As the gaming world becomes more competitive, the gaming peripherals are also evolving to meet the requirements of many users.
An example of this evolution is the Plantronics RIG 500 gaming headset, with a modular design that enables you to switch out ear cups for different levels of comfort and performance. You can also swap in headbands where you can display your team colors.
The RIG 500 fits comfortably and offers customizability which makes it one of the best gaming headsets, and it has an impressive sound quality to boot.
Plantronics RIG 500 Specs
The RIG 500 has vibrant 40mm drivers, which is far better than having a frequency response of 20Hz – 20kHz the basic gaming-grade headset plus 32 ohms impedance. The headset offers a sensitivity of 111dB SPL. The product serves as a 2.0 Channel product, while other RIGs provide different levels of sound.
The Plantronics RIG 500 gaming headset has one 3-ringed 3.5mm cable or three-ring to dual two-ring cable connection for separate sound and microphone. It weighs around 200g which means the headset is very light and has uni-directional microphone pickup, with 100Hz – 10kHz frequency response, and 45dBV.Pa. If you already own a Plantronics RIG 500, you can purchase upgrade packs from the company and replace the components when needed.
Packaging and Accessories
Since the headset is modular, you can see all the accessory in it. Almost all parts of the headset are detachable which makes it lightweight. If you want to upgrade your existing RIG package, you can do so by getting an upgradeable package that is easy to transport and break down.
The Plantronics RIG 500 package includes the headset frame, the isolating earcups, the self-adjusting headband, and the dual-jack PC adapter. Also included in the package are the user manual and ESL Sticker.
The headset is upgradeable, but the package does not include extra headbands, frames, and earcups. It would be nice if the gaming headset has a carry bag since the product can be broken down into tiny pieces.
Another useful accessory that they should include in the package is an aircraft adapter. The headset is extremely light and would be great to bring it on flights.
Design, Build Quality, Features
The manufacturer of the RIG focuses on comfort. Most of the headsets in the market have a single band across the head to balance it, but the RIG has two. The first band is a bit bigger than the other. It goes over the head for fixation and balance. On the other hand, the smaller band goes across the top of the user’s head for comfort.
The Plantronics RIG 500 is very lightweight and comfortable, even if you use it for an extended period of gaming session, you will never experience any discomfort. The strap is padded and fitted. The ear cups are padded as well but it does not affect the sound quality.
It has two sets of earphones and is different from each other. The first set has vented earphones for maximum breathability. It makes your listening session comfortable even for extended hours without affecting the quality of sound. The second set is what they call the isolated ear cups. It blocks the noise, offers more immersion and lets you focus on intense tournaments and matches.
You can use the vented earphones for YouTube, Teamspeak, light gaming, and other standard listening. Meanwhile, the isolated cups are used during the intense grind of DOTA 2 or the concentration sapping ranked game.
The microphone provides exceptional quality with an easy to mute switch feature. Simply push the microphone arm up, and you are done muting it.
Final Words
The Plantronics RIG 500 gaming headset is very light, and it feels good around the head. Even during extended sessions of gaming, you will still feel great with it. Being a wireless headset with incredible features, it is quite surprising that it does not cost that much. For gaming enthusiasts, this is good news since they do not need to spend a lot to get good quality headsets with impressive features.
The headphone functions well. You can just clip the ear cups in and out. The frame is flexible and lightweight. Another great feature is the detachable microphone that enables you to use it as headphones, or you can swap it to the other side. The quality of sound is quite impressive considering the price of Plantronics RIG 500. If compared to other expensive headsets, RIG 500 can stand or even surpass some of their features.
And lastly, the Plantronics RIG 500 is very comfortable, and a solid modular gaming headset. Just like other products it also has some imperfections, but it is good enough as it possesses the essential features that most users are looking for. That includes sound quality and balanced audio performance.
Pros
- Comfortable to use
- The lightweight frame at 200g
- You have the option to choose sealed or vented cups
- Compatible with PC, mobile, and other gadgets
- Modular design
- Affordable
- Detachable parts
Cons
- Noise sensitive microphone
- When not in use, earcups pop off easily in the headband