As for the 700 Prowell, theres just no getting around talking about that proprietary dongle. So, there you have it, a gamer who swears by wireless surround sound and hates wires in just about all forms is telling you that the NACON RIG 500 Pro HX wired headset is the RIG headset to own, even when compared to its more powerful, 3D audio-performant sibling. SoundGuys. Clear audio microphone which is great for games where I need to communicate. RGB lighting allows you to choose between millions of colors and customize the look of your PC components. 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. I put the headset through the paces with several games, including Gears 5, MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries, Resident Evil 7 and more, as well as one of my fave audio test Blu-Rays, Hellboy 2: The Golden Army, and found the headset to be an adequate substitute to my wireless cans in a pinch. Hear every detail with this Plantronics RIG 500 PRO headset. Not only does it feature normal, non-conical jacks on both ends, but it also has a traditional volume slider made out of thick plastic with a rigid up-down switch. 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. With a detachable cable you can use alternative cables, and if the cable is pulled it will pop out instead of breaking. Devices with neodymium magnets are lighter and more powerful than those which use ferrite magnets. With its metal headband, lightweight exoskeleton, precisely-tuned acoustic chambers, powerful 50 mm drivers and intuitive inline volume control, victory is at your fingertips. The microphone sounds fine for gaming purposes and Flip-to mute is good. Hi Misaa, The two key differences between the RIG 500 PRO EX and the RIG 500 PRO HA are headset materials and audio cables. Whats puzzling to me however are a couple of differences that exist between these models despite their being direct siblings of each other. PCMag supports Group Black and its mission to increase greater diversity in media voices and media ownerships. https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/nacon-rig-500-pro-hx. It retails for. Every sound was loud, weighty and reverberated satisfyingly within the headset. The 500 Pro delivers reliable, consistent performance for competitive types while also offering adequate, simulated surround that doesnt get in the way of the basics, which pro gamers are bound to appreciate. Control the battlefield with the exceptionally engineered RIG 500 PRO HX headset, designed for Xbox One. angle-left angle . I like the fact you can flip the mic up to mute your voice instead of feeling around for a pesky mute button. Youre not going to find better in this price range. It remains one of the best features of Plantronics' headsets. 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. An indicator shows you when the device has low battery. Ive reviewed more than a thousand different consumer electronics products including headphones, speakers, TVs, and every major game system and VR headset of the last decade. Music lovers, youll be pleased to know that the drivers respond just as well when it comes to music playback as in games. Dolby Atmos is supported on Xbox One and Windows 10 PC with included activation code. My friends could hear me very clearly, and the mic was easy to adjust. I've just received the 500 Pro HX as a gift, but for whatever reason, it's sound seems off. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). (Plantronics RIG 500HX). A headset is one headphone or pair with a built-in microphone. Be the first. Heres how it works. And neither can completely outshine Plantronics' older headsets, which makes buying either of these builds a dicey proposition. Click to enlarge. There are other questionable differences too, largely focused around the finish and materials used, such as why NACON chose to go with a plastic headband on the 700 Pro and a metal headband on the less-expensive 500 Pro, but none of them are so drastic that they are worth writing home about. $145 CAD). The RIG 500 Pro HX Gen 2 makes a great first impression; its stylish, that steel band over the head does a great job at making the hardware feel more premium than it actually is, and when you pick the headset up, youll enjoy just how light and unobtrusive it feels. The scoring that appears on this site is determined by the site operator in its sole discretion, and should NOT be relied upon for accuracy purposes. RIG 500 PRO HX box includes: 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. 2. weight 323g 200g We consider a lower weight better because lighter devices are more comfortable to carry. Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. The systems that the headset is compatible with, according to the manufacturer. 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. It's the 'loudness' of the sound that the microphone can pick up. 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. Case in point, the receiver on the 700 models boom mic is also rhomboid in shape, with the RIG logo prominently etched in its plastic mic-hood shielding. Battery. In fact, Company/product listings on this page DO NOT imply endorsement by the site operator. Sound is very good with a all round balance, but can pack a punch if that's your thing. Foldable devices are easier to transport and take up less storage space. You break things The RIG 500 PRO HX includes a Dolby Atmos 2-year subscription code in the box. Resident Evil 4 looks strong, but Capcoms own Resident Evil 2 Remake will never be bettered, Quordle today - hints and answers for Sunday, April 16 (game #447), Saatva Foam Mattress Topper review: an affordable comfort boost. The lowest frequency that the mic can pick up. Bought about a week ago, and these things are perfect fit with easy adjustable headband. Dolby and the double-D symbol are registered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. Today's best Plantronics Rig 500 Pro Esports Edition Headset deals, We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices. By continuing to browse our site, you agree to our use of cookies. Still, if you're aiming for a better headset in the HX's price range, just go with Plantronics' Rig 400. 7000Hz higher high-frequency? Regarding comfort, both headsets feature a supporting head-strap that rests gently on the skull and a durable headband that provides adequate-enough clamping force to keep the ear cups from slipping off during sudden movements. Product Description. 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. Clear, good quality microphone for ingame communications. We also tried the headset on a glasses-wearing colleague, and they mentioned the lightweight frame worked wonderfully with the glasses frame, too. Theres not much else to say here; while the 500 Pro makes a valiant 3D audio effort, this is an easy lay-up point for the 700 Pro. Though the cable attached to the headset promises to be resilient and damage-resistant, youll notice the connection to the headset is fairly flimsy and vulnerable: bear that in mind if youre an agitated player and often take your headset on and off it seems like a weak spot, and one breakage there could cost you $79.99 (especially given how temperamental audio cables have a tendency to be). The boom mic is flexible but sturdy, and thankfully removable. Unknown. But with the 700 Pro, which is the more expensive, premium product, the bendable boom mic is far more resistant and tends to migrate back to its previous position, requiring a bit more fussing on the part of the wearer in order to get it into a position that works for them. High-resolution gaming audio lets you pinpoint your competition anywhere on the playing field. I could easily tell when nearby players and creatures were running around, but the distant thunder of gunfire lacked the low-end power to give an impression of the shots' location. As a result, the whole headset feels light and easy to wear though we noticed after a while there was a little pinching on the crown of the head and around the ears. Looking at it makes It seem like it shouldnt work so well, but it does, with both headsets staying firmly on my rather large dome without exerting excessive pressure, or alternatively, feeling too loose. The Esports' solid audio extended into fighting games, too. The headset has a tendency to underperform at the very top end, so high-pitched noises and cartoony titles dont work quite so well with those nice, heavy drivers (the specs say the headset supports a frequency response range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz). With its lightweight exoskeleton, precisely-tuned acoustic chambers, powerful 50 mm drivers and the first-ever RIG game audio dial delivering intuitive volume control, victory is at your fingertips. Not ideal if youre munching through a pack of chips whilst you wait in the lobby of Call of Duty: Warzone, right? Sadly, there is no LED light indicator on the boom mic to confirm that the mic is active. There are a few weak points on this headset, and just one or two critical hits are liable to render the whole thing useless if youre not careful. Mind you, the price difference isnt huge. That slightly poor high-end may just be another way of saying how good the low-end is, though; the upper end of the spectrum isnt exactly bad, just not as good as what the headset was clearly designed for. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Plantronics GameCom 788 Surround Sound USB Gaming Headset DAMAGED NO SOUND at the best online prices at eBay! This design provides very natural and accurate sound. Im an ISF-certified TV calibrator and a THX-certified home theater professional, and Im here to help you understand 4K, HDR, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and even 8K (and to reassure you that you dont need to worry about 8K at all for at least a few more years). Beyond that observation, I was impressed with the sound quality of both headsets. To redeem that code on XBox Live, you need to go to the XBox store, into Games, and Use A Code. Plantronics Rig 500 vs Plantronics RIG 500HX. Please be advised that the operator of this site accepts advertising compensation from certain companies that appear on the site, and such compensation impacts the location and order in which the companies (and/or their products) are presented, and in some cases may also impact the scoring that is assigned to them. This meant it wasn't hard to judge what the most immediate threat was, since only relevant sound effects took priority. 4. cable length Unknown. Which is the Competitive 3D Audio Headset to Own? This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. I have to say that Ive quickly grown fond of the 500 and 700s aesthetic design, which actually runs counter to my personal preference for smooth lines, clean surfaces and compactness in form factor. The easy-to-reach RIG game audio dial delivers fingertip master volume control when used with console controllers. 1-877-703-7699; 1-877-703-7699; 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. A little extra slack would have gone a long way to make this headset more comfortable to use with a laptop, or possibly even a desktop depending on how close one sits in relation to their computer. The lower the low-frequency response, the stronger and juicier the bass. 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. 13Hz vs 20Hz Has a neodymium magnet? The headset may start to pinch your head or feel a bit close after a few hours of play, and the wired connection may be a turn off for some, but other than a few small gripes, its hard to put the RIG 500 Pro HX Gen 2 down especially if youre playing something booming and deep that really puts those 50mm drivers to work. Have great sound, and looks good as well. Both come with an Xbox-specific audio cable, which features a jack designed to prevent the cord from swiveling once it's attached to an Xbox One controller, but the jack's cylindrical shape makes it a bit of a hassle to use with a laptop. 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. Devices with a higher sound pressure level are generally louder when supplied with any given audio source. Control the battlefield with RIG 500 PRO HC. 10mm bigger driver unit? (Plantronics RIG 500HX), Unknown. This Plantronics RIG PRO headset has a noise-canceling mic with flip-to-talk function so other players only hear . EXTREME DURABILITY: The RIG 500 PRO EX metal headband is extremely strong while also being highly flexible and virtually unbreakable MULTI-PLATFORM COMPATIBLE: Works with all audio sources with a 3.5mm audio port including Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, PCs, tablet and other audio sources The headset did a good job contrasting characters' voices, their attacks and the background music. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with, RIG 500 Pro HX (also known as the 500 Pro HC), National Anime Day: Celebrating Animes Impact on Western Pop Culture, The Best Anime-Based Video Games of All-Time, Immortals of Aveum Preview: Single Player Magic FPS Power, the prior written permission of CGMagazine. This page is currently only available in English. You like wired headsets The highest frequency at which device produces audio. The RIG 500 PRO HA includes a longer 1.5m audio cable with in-line volume that is ideal for PC gaming, but also works with console controllers. I wish there was an option to have more bass as it really seems flat. Hover . Furthermore, in all the marketing for these products, NACON touts its RIG headsets as being designed for competitive gaming, and these Pro HX models are undoubtedly targeted towards that demographic in terms of their visual presence. 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