Plantronics RIG 400HX review: A great-sounding budget Xbox headset

Plantronics 400HX

Plantronics makes some great headsets, like the impressive RIG 800LX. But not everyone wants or can beget to spent a lot on an expensive, loftier-end headset. That doesn't mean you accept to settle for a lousy experience, though.

That's where the RIG 400HX comes in. It merely costs $50, and while you don't get anything particularly fancy, you get quality where it matters nigh. It's definitely the wheat that stands out amongst the crust.

Affordable quality

Plantronics RIG 400HX

$49.99

Bottom Line: This is very much a no-frills headset for your Xbox Ane, but at $50 it offers terrific audio quality and condolement.

Pros:

Ear cups have very proficient passive sound isolation.
Lightweight and extremely comfy.
Great sound quality.
Detachable microphone.

Cons:

Not very adaptable for dissimilar head sizes.
Not going to work with all PCs.
You wouldn't go exterior using this headset as a pair of headphones.

What y'all'll love about the Plantronics RIG 400HX

Plantronics 400HX

For only $l you're getting a solid headset hither from a well-known and respected brand. It'due south entirely black plastic, sure, only what else would you expect in the budget segment? In that location's a lot to like hither.

For starters, it's really comfortable. The earcups are thick as hell and trimmed in cloth, not leather or PVC, which I prefer (less heat and thus less perspiration). The headband is trimmed in the aforementioned material and is equally thick and cushioning.

Category	Specs
Mic Pick Up Pattern	Uni-directional.
Mic Freq Response	100 Hz–10 kHz.
HP Impedance	32 ohms.
HP Freq Response	xx Hz–xx kHz.
HP Drivers	Dynamic 40 mm.

The end effect is a headset that's very light and comfy and tin can easily be worn for longer gaming sessions. The microphone detaches, which is awesome, and there's also an inline remote for book controls and muting when you don't want to be heard.

The 40mm drivers in the RIG 400HX deliver a actually strong sound for gaming. The volume is groovy, even for a game like PUBG where you're listening for the smallest details. Y'all don't go surround sound at this cost, but you'll feel enough of boom and it has a decent range all effectually. The passive sound isolation is also pretty excellent from those massive ear cups.

The microphone sounds decent, albeit you won't exist using information technology for any serious creative work or anything. For what information technology'southward intended for, political party chat, information technology sounds fine, possibly a footling muffled but there are no existent complaints.

What y'all'll detest about the Plantronics RIG 400HX

Plantronics 400HX

This is not a particularly expert-looking headset. There are some out there that are perfectly usable as a pair of headphones when you lot're not gaming, and while you can do that, the RIG 400HX isn't subtle in whatsoever way. This is all gaming headset, all the time.

Perhaps more important (and less frivolous) is that there'due south not a lot of adaptability in the RIG 400HX. They don't slide up and down similar regular headphones and most headsets. The ear cups can move along the vertical but enough to get comfy, but if your head doesn't fit this headset no corporeality of tinkering will arrive fit.

This headset besides isn't entirely compatible with the PC. It but has a iii.5mm connection, and then you lot tin use it with things like phones, tablets, fifty-fifty laptops. Only if your PC has a split microphone/headphone jack, there is no adapter in the box, which ways now you've just got a pair of decent headphones with a vestigial microphone. A PC headset adapter isn't expensive, but information technology'd be another thing you have to buy to go the nearly use hither.

Bottom line on the Plantronics RIG 400HX

Plantronics knows how to make great audio gear and for $50 the RIG 400HX is no exception. Aside from a few niggles about the appearance and that it just won't fit everyone properly, it's mostly all expert news.

It sounds cracking, it'southward extremely comfortable and the passive sound isolation is very adept. The 3.5mm connector means it won't be neat for all PCs, but if you're a multi-panel gamer it'south also good to apply with the PS4.

Information technology'southward a no-frills, no-nonsense headset that proves you can go a nifty experience for very petty outlay. And information technology'southward ofttimes available for a good amount under $fifty, which makes information technology an even better buy if you can snag it on a deal.

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