EPOS Adapt 260
A solid and affordable pair of wireless headphones that can handle multiple concurrent connections
SCORE
PRICE £79 (£95 inc VAT) from ballicom.co.uk
If hybrid working is going to succeed in the long term, IT teams must equip staff with technology that will work just as well in the office as in their home. That sort of versatility is what EPOS offers with the Adapt 260, a pair of wireless headphones that can simultaneously connect over Bluetooth with a phone and with a PC via the provided dongle.
This isn’t a novel approach. We have seen it with many Bluetooth headsets, most notably the Logitech Zone Wireless ( see issue 299, p69).
However, that headset costs around £135 exc VAT from online retailers whilst you can buy the Adapt 260 for £79 exc VAT.
EPOS also offers a greater variety of options. For instance, you can buy the Adapt 230 with a single earpad, or the Adapt 261 that comes with a USB-C dongle rather than USB-A. All feature this headset’s prized possession: a noisecancelling microphone. This works extremely well, subduing background noise to an indistinct hum. EPOS prioritises clarity over nuance, so don’t expect to sound like a Radio 4 announcer, but your voice will be heard even if you’re in a busy café.
Everyone’s tolerance for over-the-ear headphones is different, but you should find the soft leatherette finish comfortable for long periods at a time. The battery life is astonishingly good, with EPOS’s claims of 27 hours per charge proving accurate in my tests. I also like how the ear cups fold flat, with a carry pouch for easy travelling, and the way the mic can swivel in either direction.
Despite Sennheiser’s involvement – it was part of the joint venture that eventually spun out to become EPOS in its own right – bass is subdued and I wouldn’t turn to the Adapt 260 if I wanted to sink into an album.
However, they’re fine for work scenarios where people simply want to listen to some music between calls and meetings.
The physical controls also tie in well with Spotify, for example. Press down on the multifunction button and it will play or pause a track; press up or down to adjust the volume; a double-press skips to the next track. It takes a little longer to master the other buttons. The top one is geared towards calls, including Microsoft Teams for which this headset is certified; for example, you can use it to reject or accept a call depending on how long you press it for. The bottom one is for power, Bluetooth pairing and to mute the mic.
Better sound quality would have turned this four-star review into five, but at almost half the price of its Logitech rival the EPOS Adapt 260 is a great choice for highly mobile workers.
SPECIFICATIONS
Wireless stereo headphones Bluetooth USB-C (for charging) noise-cancelling microphone 121g 2yr limited warranty
“The Adapt 260’s noisecancelling microphone works extremely well, subduing background noise to an indistinct hum”