RIG 700HX Xbox headset review
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(Image: © Poly)
GamesRadar+ Verdict
One of the most comfortable wireless gaming headsets for Xbox, the 700HX impresses with extra features and some quality audio.
Pros
- +
Simple but effective style and construction
- +
Extremely comfortable to wear for long periods
- +
Lives up to the ultra-lightweight claim
- +
Sound quality always incredible immersive
Cons
- —
All audio features on just one earcup
- —
No ‘flick up to mute’ microphone
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Any of the good, and especially the best gaming headsets , will strike the perfect balance between comfort and audio quality. This is something Microsoft’s first-party offerings have often struggled with, forgoing premium sound in the hopes of developing a relatively affordable product intended to ‘get as many people as possible’ online. The responsibility for something more specialist, therefore, falls upon third-party manufacturers and with the RIG 700 line of professional gaming headsets, Poly (formerly Plantronics) has absolutely risen to this challenge. Its latest is the 700HX gaming headset: an exceptional choice for Xbox One and PC players, one that’s practical, blessed with numerous extra features, and with decent audio too. This is among our best Xbox One headsets for sure.
(Image credit: Poly)
First things first, the RIG 700 HX looks sophisticated. It boasts a simple yet effective all black design, featuring solid plastic construction with padded headband and ear cushions that manages to feel high-end despite the headset’s inherent light weight.
My one worry with dedicated gaming headsets from the likes of Corsair, Razer and now Poly is always that they’ll look garish, but in the RIG 700 HX there’s been some restraint shown – it’s all the better for it. Some might be left a little disappointed that other colour options are lacking, but for me it’s a plus.
The RIG 700 HX is being advertised chiefly as an «ultra-light wireless headset». More than just a bold claim, however, I was left extremely impressed with how airy it always feels to wear even during the most extended of play sessions. On top of this, each earcup can be adjusted to one of three pegs either side, allowing you to easily adjust to your head size, so it’s reasonably versatile too. It’s so light, in fact, that I would have forgotten I was actually wearing it were it not for the left-side boom mic poking out in my peripheral vision. Overall, the RIG 700 HX doesn’t disappoint design-wise.
RIG 700HX — Features
(Image credit: Poly)
While the RIG 700 HX might play it subtle in terms of how it looks and feels, it’s in the various quality-of-life features where it packs the most punch.
Simply put, all the expected gaming headset heavy hitters are here and then some, really justifying its still fair but not insignificant $130 / £119 price. I’ve already mentioned its incredible light weight, but on top of this you get an impressive 12 hours of wireless use. The headset connects via a simple Bluetooth receiver that plugs into either your Xbox One or PC, working anywhere up to 30 feet. I don’t know in what world such a long distance would be required, but the battery life did indeed see me through an entire playthrough of Gears of War 4 entirely lag-free.
The boom mic is detachable, which I’m usually not a fan of, but it clicks into the RIG 700 HX’s left earcup so firmly that the risk of losing it or any disconnection was never a problem. Of course, this does mean you don’t get the cool ‘flick up to mute’ feature most gaming headsets boast, but doing so is as simple as holding down one button. That same button doubles up as your microphone sensitivity adaptor, which can be toggled between three settings with a simple tap.
Just as easy is the ability to adjust overall volume using one slider and tweaking the levels between in-game sound and party audio with another. A small gripe is that all this extensive functionality is accessed via the left earcup, which can feel a bit like overkill at times. Why not pop a few buttons on the right?
RIG 700HX — Performance
The tagline for Poly’s RIG 700 line is «Gear Up», so to test the audio performance of the RIG 700 HX gaming headset I thought it appropriate to play through some Gears of War – namely, a bit of Gears 5 and its 2016 predecessor. I’m pleased to report that the chugging of J.D Fenix’s lancer always sounded appropriate, successfully delivering both the deep-toned punch of shots and satisfying high-pitched click of reloads to great effect. The RIG 700 HX’s 40 mm, high-sensitivity drivers with bass tubes results in incredibly sharp and clear in-game audio, only aided by the cushioned isolated earcups that work to trap all of this in.
Sticking with the theme of Xbox One exclusive games, I also gave the RIG 700 HX the tall task of accurately immersing me in the thrills of Forza Horizon 4 .
Again, the revs of each car engine could be fully heard from every direction and angle, whether I was pulling ahead of rivals in the lead solo or aggressively battling it out neck and neck with other racers on the track. Flicking between radio stations and listening to the licensed music equally served to showcase the RIG 700 HX’s strong surround sound capabilities. Cruising down the English coast felt so immersive.
(Image credit: Poly)
Overall – should you buy it?
Does the RIG 700 HX gaming headset live up to its bold ultra-lightweight claim? Absolutely, but where it serves to impress further is in the many other audio benefits and quality-of-life features it packs into such a quaint but stylish package. It helps that the RIG 700 HX also won’t break the bank, giving Xbox One and PC players a reliable wireless headset option that comes in well under $130, despite comfortably being comparable to some more expensive peers.
More info
| Available platforms | Xbox One |
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Aaron is a freelance writer who appreciates a good video game story just as much as great visuals and gameplay.
Having covered the subject for places like WIRED, Den of Geek, PLAY Magazine, NME, PC Gamer and more, he’s well equipped to discuss a range of topics and industry goings-on through in-depth features, developer interviews and thoughtful reviews. His favourite game ever is 2005’s TimeSplitters: Future Perfect, a madcap character shooter from the makers of GoldenEye 007 that he first played whilst on holiday in Butlin’s Minehead. Because who needs to have fun in the sun, anyway?
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The Plantronics RIG 700HX is a gaming headset I wouldn’t be embarrassed to use at work
Poly isn’t the most likely candidate to make a gaming headset. The company was formed by the merger of Polycom and Plantronics, both of which boast long pedigrees in the corporate communication technology sphere.
It’s for that reason why, when I got my hands on the RIG 700HX, I kept my expectations tempered.
I shouldn’t have bothered. The Poly/Plantronics RIG 700HX (for some reason, the company decided to use its older branding with this headset) is a genuinely competent bit of kit, offering rich and detailed sound that’s centered around a comfortable and well-designed frame.
It’s got more than enough features to keep avid gamers happy. And, to my delight, it’s also got a somewhat conservative design, making it appropriate for the office where subtlety is often appreciated.
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There are three variants of the Poly RIG 700 series headsets, targeted at Xbox (700HX), PlayStation (700HS), and Windows (700HD) respectively.
For the purposes of this review, I’m testing the Xbox version, although I should note that this is also compatible with PCs (and, presumably, Mac and Linux too, as it connects via a standard USB receiver).
Design
Gaming hardware has a – let’s face it, completely deserved – reputation for ugliness. Most gaming kit that lands on my desk looks like the unholy lovechild of a Monster energy drink can and an Ed Hardy t-shirt, with some gratuitous LEDs stuck on for good measure.
The RIG 700HX isn’t like that. It’s unabashedly conservative.
Let’s talk ergonomics. The headset’s earmuffs are wide and well-cushioned, effectively going around one’s ears. In addition to making this a more comfortable fit, it also ensures that less external noise creeps in, distracting you from the action taking place on screen. While these cans aren’t active noise cancelling, I was reasonably impressed with the overall noise isolation, which muffled annoying external sounds, like dogs barking and doors closing.
The left earcup contains the majority of the RIG 700HX’s buttons. These are big and chunky, making it easy for you to adjust the settings without having to remove it. In addition to the usual volume and power control buttons, there’s also a microphone toggle switch, and another that lets you adjust the balance between game and chat audio.
In order to connect the headset to your console or computer, you’ve got to insert a small, rectangular receiver into your device’s USB port. This is actually easier than pairing using a standard Bluetooth connection, as it’s completely plug-and-play, and doesn’t require the hassle of using Windows’ god-awful Bluetooth settings.
The receiver has a long cable, making it easy to conceal within your furniture. It also comes with a switch allowing you to toggle between PC and console modes, as well as a button that lets you disconnect the headset.
Performance
Broadly speaking, I’m extremely impressed with how the Poly Rig 700HX performed. In terms of battery life, you can expect it to last for 12 hours of continuous use, which is ideal for those all-night gaming marathons where you inevitably end up urinating into a milk jug.
That said, it’s a little sad (particularly given it’s 2019) the RIG 700HX uses an old-school microUSB connection. The inclusion of USB-C would inevitably give faster charging times.
It would also mean I could use the same cable with the RIG as I would with my phone.
I was fairly impressed with the stability and latency of the connection offered by the Poly RIG 700HX, which was perceptively responsive when playing games that demand it, like Wolfenstein: Youngblood. It also managed to maintain the connection when walking around my house in order to use the restroom or grab a drink from the fridge.
So, let’s talk about sound quality, which is exquisite. These cans (which, in fairness, aren’t cheap) offer a detailed profile that lends itself favorably to gaming scenarios, where you’re often confronted with several different overlapping noises – like NPCs talking, environmental sounds, background music, and screechy-voiced teenagers loudly bragging about their sordid sexual escapades with your mum.
And honestly, using this felt like a measurable upgrade from my TV’s built-in speakers. When playing Descenders, a freeriding sports game, I was able to better discern the traction of my character’s bike while traversing through the lush scenery.
Overall, the RIG 700HX offered a far more immersive, and therefore entertaining, experience.
And then there’s the noise-cancelling microphone. This is arguably the best feature of the RIG 700HX and offers excellent clarity. This is handy for frantic team discussions, as well as conducting boring business conversations over Skype and dictating documents to Google Docs.
Who is the Poly/Plantronics RIG 700HX for?
The Poly/Plantronics RIG 700HX is a solid, well-designed bit of kit. It sounds great, it’s comfortable, and has a cracking microphone.
If you’re a devout gamer with some cash burning a hole in your pocket, I’d really encourage you to check it out. I can also imagine it being used in more formal office environments, thanks to its conservative design.
That said, there are a couple of things to be wary of. Firstly, the lack of USB-C is a serious bummer. I’d also emphasize that this isn’t a traditional Bluetooth headset as it uses a separate hardware receiver, and therefore you can’t easily pair it with your phone or tablet.
Poly released the RIG 700HX today. While it’s not currently available on Amazon, you can find it at other retailers. In the UK, Argos sells it for £120, plus shipping.
American readers can pick one up at Walmart, although, at the time of writing, it’s not presently showing on the company’s website. You might have better luck heading in store.
If you’re looking for a cheaper version, you can grab a previous generation model, the RIG 500 Pro, from Amazon for an incredibly palatable $80. For what it’s worth, I’ve tested this model myself. Performance-wise, there’s a decent level of overlap, and many of my remarks for the RIG 700HX (particularly pertaining to sound quality) also hold true with this older model.
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RIG 700 Pro HX Xbox/PC Headset Review: Killer $120 Product — 9 Accessories0001
Tiffany Garrett
Accessories
Source: Windows Central
Plantronics headsets were one of the first gaming products I considered when I first started, so I was somewhat surprised when the famous brand sold its popular RIG brand to Nacon. Nacon is a major accessory manufacturer in France, which is part of Bigben Interactive, which publishes games such as Hunting Simulator and WRC Rally racing.
This is the first RIG headset I’ve used in a long time. I’ve been rocking the 800LX as my headset for a while, and I’m impressed with its sound quality, affordability, and unique modular design.
I’d say it was one of the best Xbox One headsets of its time, so I’m intrigued to hear about the first RIG since switching to Nacon.
The RIG 700 Pro HX is another wireless offering from the brand, licensed with Dolby Atmos for good measure. This headset is designed for Xbox One consoles but also aims to be one of the best Xbox Series X headsets | S also. Will it be appreciated? Let’s find out.
RIG 700 Pro HX Review:
- Pricing and Availability
- What’s Good
- What’s Not So Good
- Competition
- Should You Buy?
RIG 700 Pro HX
Lower Limit: This GameStop exclusive headset is an amazing product to look out for if you can find it in stock. Great sound, comfortable design and low price make it a winner.
Good
- Excellent, light and convenient design
- Loud microphone monitoring with 3 options for volume
- High -quality headphones with good control
- Dolby Atmos in the kit
Bad
- no software security for Ectic
- $120 at GameStop
RIG 700 Pro HX:
Price and availability
Source: Windows Central
The RIG 700 Pro HX appears to be available exclusively at GameStop in the US, which isn’t great if you prefer to use Amazon or another online store. It doesn’t look like the RIG 700 Pro HX is available for purchase anywhere else in the world right now, but that may change in the near future. Luckily, there are plenty of alternative wireless options for Xbox if you’re outside the US, and you can find them in our roundup of the best Xbox wireless headsets.
RIG 700 Pro HX:
Good things
Source: Windows Central
allow Windows 10 Remote Desktop
One thing I really liked from my recent experience with RIG is their design.
RIG headsets have a unique modular system where you can mount your speakers on a very flexible headband that can take a truly absurd amount of punishment. It also features a floating fabric headband that adjusts to fit your head, with large and high-quality memory foam ear cushions. These things come together to create one of the most comfortable headsets money can buy, and I’m glad that RIG is getting back on track in this area. Category RIG 700 Pro HX Compatible Xbox Series X | S, Xbox One, Windows PC Speakers 40mm Features Dolby Atmos license, 30ft 2.4GHz wireless range, modular design, microphone monitor, weight 241 g Battery Micro-USB charging, 12 hours of playback Price $120 Indeed, the RIG 700 Pro HX weighs just 241 grams, making it one of the lightest headsets on the market.
RIG also didn’t sacrifice battery life to achieve this figure, which delivers an impressive all-day battery life of around 12 hours. If you haven’t been training for a sleepless marathon session, you shouldn’t have any problems with the RIG 700 Pro HX. The headset itself comes with some standard cordless can accessories. I’m not a fan of glossy accents in terms of dust buildup, but the mix of textures between glossy, matte, and brushed carbon plastics does look great, at least out of the box. I’m sure later when I come to photograph them I’ll spend half the time brushing the dust off the glossy parts, but it’s no big deal — and it’s a lot better than some awful neon green plastic that a lot of us have. days RIG’s competitors seem to be ready to shoot.
The RIG, like many wireless headsets, has on-ear controls. The dials have good action, with dimples that provide tactile feedback as you move between different levels, including the mid-range. I really wish more headset makers would pay attention to this sort of detail, so that’s a big plus for this headset given its relatively affordable price.
There are two controls for chat and game balance, as well as a master volume control. There is a mute button that can also be held down to adjust microphone monitoring levels. The microphone on the RIG 700 Pro HX is removable and, as mentioned, comes with a self-test monitoring microphone so you can hear yourself speaking. The microphone’s maximum volume is impressively high and outperforms many of its competitors. The average is more than enough, and if you’re not a fan of self-hearing, you can also just turn it off.
The RIG 700 Pro HX really impresses with its sound.
The microphone itself isn’t the most amazing in the world, but it’s crisp and clear enough for active communication during competitive play.
Just don’t expect to create content on this topic. When you change the setting, the headset gives you audio feedback in the speakers so you also know that you just set it up, which is nice. We’re all here to finally discuss sound quality. And to be honest, the RIG 700 Pro HX really impresses with its sound. One of the things I usually expect from headsets around $100 is a compromise in sound quality, but RIG shows that even under Nacon they can still work.
The sound profile is a bit husky, probably set to tactical sound. You won’t have problems with footstep sound or reloading in games. Those clicky, crunchy highs really boost the sonic environment, but there’s no sacrifice in the mids and lows either. Explosions sound beautiful and fabulous, they can be used for both music and media.
You connect the headset using the included USB dongle with a switch to switch between PC and Xbox. The headset is recognized by the Dolby Atmos app, giving you access to a wider range of settings and EQ settings if you want to tweak the balance a bit.
RIG 700 Pro HX:
Bad things
Source: Windows Central
To be honest, there is practically nothing particularly “bad” to say about this headset.
No idea why 2021 product launches without USB-C. The RIG 700 Pro HX counters this trend with its unfortunate micro-USB cable, though I’ve seen some headphone makers claim that micro-USB might be better than USB-C due to the grooves that help secure the cable in place. So maybe it’s just me picking on the case.
Frankly speaking, there is practically nothing «bad» to say about this headset. The sound is great for the price. Comfort and quality are impressive. I would complain about the lack of equalizer settings, but you can access them through the Dolby Atmos app on Xbox and PC. All things considered, this is a pretty amazing $120 headset.
RIG 700 Pro HX:
Competition
Source: Windows Central
The RIG 700 Pro HX has quite a few competitors in this price range.
The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen-2 for example has many similar features, as well as Bluetooth for mixing between two different devices, just like the official Xbox Wireless Headset. For a little more, you can also get the LucidSound LS35X, but I’m not sure if the price difference makes the LS35X worth the extra money. RIG 700 Pro HX is simply impressive. The RIG 700 Pro HX comes with Dolby Atmos by default, which also makes it much more expensive than the LS35X. If you don’t already have a personal Dolby Atmos license, that alone might be worth buying the LS35X. But so is the slightly more expensive Corsair HS75 XB, which has a significant advantage in audio versatility. Ultimately, it probably comes down to design preference. The RIG 700 Pro HX definitely outperforms its weight in this price range.
RIG 700 Pro HX:
Should I buy this?
Source: Windows Central
I really struggled to find anything serious about this product. The lightweight design is great for long sessions, with air cups and a modular design to suit any head style.
A sturdy headband should withstand a lot of punishment, plus it looks pretty slick. Sound isn’t the best money can buy, but it’s extremely competitive in this price range. If you don’t want to bust the bank, you can go far0053 far worse than this headset.
You should buy this if…
- You need a great Xbox and PC headset at a relatively affordable price.
- Bluetooth compatibility not required.
- You need a Dolby Atmos licensed headset.
Don’t buy this if…
- You want compatibility with a variety of Bluetooth devices.
All in all, this is a really great headset. The only thing that’s really annoying is GameStop’s US exclusivity. If you’re in the UK, this headset is hard, if not impossible, to find.
4.5 of 5
There are many great Xbox and PC headsets on the market, but few seem to be perfect for all the basic functions. This is one of those headsets.
