RIG 500 PRO HX Headset Review

Credit: Cody Campbell / HGG

Human Made

Penned by Cody D. Campbell

Cody has been a gamer ever since his family got a Sega Genesis when he was five-years-old. In addition to his love of narrative-focused RPGs and ho... Read more

Reviewed by Benjamin Barr

RIG has just come out with a new line-up of products including a new controller and two new series of gaming headsets, each with versions tailored to Xbox, PlayStation, PC and Multi-platform consoles. The company is known for peripherals designed with competitive gaming in mind and their new gear is following that same trend. They sent us one of their 500 PRO HX [Xbox Version] gaming headsets to review so we could let you know what we think.

There’s a lot to take into account when it comes to competitive gaming headsets. Sound is obviously the most important, but comfort and mic quality are vital factors as well. We tested all these things on the RIG 500 PRO HX so you can find out if one of these gaming headsets are right for you.

If you’re on the hunt for a headset, make sure to check out our best gaming headsets roundups and other reviews.

Unboxing and Build Quality

There are only two things inside the RIG 500 PRO HX box other than instructions and a few stickers – the headset and its detachable microphone.

Lifting the headset out of the box, I was shocked by just how light it was. It weighed considerably less than my SteelSeries Arctis 7s or my HyperX Cloud IIs. That’s because of the way RIG designed it. There are two headbands, a structural outer band made of thin, but sturdy metal that can be twisted and flexed to extreme angles without breaking, and a padded inner band that stretches to conform to the top of your head. This isn’t uncomfortable, but I (being a man with a somewhat large head) did find myself adjusting its position from time to time as it did start to feel tight after a while.

The ear cups are made of a light plastic and are padded with leatherette on the outer edges and fabric on the inside. Rig explained that this was a “best of both worlds” solution which had the noise cancelling properties of leatherette and the breathability of fabric. I personally find fabric earcups scratchy and would have preferred all leatherette, but that’s a matter of preference. I initially thought they were a tiny bit small, but changed my mind as they never became uncomfortable, even after hours of use.

Overall, they have an industrial look to them that appears premium, competitive and clean.

Dolby Atmos FTW

The sound in the 500 PRO HX is phenomenal, especially for this price category. The bass is strong without overpowering the high and mid-tones. Everything from gaming to music feels very full and balanced. The directional sound is excellent as well. It has Dolby Atmos 3D Audio which makes hearing footsteps and other enemy noises a breeze. There are headsets with superior audio out there, but none that are even remotely close to this price.

I was initially a little disappointed that the cable wasn’t braided, but this actually turned out to be one of my favorite things about this headset when I started using it. The rubberized cable is not only lighter than a braided cable, it also doesn’t pick up on any vibrations when it rubs on your shirt.

Descent Mic

Headset mics aren’t the best for the most part, though there are a few stand-out exceptions. The one included with the 500 PRO HX ranks somewhere in the upper middle. It’s a little tinny, but the audio is clear and it doesn’t get tripped up on plosives, (heavy “p” and “s” sounds.) There are probably only a handful of mics on the market that could out-perform it.

It also has a couple features that are pretty great. As we’ve already mentioned, the mic is removable. This is great for streamers or PC gamers who prefer a USB or Condenser microphone. It also has flip-to-mute, making it easy to move the mic out of your way when you don’t wish to be heard.

Should You Add this Headset to Your RIG?

RIG really outdid themselves with this headset. They’re in a pretty competitive price bracket, with the SteelSeries Arctis 3, JBL Quantum 200, and even the Razer BlackShark V2 all sharing a similar price point. Still, the RIG 500 PRO HX manages to distinguish itself with its comfortable, light frame and excellent sound quality. It might just be our new top pick for the best wired gaming headset under $100.