EPOS GSX 1000 2nd edition review | A DOPE external gaming DAC amp

The EPOS GSX 1000 2nd edition, is an external soundcard and amplifier with a built-in DAC that has been designed for gaming. It’s a complete plug-and-play solution, meaning you don’t need any additional software.
It’s an excellent little gaming DAC amp to improve your gaming audio on PC and Mac. I found very little that I didn’t like about it and I think it’s a big improvement over the original GSX 1000.
Review unit provided by EPOS gaming. All opinions are my own.
#EPOSgaming #GSX10002ndEdition #gamingDAC
00:00 Intro
00:52 Features and design
03:59 Sound quality
05:55 Mic test
06:18 Compatibility
06:45 Recommendation
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[@goukigod]

[ UPDATE ] I missread the info provided by EPOS about the power supply. The 1st edition didn't have an external power supply. This is what the official info says "The 2nd editioned GSX 1000 gets rid of old and outdated power inputs and is powered by USB-C."

[@javiermartinez8809]

Good review

[@MrExcellentgamer]

Loved the review!! I hate that this doesn't send our audio through to ps5 :(, really really have been looking for something that I can replace the Mixamp to the Astros for! Hearing audio from pc and ps5 while using our microphone for both is something I would've thought been possible by now.

[@goukigod]

It feels like a big gap in the gaming audio space for sure. There are almost no products that work with console and the few that do don't do it very well *cough* Shiit Hel 2

[@mbelholm]

I have the first edition gsx 1000 and i doesnt need an external power supply, that your saying in this video ?. It's powered by USB ?.

Yup I confirm. I think the difference between is the port, though. GSX 1st generation uses micro USB and the 2nd seems like USB-C !

[@jhtongamer3151]

would this be good for gaming i have the XENNS Mangird Top or should i just plug it into my pc meaning the iem ?

[@goukigod]

It's designed with gaming in mind. You shouldn't need an amp for most IEMs but it will give you surround sound if that's something you want.

[@jhtongamer3151]

@@goukigod its for pubg the iem are very good okay my mother borard is msi b550 a pro full atx mother borard

[@herrwarmduscher5204]

Is there a mic gain control like the Schiit Hel 2E?

[@goukigod]

No. You have a chat mix dial to alter how much chat volume you can hear but no way to alter the outgoing mic volume on the amp.

[@Volkfire]

So this is just for headphones? Or is it for our mic as well? Sorry Im so confused.

[@goukigod]

It has a mic input so you can use headsets with a separate wire for the mic, or standalone microphones. Obviously you can just use a regular pair of headphones with it too.

[@SoulReaper1967]

What headphone and microphone cable do i need? I have Logitech g933

[@goukigod]

I'm pretty sure the 933 comes with a cable that has both a 3.5mm audio and microphone ends. That's all you need.

[@roboticant457]

Can i actually use other headsets like the razers or astro headsets?

[@goukigod]

Of course. I use my Sennheiser HD560s with it and I've l used the Arctis nova 7 with it too.

[@Karim-ik5ij]

I don't get it. Does this have a better engine than windows for producing 7.1 virtual surround? If not, isn't there software for that?

[@goukigod]

It includes a DAC and EPOS' own surround sound software solution. A software only solution is just simulated surround sound.

[@DJaquithFL]

I have the first edition and I have a second computer right next to it so it's between this and the Hel 2E. I really don't listen to music on it and all I do is game FPS games. One feature you kind of skipped over is that you can switch outputs on the fly. Example when I'm gaming I only want to use my Sennheiser headphones but when I listen to music or I want something in the background and I'm working. I just touch a button and in a snap I'm out putting to my desktop speakers. I found your information when I was trying to search for GSX 1000 2nd Edition versus Hel 2E.

[@DJaquithFL]

.. I forgot to mention I purchased a copy through the Microsoft store of the Dolby Atmos codec ($10-$15 I don't remember exactly) and it seemed to really help, especially with games that support Dolby.

[@goukigod]

Being able to switch between the two outputs is super useful. If you're on PC and don't need to listen to music, the GSX is the better buy over the Hel

[@DJaquithFL]

@PeytonColeAkaBobbyTrill .. I still own that EPOS GSX 1000 1st edition and I have zero issues. There are no drivers on either DAC, so if you're having an issue try swapping USB ports on your motherboard. If it still doesn't work even on another PC then it's gotten broken.

[@andreapellegrin1634]

i have a pair of sennheiser 660s would u suggest to buy this as an amp dac combo i play a lot of games and i also listen to music

[@goukigod]

Depends what you're playing on. On PC there's obviously heaps of choices but this is a great option if you want a straight forward virtual surround sound solution. I use mine with a HD560s which is a great combo for both gaming and music. The 660s has a different impedance than the 560s but the GSX should have more than enough power to drive it.

[@FJano12]

Does this give better sound than windows Dolby Atmos for headphones?

[@goukigod]

A great question and a difficult one to answer objectively. I haven't seen any technical tests that measure both of them side by side. The general feeling I've seen from others is that they're quite comparable and I also like both of them equally. Atmos has the benefit of being accessible on multiple devices without additional hardware but on the flip side the GSX 1000 is such a simple, hassle-free, plug-and-play device. I think it just comes down to price and if you have space for/want an additional box on your desk.

[@FJano12]

@@goukigod Thanks for the answer! Do you know with the gsx1000 first edition whether I can use Dolby Atmos? Does let it Atmos go through? I want to get the benefits of both.Don’t know how great this question:)

[@goukigod]

@@FJano12 No. The GSX is a closed system so it will not pass through an existing 7.1 signal.

[@SpYwww]

Yes it does. The difference is night and day. GSX1000 should be in 7.1 mode in windows and game should output 7.1/5.1 I'm owner of first generation for years and nothing can beat the binaural sound its hardware producing out of 7.1/5.1 channels. It spoils you to the point that you can't play games with regular stereo, unless there's binaural engine already built in-game (like in Hunt Showdown) Dolby Atmos is very good for its money, especially when all you have is Windows and headphone stereo jack. Also, you should never use two spatial systems at the same time (like GSX1000's and Dolby Atmox) as it will mess you audio

[@FJano12]

@@SpYwww How do you explain that experiment on Linus tech tips channel while ago where Atmos finished far ahead any hardware generated virtual sound? Was it bias?

[@Jo21]

What dac does this have?

[@goukigod]

It has it's own built in DAC

[@danieltubman9309]

Compatible with win11 ?!

[@goukigod]

No. Only stereo works. 7.1 doesn't.

[@sergiofortuna5370]

@@goukigod O_o I have it with windows 11 and 7.1 work fine. What kinda problem do u have?

[@DJaquithFL]

Update .. I purchased "but" also returned this EPOS GSX 1000 2nd Edition. Everything is hard locked at 16-bit 48000 Hz. This "limitation" isn't present in the original which I already own. Instead this is IMHO a downgrade with the exception of its USB-C which to me doesn't mean anything, once it's plugged in it's irrelevant. So now it's between getting a duplicate of what I had before or the Schiit Hel 2E or something else. The most I want to spend is around $300. I even thought about some tube amp just for curiosity .. XDUOO TA-10R?!?!

[@goukigod]

The Hel 2 I decent albeit no frills amp. I had to send m original unit back for replacement though, so I have a few concerns with their QA

[@SpYwww]

LOL 1. If you apply Dolby Atmos or whatever spatial software to any of you "cool" soundcard, even Schiit Hel 2E, it will change to 16-bit 48000 Hz Maximum, because most likely none of existing sound cards have processing power to have 6 or 8 (!) channels (5.1 and 7.1 respectively) working simultaneously in 24/32 bits and 96000 Hz+. 2. 99.999% of people would never distinguish 16 from 24 bits as well as difference in Hz, unless there's some specific hardware combo that can revel it. Seems like people see some numbers and going crazy even it doesn't change for them anything.

[@DJaquithFL]

@@SpYwww .. LMAO the internet is dumb and can't read, Dolby Atmos allows 24-bit / 96kHz whereas (AGAIN) the EPOS GSX is locked even in 2 CHANNEL MODE to same 16-bit / 48kHz. That's what I'm complaining about. I also have the old version which does not have these asinine limitations. Apparently the new one has got a cheap DAC. Therefore buy -by- (Google's speech to text) the old one while they last! I don't have a complaint about the simulated 7.1 being down sampled and the sampling doesn't change no matter what you do, at least on the copy that I had, which is the exact reason I sent it right back to Amazon for a refund. Again, the "new black" version is a downgrade.

[@SpYwww]

@@DJaquithFL Sorry, you're actually right - I've written outdated info about DolbyAtmos. My second point still stands - it doesn't make a difference to end user in 7.1, but I got it that you're not talking about surround sound specs. Maybe that will be a new info, but 2 channel mode that you're talking about is not 2 channel mode - when GSX works as 7.1 sound card (that you previously set up as 7.1 in Windows sound settings) - pressing sensor button to switch from 7.1 to 2.0 is just compiling all 7.1 into stereo and removing all binaural sound processing, so basically it continues to process 8 channels. I have old version of GSX, and not sure, what kind of limitations you mentioned? It doesn't have compared to Gen2 as it sounds from your feedback as the same behavior - 16 bits 48000hz for 7.1 mode and if I switch in windows from 7.1 to 2.0 it will be in "HD-mode" with maximum 24 bits 96000hz

[@DJaquithFL]

@@SpYwww .. It does make a difference because gaming in 7.1 is not the only way I listen to music on the damn thing. I also have Amazon HD Music. As I said, the older version does not suffer from this asinine limitation. It was a very stupid and anti-consumer decision to put a crap DAC in this $200 box.

[@odomwow]

My GSX 1000 uses micro USB. No power supply. I do like the new usb C .

[@shmayazuggot8558]

Say what!!!!!! No separate power supply is ever needed on the original version. LOL the only change I notice is it now uses USB C… Get your facts straight man.

[@goukigod]

I missread the info provided by EPOS. This is what it says "The 2nd editioned GSX 1000 gets rid of old and outdated power inputs and is powered by USB-C."

[@ColossalCrib]

I think I stick to my £20 headphones.

[@goukigod]

This will make them sound much better 😉

[@ColossalCrib]

It's the price. As you know, I can't really tell the difference between an expensive headset or a cheap one.

[@Twistid5one3]

@ColossalCrib this isn't a damn headset it's a dac/amp FOR your headset smh damn how dumb can people be. Where in this video did you see a headset?

[@goukigod]

This is actually part of a previous conversation. All he's saying is there's little point in improving the sound of a connected headset when he doesn't hear the difference between an expensive headset and a cheap one. Also, there is a headset in the video here 5:55

[@ColossalCrib]

@@goukigod thank you