CONCLUSION

   The EPOS Sennheiser GSX 300 is a rather "basic" external sound card/headphone amplifier so right from the get go don't expect the same high-fidelity audio you can get from cards like the NU Audio/Pro or the Sound Blaster AE-5/7/9. Of course, the end goal is for you to get something better compared to what you have on your laptop (not so much your desktop since there are onboard sound cards which are just as good in performance and offer much better connectivity) and that's exactly what the GSX 300 delivers. I compared the GSX 300 with the onboard sound cards of all 4 laptops i have here and there was significant audio improvement all across the board. Virtual surround sound on the other hand didn't do it for me. Yes, for the most part you will also notice an improvement in that area as well but not nearly as much as you will with stereo so do keep this in mind (although i do expect most people would use it for its stereo capabilities regardless). As for the microphone end of the GSX 300 i have to admit that i spend very little time testing that aspect mainly because i don't have a really "good" 3.5mm microphone to sufficiently test it with. My sole “issue” with the GSX 300 came with some 1-2 second disconnections i had from time to time but since we’re talking about an external USB sound card i imagine these can’t be helped (still i had like 8 disconnections inside 2 full weeks so that’s far from a game breaker).

   At the time of this review the GSX 300 Gaming Series External Sound Card/Headphone Amplifier by EPOS Sennheiser retails for USD75.98 inside the USA (Amazon.com) and for 78.30Euros inside the EU (Amazon.de) a price tag which seems ok for what you’re getting in return. Bottom line the GSX 300 may not be on par with an internal PCIe sound card (neither in audio performance nor in features and available connectors) but it’s an affordable way for laptop users on a budget to improve their sound and that’s also the target audience I highly recommend it for.

PROS

- Overall Audio Quality (Compared to Onboard Laptop Sound Cards)
- Size / Weight
- Gaming Suite Enhancements
- Available in Black & Snow White Colors
- Price (For Some)

CONS

- Virtual Surround Sound Accuracy
- Available Inputs & Outputs