A year and a half since its initial debut, EPOS’ GTW 270 Hybrid true wireless gaming earbuds are getting a relaunch, this time with one highly-requested feature: mic support while connected with the USB-C dongle.
When it initially launched last year, the GTW 270 had a lot to offer in the relatively under-served space of gaming-oriented wireless earbuds. Not everyone wants a huge, often garishly-designed headset while playing, and a pair of low-profile buds that still dish up decent audio quality is a nice alternative. However, despite having a built-in mic for use in Bluetooth mode, this wasn’t supported when connecting with the dongle—which is the only way to connect it to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. In it’s relaunched form, that’s no longer an issue, with mic connectivity now possible by dongle.
Other than that, the earbuds remain largely the same as they were. That means a low-latency connection, either by Bluetooth 5.1 or the aforementioned USB-C dongle, using an aptX low latency codec to ensure minimal lag. EPOS also promises “closed acoustic audio clarity for fully immersive in-game playback”, using the earbuds’ ergonomic shape and miniaturised audio drivers to deliver high-quality audio across a range of frequencies, as well as support for PlayStation 5’s 3D audio and simulated surround sound on PC through the EPOS Gaming Suite software.
The GTW 270 Hybrid is compatible with PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Android devices by USB-C dongle, and with any Bluetooth-enabled device (including Switch). It comes with a charge case, a carry case for the dongle, silicon ear tips in three sizes, and a 1.5m USB-C to USB-A charge cable. The earbuds themselves are ergonomically designed for comfort, and pack IPX5 water resistance to protect from sweat and light rain—so they should be alright for the gym (or maybe some energetic Beat Saber sessions), too.
“At EPOS, we strive for audio hardware and software perfection to provide users the best gaming experience,” said Maja Sand-Grimnitz, Director, Brand Management & Global Gaming Marketing at EPOS. “That’s why we incorporated the GTW 270 Hybrid, an already astounding piece of hardware, with additional mic functionality through the USB-C dongle. This highly desired feature now allows gamers to utilize the mic through the dongle which wasn’t possible prior, making the earbuds the ultimate tool for both PC, couch and on-the-go gaming.”
The relaunched EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid earbuds are available now from EPOS and select retailers, at a retail price of AU$229 AUD/NZ$239 NZD.