EPOS has been making cutting-edge headsets for both work and entertainment with the business-focused ADAPT Series applying some of the best audio quality along with the most useful tools for modern hybrid working.
The EPOS ADAPT 561 II is one of their latest and part of the second generation ADAPT 500 models that aim to improve on its already impressive predecessors.
The 561 II features a very inconspicuous yet still functional headset design, that strips away all the bulk of some headsets without benign a minimal as something like the ADAPT 200 Series.
The EPOS 561 has a sleek and modern look with black colour with metallic accents, making it look more like a high-end pair of personal headphones instead of an ugly call centre headset.
It’s only once you put it on and realise it sits further back on your head with a more unobtrusive design, which looks much more professional and less distracting.
Its slimmed-down profile and very light weight of only 232g make it comfortable to wear and easy to fold down for storage and travel.
The inclusion of a soft case is always a welcome addition allowing me to keep them safe and just throw them in my bag when I am on the go.
They also feature a pretty robust design making them strong and resistant despite their low weight, I never worried if I dropped them or if I threw them in my bag when I was in a hurry.
The 561 II features a small, discreet boom arm which can be folder out of the way when not in use, which then mutes the mic.
Its boom offers the benefit of having a dedicated mic close to your mouth to pick up your voice more accurately and less of the background.
The ear cups are generously padded leatherette with are soft yet durable and sit on top of your ear unlike the ADAPT 660 or EPOS H series, while I prefer the kind that completely envelops my ears I have to admit that these were not only comfortable, they didn’t make my ears sweat at all they also provided some decent passive noise cancelling.
As a wireless headset, you don't need to fuss with leads and cables for day-to-day use which is incredibly freeing and helps me feel less chained to my desk It also has a range of around 25 metres, so I could keep moving around even in the office.
While the EPOS ADAPT 561 II is primarily designed for professional use, such as phone calls and video conferences, it also offers exceptional audio quality which is still perfect for listing to music, watching movies and gaming.
It provides clear and natural-sounding voice reproduction, it tends to favour mids due to being optimised for voice communication however the high treble frequencies were also clear and detailed but the bass was a little under-represented, which wouldn’t matter in day-to-day use but it might bother you if you need some thumping bass to help you get through the work day.
The mic quality was very sharp and detailed which ensure I was always clearly heard in meetings it did a great job in quiet environments with some noise.
As expected in a very loud environment the audio quality took a slight hit and the mic did pick up some unwanted sounds but my voice was still the focus and distinct with the mic doing a great job.
Background noise was greatly reduced thanks to the passive noise cancelling with the earcups blocking some sound, there is also advanced active noise cancelling on top of this which uses 4 mics to reduce background noise.
A busy newsroom is among one of the best tests for ANC that I know of and the 561 II passes with flying colours, while some annoying keyboard taps still managed to get through much louder sounds like shouting, talking, sirens, and phones where all massively reduced which helped me concentrate.
You can also allow Talkthrough which activates the mics and passes the sounds straight through to the headphones, this was invaluable as it allowed me to talk to colleagues or hear my environment without removing the headphones.
The 561 II is also optimised for Microsoft Teams but is also compatible with Zoom and Google Meet with even a dedicated button to launch Microsoft Teams on the headset.
One feature I always find useful is multi-point connectivity, which allows me to connect the headset to both my phone and my desktop. This meant I was never missing any important work notifications or phone calls no matter how engrossed I was.
Also with a range of up to 25 metres, I could even get away from my desk once in a while too.
The headset connects via BlueTooth 5.0 and supports SBC, AAC, USB-C, and aptX codex, if your work machine doesn't have Bluetooth, a dongle is also provided that can pair to the headset for quick and easy set-up.
Battery life is impressive at around 46 hours but with ANC on that is reduced to around 24 hours, it also takes around 3 and a half hours to charge, despite its phenomenal endurance I wish there was a fast charging functionality.
At around £200 these are a serious set of headphones that do a specific job as they are geared more towards voice communication, but they can still deliver excellent quality for listening to music.
EPOS ADAPT 561 II Verdict 4/5
It’s often said that the best tech does its job well and fades into the background unnoticed and that’s definitely the case with the EPOS ADAPT 561 II.
It’s clearly a professional tool that balances flexibility with brilliant audio and a comfortable design without being flashy or with unnecessary bells and whistles, it's a reliable and exceptional headset for both meetings and personal use.
Its wireless functionality, solid design, amazing sound quality and next-level ANC and voice isolation make this one of my new favourite headsets.
The EPOS ADAPT 561 II is out now and available from best4headsets for more information please check out the EPOS website.
