When I mentioned EPOS to people, inevitably I have to spell out the name. The name is not in the consciousness of the typical consumer. I love my EPOS IMPACT 1000 and have been using it since August 2023.
On the other end of the scale, the EPOS IMPACT 100 is the new entry-level headset that aims to deliver exceptional value for money. It is officially launched today 18 June 2025.
DRN received a review unit pre-launch and have been testing it solidly for the past week and a bit.
First Impressions
The IMPACT 100 is an ultra lightweight headset. My review unit is a mono variant that comes in at just 51 grams. There is a stereo version which is a little heavier at 76g.
It is a wired headset with an in-line controller, and a very decent two metres of cable for some freedom of movement.
Bearing in mind that this is an entry level, low cost headset, EPOS has left off a lot of their signature features. But does that mean it is a poor performer?
In Use
As a general rule I prefer stereo headsets, it give me better control over my ambient audio environment. So trying out a mono headset feels a little odd to me, however, the IMPACT 100 is so light and comfortable that it was easy to forget it is just hanging off one side of my head.
There is a little travel in the band to make it fit over your noggin a little better.
The boom microphone has a 270 degree swivel so you can wear the IMPACT 100 on either side of your head. Not need to figure out if you need a right handed or southpaw version. The swivel is smooth and robust. It does not feel like it will break easily from constant use.
Looking at the specifications, the IMPACT 100 has a single microphone for voice pick-up. It also says there is noise cancelling without giving more details.
On paper this looks pretty skinny, considering many headsets boasts about the number of microphones for audio pickup and noise cancelling work.
In reality, I tested it across multiple meetings in multiple environments. The waiting room of an allied health professional, at home with kids being kids. My partner talking to me without checking if I am on a call. Lots of varying levels of background noise and the other party on the line had no clue.
Whatever magic EPOS did with the uni-directional microphone and the simply labelled ‘noise cancelling’, it was effective at dropping the background noise. It was very impressive.
At the same time, my voice went across naturally, very much in line with what people have been used to hearing when I use the IMPACT 1000. Not a huge fan of my own voice but it came across with body and clarity. I was expecting to be asked to repeat myself but not even once did that happen.
The ear pad is made of black leatherette material that just sit on the ear. The lightweight, combined with the low clamp force on my head made it pretty comfortable to wear for longer durations.
I had these on for a few two hour meetings and they haven’t bothered my head very much. Though I keep forgetting these are wired headphones and like to yank my laptop off the desk as I move around.
The IMPACT 100 is very much tuned for voice transmission but I did try them out with some music. Aside from the odd feeling of listening to music on a mono headset, your mileage will vary here.
I had a listen to the Rock Orchestra’s cover of Zombies and it was a bit of a mess. The acoustics at time were just mashing together but when the band dialed down, the vocals broke through nicely.
Switching gears to Miley Cyrus singing Lilac Wine in “The Backyard Sessions”. Her vocals and power really shines through in the simpler and unplugged performance. The IMPACT 100 also handled this much better as it is closer to just vocals.
As an aside, ignoring the wilder public years of Miley, her has an incredible voice and range. Have a listen to her on Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky podcast (yes THAT Monica Lewinsky), for a glimpse at the complex young woman behind the facade and that era.
Other Features
The IMPACT 100 comes with an inline controller. My review unit is MS certified so it has a Teams button which lights up in purple in line with the theme, call control in green and mute in red. There are volume buttons on the side to pump the volume up or down without having to reach for your screen.
The interface is USB-C with a USB-A adaptor looped to the cord for convenience.
Also worth noting is that the cable is fairly robust with a thicker rubber sheath. Not quite as robust as a braided cable but this one fits the business look.
Gripes
Just the one. I would have liked a clip on the inline controller so I can tag it to my clothes somewhere. With the way it is, I end up hunting for it by chasing down the cable until I find it.
Conclusions
It is the new entry level headset for the company but from build quality to sound quality, the IMPACT 100 is remarkable for what EPOS has managed to deliver.
With a wired connection there is no fuss and no delay in connections, and no need to keep an additional gadget charged up. Just plug it into USB, regardless of Type-A or Type-C as both are on the line to use.
The EPOS IMPACT 100 works well to fit within a tight budget and wanting to maximise the bang for bucks. It is available now from authorised resellers for A$95 (corrected) and there are three variants:
- IMPACT 100 MS Mono USB-C+A
- IMPACT 100 UC Stereo USB-C+A
- IMPACT 100 MS Stereo USB-C+A
DRN would like to thank EPOS for providing the review unit.
