RIG 500 Pro Gen 2 Gaming Headset Review
Who Is The RIG 500 Pro Gen 2 Gaming Headset For?
- The RIG 500 Pro Gen 2 is a solid all around headset that is compatible with all consoles thanks to its wired connection
- The headset is very lightweight, but is still virtually unbreakable
- The 500 Pro has well-balanced audio with a bass response that is noticeable, but doesn't overwhelm
Gaming headsets can range from the incredibly expensive to the relatively cheap. As one would expect, the more expensive headsets generally offer better performance and features. However, every now and then a headset on the inexpensive side punches above its price tag to compete with the big names. The latest is the RIG 500 Pro Gen 2 wired gaming headset, which offers some pretty spectacular audio quality for its price. Add in universal compatibility, and the RIG 500 Pro Gen 2 is a real contender.
Lightweight, But Sturdy
It seems like most headsets choose between being lightweight and having a solid construction. The RIG 500 Pro Gen 2 headset instead goes for both. The 500 Pro is super lightweight, coming in at 281 grams or a little over half a pound. This weight makes it easy to keep the 500 Pro on throughout the day or late into the night for long gaming sessions.
Despite the lack of heft, the RIG 500 Pro is virtually indestructible. This is largely due to the steel headband that runs across the top of the headset. The earcups are a closed-back design, but the housing for the audio drivers has a number of holes in it to help reduce weight while still providing stability.
Like previous RIG headsets, the 500 Pro Gen 2 doesn't have a sliding adjustable headset. Adjusting the position of the earcups requires popping them out of a slot in the headband frame and popping them back into a different slot. I don't like this system, as it greatly reduces the number of positions the earcups can be in. However, this time around RIG has compensated for this with an elastic cloth headband that goes under the metal headband. This provides ample room for any head size, helping to negate the lack of customized positions for earcups.
A nice touch that the RIG 500 Pro Gen 2 includes is a flat anti-tangle cord. This is nice to help keep the cable at its full length, which is necessary as it isn't very long to begin with. The length of the cable is fine for gaming, but could be restrictive if using the headset elsewhere. There is also a volume control slider built into the cord, but I found that anything other than max volume was a little quiet. I'd recommend just keeping the slider at max and adjusting volume on whatever you are listening to.
Great Audio
Perhaps the most important part of any gaming headset is its audio quality and the RIG 500 Pro Gen 2 headset really excels here. The 500 Pro has squeezed 50mm drivers into its earcups, allowing music and audio to come through loud and clear.
The RIG 500 Pro Gen 2 comes with Dolby Atmos support, and even includes a two-year subscription card. This subscription is limited to only one device, but if you're using an Xbox or PC, that's all you need.
What's great about the RIG 500 Pro Gen 2's audio quality is how balanced it is. Bass is very present and clear, but doesn't overpower other audio or cause my head to rumble. It's a great balance for gaming. When playing Apex Legends, bullets and explosions are easy to identify and locate based on where I am on the map. Communicating and planning out moves with my squad in Call of Duty Warzone is a breeze as chat audio is never lost in the game audio mix.
Not everything is great, however. The padding on the earcups has two different materials, with the goal of providing both comfort and external sound blocking capabilities. While the headset is comfortable, it doesn't really do a great job of blocking out sound. Especially compared to other headsets I have recently reviewed, like the EPOS H3, the RIG 500 Pro felt like it didn't really block out any sound at all. This isn't a major issue, as the audio generally covers external sounds anyway, but is definitely noticeable if there isn't any audio being played.
Decent Microphone, Annoying Microphone Arm
The microphone built into the RIG 500 Pro Gen 2 headset is perfectly fine for communicating to teammates when playing games. It doesn't necessarily sound better than any other headset, but it still provides clear chat audio that is easily understood by other players.
While the microphone is fine, I don't particularly like the microphone arm. It is a flip-to-mute style, and is located on the left earcup. The problems start with a lack of clicking. Most flip-to-mute microphones I've used have a satisfying click to let me know when the microphone is muted. There really isn't much of a click on the RIG 500 Pro, making the flip feature feel a little cheap compared to the rest of the headset.
The microphone arm isn't all bad, though. Many microphone arms on gaming headsets don't allow for repositioning, forcing users to just deal with wherever the microphone can go. The RIG 500 Pro Gen 2's microphone can easily be moved around to get it into a better position once it has been flipped down. Unfortunately, this usually means the microphone will need to be repositioned once the arm has been flipped back up. My microphone usually ended up hitting my glasses or sitting against my forehead once flipped back up, making quickly muting myself a bit of a chore.
Compatible With Everything
I love a device that I can use everywhere, and the RIG 500 Pro Gen 2 perfectly fits that description. Thanks to the use of a 3.5mm cable, the RIG 500 Pro works with all consoles and PCs including both the Xbox and PlayStation line of consoles, Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia and more. It can even work with phones that still have a 3.5mm headphone jack, or those that have a 3.5mm to USB-C converter.
Final Thoughts
The RIG 500 Pro Gen 2 headset is a really solid all-around wired headset. It offers some great audio quality and Dolby Atmos support, all for only $70. While it doesn't really block out any audio with its ear pads, the 500 Pro is light and comfortable for all-day gaming and listening. Pretty much the only downside to the 500 Pro is its microphone arm, which is only mildly annoying at its worst.
If you're looking for a one-stop gaming headset that works with all devices and isn't going to break the bank, the RIG 500 Pro Gen 2 is a great choice.
