Plantronics Rig 500HD

Big Rigs

Price $ 129 plantronics.com/au

Using the same semi-modular design as the budget Rig 500 headset we reviewed and loved last year, the Rig 500HD brings a little more to the plate in the form of virtual Dolby 7.1 thanks to a USB connector.

The headband, head strap, and earcups of the 500HD are all separate components that can be moved about for maximum comfort. The earcups can be clipped in at three different heights for different sized heads and different (and often more garish) headbands are available to purchase if you’re looking to customise your headset. The cloth covered cushions are comfortable and cool, making them ideal for long gaming sessions. The only real problem with the design is that for people with larger ears, the size of the earcups means that they will either be on-ear or your ears will be a little cramped. It’s not too much of an issue given the comfort and lightness of the headset, but it is worth noting.

The 40mm drivers are very good in stereo but really come to life when Dolby 7.1 is turned on. Even without a 7.1 source, the sound is a good deal more rounded and spacious, but in games the surround really shines. The directionality is exceptional for such a well-priced headset, especially in the frontal arc. There is a slight tendency for the sound to be a little bass-heavy, but not heavy enough to drown out the high and mid ranges. The built in boom mic is quite good as well, standing up quite decently to the types of volumes that are expected when playing a competitive game.