Plantronics Rig 400hs Stereo Gaming Headset for Ps4 Review
TechRadar Verdict
The Plantronics RIG 400 might not include the wireless or racket-cancelling features of its more expensive siblings, just it's a headset that sounds skillful for the cost, and includes a decent quality microphone. Unfortunately though, its open-dorsum design means that the headphones are oft picked upwardly by the microphone.
Pros
- +
Decent audio for the price
- +
Mic quality is crisp and clear
- +
Atmos license is a nice inclusion
Cons
- -
Mic frequently picks upward audio from headphones
- -
Bass lacks power and depth
- -
Blueprint lets lots of background noise in
If this generation has been visually defined by the emergence of 4K, then the sound equivalent has to be object-based audio, most predominantly with Dolby's own Atmos technology, and the Plantronics RIG 400 is billed as the easiest manner of getting in on this sound revolution.
For the uninitiated, Dolby Atmos essentially offers a three-dimensional surround audio organisation. Rather than sound simply coming from around and behind you, Atmos allows audio to come from to a higher place yous likewise.
The new technology has started to make its way into the world of movie theatre, only it's also making its way into the world of games as well via the Xbox 1 family unit of machines too as PCs running Windows 10. The $49.99 (£44.99 / AU$68) RIG 400 headset can work with the PS4, simply you'll desire to use it with a Microsoft console to become the do good of Atmos.
We'll go into how the Atmos support actually works in just a moment, simply first let'due south look at what yous're physically getting with the RIG 400 gaming headset.
Design
We'd be inclined to telephone call the RIG 400 one of the virtually comfy headsets we've ever used. It's the budget sibling of the RIG lineup, which means no wireless performance or noise-cancellation, simply this too has the reward of making it fantastically light. We wouldn't say it feels like y'all're wearing nothing at all , but it certainly comes close.
The soft fabric ear cushions sit over your ears without touching them at all and the headphones are open-backed, pregnant that air can pass easily through the ear-cups to continue your ears cool.
While we're naturally big fans of cool ears, this does unfortunately also mean
Mic versatility
The headset'due south microphone arm tin be detached if you want to get some single-histrion gaming washed without it getting in the way.
that the headphones are very leaky when information technology comes to sound. If y'all want a headset that y'all tin can vesture to block out the exterior globe then the RIG 400 is not it, but if you play games in a quiet house then it'south less of a problem.
This is a wired headset, and past default Plantronics uses a combination mic / headphone jack to transmit audio. This is a jack that'due south uniform with most phones, the PS4 and the Xbox 1. If you want to utilise information technology with a PC, Plantronics supplies a Y-splitter so you can plug it into separate microphone and headphone jacks.
Nosotros spent nigh of our time with the headset playing on PC, and we grew to get very frustrated with this splitter, which doesn't patently label its microphone and headphone sides. Nosotros plugged the cables in the wrong way round more than times then nosotros'd care to admit, and we'd be surprised if you didn't do the same. It'southward non the biggest inconvenience, but clearer labelling would have been a large aid here.
Finally, an in-line remote includes mute and book sliders.
Atmos explained
Since Dolby Atmos is forming a key part of the RIG 400's marketing push button, it's worth taking some time to explain exactly how this functionality works. Information technology's not an exclusive feature to this make of headsets, only Plantronics does simplify the process for you.
It does this by including a license fundamental for Atmos in the box with every pair of headphones. Yous tin can use a different pair of headphones to go Atmos, but you'll accept to buy this license separately to do so.
On PC, the license is inputted into the Xbox app. Information technology's then attached to your Xbox account, and information technology then applies across your PC and whatsoever Xbox One consoles that you use the same profile on.
Where it gets complicated is that this license only applies to games purchased through Microsoft's own shop. There are other games available through services such as Steam and Battle.internet that support Atmos on PC, only which y'all don't need this license key to access. Kick up Overwatch with your current pair of headphones and y'all can turn on Atmos with no problem.
It'south a complicated situation, and Plantronics has washed a skillful job to simplify it as much as it can. The important thing to realise, however, is that if you like your electric current headset and want to upgrade to Atmos, then at that place'southward no need to buy new hardware. You just need to buy the Dolby Atmos license from the Microsoft store.
Functioning
Once you get over the Atmos defoliation, the headphones audio great, and the microphone works well with people nosotros played with reporting that our phonation sounded dainty and articulate.
All the sounds you'd expect from a match of PlayerUnknown'south Battlegrounds were clear and distinct, from the sound of footsteps of enemies creeping overhead, to the cleft of gunshots in the altitude.
Although detail was skillful, nosotros were impressed most of all with how spacious the audio was, which actually benefits a game like PUBG where spacial sensation is at its nigh of import.
This headset tin can even do a decent job of playing music. Their 'gamer' styling and leaky acoustic design means we wouldn't desire to use them in the outside world much, but the option is at that place for those that want information technology.
When playing music you realise that the bass response of these headphones doesn't quite have the kick of a more expensive pair, just since this headset sits at the budget cease of the spectrum we're inclined to forgive this omission, peculiarly when the alternative in so many cases seems to exist to introduce an overwhelming amount of bass.
Our single biggest outcome with the headset is that the amount of sound leakage is such that the microphone frequently picks up the output of the headphones. Although y'all don't notice it yourself while using them, other people talking to you will exist able to hear themselves.
This makes the headset feel a lot cheaper than it actually is. You lot can be heard loud and articulate by the people you're playing with, but there's a constant feedback loop that can be heard even when you're playing at low volumes.
It'southward a really unfortunate problem, and one that seriously undermines the headset equally a communications device, even if the quality of both the headphones and the microphone are private very respectable, especially at this price.
Verdict
If you lot're just looking for a pair of headphones to play single-player games with, particularly on Xbox One or Windows 10, then the Plantronics RIG 400 has a lot going for it.
Sound quality is decent at this price point, fit is very comfy, and the soundstage is lovely and wide. The inclusion of a Dolby Atmos license is a great addition for anyone looking to try out the technology on those games that support information technology, fifty-fifty if you're able to buy information technology separately for your current headset.
But the unfortunate feedback problems betwixt the headphones and the microphone mean that we're not able to recommend the headset for utilize in multiplayer gaming where you lot're going to be talking to others. It'due south simply too annoying for your teammates to be able to hear themselves constantly fed back through the headset's microphone.
Information technology's a shame, just at this toll point y'all're able to get headsets that don't suffer from this problem.
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Source: https://www.techradar.com/reviews/plantronics-rig-400-gaming-headset
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