Plantronics is a veteran in telecommunications and audio device manufacturing. The company was founded in 1961 , when it began to create space communications devices adopted by NASA itself . To give a case in point, the words Neil Armstrong uttered when he first set foot on the moon were communicated via Plantronics headsets. bacobolts.yictic
In 1999 the first multimedia Headset was released , namely
the HS1. Later Plantronics makes its way into gaming between the limited
edition headset of Halo 2 for Xbox Live and the development with Microsoft of
the Xbox 360 wireless headset!
Today the company sees a deep focus on gaming and in
particular on Esport, a symbol of the RIG 500E headphones which we will talk
about shortly. In our review we will talk about a very interesting product
dedicated entirely to the PS4 console, the Plantronics RIG 500HS stereo
headset.
These are completely modular devices (it is in fact possible
to disassemble every single piece), with a more than competitive price (50 €),
capable of excellent audio performance!
During this review we will take a 360-degree look at the
product, analyzing it in all its facets!
Technical specifications
The Rig 500HS have a 40mm driver , which over time has
become a standard in highly respected gaming headsets. Supplied with the
headset, the comfortable earcups boast excellent sound isolation. Being a
modular headset, you can buy the various accessories separately and customize
your headset to your liking. For an idea of the various components, please
visit the dedicated website .
For the rest, the headset connects directly to the
PlayStation 4 pad via Jack, from which both game audio and voice chat will
pass. Being a headphone jack, it is therefore compatible with a variety of
devices including notebooks, smartphones and various tablets!
Among the various features listed in the package we find:
• Ultra
light construction
• Self-adjusting
headband
• Soft pads
• Bearings
with noise isolation
• 40mm
speakers with bass amplification
• Flexible
and detachable noise-canceling microphone
A special feature that distinguishes the 500HS from other
plantronics headsets is the customization of the PlayStation Theme headset
which includes the logo printed inside one of the two pavilions and on the pad.
Not for nothing, the 500HS are the only ones in the ran ge to have the official
PlayStation certification !
As far as voice communication is concerned, all the
Plantronics RIG 500 range offers a removable microphone and a quick switch to
change it which consists, simply, of positioning the microphone upwards. An
excellent idea that allows us to save precious time in deactivating our voice
communications.
Our Experience
The audio quality of the RIG 500HS is impressive ,
especially when considering the fact that it is a $ 50 headphone. The modular
design is undoubtedly the first thing that leaps to the eye when opening the
packaging of the headphones, also because they must be assembled first. It
might seem a bit strange at first, considering that in today's market there are
few products that dare to dare.
Plantronics does it well, the design is clean and
professional , with still captivating lines that wink at gamers. The
PlayStation certification is an index of quality designed specifically for that
platform but since it is a headphone jack it will still be possible to use the
product on any device equipped with the appropriate port.
The sound is great , we haven't really found anything to
report. The bass is amplified and all other volumes well balanced , at any
volume no audio distortion was perceived, whether it is gaming or listening to
music tracks. The quality of the microphone is highly respected, which keeps
the promises of noise cancellation while guaranteeing excellent recording
quality.
As for comfort, here too, absolutely nothing to report, the
pavilion is extremely comfortable and the headphones are very light, even after
several hours it is difficult to notice them!
Final Verdict
There are incredibly few products in the audio industry that
are trying to break the lines of standards and who dare to create a product
with a fresh air. Plantronics succeeds precisely in this, in creating a modular
headset , customizable through a various range of accessories sold through the
official website and, light but above all efficient in terms of audio quality
both in gaming and in listening to music files.
A headphone compatible with a wide range of products
equipped with jack and highly portable but which however does not come with a
supplied bag (also this, which can be purchased separately) which would have
been a very welcome plus.
In short, with the Plantronics RIG 500HS, we are provided
with the essentials for intense hours of gaming without wandering in various
accessories . However, the build quality is commendable as is the audio quality
with amplified bass, thanks also to the excellent 40mm speakers.
Being a mid-range product, it is incredibly difficult to
find fault, especially when considering the competitive price of only € 50 .
It is therefore undoubted to recommend the Plantronics RIG
500HS to any gamer on PlayStation 4 who is looking for an excellent product to
use on their console for long gaming sessions., without sacrificing portability
and compatibility with other products, without forgetting the excellent comfort
and sound quality on all levels.