The Epomaker GX1 is a budget wireless gaming headset that makes a lot of promises and keeps most of them. There are two things I really don’t like about it, and we’ll get to those. But first, the good news: for $49 US, this thing is a lot better than it has any right to be.
Disclaimer: This sample was provided by Epomaker for an honest review. All observations and opinions here are my own, based on my experience with the product.
Design and Build
The Epomaker GX1 looks slick. The aesthetic reminds me a lot of the old Kingston HyperX headsets, which is no bad thing. Build quality feels pretty darn good for the money, with a solid feel in the hand and some exposed wiring on the outside that is neither good nor bad, just a look. Inside the earcups you get 50 mm dynamic drivers, and yes, there is RGB.
My one worry on the build is the protein leather on the ear pads and the headband. I’d expect it to start peeling somewhere between 6 and 12 months in. The ear pads aren’t a big deal, since they’re a fairly standard shape and replacements shouldn’t be hard to find. The headband is a different story. Only time will tell, but I wouldn’t be shocked.
The boom mic is removable, which I like. Pop it off and you have a clean-looking pair of wireless headphones, with a built-in mic still there for casual calls.
Comfort and Controls
Clamping force is on the gentler side, but the fit is still secure and firm. You could rage quit a match and thrash about and these shouldn’t fly off your head. I wore them for hours at a time with no discomfort, and my ears didn’t get hot, which is where a lot of budget headsets fall down.
Controls are simple. Three buttons sit on the left cup: one for the LED lighting, one for mic mute, and one that handles power and play/pause. Below those you’ll find a volume wheel, the USB Type-C port, and a select button for switching between the 2.4 GHz wireless connection and Bluetooth.
The RGB Problem
This is the first of my two complaints. I’m not against RGB, especially when it’s properly configurable, but here the lighting just cycles through colors and that’s about it. On a wireless headset it also makes little sense, because it drains the battery faster. You can switch the lights off by pressing the light button twice.
The annoying part is that the LEDs come back on every single time you power the headset up. It doesn’t remember your setting. I’d much rather have them off by default and let me press a button when I want the show. That would just make more sense.
Wireless Performance
The included USB dongle is great. Plug it into your PC, switch the headset on, and it pairs instantly and automatically. I haven’t had a single connectivity problem. You can also pull the dongle out and plug it straight into your phone, which means you can record audio on your phone using the headset’s mic.
I didn’t use the Bluetooth side of things, so I can’t speak to that. The 2.4 GHz connection, though, is outstanding. I play some very fast-paced games, and I never noticed any latency at all.
Microphone
The Epomaker GX1 boom mic is really good. It’s clear, not thin or hollow, and not bloated or congested either. It sits right in the middle, that Goldilocks region where voices just sound natural.
I tested the noise reduction with rain pouring down outside my window. First you hear the rain with it off, then with it on, and the difference is striking. That’s straight out of the box with no other effects enabled, and there are plenty of other effects in the software if you want to go further. Very impressive for the price.
Sound Quality
Honestly, the audio quality is surprisingly good. When you hear “$50 gaming headset” you probably picture muddy, boomy bass. These are not like that at all. The tuning is fairly neutral, and they work for music, not just games.
Bass is punchy without being overpowering. It doesn’t try to dominate, and it stays out of the midrange.
Midrange is also fairly neutral. Not muddy, not thin, with some natural weight that sounds healthy.
Treble isn’t fatiguing, sibilant or harsh, but there’s enough energy up top to add some liveliness and lift.
Soundstage is where the box gets a bit ahead of itself. The packaging and website advertise immersive 7.1 surround sound, and obviously you’re not getting that from two drivers. That’s marketing nonsense. The treble lift does help open things up a little, though, and the software can add more spatial effects if that’s your thing.
Software and EQ
The Epomaker audio app for Windows gives you settings for both the headphones and the mic. Open the effect settings and you’ll find an equalizer with sliders and a bunch of presets.
A word of warning: the presets are rubbish. All of them. Load up the metal preset and you’ll see boosts of 10 dB or more, with sliders going all the way to plus and minus 20 dB. That’s ridiculous. Skip the presets, start from default, and make adjustments of maybe 3 to 5 dB. The GX1 responds well to EQ as long as you keep it reasonable and don’t do anything silly.
Beyond the EQ there’s a surround effect with options for movies or gaming and a selectable room size, which is kind of fun. You also get Xear Audio Brilliant, Dynamic Bass, Smart Volume, Voice Clarity and Surround Max. On the mic side there are voice effects including monster and cartoon man and woman voices (fun to mess around with) plus an adjustable level for the noise reduction.
Verdict
For $49 you get good audio quality, a great mic, rock solid wireless performance and loads of customization in the app. I’m genuinely impressed overall.
The two sticking points are the RGB that resets itself every time you power on, and the voice prompts that are way too loud. But that’s probably why you’re only paying fifty bucks. At this price, the Epomaker GX1 is a bargain.