There are a number of things to consider when it comes to headsets, but possibly one of the most important factors is comfort. If you’re going to spend a lot of time wearing a headset, you don’t want a heavy, clunky device putting all kinds of nasty pressure on your ears and the top of your head. If you could get a headset that was extremely comfortable and light weight, yet still managed to deliver great sound and chat quality, it really would be a no brainer, wouldn’t it?
If that’s the case, then Plantronics RIG 500 is just that. What we have here is an incredibly light headset, constructed from strong yet flexible material that doesn’t apply undue pressure, yet doesn’t feel unsecured on your head. Combined with this comfort comes excellent audio quality, delivered by great quality 40mm drivers and indicative of Plantronics’ many years of experience in aviation, military and space exploration audio application.
Perhaps the best part of this headset, though (yes, it gets better) is the fact that it is modular. The ear cups, selfadjusting headband and mic boom can all be removed and switched out with compatible parts. This means that not only is it simple to upgrade your headset without having to but the whole thing again, but also that you can use different parts for different applications. A fabric cushioned open ear cup, for example, will allow for comfortable longer sessions (like practice sessions) while an enclosed, leatherette padded ear-cup will exclude all noise during shorter sessions (like at a tournament or massive LAN). Parts for the RIG headsets can be bought separately, allowing you to trim your experience as needed.
That makes the RIG 500 a perfect starting point. In the box you’ll get the ultraflexible and light frame, the self-adjusting headband, the removable mic and a set of closed, cloth padded ear cups fitted with a 3.5 mm combination jack (and a splitter is included in the box, too). It’s a little unusual these days to see a cable run to both ear-cups, but that is necessary here, due to the modular design. The 3.5mm jack means that this stereo headset is extremely versatile, too. In-line or on-ear volume controls would have been nice, but their absence is not a deal breaker here.
You’ll need to assemble the RIG 500 out of the box, but it’s extremely simple and will really drive the idea of modularity home for you. And once you fire it up, you’ll seriously question every other headset you have ever used. The audio quality is rich and clear across the whole sound spectrum, and the lightweight comfort of the RIG 500 creates no distractions… you may even forget that you’re wearing a headset at all!
Great design, great build quality, great comfort and audio… the modular RIG 500 is a truly excellent headset.
TECH SPECS
- Stereo
- 3.5mm jack
- Modular
- 40mm drivers
- Noise cancelling mic
- Isolating ear-cups