We’re kicking off this year’s Geek Pick of the Week with a look at the recently released gaming headphones from Nacon: the RIG 600 Pro.
As the Holiday season approaches, we’re bringing back our Geek Pick of the Week. Each week leading up to Christmas, we’ll be highlighting a cool product we’ve found that we feel would be the perfect gift for geeks of all kinds. Use these to help fill in your own wish list or find the perfect gift for the nerds in your life. Click HERE to read more about previous Picks of the Week!
Crazy to think it’s already time for Geek Pick of the Week to make it’s return! Like it or not, the holidays are quickly approaching, and as we’ve done over the last several years, we’ll be spotlighting various items we think are perfect for nerds (on top of our annual guides).
To get this year started, I’m taking a look at the latest gaming headphones from Nacon (which launched just last month), the RIG 600 Pro. Nacon has a solid history of gaming peripherals, managing to strike a balance between form, function, and cost that make them appealing to gamers all around. I thoroughly enjoyed their Xbox/PC controller (which I still use regularly), but haven’t had a chance to see what their headsets are all about. As such, I was interested to see how their talents would transfer over.
The short answer to that question is: pretty good. I know that doesn’t sound exactly like a glowing endorsement, but for the price point it hits…it’s exactly what you want. While it doesn’t hit the levels of higher-end models, it manages to stand out among similarly priced ($100) gaming headphones out there.
Look and Feel
The RIG 600 Pro overall look is an interesting one. It snaps together and uses a notch system to adjust the headband. There are some pros and cons to this approach. Namely, it’s neat because it allows the whole thing to essentially “fold” up for easier transport, while snapping together quickly when needed.
The downside is you might not be able to get the exact fit you want out of them. There are only three notches on each side to adjust the overall size of the headband. I have a relatively big noggin, so the last notch is generally where I was most comfortable. Even there, however, the headband didn’t fit snuggly enough across the top of my head; leaving a smidge of a gap.
The result was the headset feeling a tad loose on my head. It’s not a huge deal by any means (especially because they’re light enough to not be problematic), but a tad frustrating the design doesn’t allow for any ‘in-between’ settings.
That said, these headphones are super comfy. The earmuffs fit nicely over the ears, encompassing them without putting undue pressure on them. It’s soft and squishy to the point where even wearing them on top of my glasses for long periods of time wasn’t uncomfortable.
The overall look is pretty solid as well. It’s not over the top with it’s design elements (as too many gamer headsets tend to be) and looks sleek. It’s simple, yet clean, appearance allows it to blend into just about any gaming setup you currently have. About the only issue I have with the look, is how plasticky it seems.
Don’t get me wrong, they feel durable enough, but they don’t look like they are…if that makes sense? But that aside, it’s a comfy set of headphones that look swanky enough for most people to enjoy.
Functionality
Looks and comfort aren’t everything, however, so let’s dive a little into how the RIG 600 Pro performs.
Dongle for Days – The RIG 600 Pro is a wireless headset that connects via bluetooth but ALSO comes with a dongle (and a USB adapter for the dongle) that allows it to work with virtually anything; including the Switch. Personally speaking, I much prefer the dongle for connection. There’s no messing with device settings to connect on bluetooth, or worries about settings being “forgotten” and such. No, you just plug in the dongle and boom! You’re connected. Love it.
Battery Life – Nacon says you’ll get roughly 18-24 hours of life out of the headset on a single charge. While I didn’t sit there and time it all out, that’s roughly the experience I had. The charging itself was relatively quick as well, so you won’t have to go without it for too long on gaming sessions.
Adjustments – All of the buttons/controls are on the left earcup, leaving the right completely clean. Generally speaking, it’s nice to not have to remember which side controls what, but in putting them all together, the buttons feel relatively small. This makes it difficult to make adjustments without taking them off and physically looking at them.
All other adjustments (mic gain and the equalizer) are relegated to the companion app. It’s always nice to have those options to fully customize your listening experience, though I’ll say even the default settings are pretty great out of the box.
Mic – The built-in microphone is tucked into the left earcup (they really stacked that side) where it remains hidden until you flip it down. Unlike other hidden mics that you tug/pull out, I definitely like this flipdown design much better. Just…something neat about it.
In terms of how it works, it’s a solid mic. The sound quality is more than decent enough to allow for clear communication within the game. The only issue I came across was it features a robust noise cancellation (which you can adjust). If there’s noise in the background wherever you’re playing, it cuts it out rather thoroughly, but leaves your own voice sounding a bit tinny.
Sound – This is really where the RIG 600 Pro shines. The sound is pretty damn solid. The main game I was playing while testing this out was Final Fantasy XVI, and all of the cinematic presentation came through in excellent fashion. I felt immersed in the action and drama that played out, with the tiniest sounds of the world around me, even as the dialog was properly prioritized. It sounded awesome, and thanks to the cups fitting so well over my ears, external noise wasn’t really an issue.
While the RIG 600 Pro isn’t the perfect gaming headset, it definitely sits among the best in this price range. The sound quality is excellent, they’re comfortable to wear for long periods of time, and features just enough extras to feel more “premium.” If you’re looking to pick up a solid pair of gaming headphones without breaking the bank this Christmas, these certainly fit the bill.
The RIG 600 Pro is available now directly from Nacon, other online retailers, and stores.
