Epos Impact 400 Headset Review

I reviewed the Epos Impact 1000 back in September 2023; back then, I was working for myself from home and only needed a headset for occasional MS Teams calls, and I thought it was an excellent headset.

I have also previously reviewed many of the Epos gaming headsets, including the Epos H3Pro Hybrid, Epos H6PRO, and Epos H3 Hybrid.

More recently, I started a new job in IT support, which has me on the phone all day long, and I have quickly learned the importance of a decent headset.

I started of using the Creative Zen Hybrid Pro SXFI Headphones which worked well but I would occasionally have connectivity issues, then moved to the Epos H3 Hybrid which worked well, I have since moved to the Epos Impact 400 and I found the difference in performance quite surprising (though in hindsight, it is not that surprising at all).

Impact 400 vs 700 vs 800 Specification

Epos	Impact 400	Impact 700	Impact 800
Wearing Styles Available	Single- and double-sided	Double-sided	Single- and double-sided
Microsoft Teams Certified	Yes	Yes	Yes
Meeting Microsoft Open Office Requirements	Yes	Yes	Yes
Microphones	2	3	3
EPOS AI	No	Yes	Yes
ActiveGard	Yes	Yes	Yes
Busylight	Single-sided	360°	360°
Lift to mute	Yes	Yes	Yes
Wear detection	No	Yes	Yes
ANC	No	Yes	No
Mute LED	Microphone tip	Microphone tip	Microphone tip and inline controller
Earpads	Leatherette, Size L	Leatherette, Size XL	Leatherette, Size L
Prices (from)	€79/£69/$89	€125/£109/$135	€149 / $159/ £129

Configuration Options

You have four configuration options with the Epos Impact 400

• Certified for Microsoft Teams – Yes/No
• Single or dual-sided wearing style

The only difference in pricing is that the single-sided model is €69, and the dual-sided model is €79.

Features

Clear Voice Transmission

The dual-microphone system incorporates advanced noise-filtering technology, which reduces background noise and enhances voice clarity during calls.

High-Quality Sound for Focused Communication

Equipped with professional-level speakers, the device is specifically calibrated for call quality, ensuring that critical details are always clear and easy to understand.

Comfortable for Extended Use

The design prioritises comfort with soft, noise-reducing ear pads, a lightweight structure, and a padded headband, helping minimise fatigue during prolonged use.

User-Friendly Features

The device offers plug-and-play connectivity and user-centric functions such as a lift-to-mute option, simplifying operations and supporting efficient work practices.

Excellent Value Proposition

Built to meet stringent Microsoft Teams Open Office standards, the device combines reliable performance with cost-effective pricing, delivering strong value without compromising quality.

Installation

There isn’t really anything to do to set these headphones up, you plug them in, and Windows should automatically detect them. You may need to set your microphone and output options under Windows sound settings or your softphone.

You can optionally install the Epos software, but I found it to have very little functionality and if you work in an office environment with policies about installing software, it is not worth the hassle.

Comfort and Usability

The headset is designed to excel in long-term comfort with its lightweight design and soft ear cushions. The memory foam padding with leatherette covering provides good cushioning without causing excessive heat build-up. The headband adjustment mechanism offers sufficient range to fit various head sizes.

That being said, my personally preference is over the ear headsets, as I find those that sit on my ears start to hurt them after a while. Additionally, you get better passive noise cancellation with over the ear. But, over the ear headsets are more prone to heat build-up.

Sound Quality

The audio quality of the Epos Impact 400 is tuned specifically for calls, with a frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz for both music and voice, ensuring clarity during conversations. While it lacks the immersive soundscape offered by headsets designed for music, the emphasis on clarity makes it a strong performer for business use.

It is the sound quality that really sold me on these. Moving from the gaming focused Epos headphones to these, it was significantly easier to make out voices and I felt like I was less loud on the phone myself as both the sidetone and call clarity made me less inclined to raise my voice (which I am sure my colleagues are happy about).

The sound quality is consistent across various platforms. I almost exclusively use 3cx at work, but it works just as well with Microsoft Teams,  Zoom, or Google Meet. This consistency is crucial for anyone needing reliable audio performance across different communication tools.

Microphone Quality

One of the key strengths of the Impact 400 is its microphone quality. The dual-microphone array uses noise-filtering algorithms to reduce unwanted sounds, ensuring that the person on the other end can hear you clearly. While it doesn’t have the ANC capabilities of the Impact 700, it still manages to perform well in environments with moderate background noise. Users can rely on it for calls in both home offices and shared workspaces.

During testing, the microphone-maintained clarity even with background noises like typing or fans running. While it cannot completely eliminate all noise, it strikes a good balance for its price range. The busy light on the right ear cup is also a useful feature, providing a visual indication when you’re on a call, thereby minimizing interruptions from colleagues.

Price and Alternative Options

The Epos Impact 400 has an RRP of €69 for the single-sided Impact 430 model and €79 for the dual-sided Impact 460 model on the Epos website. The MS Teams variants (430T and 460T) are the same price as the non-teams models.

In the UK, Insight seems to be the cheapest with the Impact 460 at £60 but they don’t have the other models. Best4Systems lists the 460 at £48.99 but that’s not including vat or delivery, the final price works out at £67.19.

At the time of writing, Amazon has the Impact 430 at £67 and the Impact 460 at £76.

They then have:

• Impact 760T at £126
• Impact 860T at £125
• Impact 1060T at £232

You should take them with a pinch of salt, but Amazon reviews indicate that the Impact 860T is the best option of the three.

Business headsets from alternative brands

Jabra has a higher price point, with the Jabra Evolve2 30 SE being the cheapest at £104 for the mono model and £118 for the stereo.

The Jabra Evolve2 50 is £176 for the mono and £186 for stereo.

Poly has a variety of affordable headsets but these all look quite dated with 3.5mm connectivity and USB adaptors. The Poly Blackwire 5220 is £77.

Yealink has some decent options, especially if you use Yealink phones. The Mono UH38 is £78 and works with Bluetooth and USB. The Duo model is £84

The Avalle Verso Binaural Headset is available for £85.

Of course, you can use a normal PC headset or any headphones with a microphone. One of my colleagues uses the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 which are available for £110, these are Bluetooth and have ANC so there are some significant advantages over the above business focussed headsets. Prior to switching to the Epos headset,  I used the Creative Zen Hybrid Pro headphones which worked reasonably well.

Overall

I have been pleasantly surprised by the Epos Impact 400 Headset.

I initially thought I would not like them as the on-ear design didn’t appeal to me and the relatively low price point made me think the overall performance would not match my existing solution.

In my situation, the main realisation is that headsets designed specifically for calls are superior to consumer headsets designed for music or gaming. The tuning makes voices significantly easier to hear. Of course, this therefore makes them less suitable for music or gaming, but I doubt anyone would buy them for that use.

While USB connectivity may seem out of date compared to wireless, I like the reliability of it and the fact you don’t need to charge them.

Of course, the lack of ANC on both the microphone and audio out is a negative. ANC on the audio out is very much a premium feature and something typically used on over ear headsets, but the lack of ANC on the microphone will likely put off buyers in busy call centres.

It is personal preference, but I generally prefer over ear headphones/headsets as I find that headsets that sit on my ear become a bit painful later prolonged use. Considering the popularity on-ear headsets, I must be in the minority with this preference.

Pricing also seems to be good, there is not much at this specific price point that can compete. Though, there are many much more affordable options with 3.5mm connectivity.

Overall, I think the Epos Impact 400 Headset is an excellent mid-range headset that is ideal for office use.

Last update on 2024-12-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API