American manufacturer Plantronics has had a relatively limited presence in the Nordic region, particularly in Sweden. The headset market has been dominated by more established brands, such as Turtle Beach, Razer, and dedicated headphone solutions like Sony Pulse, as well as high-end music headphones such as Beats by Dr. Dre.
RIG represents Plantronics’ attempt to establish a broader presence in the Swedish market, with select retailers already offering the product to consumers. The headphones are constructed from lightweight and stylish materials, ensuring a comfortable fit during extended use – a crucial factor for gaming headsets. While we appreciate the ease of use offered by headsets like the Sony Pulse with the PS3, the tight-fitting earcups can quickly lead to moisture build-up and discomfort, limiting usage to shorter sessions. With the RIG, we encountered no such issues. We were able to play games, listen to music, and test the headset with our iPhone for over 2.5 hours without experiencing discomfort, excessive ear sweat, or listening fatigue due to overwhelming bass.
Several high-end gaming headset manufacturers are now adopting the concept of including a compact mixer unit with their headphones. This mixer serves as the central hub of the setup: a small, circular connection point for headphones, phones, and game consoles/computers via included cables. This allows for seamless audio mixing between devices, enabling simultaneous operation – ideal for taking phone calls without interrupting gameplay. While initially, navigating the various connections and mixing functions may require some familiarization, the process quickly becomes intuitive, and this feature proves both innovative and practical.
The headset includes two microphone options: a longer microphone designed for in-game voice chat and a built-in microphone integrated into the mobile phone cable, facilitating hands-free communication. The recording quality of both microphones proved satisfactory during our testing, with online players reporting clear audio reception.
Now, to address the most critical aspect: the audio quality of the Plantronics RIG. In short, it is exceptional. We haven’t encountered a headset that delivers such impressive sound quality in quite some time, regardless of price point. The headphones feature a 40mm speaker driver with a frequency response of 20-20,000 kHz. While some members of our team felt the midrange could benefit from enhanced detail, there was unanimous agreement that the bass response is impeccably balanced – delivering impactful and responsive low-end without sounding muddy or overpowering. The clarity of the audio allows for the distinct perception of every tone, instrument, and background element within music, providing a revitalized listening experience. This is currently the editorial team’s preferred headset for music listening!
Are there any drawbacks? Yes, a few. While the Plantronics RIG demonstrates thoughtful design overall, its primary focus appears to be on video games connected via analog connections (or component cables, at minimum). Connecting to consoles like the Xbox 360 and PS3 can be somewhat complex, particularly when using amplifiers and HDMI connections (which are recommended for optimal audio and video quality). Managing TV audio, for instance, can become challenging when connecting via the Xbox 360’s front panel and the PS3’s optical cable. Certain configurations may also require additional cables not included with the headset. For example, the PS4, which relies solely on HDMI for audio output, necessitates a separate optical cable to share audio from the console. For console gaming, a dedicated headset, such as the Sony Pulse for PS3/PS4, may be preferable due to its direct compatibility and wireless connectivity (features not present in the RIG).
Another point to consider, while not a critical flaw, is that the earcups’ design, while effective at isolating external noise (we anticipate testing them on an airplane in the future), also exhibit significant sound leakage at higher volumes. This can potentially be disruptive in quieter environments, and may expose your questionable music taste to others.
Final Verdict:
The Plantronics RIG is an outstanding headset for hi-fi audio and music. In fact, it’s arguably the finest headset we’ve tested for these applications. Priced around one thousand kronor, it positions itself in the high-end segment, but remains significantly more affordable than competing on-ear headsets such as Beats, while offering superior audio fidelity. While not a perfect all-around solution for console gaming, it excels on PC, and we anticipate internal disputes regarding access to these headphones for music listening in the future. If that doesn’t constitute a top recommendation, we’re unsure what does.
