
  • RRP: £220
• Impact 1060
  • Double Sided
  • No ANC
  • No Charging Stand
  • RRP: £230
• Impact 1061
  • Double Sided
  • No ANC
  • With Charging Stand
  • RRP: £279
• Impact 1060 ANC
  • Double Sided
  • With ANC
  • No Charging Stand
  • RRP: £329
• Impact 1061 ANC
  • Double Sided
  • With ANC
  • With Charging Stand
  • RRP: £265

All the models available are certified for Microsoft Teams or Unified Communications. Basically, the only difference is you won’t get the same shortcuts or notifications as the Teams-certified version.

Unboxing / Design

The EPOS Impact 1061T ANC boasts a sleek and functional design that prioritises both style and comfort.

This uses a circular padded material that exposes the driver underneath, like a normal pair of headphones; however, they sit on top of your ears. Looking at competing brands, the Jabra Evolve2 75 is also an on-ear headset but lacks the padding.

I don’t wear a headset all day, so I can’t comment on which is best. All headphone designs have pros and cons. I’d normally prefer an over-ear design, but they make my ears very hot and would make it hard for me to hear anyone talking to me in the office. Similarly, I expect this design would be quite hot to wear all day. However, the Jabra Evolve2 75 design would likely get uncomfortable sitting on your ears all day.

The headband sliders feature a sturdy sliding mechanism with firm locking adjustment, allowing you to find the perfect fit for your head. The articulating boom arm glides smoothly and can be rotated almost 360 degrees, allowing you to switch the side you wear the boom arm (I assume this is more useful for the mono variants)

The buttons are conveniently located for easy access.

Set Up / EPOS Connect App

You can connect the headset via normal Bluetooth, or you can use the included dongle.

You can also optionally connect this via USB-C, which is handy should you find yourself running out of battery.

To get the most out of the headset, you should install the EPOS Connect app, which is available for Windows/Mac and is available for mobile devices with apps for Android/iOS.

The Windows app has a wide range of settings to customise the headset to your liking:

• ANC  on/off or  Talkthrough, which allows you to hear sound from your surrounds
  • Adaptive ANC
  • ANC level
• Sidetone (allows you to hear your own voice)
• Audio Limiter
• Media Mode – Focussed only allows audio from a single source, dynamic can switch between sources
• Automatically answer a call when putting the headset on
• Mute call when removing the headset
• Boom arm side
• Various sound and notification settings
• Auto pause audio when taking the headset off

Speech Quality and Noise Cancellation

One of the standout features of the EPOS Impact 1061T ANC is its exceptional voice pickup technology. Powered by EPOS AI, the headset ensures excellent intelligibility even in busy background environments.

The sophisticated beamforming technology and adaptive noise cancellation effectively suppress surrounding noise, allowing for clear and natural voice transmission.

Ambient noise is significantly reduced, creating a quiet and focused communication experience.

Sound Quality & ANC

The EPOS Impact 1061T ANC’s noise cancellation capabilities are highly effective, reducing both low-frequency and high-frequency outside noise. While background voices are attenuated, they can still be faintly heard. The manual mode of noise cancellation tends to be more efficient than the adaptive mode, especially in the highest setting.

Due to the nature of the fit, the ANC doesn’t quite compete with good ANC in-ear earbuds, but using my standard test of playing airplane cabin noise on my Edifier speakers at 80%, there was a significant reduction in noise.

In TalkThrough mode, external noises are amplified, allowing for easy and understandable conversations. However, a slight background noise may be perceptible in this mode.

When it comes to sound quality, the EPOS Impact 1061T ANC delivers a respectable performance. While it may not excel in any particular frequency range, it offers a well-defined and balanced sound experience. The bass range is controlled, tight, and dry, while the midrange provides a discreet warmth.

The reproduction of voices is particularly impressive, with excellent speech intelligibility and the main thing you would want from a headset of this nature.

Sibilants are reproduced gently, and the high-frequency range is restrained yet present. It’s worth mentioning that sound quality may vary depending on the operating mode of the headset. Bluetooth connection offers satisfactory audio quality, while a USB dongle or cable connection provides a more unadulterated and detailed sound impression.

Battery Life and Charging

Battery life is a crucial aspect to consider when choosing a wireless headset. The EPOS Impact 1061T ANC does not disappoint in this regard, offering an impressive runtime of up to 60 hours when playing media at high volume.

With noise cancellation enabled, you can enjoy up to 35 hours of listening time. Additionally, the headset supports fast wireless charging, ensuring that you can quickly power up your device when needed.

The included headset stand features a wireless charging dock, allowing you to conveniently charge your headset when not in use. I found this to be a useful feature as I naturally placed the headset back on the dock whenever I had finished using it and, therefore, never ran out of battery.

Price and Alternative Options

The EPOS Impact 1000 is available in multiple configurations, including single-sided, double-sided, with or without ANC and with or without the charging stand.

The model I was sent is the Impact 1061 ANC, which has an RRP of £365 but is available for as low as £275 on websites like ebuyer.com.

If you opt for no stand and no ANC with the Impact 1060, then the price drops to £230 RRP, and this is available for around £155 from Misco.

Jabra has a range of headsets, with the Evolve2 75 for around £275 being the closet alternative option with similar features, but this has a one-ear wearing style. The is also the flagship Jabra Evolve2 85 for around £240.

Poly has the Voyager range of headsets, with the flagship model being the Voyager 8200 UC, which is available for £258, but this does not come with a stand.

Overall

This is my first time reviewing an enterprise-focused headset, and I normally try to base my overall opinion on multiple factors, including how the product competes with others. I can’t really do this here other than based on the specification/price of the competing brands.

That being said, I have been impressed with the EPOS 1061T ANC; it is very different from gaming headsets, which I am more used to. Considering I spend more time on Zoom than gaming, I prefer this over my other headsets.

It is undeniably expensive, but you need to remember that this is designed for businesses, and these always command a premium price compared to their consumer counterparts.

If you spend a significant portion of your day on voice or video calls, then I think that investing in a high-quality headset such as this would be highly beneficial. It ensures that both you and other people on the call can hear everything that has been said clearly and avoid mistakes from mishearing people or having to ask people to repeat themselves.