Hold onto your headsets, the Rig 600 Pro HS is on our desk and hoping to up the audio game across PlayStation, PC, Nintendo Switch, and Mobile.
Announced last month and now available at around $100, the RIG 600 Pro HS is the PlayStation focused offering in a new pair of RIG audio options. Partnering with the HX, designed for Xbox edition, this headset offers up a ton of audio options, this headset is both aching familiar and refreshing new at the same time. Featuring dual wireless modes, a lightweight frame, 40 mm dynamic high-sensitivity drivers, and customizable sound options, the RIG 600 Pro HS certainly has some impressive specifications.
Specifications
- Wireless
Lag-Free 2.4 gHz Digital RF | Dedicated USB Wireless Adapter | Bluetooth 5.1 | 420 mAh Battery | 18-Hour Battery Life - Mic
Frequency Response: 100 Hz – 10 kHz | Sensitivity: -45 dBV/Pa | Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >42 dBPick-Up Pattern: Omnidirectional - Speakers
Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz | Drivers: 2 x Dynamic 40 mm | High-Sensitivity - Features
Ultralightweight Design | Snap In/Out Ear Cups | Fabric Ear Cushions | Power On/Off | Volume Dial | 3 x Wireless Modes
Game-Chat Balance (Xbox Only) | USB-A to USB-C Adapter | Flip-to-Mute Mic | RIG Navigator App for Android and iOS
Out The Box
Out the box, the RIG 600 Pro series feels incredibly familiar to anybody that’s ever used a RIG headset. Despite the Nacon buyout in 2020, the RIG range is still instantly recognisable. When this pair of cans slides out of its cardboard wrapper, the consistent industrial slant of the headband draws the eye. The plastic materials might not synergize with that industrial aesthetic, but the cut out angled edges and slanted lines tapers into the same design signature that makes the RIG brand stand out among its rivals.
Likewise the earcups that dangle from this core component fit a familiar pattern. The matte plastic cups curve around the ear from top to bottom but seem to be cut at an angle as they move from the headband in towards the face. At a distance, the RIG relies on the more aggressive look of its edges to stand out. Up closer, there’s a medley of matt and gloss surfaces and tactile design choices intended to make it interesting on the desk.
The left earcup comes with some extra additions. The USB-C port, power, volume dial, call control and Bluetooth button on the left are easy enough to discern near the back of the earcup, but hidden well enough that they don’t become intrusive to the look and feel of this design.
It’s a solid balance that gives the 600 Pro series more flair than other $100 headset, without the being obnoxious. I just wish that the PlayStation version might have some in White, since that’s the default color of the Sony hardware.
Comfort.
Everything in the Rig 600 Pro HS isn’t down to aesthetics, however. Nacon’s team incorporated padding along the top of the headband. This doesn’t look like much, but the micro fabric covered padding is more than enough to adequately cushion what little weight the plastic headband has. The overall weight is further reduced by dispatching the traditional meal core that you’ll find in most headbands. Instead of an adjustable metal core, the plush parts and earcups simply snap into pre-determined holes on a plastic frame, giving at least some degree of configuration.
I do wish there were more than three size settings for the cups, but this is an obvious design consideration and it’s hardly going to sneak up on you if you buy a RIG headset.
Once this all comes together and slips on, there’s an obvious but not overbearing grip across the ears. Most of the noticeable pressure comes from the clamp of the cups pushing themselves onto your head. The fabric and foam padding do give enough protection and the flexible plastic construction provides around 25 cm of space between the foam pads for your head. For the average reviewer, this meant a comfy but not overly luxurious feeling that manages to go all day without causing any headaches.
Setup
Setup is an equally lightweight experience. The RIG 600 Pro HS offers up dual wireless options, and thanks to the included USB-C dongle and USB-A to USB-C adaptor, there’s little more than plug and play involved. ON both PC, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch just connect and go. The two modes ensure that you’ll be able to pick the scenario that suits your situation best.
Connecting the USB-C headset is simple enough. Plug in the USB receiver, find he power button on the left earcup, and press it. Similarly, pressing and holding the Bluetooth button works to change modes between Bluetooth, 2,4 gHz, and dual wireless function. That same button serves a second purpose, controlling Bluetooth pairing too. A set of in-ear audio prompts even guides owners through these changes, which is nice touch to keep track of what consoles or computers are connected. The intuitive nature of the onboard controls means nothing gets particularly difficult, and all the buttons are well distributed. I’d have appreciated a separate microphone gain dial on another ear, but better this is omitted than clutters the left ear’s control scheme.
Configuration
While the Rig 660 Pro HS will function perfectly well without any further setup, but the Rig Navigator mobile app provides further customization apps. Available on Android and iOS storefronts, this software pairs with the RIG 600 Pro HS and allows for easy switching without having to go find a PC to plug into or ignore your game. Microphone Gain, monitoring, and volume level protection can all be tweaked, but it’s likely the most significant changes lie in the app’s equalizer. 4 preset EQ settings come crammed in alongside a flat tone and custom user configuration options, with a total of 3 different profile slots for fast switching.
I was surprised to find that while an FPS preset exists, there is no effort to over enhance opponent’s footsteps or even add a volume slider to the app. There also doesn’t appear to be a desktop version of the software for anybody using a Mac or PC. Despite these omissions, the Rig Navigator is well presented and intuitive to use, while being surprisingly responsive.
In The Game
With just a few minutes of setup complete, there was provided plenty of time to continue testing in game. The first thing that becomes apparent when connecting the RIG 600 Pro HS to a PC or PlayStation is the clarity of the audio. While Ive found plenty of devices leaning heavy on the base to cover for poor performance or tuned to a singular game mode, this pair of cans falls somewhere in the middle of all that noise.
Whether it’s Apex Legends, Horizon Zero Dawn: Forbidden West, or settling back to watch Dunkirk it becomes apparent that the RIG 600 Pro HS isn’t all about bombast. Instead, relatively neutral tuning allows the PlayStation 3D sound or the Navigator EQ to work its magic. In Horizon Zero Dawn: Forbidden West that meant the PlayStation 3D audio options added a clear mix of directional effect. Machine whirs and chirps were easy to discern between the swish of grass and flowing rivers. Here’s a level of clarity that allowed me to appreciate everything the audio team at Guerrilla Games worked on. Similarly, the utterly oppressive soundtrack and almost visceral tones of Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk didn’t dive heavy into overbearing bass. When the roar of a Spitfire of crack of a gun went off there was a clear and concise separation of tone. The soundscape is present, but it just backs off a little from the impressive dynamic response that you’ll get out of Audeze planar drivers.
This isn’t a bad thing by any means. The RIG 600 Pro HS is a pleasant listening experience that is all about clarity. It doesn’t drive home the experience in the same way that you might find with a pre-amp and a pair of powerful drivers. I measured a maximum real-life output of around the mid 50dB range. The same setup with a USB pre-amp cranked up all the way managed in the 80dB range by comparison. However, this is wireless and an earcup sized battery has to make reasonable accommodations, and these are reasonable levels.
This Rig is a great choice for competitive engagements or online team shooters, where you’ll want to be able to run and gun, while talking tactics. If you want an immersive RPG experience, then maybe consider this. If you’re expecting to hear the announcement about an incoming care package, talk to teammates, while sounding out enemy gunfire then the RIG is easily in its element.
Microphone
An internal flip down microphone waits for anybody looking to communicate with their online trolls. Aesthetically, it’s a thoughtful decision to have this flip up into the earcup., but it’s really not intuitive to extract while the headset is in use. Looks aside, this is a competent enough piece of kit.
In any online environment where the trolls aren’t in play, communication can be key. Plan an attack in the middle of a firefight and you’ll want to be heard. In real life situations, the RIG 600 Pro series seems to utilize some considerable noise cancellation. Frequency response testing is a great example of this. Initial recording shows just how quickly the RIG 600 Pro HS squashed the test sampling and resulted in a flat but consistent output.
RIG 600 Pro HS mic frequency response
This means that you’re unlikely to find much interference from whatever’s rolling on outside your window or the background air con. It does also mean that things can feel quite robotic or simply flat in tone. It’ll definitely get you heard but isn’t for singing your heart out or kicking off a voice acting career.
Battery
The Rig 600 Pro HS purports around 18 hours of battery life. Realistically I was able to charge the headset using USB-C to 90% in under an hour, then play all day on dual wireless mode. This continued for several days of gaming sessions, reaching somewhere into the teens before I got a low battery warning through the dulcet on-board alerts. If left idling on single channel wireless mode, I assume it would make it out to 18 hours of playtime. Set at maximum volume and picking up calls in between matches, this headset still crept up into a solid few days in the office. That’s more than acceptable for the 420 mAh internal battery.
Features and
If you do choose to use the full functionality of the RIG 600 Pro HS then it does add some nice touches. The option to run both Bluetooth and wireless 2.4Ghz simultaneously makes picking up calls immensely easy. That’s clearly the intention due to the inclusion of a call control button. Even if you leave your phone down the hall and to the right, the RIG 600 Pro HS holds on to that connection well. I managed down the hall, out the front door, across the garden, and onto the sidewalk before things got choppy. 11 metres and an external wall is unlikely to be in your way when hacking your way through Genshin Impact.
Final Thoughts
At $99.99, the RIG 600 Pro HS and HX variant is around the price range of the PlayStation Pulse 3D and falls into competition with a raft of other headsets that look to deliver great sound without being audiophile grade good. It manages a pleasant listening experience, leaving the core of the audio experience down to the original mix. There are enough options to tweak the EQ, and a bunch of thoughtful touches too. The mobile app, dual wireless mode, flip up mic, and lightweight design all make it a great piece of kit to own.
If you end up looking for a new wireless headset that isn’t going to stalk the streets on your daily commute, then the RIG 600 Pro HS is available now over on the official website.
