Nacon RIG 600 Pro HX/HS review: The kings of comfort
Update (November 18, 2024): Can the king of comfort become even more comfortable? Nacon teamed up with Wicked Cushions for a limited edition release of the RIG 600 Pro HS to try and answer this fundamental question and found that, yes, it is indeed possible.
The RIG 600 Pro HS is the slightly less versatile version of the wireless headset from 2023, lacking in Xbox compatibility – but the newly released version makes more than up for this. In its limited edition, it comes with Wicked Cushions’ WC Padz ear cushions, which feature dense memory foam fashioned with sports fabric. This makes it feel different (and quite premium) to the touch from the standard version. Importantly, this sturdier material prevents the headset from pressing against your ears even better, ensuring that you don’t feel any pain when wearing it for a long time.
I already lauded the RIG 600 Pro HX for this (you can read more about this version below), and the RIG 600 Pro HS with WC Padz steps up its game further.
An added bonus of the material used for the limited edition is the fact that it works even better for soundproofing your gaming or calling experience. I used the RIG 600 Pro HS with WC Padz with my Steam Deck while traveling by train recently and the headset kept the clamor of the train out so well that I almost became paranoid about missing important announcements. Thanks to the versatile USB-C dongle, any version of the RIG 600 Pro can easily be slotted into a Steam Deck, becoming a great option for gaming on the go.
This headset’s sturdiness and flexibility comes in handy for traveling as well – you can squish it into your backpack at odd angles without fear of breaking it and if it falls to the ground while you pack up your stuff it’s no big deal either – that’s a different kind of comfortable, but it’s another bonus point in this product line's favor.
Original (September 26, 2023): Nacon’s RIG 600 Pro HX is a wireless headset usable with pretty much any device you can think of, from your phone, PC, and Nintendo Switch to your Xbox Series X|S and PS5. The similarly named RIG 600 Pro HS is not as versatile, lacking Xbox compatibility. The asking price of $99.90 USD / 99.90€ / 89.90£ is similar for both despite that important difference.
Like most of Nacon’s headsets, the RIG 600 Pro HX is inspired by the needs of hardcore gamers and professionals in functionality and design. You can twist and turn it as much as you want, this thing is nigh indestructible and will bear the brunt of any heated gamer moment with dignity. You can easily switch the positions of the ear pieces between three available slots to adapt it to your head size, which combined with the flexibility of the material will give you plenty of options for comfortable wearing.
Speaking of comfort: My previous headset, a corded product from Sennheiser in a similar price range, makes my ears hurt quite a bit when I wear it for more than an hour, no matter how much I adapt the size and shape of the headset – obviously not great when you’ve got press events or livestreams to cover, game preview sessions to attend, or digital TTRPG sessions to run.
In this area, the RIG 600 Pro HX has been a game changer for me: It weighs just 240g and the cushion material is both generously used and effective on the headpiece as well as the ears. I wore the headsets several hours on many days since it arrived and not once felt uncomfortable. The earpieces have a great size, encompassing my entire ears without exerting undue pressure. Despite that, it doesn’t feel too loose or feels bad to wear in combination with my glasses – it’s a great all-around fit that really delivers on its promise of comfortable wearing.
Soundproofing is pretty good on the RIG 600 Pro HX: External sounds are dampened a lot, which makes it easier to hear whatever you need to hear through the headset.
At the same time, this makes talking through the microphone a little bit more awkward than it needs to be, because hearing yourself is a bit difficult, leading to problems when adjusting your tone. The microphone is embedded into the left earpiece and can be extended by exerting light pressure on a certain part of this. This is great, because there are no dangly bits that can break off or anything like that. However, the sound of the microphone is not of the highest quality, or so my colleagues at work tell me – I reminded them of a member of flight traffic control sitting on some airport tower and talking to a pilot during our meetings. In terms of looks, that’s honestly not far off the mark: You do look a little like some Formula 1 technician sitting at the pit wall with this headset on.
Soundwise, I have absolutely nothing to complain about when it comes to the RIG 600 Pro HX. Quality is great, the headset is Dolby Atmos-compatible, and you can adjust even minor details through the mobile app, which allows you to create different profiles for different uses – after all, you may want different settings for listening to music and playing Counter-Strike. This also includes a protection function for children, which automatically dampens sounds that would exceed a certain threshold.
That app is available on Android and iOS, though not for versions of these operating systems that are on the older side, which is a bit of a shame. Without a phone able to run the app, you won’t be able to make any adjustments to the sound settings aside from volume, as there is no PC app for it. Definitely a bummer.
The headset itself features a power button, a connector for the charging cable, a wheel to adjust volume, and two buttons to switch between operating modes. One button allows you to select if you want to run via Bluetooth, the USB dongle, or both, while the other can be used to accept, end, or decline incoming calls or pause and restart music. Pretty handy. Dual mode allows you to connect to your phone and gaming device at the same time, so you don’t need to worry about missing a call while playing with your headset on.
To connect to a device without using Bluetooth, you just plug in the USB dongle delivered with the headset and you’re ready to roll – it’s very simple to get started, just as if you’d plug in a corded headset, but with the added benefit of not having to deal with a cable. As a cat owner, I greatly appreciate having a headset that isn’t also an attractive attack target or that I don’t have to take off when I go to feed them.
I have not noticed any sort of sound delay when playing games or watching anything while using this headset, which is a usual source of worries with wireless headsets. The effective range is pretty solid as well and I can move around large parts of the house when using the wireless connection to the USB dongle connected to my PC – put a few walls between the headset and the dongle, though, and you’ll naturally start to get interference.
Nacon promises a battery life of about 18 hours and that seems about right from what I’ve seen – charge times are pretty low as well, just two to three hours to juice it up again to full power.
The Nacon RIG 600 Pro HX is the king of comfort and easily recommended if you're in need of a new gaming headset.