The EPOS Impact 1060 ANC headphones are a new offering from the professional line of products that EPOS offers. I received these headphones for review and this is my detailed experience with the product.
The headphones offer Bluetooth v5.3 which connects via a USB type-A dongle. It also has a USB type-C port. With a standard speaker frequency of 20Hz to 20KHz, a mic frequency of 100Hz to 16KHz, a total of four mics, a talk time of about twenty hours, a one and half-hour charging time (using cable), an option for wireless charging, a wireless range of about 30 meters, a Microsoft Teams certification, a 2-year warranty and a LED lights that light up read when on a call or listening to something on the headphones.
Right off the bat, this is essentially what I would call the Cadillac of professional headphones. The product comes packaged in a neat and simple box that contains another pouch that holds the headphone unit and its accessories. Inside the box, we have the headphones, type C cables, a cleaning cloth, paperwork and most importantly, the wireless charging stand. Yes! These headphones can be charted wirelessly with the help of the wireless charging headphones stand that comes with the package. This is by far the most captivating feature in the Impact 1060 that just stood out for me straight away.
The design of the EPOS Impact 1060 headphones is as classy as a freshly steamed tuxedo. The charcoal grey colour suits the purpose of these headphones just perfectly. The aesthetics are subtle and minimalistic. The stand looks very professional and well-built, the light that indicates that the headphones are charging is subtle but clear as day and in extreme contrast to what we see in gaming headphones.
The headset has dimensions of 66 mm x 176 mm x 178 mm and weighs only 171 grams. Given the measurements and the weight, it is safe to say that these are easy to carry around and are not at all imposing.
The EPOS Impact 1060 seems to be very tech-heavy at first which might be intimidating for some but as soon as you understand the functionalities, it is mostly smooth sailing. The headset has a multifunctional slider that allows you 5to switch from ANC to non-ANC and vice versa.
The star of the show here which is a key component in well-priced professional headphones Is, of course, the active noise cancellation. Now, the ANC in the EPOS Impact 1060 is powered by what the company calls BrainAdapt Technology, which reportedly scans the user’s environments 32,000 times a second to find that sweet spot. There is even a study conducted by the Centre for Applied Audiology Research in Oticon, Denmark to see just how effective this really is.
Apart from the study, it just makes sense that for someone working in an open office design adding a potent ANC component to a work headset is a no-brainer. The mic can muted if it is simply lifted up. So, if there is a scenario where you do not wish to deploy the microphone yet, simply pull it up. The LED lights light up red once the headset engages in some sort of activity. I tried this with calling, gaming and video editing and this feature works fine with all scenarios.
The EPOS Impact 1060 can be connected to three devices simultaneously which is impressive. However, it can remember up to eight devices at a given time. Pairing a new device will remove the first device and so on and so forth.
“Utilizing hybrid adaptive ANC and EPOS’ industry-proven voice pickup AI, the Impact 1000 headset ensures productive calls and meetings by allowing both ends of the call to hear and be heard clearly with excellent sound quality, without being challenged by disruptive background noise.”
This is what the product description says and I must say I agree with it. This is one of the very few no-nonsense headphones I have ever reviewed. Here are my key takeaways:
The ANC is out of this world. It is one of the best ANCs that I have witnessed on a pair of headphones. It only makes sense that the flagship pair of headphones of a company that specialises in professional headsets makes something like this. Regardless of what you're standing next to, the traffic, wind, a construction site or a marketplace, the Impact 1060’s ANC can handle it all with utmost effectiveness.
There’s a flip-side to it too, however. The headphones are immensely proficient in making audio/video calls effortless but they are equally not as great when it comes to media consumption. The music listening experience is average, plain and simple. Additionally, the headset is not made to be used for prolonged hours. So, if you are a power user who uses headsets for long hours, this might be an issue. The cups are on the smaller side and that right there poses a problem for many.
The verdict for the EPOS Impact 1060 is clear as day. It is a competent and highly effective pair of on-ear headphones that is designed for a very specific purpose. The good thing is that it serves that purpose quite brilliantly. These headphones mean pure business. The no-nonsense attitude of the EPOS Impact 1060 is what makes it so good. Furthermore, the wireless charging stand is more than a nice touch. It is a superb addition and after using it for a few weeks, I’m just left wondering why don’t headphone makers offer such an accessory for all their products. It’s quite a game-changer. It adds tremendous value and makes sure the headphones are always charged, a common gripe among wireless headphones users.
The Microsoft Teams certification just adds a cherry on top of what is already a delicious-looking cake, metaphorically of course. The only few downsides to this product are that it is quite expensive and the usage is kind of limited. Despite the robust Bluetooth connectivity and superb ANC features, you need to be absolutely sure if you want to shell out money for this product.
The big question looming above this headset is whether you as a buyer are okay with good enough or you’d go the extra mile for exceptional. The extra mile here being the extra amount of money. All in all, if efficient, seamless and uninterrupted work is on your checklist, the EPOS Impact 1060 is a no-brainer. It is a product that is built to solve a very particular problem and it does so quite well.
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