'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?
ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.
When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.
ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form.
This $200 gaming sound card gives you the best audio available for less
Epos GSX 1000 (2nd Edition)
pros and cons
- Knob and controls are responsive and premium-feeling
- Simple, compact design looks great
- Improves in-game sound more than far pricier solutions
- Lack of 1/4-inch ports will mean some high-end headphones require adapters
- RGB lighting would've been a nice upgrade
- Fingerprints make the on-screen icons a bit blurry at times
Long ago, especially in gamer terms, we typically built sound cards into our gaming PC builds alongside powerful video cards. But, over time, priorities shifted.
Many gamers started relying on the sound output of their motherboards, ignoring the warnings of the interference or hiss such unshielded sound circuits could produce. Others traded in their internal Sound Blaster cards for external hardware. This new class of "external sound cards" were what most audiophiles would today call a DAC/amp combo.
One of the first big external sound card successes was Sennheiser's original GSX 1000. This sleek little unit leveraged the company's audio expertise and premium quality to create a great-sounding, compact way to elevate your game audio.
Also: 24 gift ideas for the gamer who has everything
Now Epos, the former gaming division of Sennheiser, is back with the second edition of this near-legendary device. Does it still hold up, with a few added upgrades, all these years later? Let's find out.
Specifications
| Connectivity | USB-C (via included 1.2m USB-C to USB-A cable) |
|---|---|
| Output modes | 2.0 stereo and simulated 7.1 surround sound |
| Sample rates | Main audio: 48 kHz @16 bit | Chat audio: 48 kHz @ 16 bit |
| Headphone output specs | 0 - 48 kHz frequency response, 16 - 50 ohm recommended impedance |
| Line out (speaker) specs | 1.5Hz to 48 kHz frequency response 500mV RMS @ 10k ohm maximum output voltage |
| Included ports | USB-C (power, connectivity), 3 x 3.5mm audio: speaker output, headphone output, microphone input |
| Interface | Physical volume output knob (ring) and chat volume knob, multiple touch-sensitive on-screen controls |
| Dimensions | 150 x 70 x 145 mm |
| Weight | 14 oz |
Build and appearance
The icons retain the same soft glow as the ones on this unit's predecessor when they're activated.
From a physical standpoint, it's easy to mistake the GSX 1000 2nd edition for its ancestor. Aside from a new, all-black color scheme, they're identical at first glance. However, a detailed inspection uncovers a few key upgrades:
The old micro-USB port has been replaced with USB-C. This doesn't offer much benefit to a device of this type, but does make it more compatible with newer cabling and devices.
The redesigned volume knob is even smoother now, giving the device a more premium feel.
The microphone input was upgraded to a higher fidelity 16-bit/48KHz sound path.
Otherwise, the product's physical appearance remains unchanged, and that's a good thing. The compact design was always sleek while still providing ample control over your gaming audio via its volume wheels and touch-based controls.
Also: Best wireless surround sound systems
Have no doubt, those controls will drastically alter your in-game sound (more on this later) without requiring you to alt+tab out to companion apps. This makes on-the-fly, in-game changes a breeze.
Sound quality
The angle provided by the pop-out stand makes accessing the USB-C, speaker and headphone output, and microphone input ports a breeze.
Looking good on your desk is a bonus, but the real benefit of the new GSX 1000 is what it does for your in-game audio.
For reference, my typical gaming setup includes a Schitt Audio Modius DAC (go ahead and giggle) connected to a Drop + THX AAA headphone amplifier, with an XLR mic handled by a Focusrite Scarlett Solo USB interface, or a headset mic plugged straight into my motherboard.
The combined MSRP for that hardware is $630. Despite that, the $200 GSX 1000 actually did its job better than my complex setup under certain circumstances. Even at its worst, I'd still say it was about 80% as good as my default audio stack. Let me explain.
The GSX 1000 line's most important job has always been providing excellent in-game audio. To that end, Epos includes several presets accessed via the device's touchscreen, one of which is dubbed "Esports."
Also: Best PC gaming headsets: Premium audio, no drops
When Esports is used with decent headphones or a solid gaming headset, it provides one of the most pinpoint accurate directional sound experiences I've heard, beating the aforementioned $630 stack by slightly narrowing the precise direction a given sound is coming from. If this is what truly matters to you, save the $430 difference and buy this unit right now.
The on-screen icons will change to reflect what they're currently set to, and the four corner lights will turn white to let you know when a pre-set is active.
However, most of us don't use our PCs, or even our gaming PCs, exclusively for gaming. When not competitively gaming, you'll want to opt for one of the other equalizer presets the GSX 1000 offers. Esports' emphasized highs and reduced bass are great for situational awareness, but they'll murder your favorite song.
Luckily, the GSX 1000 can easily be switched to its Music or Story (should probably be called Movie) presets, which do a great job of tweaking its sound to meet the needs of those very different media types. Can this little device still beat the more expensive stack even here too? No, it definitely cannot.
Also: The best headphones you can buy right now
The general fidelity is a little worse, the vocals aren't as clear, the instruments aren't as defined, and the overall sound profile is less roomy. But, all of those deltas are far smaller than you'd expect for less than one-third the price of the more expensive setup.
Other features
The volume percentage (which is tied to Windows' own volume setting) remains visible even when the unit dims.
Even if you did opt for a more expensive, multi-device setup, you still wouldn't get the access to on-device controls the GSX 1000 provides. In addition to the EQ toggles mentioned above, those comprehensive controls include:
A 2.0 or simulated 7.1 surround sound toggle, with the simulated 7.1 providing a legitimate benefit to directional sound.
Three levels of sidetone: The amount you can hear your own mic in your ear.
Three levels of reverb to make your surroundings sound larger and more open, or smaller and more intimate.
A toggle for switching between headphones and speakers.
A three-way "Surround amplification switch," which can emphasize front sounds or back sounds, or balance them.
All settings can also be saved to one of four presets. These presets can then be accessed by tapping one of the touch-sensitive lines on the device's corners, making it easy to switch from gaming to music listening to movie viewing with a single tap.
When you're not actively tweaking it, the GSX 1000 will automatically dim, displaying only your volume level. It also features a handy proximity sensor to brighten the display as your hand approaches.
Bottom line
If you're a hardcore, competitive gamer worried solely about your in-game performance, even at the potential cost of other aspects of sound fidelity, the GSX 1000 remains an even easier recommendation in its 2nd Edition form than it was in its first. Even if you do like to mix in the occasional music-listening session or movie night, it still performs admirably for such a small device at this price point.
Will this impress the snootiest of audiophiles? Probably not. But, while they're analyzing mahogany overtones and crystalline timbre characteristics, you'll be removing the head of the enemy that thought he was sneaking up on you because you heard him coming from a mile away.
Alternatives to consider
Creative's Sound Blaster brand is still around, with the company also having largely shifted to external cards like this one. This model provides more I/O options for speakers and optical audio than the GSX 1000 2nd Edition but uses simpler controls with no display.
An option from HyperX that's so tiny you'd mistake it for an in-line remote control. While it offers many of the same features as the GSX 1000 2nd Edition, don't expect the same level of audio fidelity or granular hardware controls.
The original is still available. If you prefer its slightly more varied color scheme, or you just can't get your hands on the frequently sold-out second edition. It's a viable option for anyone that doesn't benefit from the generational improvements mentioned above.