The EPOS GTW 270 earbuds aim to solve a growing problem in our increasingly mobile-centric gaming world: gaming audio on the go, across multiple devices. Many of today’s consoles and laptops and phones support Bluetooth, but Bluetooth isn’t always the best option due to its susceptibility to interference. What if you also use your Bluetooth connection to plug in a gamepad for use in things like Xbox Cloud Gaming? For example, pairing a headset next to it will only add more latency to the mix.
To that end, EPOS has come up with a new solution that seems to have little competition in the space. This is the company’s GTW 270 earbud set, which gives you a USB-C dongle that’s compatible with virtually any Android device, laptop, and more for low-latency gaming audio on the go. For some very specific situations, these can earn a place among the best PC gaming headsets.
EPOS GTW 270: price and availability
The EPOS GTW 270 gaming earbuds are available from retailers such as Best Buy and Amazon in the United States and other major markets, as well as from EPOS’s own website. Inventory levels generally seem good, with some sites offering prices even lower than the suggested retail price of $149.99.
EPOS GTW 270: Technical Specifications
Category | Specifications | |
---|---|---|
Connectivity | USB-C, USB-C to USB-A, Bluetooth 5.1 | |
Compatibility | PC, Android, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch | |
Functions | 7.1 surround option, charging case, IPX 5 water resistant | |
Microphones | Dual Internal Microphones | |
Battery life | 5 hours of listening, 20 hours of carrying | |
In the box | USB-C cable, USB-C to USB-A cable, USB-C dongle, charging case, earbuds, spare rubber in-ear inserts, dongle cover | |
Price | $150 |
EPOS GTW 270: The Good Stuff
With this new headset, EPOS hopes to break new ground in a fairly busy space. A cursory glance at Amazon reveals something of an avalanche of earbuds of all shapes and sizes ranging from $15 to $300 dollars, but I couldn’t find any competitors doing what EPOS is doing with its GTW 270.
Where the GTW 270 stands out is the USB-C dongle. Using what EPOS calls its “EPOS Low Latency technology”, the headset can bypass optional Bluetooth 5.1 apX connectivity for a sturdier and more stable traditional radio signal, which is much, much less prone to interference and latency issues that plague Bluetooth.. . well, everything. We all know Bluetooth sucks, but this is one of the first earbuds on the market to actively admit it.
The GTW 270 from EPOS is a standard set of modern earbuds, complete with a carrying case with 20 hours of battery storage and five hours of onboard listening time, complete with a USB-C dongle. The dongle is compatible with almost any device that you can connect it directly to. Of course, most Apple mobile devices don’t have USB-C ports, although just about any Windows PC or Android tablet or phone will work right out of the box with no extra fuss.
You always have the option to fall back on Bluetooth if you have no other choice or just don’t want to use the dongle at some point, but the USB-C connectivity is great for those who want that extra reliability. I often find Bluetooth to be particularly bad on PCs and laptops. While podcasting on my Razer Blade 17 Pro, I found myself increasingly opting for these EPOS buds over my Galaxy Buds based purely on the USB-C connectivity. It is extremely strong, completely stable and absolutely resistant to interference.
Included in the box are extra cables to charge the dock, as well as a female USB-A to USB-C cable to connect the USB-C receiver to laptops that don’t have a port, or PlayStation consoles for example. You can indeed use this headset receiver with game consoles like the Nintendo Switch, although it won’t work on Xbox due to Microsoft’s custom security chip requirements.
The headset also has some extra rubber inserts to match the shape of your ear, and I found the product quite comfortable over long sessions, even with my small ears. There is a single button on the left earbud that allows you to adjust a wide range of media functions such as playback controls and so on, and a pairing button is on the charging dock to connect the headset to Bluetooth connections if needed.
The soundscape is harmless, but not exactly stunning. However, it has good separation with decent bass and clear highs. It also comes with optional virtual 7.1 surround that adds an extra dimension to shooters and other competitive games. Dual mics also help you stay in touch with your comrades – they’re usable, but don’t expect to create content on them.
Build quality is decent too, which you’d probably expect from a $149 product from a big name like EPOS. The metal accents are a nice touch without being too “garish”, and the construction of the charging dock feels good, compact with good density, offering light water resistance and protection against clunkiness. The GTW 270 is what I would describe as far from perfect, though.
EPOS GTW 270: The Bad Things
There are a few quirks regarding this product. It’s hard to think of an alternative solution to the dongle, but it’s quite large and literally sticks out like a sore thumb on any device you attach it to.
The charging dock is also a bit of an odd design. The shape is quite hefty and strangely heavy, probably because of the metal shell. The pill-like design doesn’t fit in a pocket as well if you want to use it on the go.
I initially thought the charging case was large to accommodate the dongle. I mean, it would make sense, right? When you’re not using the dongle, it makes sense to unplug it and place it in the charging dock along with the earbuds. Unfortunately, there is no such function for this. The only real option for keeping the dongle near the charging dock is to plug it into the charging port, which isn’t exactly an elegant solution.
Out of the box, the highs and mids in the soundscape are also a bit overwhelming at times, though the sound profile is decent overall. The EPOS software on a PC allows you to adjust the EQ wave to your needs, but there are no presets that make this feature more user-friendly. Also, the fonts in the app are extremely small. On a 1080p screen, you’ll need a magnifying glass to read some of the stuff in this app, which is annoying not only from an accessibility perspective, but for practically anyone who doesn’t have cybernetic zoom implants in their eye sockets.
EPOS GTW 270: Competition
In this space, EPOS has relatively little competition. I’m sure they exist somewhere, but I haven’t been able to find a comparable product that is both USB-C and in the earbud form factor, but there are a few traditional full headsets with similar functionality.
For example, the SteelSeries Arctis 1 is full over-ear headphones with a USB-C dongle for use on Android and Nintendo Switch. However, the USB-C dongle on this product is quite large and wide, and given its size would likely interfere with other ports on a laptop. At the very least, EPOS went with a smaller dongle that could be flipped to position the larger side up or down, while SteelSeries went with a USB-C bar that places the port in the middle.
On the Bluetooth side, Razer’s Hammerhead earbuds are arguably better in terms of raw audio quality, but then you lose the USB-C dongle, which will beat the Razer option on many laptops or other devices with weak Bluetooth connectivity. Despite some shortcomings in the EPOS GTW 270, it stands out in a crowded market because of its uniqueness.
EPOS GTW 270: Should You Buy It?
You should buy this if:
- You want earbuds for your gaming life on PC and other devices without the hassle and unreliability of Bluetooth.
You should not buy this if:
- You don’t plan on using the USB-C dongle as much as there are arguably better sounding and cheaper Bluetooth-only options out there.
While the EPOS GTW 270 isn’t exactly groundbreaking in terms of sound, its unique feature set gives it a unique place in a competitive market. The USB-C connectivity is undeniably great for use on a PC, while Bluetooth connectivity is often an afterthought for some major laptop manufacturers.
The soundscape isn’t the best out there, and the quality of the app leaves a lot to be desired. However, it very quickly replaced all my Bluetooth earbuds for making quick calls or doing podcasts on camera, thanks to the reliability of the USB-C dongle. For some niche use cases, this might be just what you need in your gaming life, but there’s a lot of room for improvement in future versions.
A unique earbud offering in a crowded market, the EPOS GTW 270 offers the ability to bypass the nightmares of Bluetooth for a traditional USB-C radio dongle that elevates it above the competition.
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