Introduction
After the review of the EPOS ADAPT 660 AMC, I was also able to review another pair of headsets, namely the EPOS ADAPT 563 II. An MS Teams certified headset. How I like this one, you can read about it here!
Another awesome EPOS product is the EPOS Sennheiser ADAPT 660 AMC.
Specifications
First, let’s start with the specifications.
Technical Data
Charge time
3 hours 30 minutes
Features
ActiveGard
Yes
Multimedia & Music Listening
Yes
Voice Prompts
Yes
Active Noise Cancellation
Yes
Certification
aptX
General Data
Wearing Style
Headband
Color
Black
Headset Weight
229 gr
Article no.
1000208
EAN Code
5714708000099
UPC Code
840064400091
Ear coupling
On-ear
Transducer principle
Dynamic closed
Compatibility
Mobile phone, PC / Soft phone, Tablet
Packaging
Accessories included
USB Cable
Package weight (incl. complete product and packaging)
431 gr
Dimensions of product packaging (L x W x H)
204 mm x 65 mm x 183 mm
Dimensions of master carton (L x W x H)
432 mm x 220 mm x 337 mm
Units in distributor master carton
10
Dimensions
Weight
229 gr
Long Term-Reliability
Warranty
2 years
Wireless on-ear Bluetooth headset
For use with mobile devices
Optimized for UC and Microsoft Teams
With Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
Talk time up to 41 hours, recharge in 3 hours and 40 minutes
Bluetooth range up to 25 meters
Unpacking
Time to unpack the EPOS ADAPT 563 II!
In this case, I only got an OEM kit – or so it seemed. It does not contain a pouch or dongle. I have seen this in other webshops as a complete kit. However, this should not spoil the fun. You can also come a long way with Bluetooth.
It can be connected to a laptop/PC via the dongle (also with Bluetooth), or via Bluetooth with a mobile phone. In addition, the USB-C cable can also be used to charge the headset. With just under 3 hours and 40 minutes, it is fully charged and can last for no less than 41 hours. The meetings are sometimes long, but not that long…
Only the 563 II, manual and charging cable was included in this box.
The ADAPT 563 II has a plastic finish. And that is kind of a downside. This can cause some scratches on the headset over time. Especially since no pouch is included with this version, that is a bit inconvenient.
The ear cups of the 563 II are small but very thick. The advantage of this is that they are also soft so that they do not give a feeling of pressure on the ears. Since the headset is not very heavy, I do not notice any pressure after a day’s work.
What took some time to get used to for me is that the microphone is on the right side. The headsets I’ve been using since the dolmens have always had a microphone on the left side.
The buttons are indicated as follows (from left to right).
A very nice addition is that the headset also has interchangeable ear cups. This way it also lasts a long time. These can be purchased through EPOS.
The headband is very flexible. How flexible you ask?
Flexible like this …
When you put them on, the headset also has different colored LEDs (red/blue) to show the status.
Software
Via the EPOS Connect app, you can also make some adjustments!
With sidetone, your voice can be heard again through the headset. Especially useful for people who want a piece of feedback on what they say. That way you don’t have to shout. This also helps to understand the environment with the headset on.
Various headphones/headsets can be operated via the connect menu.
The settings can be adjusted under device settings.
And finally, there is a settings menu where the settings of the app can be adjusted / help can be found.
Sound quality and ease of use
You only use an MS Teams headset for Teams, right? No. In this case EPOS | Sennheiser has chosen to release the 563 II with excellent drivers so that you can listen to some music between meetings. And that sounds good too!
The ADAPT 563 II sounds like a ‘normal’ headphone with a reasonable punch (bass) and excellent tones.
The good thing is while walking around my house to grab a cup of coffee – while listening to some great songs – I received a call from my colleague. By pressing that purple button you immediately participate in the conversation. And that is very nice.
This also applies to a very long day with back-to-back meetings where there is no time to stretch your legs. That is a different story with the 563 II. The range of Bluetooth is just very good, so you can quickly walk through an apartment.
My version did look like an OEM version where only the headset, cables, and manual were included. There are also versions where a pouch (bag) is present and a dongle.
Especially with frequent use, there is always a chance that the ear cups become very flat, or that they are no longer very clean. EPOS has given the ADAPT the option of replacing the ear cups so that the 563 II can be used for a long time. However, the band cannot be replaced.
Conclusion
I have been able to use the EPOS Sennheiser ADAPT 563 II for a while now, not only as an MS Teams headset but also simply as headphones for listening to music. And the funny thing is, given the quality of the audio, it seems rather the other way around. It’s a Teams addition to a good pair of headphones. The tones are very clear and beautiful. If you listen to jazz during work, the beautiful trumpet or piano sounds (and deep too) come right out.
I’m used to wearing ‘cheap/easy’ headsets that you use with Teams/other meeting software for a while and then throwing them across the room to put your in-ears back in as soon as possible to listen to music. In my opinion, this is not necessary at all with the ADAPT 563 or even 560. And that also increases the pleasure of working, listening to some music, or watching a movie in between, and during a new meeting – or being called – just hit that purple button and go into the meeting. Also no continuous hassle with cables, which I had before. Every time I answered the call before the headset was on my head, half screaming to let the other participants know that I was coming but that the headset was tangled in cables. The fact that the ADAPT 560 and 563 II are therefore wireless, is already a huge plus. Gives you freedom of movement when walking/moving during meetings.
Speaking of meetings, my colleagues could hear me well in the tests. And that is quite a plus for wireless headsets – via Bluetooth or dongle.
A lesser point is the ANC. The noise canceling on the 563 II seems more like a gimmick than a real addition. This can still be tuned in the successors. I could still hear my colleague (who was sitting next to me) talking, slightly reduced (while the ANC was on).
Actually, there is not much more to say about it except the price. At just under €160, the ADAPT 563 II is not very cheap either. As a user who likes to listen to a lot of music between meetings, this would be a good thing. If you only use it for meetings, then it is a considerable investment. Nevertheless, it is a headset that has a lot to offer.
The EPOS | Sennheiser ADAPT 563 II gets 4 out of 5 stars from me.
