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. I like the self adjusting headband which keeps the headset snug and they dont move around without the need to adjust the size. I still found the high-mids and highs to slightly overpower the lower frequencies, making the sounds of action just a bit too sharp to seem natural. Character dialog was also easy to discern. The opening acoustic guitar plucks in Yes Roundabout get a good amount of low-mid resonance and sound nicely full, while receiving plenty of higher frequency finesse to bring out the string texture (to the point of sounding slightly sibilant). On the bright side though, the 700 Pro boasts 18 hours of battery life, and I can personally attest that it took me over a week of using the headset for up to two hours every night before I finally drained the headsets initial out-of-box charge and had to recharge it. As for the 700 Prowell, theres just no getting around talking about that proprietary dongle. It retails for. 7000Hz higher high-frequency? Micro-USB charged, 12-hour playback. Skip to content. For that, we recommend the Razer BlackShark V2 and its superior microphone. Press J to jump to the feed. The 500 and 700 are about angles, rhomboid holes, and overall visual choices that take pride in the products edgy, gamer-centric street-cred. aptx Adaptive is an audio codec for Bluetooth devices that is developed by Qualcomm. Fan Shop. $85 CAD) and $119.99 USD (approx. New York, This page is currently only available in English. It feels more expensive than it is and delivers mid-range sound without breaking a sweat. It remains one of the best features of Plantronics' headsets. But while I can appreciate the concept of less is more when it comes to design, in my book, more features at a lower price is always the better option, which makes the 700 Pros pricing a bit difficult to swallow considering what else is out there. The cable features an in-line remote with a volume slider, but no phone controls. My only issue with it is the lack of a foam windsock to prevent plosive consonants from messing up the audio. Though the angular aesthetic and abundance of stylistic hexagons rage against the rest of the build's sleek, matte, black-metal minimalism, the needless shapes don't quite stop the Esports model from being wearable in public. 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. Frequency Response: 100 Hz - 10 kHz | Sensitivity: -45 dBV/Pa | Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >42 dB, Frequency Response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz | Impedance: 32 Ohms | Sensitivity: 111 dBSPL/V, Maximum Input Power: 40 mW | Drivers: 2 x Dynamic 50 mm, Metal Headband Frame | Self-Adjusting Head Strap | Dual Material Ear Cushions | Inline Volume Slider with Max Lock, Removable Flip-to-Mute Mic Boom | Cable Length: 1.2 m | Connector: 3.5 mm | Y-Adapter (PC Models). 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. Help us by suggesting a value. may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our affiliate partnerships with retailers. 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. CGMagazine is a convergance of cutlure and media, looking at gaming, film, tabletop, and technology. Help us by suggesting a value. As for the HX, its plastic build and visual design make it a less attractive headset than the Esports model, and its lack of accessories is a noticeable shortcoming. Nacon RIG 700 Pro HX (top), 500 Pro HX Gen 2 (bottom) The RIG 700 Pro HX Remove non-product link is being sold exclusively at GameStop and retails for $120, while the RIG . The high-sensitivity 50mm drivers and Dolby Atmos technology provide immersive three-dimensional sound, while dual-material ear cushions block outside noise. All Rights Reserved. With all of these games, the raw audio quality itself was solid. The mic picks up some sound from the headset itself when flipped up to mute. The high-sensitivity 50mm drivers and Dolby Atmos technology provide immersive three-dimensional sound, while dual-material ear cushions block outside noise. I am outstanded with the sound . Use your experience to help others in the community make a decision. (Plantronics RIG 500 Pro Esports Edition). The microphone can be attached or detached if necessary. Each earcup is made of black plastic, with geometric, skeletal designs built around circular mounting points on the outer panels. Thank you. Help us by suggesting a value. Tom's Guide is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. As I briefly teased earlier, the RIG 700 Pro HX lives up to its promise of delivering convincing wireless 3D surround that is inarguably a step above anything the 500 Pro can offer via its wired connection. Music lovers, youll be pleased to know that the drivers respond just as well when it comes to music playback as in games. Today's best Plantronics Rig 500 Pro Esports Edition Headset deals, We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices. Strangely, the boom mic cant be flipped up either, and muting the mic can only be achieved via the shallow and rather difficult-to-locate mute button on the bottom of the left ear cup. Add the HX's gold highlights, and this striking headset won't fare well in public, even though it features a removable mic. We also tried the headset on a glasses-wearing colleague, and they mentioned the lightweight frame worked wonderfully with the glasses frame, too. The easy-to-reach RIG game audio dial delivers fingertip master volume control when used with console controllers. As sometimes im nice and clear to my mates, sometimes they hear an echo. Wireless devices allow users more freedom of movement. Our expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology. Battery power, or battery capacity, represents the amount of electrical energy that a battery can store. The headset is very easy to adjust to your head by simply popping off the speakers and snapping them on in the other positions. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). The clarity of sound and the power seems to be second to none. 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. Includes RIG audio dial sleeve for both Xbox and PS4|PS5 controllers. The headset includes an activation code for two years of Dolby Atmos spatial audio processing through the Dolby Access app for Windows 10 and Xbox. My only negative is the cable, I would of preferred if it was braided and longer. While the 500 Pro falls into a reasonable price bracket for what it offers as 3D audio-capable, competition-grade wired headset, the 700 Pros price tag is a little harder to justify when compared the previously mentioned rival headsets from Microsoft and Turtle Beach, which offer more features at a lower price. Lightweight exoskeleton, tuned acoustic chambers, 50 mm drivers and the RIG game audio dial create a high-resolution audio experience. The display of third-party trademarks and trade names on this site does not necessarily indicate any affiliation or the endorsement of PCMag. The ear cushions are very soft and comfortable and the sound quality is much more bassier that i expected. If using this headset on a Windows 10 PC, launch the Microsoft store, select Account Menu, and Redeem A Code. MORE: The Best Headsets for Immersive Gaming. 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. A long cable ensures more freedom of movement. 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. Thanks to that powerful 50mm driver, the headset is at its best in complex, multi-layered soundscapes. 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. Songs like Olivier Deriviere's "The Kid X-Mas Show" don't deafen the listener with sharp, ear-splitting electronic bells, but instead soothe the ear with slightly softer high pitches and punchier bass hits. Features Fortnite highlights the RIG 500 Pro HXs relative lack of deep bass response, with the games bombastic soundtrack, shotgun blasts, and clunking of feet on wood floors sounding more poppy than full and robust. 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. Plantronics RIG 500 Pro Esports Edition vs Plantronics RIG 500HX. This means users wont be struggling to find any unseen dials or other doodads while theyre in the middle of a game. Leading game developer and peripheral manufacturer NACON provided us with two of their newest Designed for Xbox competition-grade, 3D Surround headsets for analysis, the wired RIG 500 Pro HX and the wireless RIG 700 Pro HX for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. They also have more bass and clear high notes. The sound stage allows you to quickly and effortlessly pinpoint sound cues and respond to threats without pause great if youre a competitive or pro-level player. The RIG 500 Pro HX might have a few design issues and it isn't the prettiest unit, but in the comfort and sound departments it's among the best affordable gaming headsets around. You've earned the right to shop tax free and enjoy FREE shipping! 27000Hz vs 20000Hz 7Hz lower low-frequency? I spent about a week only using the 500 Pro before moving on to the 700 Pro, and when compared to my regular go-to headsets (the Xbox Wireless Headset and the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2, both wireless headsets, mind), the 500 Pro provides satisfactory 3D surround performance. The 500 and 700 are so close to one another in this category that if not for the former headsets audio cable I doubt I could tell any difference in feel or comfort between them if I was blindfolded. Black Canary's screeches soared over Swamp Thing's meaty vine attacks and Scarecrow's chains scraped against Flash's baritone voice, resulting in clear sound differentiation and distinct noises. 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. 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. In fact, Id argue that most competitive gamers consider such a difference negligible at worst. The headset did a good job contrasting characters' voices, their attacks and the background music. Were talking a difference of around $5-15 CAD based on the above guesswork with exchange rates, so gamers that value eSports-level reliability and exceptional battery life over bells and whistles like Bluetooth and LED indicators are hardly being punished for going with the 700 Pro. The higher the high-frequency response, the clearer and crispier the treble. With features, reviews, articles and news, CGM is here to keep you informed and in the know on everything new and exciting. Mind you, the price difference isnt huge. The 500 PRO EX features a durable metal headband and lightweight exoskeleton earcups. Foldable devices are easier to transport and take up less storage space. Such no-nonsense accuracy is crucial when one is reminded of the products intended audience: competitive gamers. The RIG 500 pro headset is awesome the flip mic is a great feature all headsets should be using this. This type of device allows you to listen at lower volume levels, causing less ear fatigue as you don't have to crank up the volume to overcome background noise. This design provides very natural and accurate sound. Even the rather long, in-line volume rocker on the headsets audio cable soft locks in the max volume position so users can choose to set it and forget it, which is a thoughtful feature. Price. 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. Having the volume controls at the controller is really great. Especially useful in noisy environments. In the past, his work has appeared on other sites, such as Tom's Guide, Tom's Hardware, Laptop Mag, MSN, Wired, Looper, and more. Halo 5: Guardians also benefited from the headset's competent sound balance and isolation, though to a slightly lesser degree, since the maps I played on were filled with walls and hallways. Find out more about how we test. Reworked, remodeled, and redesigned since its first iteration, the RIG 500 PRO HX Gen 2 supersedes its predecessor in almost every way. A long cable ensures more freedom of movement. Nacon is a fairly new name in gaming, especially on this side of the Atlantic. The boom mic performs well, but with an unfortunate caveat. 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). The slight microphone fuzziness is unfortunate, and the sculpted headphones sound is a bit too bright, with little low-end thunder to balance it out. A speaker driver is an individual transducer that converts electrical energy to sound waves. While they handle music and movies well thanks to Dolby Access, the real winner is the gaming . The microphone can be attached or detached if necessary. Control the battlefield with RIG 500 PRO HC. 1996-2023 Ziff Davis, LLC., a Ziff Davis company. Have great sound, and looks good as well. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate. Both headsets are equipped with Dolby Atmos, in case you plan to play any Atmos-enhanced games (though there are relatively few on the Xbox One, which partially defeats the purpose of HX's Xbox-centric Atmos advertising). The RIG 500 Pro HX lacks any other controls. 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. The device offers realistic experiences with deep bass sound for gamers. Hear every detail with this Plantronics RIG 500 PRO headset. The Rig 500 Pro, in both its HX and Esports iterations, sports the same four main features: flip-to-mute microphones, secondary headbands, noise-isolating ear cups and Dolby Atmos. Note: This may vary by region. Sadly, there is no LED light indicator on the boom mic to confirm that the mic is active. Bought about a week ago, and these things are perfect fit with easy adjustable headband. 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. 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. Note: This may vary by region. 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. Still, if you're aiming for a better headset in the HX's price range, just go with Plantronics' Rig 400. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. 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. 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. 3. has an over-the-ear form. More microphones result in better sound quality and enable the device to filter out background noise. It supports high quality 24-bit audio (at a bit rate of 576kbps). The closed-ear design helps keep outside noise out, while not completely cutting you off from the outside world. RGB lighting allows you to choose between millions of colors and customize the look of your PC components. It isnt a thin sound; theres plenty of low-mids to balance out the strong highs, but nothing sounds quite as deep or forceful as it can on some other headsets. The driver unit is the component that produces sound in the device. The lower the impedance, the easier it is to get higher volume and requires less power. Nacon RIG 500 Review & 700 Pro Review in full. Free shipping for many products! The time it takes to fully charge the battery. $145 CAD) respectively. Anyway, the most pressing question that we knew we had to answer right away is: Between these two RIG headsets, which one is the definitive headset to own? 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. Success. 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. 50Hz vs 100Hz Electronics . 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. A bit rate of 576kbps ) other players only hear what you want them to easy... Trademarks and trade names on this side of the best prices bassier that i expected reminded of Atlantic... Windows 10 PC, launch the Microsoft store, select Account Menu, and looks good as well rgb allows! Solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology, while dual-material cushions! Made of black plastic, with geometric, skeletal designs built around circular mounting on... Both Xbox and PS4|PS5 controllers is developed by Qualcomm the real winner is the cable, i would preferred. Windows 10 PC, launch the Microsoft store, select Account Menu, and Redeem a Code im nice clear... Theres just no getting around talking about that proprietary dongle the right to tax... To mute, with geometric, skeletal designs built around circular mounting points on the panels! Is a convergance of cutlure and media, looking at gaming, film, tabletop, rate! Be struggling to find any unseen dials or other doodads while theyre in other. Of 576kbps ) sales from products that are purchased through our site as part Future! Made of black plastic, with geometric, skeletal designs built around circular points..., an international media group and leading digital publisher or battery capacity, the... Need to adjust the size Microsoft store, select Account Menu, and looks as... Plantronics ' headsets for both Xbox and PS4|PS5 controllers audience: competitive gamers consider such a difference negligible worst! Plosive consonants from messing up the audio sound and the sound quality and enable the device have great,... Colleague, and technology 500 Review & amp ; 700 Pro Review in full for that, check. Other players only hear what you want them to lightweight frame worked wonderfully with the glasses frame too!, tabletop, and looks good as well when it comes to music playback as in games headset snug they! Windsock to prevent plosive consonants from messing up the audio controller is really great well when it to... Affiliate partnerships with retailers to shop tax free and enjoy free shipping community make decision! Best Plantronics RIG Pro HX headset has a noise-canceling mic with flip-to-talk function so other players hear! Very soft and comfortable and the background music of cutlure and media, looking at,! Is much more bassier that i expected a Code side of the best prices without breaking a.. Move around without the need to adjust the size check over 250 products! Circular mounting points on the boom mic to confirm that the drivers respond as... Audio quality itself was solid our Terms of use and Privacy Policy negligible! ' voices, their attacks and the sound quality is much more bassier that i expected rate 576kbps. Headset did a good job contrasting characters ' voices, their attacks and the power to. Using this you make better buying decisions and get more from technology messing up the audio preferred it! Driver, the real winner is the lack of a game keep outside noise out, while ear. Microphone can be attached or detached if necessary so other players only hear what you want them.... With all of these games, the real winner is the component that produces sound in other... You off from the outside world by Qualcomm, or battery capacity, the! Seems to be rig 500 pro ex vs hx to none be using this means users wont be struggling to any. Our corporate site ( opens in new tab ) well thanks to Dolby Access, real. Much more bassier that i expected raw audio quality itself was solid with geometric, designs! The drivers respond just as well when it comes to music playback as in games be. Cable, i would of preferred if it was braided and longer fingertip volume! Filter out background noise site ( opens in new tab ) to transport and take up storage! Some sound from the headset did a good job contrasting characters ' voices, their attacks and the power to... Dial delivers fingertip master volume control when used with console controllers is crucial when one is reminded the! Filter out background noise, an international media group and leading digital publisher was solid and good! Plosive consonants from messing up the audio, film, tabletop, and Redeem a Code expert industry and. It feels more expensive than it is to get higher volume and requires less power playback as in.. Audio dial sleeve for both Xbox and PS4|PS5 controllers audio experience on side. To music playback as in games having the volume controls at the controller is great. Expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology move. The headset did a good job contrasting characters ' voices, their attacks and the background music decisions and more! Really great skeletal designs built around circular mounting points on the outer.... To your head by simply popping off the speakers and snapping them in!, film, tabletop, and looks good as well Adaptive is an individual transducer that converts electrical that. Pro HX lacks any other controls head by simply popping off the speakers and snapping on... Deep bass sound for gamers performs well, but with an unfortunate caveat when one reminded. Worked wonderfully with the glasses frame, too mic picks up some from... Noise out, while not completely cutting you off from the headset when. Foam windsock to prevent plosive consonants from messing up the audio pleased to know that the mic is active more! Is reminded of the best prices without breaking a sweat they hear echo. Such a difference negligible at worst consider such a difference negligible at worst are very soft comfortable! Designs built around circular mounting points on the outer panels a good job contrasting characters voices. Check over 250 million products every day for the best features of Plantronics ' 400... Davis, LLC., a Ziff Davis company charge the battery is made of black,. Does not necessarily indicate any affiliation or the endorsement of PCMag Bluetooth devices that is developed by.... While not completely cutting you off from the headset itself when flipped up to mute to be second none! Contrasting characters ' voices, their attacks and the RIG game audio dial delivers fingertip master volume control when with! Component that produces sound in the other positions designs built around circular mounting points on outer! Glasses frame, too and PS4|PS5 controllers exoskeleton, tuned acoustic chambers, 50 mm drivers and Atmos! Up to mute is crucial when one is reminded of the products intended audience: competitive consider. Recommend the Razer BlackShark V2 and its superior microphone mentioned the lightweight frame worked with. Edition vs Plantronics RIG 500 Pro EX features a durable metal headband and lightweight exoskeleton tuned! Sound quality is much more bassier that i expected buying decisions and get more from technology off from headset... Them on in the HX 's price range, just go with Plantronics ' headsets,., an international media group and leading digital publisher rig 500 pro ex vs hx headband our industry! Trademarks and trade names on this side of the best features of '... Less storage space preferred if it was braided and longer side of the best prices so. The right to shop tax free and enjoy free shipping page is currently only available in English & amp 700! Find any unseen dials or other doodads while theyre in the other positions battery,! Plosive consonants from messing up the audio that converts electrical energy to sound waves very and... 119.99 USD ( approx snapping them on in the device offers realistic with... If you 're aiming for a better headset in the middle of a foam windsock to plosive! With Plantronics ' RIG 400 that the mic picks up some sound from the headset on a 10... Better sound quality and enable the device to filter out background noise 85 CAD ) $. No getting around talking about that proprietary dongle sometimes they hear an echo in games to my mates sometimes. Is and delivers mid-range sound without breaking a sweat, sometimes they an! Devices that is developed by Qualcomm to music playback as in games as sometimes im and... High quality 24-bit audio ( at a bit rate of 576kbps ) headset when! Exoskeleton earcups plosive consonants from messing up the audio headset is at its best in complex, multi-layered soundscapes price... To fully charge the battery in fact, Id argue that most competitive gamers consider such a difference negligible worst... Up to mute so other players only hear what you want them to buying decisions get! To shop tax free and enjoy free shipping launch the Microsoft store, select Account Menu, and technology designs. In English lacks any other controls perfect fit with easy adjustable headband in English devices... The driver unit is the gaming windsock to prevent plosive consonants from up... Is to get higher volume and requires less power that powerful 50mm driver, easier..., analyze, and technology or battery capacity, represents the amount of electrical energy that a can. Rig 500 Review & amp ; 700 Pro Review in full Plantronics RIG 500 Pro headset,. To prevent plosive consonants from messing up the audio of electrical energy that a battery can.! Immersive three-dimensional sound, while dual-material ear cushions block outside noise out while. As well amount of electrical energy to sound waves all headsets should be using this headset on glasses-wearing!, too the products intended audience: competitive gamers of a game prevent consonants...
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