Plantronics is back at it again with their series of RIG gaming headsets. They’ve been on a roll the past couple of years releasing gaming headsets in this successful and ever-expanding series. Released late last year, the RIG 600 is cross-platform compatible with the big three: Xbox, PS4, and PC. Is the RIG 600 an improvement over their RIG 400 and Flex LX headphones? Without further delay, let’s take a closer look in this Plantronics RIG 600 headset review.
• Classic, all-black design
• Solid construction, flexible, yet sturdy
• Soft memory foam earcups
• Very comfortable fit
• 40mm dynamic drivers
• Only one color pattern is available
• No wireless capability (which is okay)
Plantronics RIG 600 Headset Review
RIG 600 Design and Fit
Upon unboxing the item, the first thing I noticed was how lightweight the headset was at 247 grams. The design is very clean with markings in gold and black. This created a look of luxury. This look is further reinforced by the (gold-stitched) cushioned headband and earcups. The headband is adjustable and can fit a broad range of head frames with its 16 adjustment settings. This comes to roughly 2″ on each side, thus yielding a more comfortable fit. The inside headband is made from a deep black colored, perforated and breathable fabric.
The outer headband surface, as well as the ear pads, are made from a deep black colored vegan leather. These ear pads appear to contain some form of memory foam. You don’t need to worry about which headphone is left or right. A rather large “R” is visible on the inside of its respective ear pad. Cups can rotate 90° degrees in and roughly 10° out. Included in the box are two interchangeable 3.5 mm cables and a splitter which I will go into further detail later.
The Plantronics RIG 600 headset is definitely a step up from the Turtle Beach Call of Duty AW headset that I’ve been using. The former’s pillow–like earcups and headband provide such a comfortable experience that it feels like it isn’t even there. These are a pair of headphones which you can keep on for hours without that feeling of having your temples pinched due to the hard plastic feel of lower-quality gaming headphones.
Specifications
• Driver Diameter: Dynamic 40 mm
• Input Power: 40mW
• Cable Length: 1.3 meters
• Cable Connector: 3.5 mm dual 3.5 mm Y-adapter
• Sound-isolating earcups
• Microphone Frequency Response: 100Hz – 10kHz
• Microphone Pick Up Pattern: Unidirectional
• Microphone Signal to Noise: >42 dB
• Microphone Sensitivity: -45 dB SPL/Pa
• Microphone Impedance: 32 Ω
• Weight: 247 grams
RIG 600 Features
The RIG 600 is designed with 40mm dynamic drivers to provide a balanced listening experience. I decided to test the headset first on the Sony PS4, and the RIG 600 did an excellent job producing the sounds in Resident Evil 7 Biohazard. With every footstep, I could hear the puddles I stepped in, as well as the blades of grass, and the creaking floorboards. This made an already scary game more terrifying.
Next, I tested the headset on my Xbox One S opting for Final Fantasy XV, a game which offers a beautifully crafted soundtrack, cut scenes, and battle sequences. The headphones did a great job replaying the music with some of the finer details such as sailing on the water and hearing the satisfying sound of a blade striking the enemy. The soundtrack is never loud enough to overwhelm the dialogue which is perfect for this game.
The only issue I had with this headset was that there wasn’t an adjustable controller for volume on the 3.5 mm lines. On the Xbox One S, I had to get into the settings to adjust the sound which wasn’t all that difficult, yet might not be obvious to most.
The overall construction is well executed and shows a quality build. The headphones include a port for wired audio.
Audio Performance
While it doesn’t have the deep lows of a pair of Beats headphones, I was surprised at how good this headset was at providing a balance experience throughout the different genres of music. I found rocking out to the sound of an acoustic guitar for country music to waiting for the beat to drop on an EDM song. It was a very satisfying experience.
Conclusion
Versatility is probably the most attractive feature of the RIG 600. It was incredibly easy to switch and use the different 3.5mm cables between devices. One 3.5mm cable has a mic attached used for gaming, the other music listening purposes. Set up is very easy, no software needs to be installed and is plug-and-play. There isn’t a long mess of cables like with some other gaming headsets.
The RIG 600 gaming headset is quite comfortable even after a handful of hours of continuous gaming. This headset is available for purchase at Amazon (see link below) and the Plantronics website for $99.99. They seem like a good pickup for those who value great sound, comfort, and versatility. If you can find it for less than list, it’s a steal. You won’t be disappointed.
What do you think of this Plantronics RIG 600 headset review? Do you agree or disagree with our verdict? Let us know in the comment section below or via social media. We’re eager to hear your thoughts.
Don’t hesitate to head over to the Plantronics Newsroom to see their latest announcements. The RIG 600 gaming headset comes with a one-year limited warranty.
This review was co-written with Gamer Jesse Lin who put the RIG 600 through its paces.
FTC Disclosure: Plantronics provided Beantown LLC with one (1) RIG 600 gaming headset sample for review purposes. These writers opinions are 100% their own and neither are paid product ambassadors.
All photographs are the copyrighted property of Plantronics and Beantown LLC © 2017.