I reviewed the EPOS Impact 500 late last year and found that, while not for everyday use, it is one of the most robust and highly recommended options for the workplace. It’s not to say that you wouldn’t be able to take them out and about, but EPOS had clearly honed in on what made these great for a workplace or office environment, with a lightweight fit and fantastic boom mic.
In many ways, the EPOS Impact 1000 is a strong follow-up, building on almost everything that made the EPOS Impact 500 great. If you’re in need of an upgrade, or are simply looking for a new pair of on-ear headphones to work with, you may have found the perfect choice.
It is worth noting, however, that there are various versions of the EPOS Impact 1000 that you can build and select via the official EPOS website. We are reviewing the most premium double-sided option here, with ANC and the wireless charging stand.
Design
The Impact 1000 is sleek and light, making it a joy to wear over the course of an 8-9 hour workday. Given its on-ear design, it’s also a comfortable fit around the ears, and thanks to the leatherette earcups, it rarely traps much heat or sweat.
I would argue that the adjustable plastic headband is a little too flexible for my liking, but it is also in service or a more lightweight headset that won’t be put through its paces for things like workouts or walks in the rain.
The controls on the headset are also relatively easy to get the hang of, and I’m a huge fan of making every button feel different, so that it’s easy to control while on your head. Around the left earcup, you’ll find the power switch, which also enables Bluetooth pairing, and a volume switch that you can push either forwards or backwards to increase or decrease volume. Finally, you’ll find the drop-down boom mic with a light on either earcup that indicates if you’re on a call.
On the right earcup, you’ll find a dedicated ANC button that can be used to switch between ANC and Talkthrough modes.
In the box, you’ll find the wireless charging stand that plugs in via USB-C (an absolute win), along with a USB-C to USB-C charging cable, USB-A/C dongle and fabric carry pouch. I’m a huge fan of the charging stand here for its minimal and sleek design, and while it is optional, it does add some versatility to the overall package.
Performance
Complete with Hybrid Adaptive ANC and EPOS BrainAdapt, the EPOS Impact 1000 basically works with AI to help block out varying levels of noise around you when necessary. Now, while that simply sounds like ANC as it is, EPOS claims this is backed by science, as it scans your environment up to 32,000 times per second to minimise background noise.
Over-ear headphones always provide better ANC simply because the larger earcup isolates additional noise from the beginning. But for a pair of over-ear headphones, I think the ANC here is actually fantastic. It’s some of the best I’ve used in a form factor like this, and I can attest to the fact that, in conjunction with the awesome boom mic that EPOS also claims works with AI and captures more than 99 out of 100 words correctly, it lives up to the task. Voices sound crystal clear, and it’s one of the highlights of the EPOS Impact 1000.
I’ve left the audio a little later in this review, simply because I believe it’s not the most important feature of the Impact 1000. Now I get that sounds silly, given we’re dealing with a pair of headphones, but I really do believe they’re made for Zoom and Teams calls more than music or video content. With that being said, these are great. The bass isn’t particularly fantastic, but it does provide quite an even soundstage backed by solid mids and acceptable highs.
An added advantage of the EPOS Impact 1000 is its versatile connectivity, via the included USB-A/C dongle or native Bluetooth 5.3 support. There’s also triple multi-point connectivity, but this entails connecting to a PC via the dongle and two devices via Bluetooth. Even then, the fact that you can connect to your PC, take calls from your phone, and even connect to something else like an iPad or a second work-based phone is impressive.
Finally, the EPOS Impact 1000 provides great battery life with 55 hours of listening time and 20 hours max talking time. That’s certainly more than enough for a single workday, but if that wasn’t enough, you’re able to leave this on the charging stand overnight or in the office, ready for a new day of use.
Overall, the EPOS Impact 100 might not leap out to everyone, but it certainly excels where it counts, which is all you can ask for if you’re looking to use this in the office.
Software
The EPOS Impact 1000 also works with the EPOS Connect companion app, available on iOS and Android. Like most companion apps, you’ll be able to adjust additional settings like ANC effectiveness, sidetone volume and even choose between a few media modes, which can alter or enhance the audio.
There’s not much to it if you’re into customising EQ presets and granular audio levels, but you could argue that really isn’t the point of the EPOS Impact 1000, so it’s far from a dealbreaker. Beyond that, the app is clean and easy to navigate if you choose to use it.
Verdict & Value
Overall, the EPOS Impact 1000 nails its intended purpose. While it won’t provide fantastic audio or a wide soundstage for music and content, it will provide a lighter, more comfortable fit, decent ANC, and a fantastic boom mic for calls and online meetings.
Its premium price tag is only made more expensive with the addition of the charging stand, but I would certainly recommend it for a dedicated office or work-based setting.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Highlights: Great ANC; Fantastic boom mic; Lightweight and comfortable
Lowlights: Audio won’t blow you away; Charging stand is extra and bumps up the price significantly
Manufacturer: EPOS
Price: A$ 339.99- A$ 615.00
Available: Now available via the official EPOS website.
Review based on unit provided by EPOS.
