Plantronics Rig 500 Review: A Modular Gaming Headset?

Plantronics Rig 500 Review: A Modular Gaming Headset?

The first time I heard of the brand Plantronics was during my short stint as at a contact center. While I don’t remember what we exactly used at one of my first jobs, I remember that they were extremely comfortable for prolonged use and when we did mock calls to the audio quality was quite good. Fast-forward some years later and I’m re-introduced to the brand but this time in the form of gaming headset — the Plantronics Rig 500.

How did they fair and should you consider this headset? Let’s find out in this review.

What Is It?

As mentioned above the Rig 500 is a gaming headset but there are several variants available. The one that we have here is the base model. While you are getting all basic bits and bobs — headphones and a microphone — a part of what makes this series special is that it’s modular.

Out of the box, the Plantronics Rig 500 actually comes disassembled and broken up into a few parts, which consist of the frame, an elastic headband, and the earcups. They easily slip or snap into place and make for easy upgrades or replacements should you feel or need to update some of its parts.

The Plantronics Rig 500 is primarily made out of plastic but it feels extremely durable nonetheless.

Are they comfortable to use?

Yes. In fact, they’re actually one of the most comfortable headsets that I’ve used in a long time. I typically prefer using earphones because most earcups that I’ve used either cause me to sweat because of the material they use or tend to sit a little on my ears making it terribly uncomfortable.

The earcups on the Rig 500 are made out of memory foam and provide a ton of cushion that makes it extremely breathable and protects its 40mm drivers. The frame may be made of plastic, which makes this headset extremely light and pairing it with an elastic headband really make it fit really well.

The fit may be subjective to ear size and how big your noggin is but I have a fairly big head and I could easily game four hours straight with the Rig 500 on.

How Do They Sound?

They sound adequate for what you’re expected to spend on this gaming headset.
The Plantronics Rig 500 has a fairly balanced sound profile and pretty good clarity; though those who might love hearing deep bass notes might be a little disappointed. You’ve only got stereo sound on this device but it can still bring environments to life. We were also able to locate where the sound of gunfire was coming from in the Battle Royale games we were playing during the review process.

One disappointing bit was the fact that they had advertised this headset for having isolated earcups that would help you get more immersed in your game and sadly that was not the case. We’re guessing that’s mostly due to the fact that the earcups are made out of foam and are vented as well. I could definitely hear what was happening around the house and, often times, it did take away from the rather epic feel of some of the games we were playing.

On the flipside, that could be a good thing if you startle easily or need to hear your Mom calling you down for lunch or dinner.

The mic on the Rig 500 also sounds pretty good. We’ve had our peers who have had similar headsets in team chat and I could definitely hear them clearly and vise-versa. If you need to take a quick bathroom break, the mic is also easily muted by flipping it upward.

Should you get them?

The Plantronics Rig 500 is priced at Php 2,295 and is definitely worth a look if you’re in the market for an extremely comfortable headset that’s made for prolonged gaming sessions. It does have its downsides and we’re guessing those with more discerning ears might not enjoy the audio on this headset but that might mean spending a little extra.

If you are willing to spend a little more, you can check out the other members of the Rig 500 family such as the Rig 500E that comes with a USB Amplifier for Dolby Surround Sound.

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