Plantronics RIG 800LX

GETTING SERIOUS ABOUT THE XBOX ONE’S DOLBY ATMOS CAPABILITY.

AS DOLBY ATMOS continues to gain traction with audiophiles, it comes as no surprise that renowned gaming headset maker Plantronics would put out a pair of cans capable of realising the format’s impressive three-dimensional audio. With its RIG 800LX headphones for Xbox One and Windows, Plantronics delivers impressive spacial audio that really does feel 3D in its implementation. In fact, Plantronics is so serious about the format, it’s seen fit to include a Dolby Atmos activation code (sold separately for $15) with every pair of RIG 800LX headphones. And while the Plantronics cans do offer excellent directionality, they’re not flawless, with a couple of quirks keep the RIG 800LX from being truly outstanding.

Sporting 40mm drivers and additional bass tubes, the ‘phones do a good job of delivering clean, crisp audio with a decent amount of depth. The RIG 800LX features separate volume controls for both chat and game audio on the left cup, and a button that cycles through four distinct EQ settings on the right. And in typical Plantronics fashion, you only have to flick down your mic to activate chat. At present, there’s only a handful of Xbox One games that support Dolby Atmos audio, though you’ll find that the headphones work fairly well with Blu-ray movies that support the audio format.

Unfortunately, distortion does crop up during scenes with a lot of bass or low-end rumble, and we also experienced a fairly frequent popping sound in the left headphone during gameplay that became somewhat irritating. The popping did become less noticeable at lower volumes, but that’s far from an ideal situation. Battery life, on the other hand, is exceptional, with a fully charged unit offering around 24 hours of juice. They’re also extremely comfortable, which could make them very attractive to marathon gamers, though a lack of in-line audio for your own voice means you’ll struggle to hear yourself chatting when the volume is high.