Battery. The sound is a natural, high quality and for as loose as they feel, they have a nice grip that fits perfectly over the head and ears. The boom mic confuses me a bit still. The microphone can be attached or detached if necessary. This was especially apparent in Steve Jablonsky's "Nest.". The RIG 500 Pro HX Gen 2 headset is available from $79.99 / 69 / AU$129 and it is available now. The device has an option to mute/unmute a conversation directly from the device. Clear driving sounds if someone is coming from behind you you can tell where they are coming from. There is a control panel on the device body, so you can easily access the volume control or remote without having to interact with a cable or another device it's connected to. It works well . They also have more bass and clear high notes. Wireless devices allow users more freedom of movement. Sadly, there is no LED light indicator on the boom mic to confirm that the mic is active. Bigger drivers are more powerful and can produce better bass. The Esports model's aluminum build has a little bit of squeeze due to its metal frame's rigid shape. I like the self adjusting headband which keeps the headset snug and they dont move around without the need to adjust the size. They also have more bass and clear high notes. The battery is removable and can be replaced by the user if broken. Control the battlefield with RIG 500 PRO HC. Viscosoft Serene Hybrid Mattress Topper review 2023, MSI Cyborg 15 review: RTX 4050 power under $1,000, Roku Plus Series 4K QLED TV review: An outstanding value, Netgear Nighthawk M6 Mobile Hotspot review, Ring Battery Doorbell Plus hands-on review, Alienware 500Hz Gaming Monitor (AW2524H) review: The fastest gaming monitor ever, How to overhead press to build upper-body strength and muscle, 7 best new to Prime Video movies that are 90% or higher on Rotten Tomatoes, The best tech tutorials and in-depth reviews, Try a single issue or save on a subscription, Issues delivered straight to your door or device. Three positions for earcup height might seem paltry when most gaming headsets offer a dozen click-stops or smooth sliding adjustments, but it isnt a problem thanks to the secondary band through which the wire connecting the two earcups runs. My only negative is the cable, I would of preferred if it was braided and longer. He loves Sci-Fi and Sonic The Hedgehog. The activation code for Dolby Atmos is a nice extra, but the sound signature isnt the most optimal to provide a really strong sense of directionality even with the processing. 13Hz vs 20Hz Has a neodymium magnet? Use your experience to help others in the community make a decision. Hear every detail with this Plantronics RIG 500 PRO HX headset. Sound is very good with a all round balance, but can pack a punch if that's your thing. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Plantronics RIG 500 Pro Esports Edition vs Plantronics RIG 500HX. Its not nuanced enough during Gears 5s campaign to tell the player exactly where an off-screen character who is talking is standing behind them, or sell the illusion that the sounds of creaking support beams that one hears while lurking through Azuras missile silos are coming from directly overhead, but in the games versus multiplayer I had absolutely no problems discerning the location of enemies bearing down on me, especially when a quick-footed locust drone or COG soldier was in close pursuit behind me during a roadie run. An indicator shows you when the device has low battery. Electronics . As we mentioned in the TLDR above, the sound quality on both pairs of headphones is great. Adjust the top head strap, the set fit absolutely perfect once I did. This Plantronics RIG PRO headset has a noise-canceling mic with flip-to-talk function so other players only hear . 50Hz vs 100Hz (Plantronics RIG 500HX), Unknown. We were recently presented with a conundrum here at CGMagazine. Is this a technical issue or is it just meant to sound like this? The lowest frequency at which the device produces audio. The highest frequency that the mic can pick up. It uses Bluetooth 5.0 technology to provide low latency audio (around 40ms), which is useful when you want to avoid audio lag (e.g. I am outstanded with the sound . The removable mic also boosts the headset's overall fashionability. Ive been PCMags home entertainment expert for over 10 years, covering both TVs and everything you might want to connect to them. As it turns out, we found both the RIG 500 Pro HX (Generation 2) and 700 Pro HX are exceptional sibling products that are so close in quality and features that it made more sense to focus on how these products compare with one another as opposed writing our traditional style of review, especially since bespoke Xbox headsets of RIGs caliber are still relatively scarce in the wild (though we will still touch upon a few of those). Devices with a higher sound pressure level are generally louder when supplied with any given audio source. Plus, the headset offers rock solid bass response, zero distortion, and according to my trusted online wingman (my brother), a clean, crisp mic signal, though the 700 Pro has no issues in those areas either. Indeed, the RIG 700 Pro HX is just 241 grams, making it among the lightest headsets of its category on the market. There's very little impact of sound in games or music. An up-pitch means the mic is live, a down-pitch means the mic is muted. Plantronics RIG 500HX Comfortable full-size form with earcups that fully enclose your ears. Hear every detail with this Plantronics RIG 500 PRO headset. We also tried the headset on a glasses-wearing colleague, and they mentioned the lightweight frame worked wonderfully with the glasses frame, too. It doesnt quite make up for the lack of other features offered by competing headsets in the same or lower price range, such as the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2s flip-to-mute mic and Superhuman Hearing features, or the Xbox Wireless Headsets LED mic-light and simultaneous Bluetooth connectivity with other devices such as smartphones, but its definitely something. The dials have a nice, tactile resistance to them, allowing for a smooth and gradual increase or decrease in values and a far smaller likelihood of accidentally damaging ones hearing by spinning either of them up too fast. A partnership with the HX model means this headset specifically has been designed to work with Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One and Windows 10 and that means it works with Dolby Atmos. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). The lowest frequency that the mic can pick up. Though this flaw is slightly worse on the HX model, the Esports variant has a very small amount of boxiness to its music output quality. Nacon Rig 500 PRO review. This means users wont be struggling to find any unseen dials or other doodads while theyre in the middle of a game. The downside of having both, though, is that its pretty content to move on its own behalf if you flip to mute and move too suddenly, you may find it coming back down to rest by your mouth. In the cables defense however, it seems to be just the right length for use with a tablet or smartphone, and better yet its the flat, tangle-resistant variety. In the end though I have to give this point to the 500 Pro, not only for the speed in which players can simply plug it into their controller and go (the 700 Pro requires an abnormally long press of the power button to wake up) but also the fact that the controller doesnt tie up a valuable USB port, which are always at a premium on Xbox consoles. Sound effects are isolated and delivered clearly, and usually without having to compromise on background music or ambient sound. If you dont mind an in-built cable that cannot be replaced if it breaks (a common theme in headsets that get daily use), this is a mid-tier bit of kit that will fit right in with any dedicated Xbox players setup. The RIG 500 PRO HX includes a Dolby Atmos 2-year subscription code in the box. As a bonus, the Rig 500 Pro handles high volumes quite well. A long cable ensures more freedom of movement. It fits into the mid-range price for a wired headset, and its closest competition would likely be the Razer Blackshark V2 X or the Razer Kraken Ultimate, with the SCUF H1 also coming in at the top end of the category. Using Dolby Atmos on the Xbox Series X, the RIG 500 Pro HX gave a decent sense of directionality, though the headsets general audio balance meant granular left-right panning didnt feel quite as accurate as it could be. This Plantronics RIG PRO HX headset has a noise-canceling mic with flip-to-talk function so other players only hear what you want them to. Given the HX's looser, hollower build and slightly boxier sound quality, I have to imagine it was the plastic and few extra millimeters of sound travel that resulted in a very minor, albeit noticeable, dip in audio quality. The Xbox-specific audio cable works well enough. Youre not going to find better in this price range. The mic is perfectly suitable for voice chat, but this might not be the headset to use if you want a really strong signal for streaming or recording. The lower the low-frequency response, the stronger and juicier the bass. On the 500, which is an exclusively wired headset, the boom mic is not only bendable enough to be put in just about any position and hold its shape, it can also be flipped up to mute the wearers mic, similar to what recent entries in the Turtle Beach Stealth line of headsets have been doing for years. Where the two Rig 500 Pro headsets differ is mainly in their accessories. The higher the high-frequency response, the clearer and crispier the treble. Better for recording bass. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time. That said, if you are looking for all the above plus freedom from wires and more convincing 3D surround when playing less-competitive and immersive types of games, then without question the NACON RIG 700 Pro HX is the headset you should consider picking up. The high-sensitivity 50mm drivers and Dolby Atmos technology provide immersive three-dimensional sound, while dual-material ear cushions block outside noise. The 500 PRO HA features a lightweight plastic headband and lightweight exoskeleton earcups. The device comes with its own special case or pouch, which is useful for safe transportation. A lower weight is also an advantage for home appliances, as it makes transportation easier, and for many other types of products. We deliver in Texas, Arizona and Florida. Throwing the headset onto a nearby couch we instantly discovered the mic is the weakest part of the whole headsets design itll pick up every whisper you utter, sure, but get careless just once and it is liable to break. It retails for. The microphone sounds fine for gaming purposes and Flip-to mute is good. For the headset's price, it would've been nice if it had sported a higher level of clarity and precision in this department, but that doesn't change the fact the Esports' approximations were quite good as-is. An indicator shows you when the device has low battery. $40.00 + $11.45 shipping. If using this headset on a Windows 10 PC, launch the Microsoft store, select Account Menu, and Redeem A Code. Control the battlefield with the exceptionally engineered RIG 500 PRO HX headset, designed for Xbox One. This comparison point is tricky because wired and wireless headsets inevitably come with unavoidable pros and cons, and the 500 Pro comes out looking better here just by nature of offering fewer features. We consider a lower weight better because lighter devices are more comfortable to carry. With its lightweight exoskeleton, precisely-tuned acoustic chambers, powerful 50 mm drivers and the first-ever RIG game audio dial delivering intuitive volume control. Control the battlefield with RIG 500 PRO HC. aptX HD is an audio codec for Bluetooth devices that is developed by Qualcomm. In comparison, the Esports' additional PC audio cable fares much better. We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure youre buying the best. Nacons takeover of the brand has clearly elevated what the headsets can achieve, and now this mid-range headset certainly impresses compared to other wired hardware in the same bracket. The device has an option to mute/unmute a conversation directly from the device. The lower the low-frequency response, the stronger and juicier the bass. It just seems odd that such convenient and intuitive features such as flip to mute and a more pliable boom mic are available on the cheaper variant of RIGs headset but are not being echoed on the more expensive product, especially when other competing brands like Turtle Beach tend to carry those features forward. More battery power can be an indication of longer battery life. PCMag, PCMag.com and PC Magazine are among the federally registered trademarks of Ziff Davis and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. Our expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology. 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The device offers realistic experiences with deep bass sound for gamers. Their internal technology is identical, as both models sport 50mm drivers, a sensitivity of 111 dB SPL/V and a frequency response range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz. SoundGuys. Battery power, or battery capacity, represents the amount of electrical energy that a battery can store. Definitely a draw here. Devices with a higher sound pressure level are generally louder when supplied with any given audio source. However, its price is preposterously high, considering its incremental differences from the Rig 500 Pro HX. Plantronics RIG 500 Pro Esports Edition Plantronics RIG 500HX With a detachable cable you can use alternative cables, and if the cable is pulled it will pop out instead of breaking. With its lightweight exoskeleton, precisely-tuned acoustic chambers, powerful 50 mm drivers and the first-ever RIG game audio dial delivering intuitive volume control. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Bigger drivers are more powerful and can produce better bass. Unless you're deliberately listening for it, though, the distortion is not noticeable. Help us by suggesting a value. However, the HX's price makes it an easier hypothetical purchase to swallow than the Esports model. This page is currently only available in English. Hover . The device sits tightly in place, creating an acoustic seal which reduces background noise and prevents your music from leaking out. 4. cable length Unknown. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. The microphone can be attached or detached if necessary. Picture 1 of 6. When the track properly kicks in, the guitar strums and cymbals stand out slightly in the mix, and the bassline's punchy attack comes through much more prominently than any low-end follow-through. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for XBox 1 & PS4 Gaming Headset - RIG 500 Pro at the best online prices at eBay! 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