EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid Wireless Earbuds Review
High quality, true wireless earbuds are a wonderful thing! When they hit the market just a few years ago, absurdly expensive pricing made them the domain of a select few. Thankfully, as the technology has developed and a broader range of quality players have entered the market, affordable options with excellent qualities have become reality. Even better, multi-platform, gaming-focused true wireless earbuds have just begun to emerge! A particularly intriguing option is the EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid wireless earbuds.
Disclosure: EPOS provided Blog of Dad with the EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid wireless earbuds for the purpose of review and ongoing use. Any thoughts expressed about EPOS products in this article are based on my own experiences. For more information, visit my disclosure statement.
EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid Wireless Earbuds
The EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid wireless earbuds are gaming-focussed true wireless earbuds with plenty to like. They deliver a quality audio experience when gaming (across multiple devices) and the addition of the aptX™ Low Latency USB-C dongle means one of the best wireless gaming audio experiences around. While gaming focussed, the EPOS GTW 270 earbuds also deliver very enjoyable music-listening, and IPX 5 water resistance even makes them suitable for exercise.
Although there are some compromises, the general sound quality (and gaming audio especially) and great versatility make the EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid wireless earbuds an extremely attractive option for those considering a new set of true wireless earbuds.
Pros
Excellent gaming audio
Thoroughly enjoyable music listening
Premium look and feel
Multiple connection options
aptX™ Low Latency USB-C dongle
Good battery life
IPX 5 water resistance rating
Cons
No mic with dongle connection
Can be tricky to remove buds from charging case
EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid wireless earbuds
The EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid wireless earbuds certainly look the part. The understated aluminium case houses the two earbuds and feels fantastic! The smooth, cool-to-touch exterior provides a strong hint about the quality of the earbuds contained within. It also doubles as a charger for the GTW 270 earbuds, providing up to 20 listening goodness while out and about.
A subtle EPOS logo can be found on the top, five tiny LED indicator lights and a button are on the front and the USB Type-C connection is on the rear.
The hinge and magnetic clasp work well together to further enhance the premium feel. The hinge gently snaps into the upright position ensuring that the case stays open when you want it to, while the magnetic clasp holds with more than enough strength to give me confidence that it won’t accidentally open at inopportune times.
Of course, the brilliant case doesn’t matter all that much. What is really important is the quality of the wireless buds inside!
The EPOS logo is again tastefully on display on the metallic-looking faceplate of the GTW 270 Hybrid wireless earbuds. A tiny (but bright) LED indicator uses various colours to clearly convey meaning when lit. When not lit, it is easily missed. I very much like the subtlety of the design.
Black, shaped plastic designed to fit firmly (but comfortably) against the ear forms the body of the earbuds. A small button slightly protrudes from the side of the left bud. This has a pleasing click to it, which is great for getting tactile feedback when using the GTW 270 while on the move. The controls of the GTW 270 are simple, but voice assistant integration (when paired with the appropriate device) with Siri, Google Now and Alexa further expands the functionality.
Several ear tips of different sizes are supplied, so most users should be able to easily find a comfortable fit. Take the time to get your sizing right, the fit impacts the audio experience and the results are worth the time and effort. It is truly amazing how much difference a slight change in positioning can make with in-ear buds.
The GTW 270 buds are held firmly in place in the charging case by magnets. Again, this felt secure and I have few worries about a bud slipping out. If anything, I sometimes found the buds a little tricky to remove, although this has improved over time as I have refined my technique.
EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid wireless earbuds – Connectivity
Pairing is one of the features that separates the EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid wireless earbuds from the competition. The earbuds can be paired two ways.
Pairing Via Bluetooth
The first is the Bluetooth 5.1 connection, which provides a simple and stable method for pairing the EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid wireless earbuds with a wide range of devices. So far I have used the Bluetooth connection to pair the earbuds with my Samsung Galaxy A52 Android mobile, Fitbit Versa 3 and custom-built gaming PC with D-Link PCI-e wireless card.
Each pairing has been a simple matter of following the steps outlined in the included quick start guide. Unlike some other true wireless buds that I have previously reviewed, the EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid wireless earbuds complete the pairing process while still in the case. I really like this method or pairing, it is very easy to understand what is happening!
Once paired, the EPOS GTW 270 buds automatically turn on and connect to the nearest paired device when they are removed from their case. Again, in my testing this has worked well. In fact, it really did seem to consistently find the closest device. For example, one time I was confused when I tried to connect to my PC (via aptX™) and couldn’t reach the GTW 270 earbuds. Then I realised that my phone was on my desk and they had automatically paired. I cut the Bluetooth connection on my phone and the earbuds automatically (and almost instantly) paired with dongle. Impressive!
The EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid wireless earbuds have built in microphones, so pairing over Bluetooth enables two-way communications and access to voice commands. The microphone quality isn’t going to blow anyone away, but it is as good as I would expect from an in-ear device.
Pairing Via aptX™ Low Latency connection with the USB-C dongle.
For compatible devices, and the right games, this is a feature that will undoubtedly have certain gamers sit up and take note. EPOS state that the aptX™ Low Latency USB-C dongle is lag free, which is vital for games in which timing is everything. Hearing a cue right on time can be just as important as visual cues in some fast-paced games and for this reason gamers have traditionally shunned wireless components. I have recently raved about the latest advances in wireless gaming keyboards, so I am thrilled to see latency-eliminating technology also appearing in the wireless earbud market!
In my experience, with the aptX™ Low Latency connection on the EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid wireless earbuds backs up the lag free statement. I’m no pro gamer, but I can’t detect a difference between the aptX™ connection and my wired headphones. It is fantastic!
There is a slight caveat, and it is that you can’t use the inbuilt microphone of the EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid wireless earbuds while using the USC-C dongle. This makes them less ideal for competitive gaming where voice communication is vital. That is not at all a problem for me, as I avoid talking to others in multilayer games. It also isn’t a problem for competitive gamers with access to dedicated desktop microphones.
EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid wireless earbuds – Use
Gaming
There couldn’t be a better time for the EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid wireless earbuds to be a thing, with gaming on PC and console as solid as ever and mobile gaming taking the world by storm. Most gamers play on more than one device these days, especially those who have embraced the brilliance of Xbox Game Pass, so the ability of the GTW 270 to pair easily with up to eight devices is a huge plus! That’s before you even account for the excellence of the low Latency USB-C dongle. Compatible devices include smartphones, PC, PS4, PS5 and Nintendo Switch. The only notable omission here is Xbox.
Mobile Phone (Android)
I have been taking full advantage of the recent release of Xbox Cloud Gaming, so pairing the GTW 270 to my Android phone via both methods Bluetooth and Dongle was my first stop.
The Latency when paired via Bluetooth isn’t terribly noticeable for casual gamers, so I’m more than happy to use it.
My game of choice for the past few weeks has been The Artful Escape, which is convenient because it is a game all about awesome guitar shredding and jamming with intergalactic music critics. It is a wonderful game and, with music as the centrepiece, it is thoroughly enjoyable over the EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid wireless earbuds. In addition to the music, The Artful Escape has wonderful voice acting, and this came through the EPOS GTW 270 beautifully!
Forza Horizon 4 may have a reputation for ham-fisted engine noises, but it does have pumping soundtracks and a brilliant atmosphere. This was on full display when playing Horizon 4 with the GTW 270 over Xbox Cloud Gaming.
While both these games sound great, audio latency isn’t a critical issue with either. I switched to some FPS action, where hearing the enemy in real time can make all the difference.
Continuing with Xbox Cloud gaming, I launched Halo on my phone with the aptX™ Low Latency dongle attached. The first thing that I noticed was the great audio detail that was coming through the GTW 270. there is quite a lot of subtle environmental audio going on in Halo that can often be missed. For example, there is a persistent wind sound in certain environments and running through puddles makes a clear sound. All of these little sounds came through beautifully! Another sound that came through clearly was the sniper bullets sent expertly in my direction. At least I could hear my death in lag-free audio glory.
I’d love to say that the superior wireless connection of the EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid wireless earbuds made me a hugely better Halo player, but the reality was that I was as awful as I have always been. To be fair, Cloud gaming on a small mobile screen vs console players on 75″ televisions is always going to put me at a slight disadvantage, but the team scoreboard of 50-5 was a little embarrassing. Especially as I didn’t register a single kill. The game did sound amazing though…
Halo may not be my domain, but Call of Duty Mobile is a stage on which I feel much more comfortable. In Call of Duty, I am reasonably competitive with a ranking that hovers between better than 80-90% of players (heavily depending on how regularly I play). Here I really appreciated both the excellent gaming sound of the EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid wireless earbuds, as well as the lag-free connection.
Usually on my mobile I use the on-board speakers at a low volume (…because asleep kids), so I was blown away by the explosive sounds sent directly to my ears through the GTW 270! Clearly hearing the sounds of this game certainly adds another dimension! Best of all, the low latency connection delivered sharp and accurate sounds from enemies without lag, which enabled me to react quickly. I’m not one to toot my own horn, but a VIP badge and a win at Elite level always makes me smile!
The lightweight and ergonomic design on the EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid wireless earbuds makes them very comfortable for extended gaming sessions – far more so than a bulky gaming headset. Up to 5 hours of audio should satisfy most gamers, while the charging case means that the earbuds can quickly be topped up even while out and about.
The microphones (usable when connected via Bluetooth) are okay, but not spectacular. They don’t match the exceptional quality of the EPOS SENNHEISER GSP 601 Gaming Headset, for example, but that is not surprising from a true-wireless headset. One could not reasonably expect a tiny microphone located in the ear to match a larger mic on a boom directly at the mouth. As far as this style of earbuds goes, the microphone experience is as good as can be expected.
PC
The aptX™ dongle of the EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid wireless earbuds uses a USB Type-C connection, which is great for mobile phones but not necessarily good for all PCs. Thoughtfully, EPOS include a USB Type-A adaptor to allow for legacy connections. For me, the dongle presented an opportunity to use my motherboard’s single USB Type-C connection for the first time since I built my PC!
Having tested the dongle on my phone, I knew it worked well at a short distance, but I was curious to see how it went when buried away at the back of a PC under my desk and surrounded by potentially interfering devices. It worked surprising well. While sitting at my desk the audio was delivered clearly and consistently. It wasn’t until I had walked about two metres away from the desk that the sound began to splutter and cut out. My desk is the cheap chipboard kind, so I can’t guarantee that those of you with sturdier setups will get the same mileage. Still, the extension cable should ensure just about any PC can take advantage of the aptX™ Low Latency dongle without interference.
In addition to the lag-free wireless experience, the USB-C dongle enables virtual 7.1 surround sound on the GTW 270 Hybrid. This is really impressive and another great feature that adds to the immersion and enjoyment of gaming with the EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid wireless earbuds!
In Battlefield V, the result is thoroughly engaging! Explosions are alarmingly loud and clear, bullets fizz past from all directions and the general chaos of the simulated WWII battlefield can be appreciated in all its glory (gory?). The connection was solid throughout my testing and lag was undetectable.
The next game that I tried was Star Was: Squadrons. Here I came across an interesting issue. When the in-game audio is set to “Surround 5.1 and 7.1” there is a distinct crackle and semi-regular, split-second drop outs. When I set the audio to “Binaural”, this issue disappeared and the experience was thoroughly enjoyable, complete with classic Star Wars sounds!
Music
The EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid wireless earbuds are designed for an incredible gaming experience, but they are also perfectly at home cracking out tunes. Deezer’s 360 Audio app is one of my new favourite things so it has been perfect for testing the musical chops of the GTW 270. To fully test this setup, I went on a random and extremely eclectic listening adventure!
The EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid wireless earbuds pack plenty of punch. They can provide a clear and enjoyable listening experience at volumes well beyond sensible levels, as I found out when I cranked Monkey Wrench by The Foo Fighters to 11! Dave Grohl knows how to make noise, and the EPOS GTW 270 delivered it to my ears beautifully. I couldn’t detect much in the way of distortion, although I didn’t hang around at that volume too long, due to an overwhelming feeling that my brain was beginning to liquify. At a comfortable listening volume, this classic sounded fantastic!
For a change of pace I switched to Bat Out of Hell by Meatloaf and was immediately impressed with the clarity of the manic piano introduction. That is partly due to Deezer’s wizardry, but again the GTW 270 sounds great! Even Meatloaf’s (slightly comically) sped up vocals sound good!
I closed my eyes and soaked in the brilliant jazz of Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Quality buds are mandatory for this music and I was thrilled with the way each instrument was clearly discernible. The constant snare drum was crisp and clear, while the perfect imperfections of the trumpet shone through wonderfully and the perfect perfections of Coltrane’s saxophone made me forget where I was for a while. I could almost smell the smoke and taste the bourbon of a 1960s jazz club. The bass was there, thumping away gently in the background, although perhaps not quite as prominent as on a decent stereo.
I jumped to some Nickleback and that still sounded terrible, so I guess the EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid wireless earbuds aren’t magic…
To cleanse the palette I switched to Pentatonix. Again, this isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but it gave me an opportunity to focus on vocals. It sounded amazing! Each voice was clear and crisp. Pleasingly, the freakish bass bloke had some punch. Bass through the EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid wireless earbuds won’t rattle your brain, but it is there and enjoyable.
Deezer notified me that a Norah Jones Christmas Album had just hit the main Deezer app, so I left 360 and went to check it out. The High Fidelity quality setting on Deezer is a brilliant partner for the EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid wireless earbuds, because Norah sounded like a Christmas Angel. This year has been tough, I think we should start the celebrations early!
Exercise
Like many of us, my exercise regime suffered quite a bit during the Sydney lockdowns. In an effort to get back in the game I got my hands on the Fitbit Versa 3 and a Deezer Premium subscription. The EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid wireless earbuds were the final piece of the puzzle.
I really enjoy running, but a soundtrack in my ear is mandatory. For some reason, I find music hugely motivating when exercising.
The EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid wireless earbuds easily pairs with the Fitbit Versa 3 and Deezer has several premade Fitbit soundtracks to really get the heart pumping. In addition to sounding great, the IPX 5 water resistance makes the GTW 270 an excellent choice for activity as they are protected from sweat and light rain. Up to five hours of listening time means that even the longest workouts can be enjoyed with backing tracks.
I don’t know if it is the Fitbit or the GTW 270 that has the final say on achievable volume, but I found that this combination can really blast out the tunes! I found that my comfortable listening level was nowhere near the maximum on offer. Speaking of comfort, the EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid wireless earbuds sat confidently in place in my ears throughout my exercise.
Amazing tunes through quality earbuds while on a sunrise run beside the beach is one of life’s great pleasures.
EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid wireless earbuds – Final Thoughts
The EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid wireless earbuds are gaming-focussed true wireless earbuds with plenty to like. They deliver a quality audio experience when gaming (across multiple devices) and the addition of the aptX™ Low Latency USB-C dongle means one of the best wireless gaming audio experiences around. While gaming focussed, the EPOS GTW 270 earbuds also deliver very enjoyable music-listening, and IPX 5 water resistance even makes them suitable for exercise.
Although there are some compromises, the general sound quality (and gaming audio especially) and great versatility make the EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid wireless earbuds an extremely attractive option for those considering a new set of true wireless earbuds.