Nacon’s RIG model of gaming headsets is one I’m notably keen on. Like GameSir is to controllers, RIG typically applies fiercely aggressive pricing to {hardware} that punches nicely above its weight by way of high quality and longevity.
The newly launched RIG R5 Spear Professional HS (okay, I do actually dislike the unwieldy identify) is one prime instance. This wired gaming headset ticks virtually all of the containers in what I personally search for in a value-beating pair of cans: Nice sound high quality; comfortable sufficient for lengthy gaming classes; a succesful microphone for on-line multiplayer; and a price ticket that makes me double-take in the easiest way attainable.
I’ve loved a lot of RIG merchandise prior to now, specifically the good RIG 900 Max HS and the RIG 600 Professional HS; each of that are very good wi-fi gaming headsets designed with PlayStation {hardware} in thoughts. Being barely older than the R5 Spear Professional, these wi-fi headsets are probably candidates for a powerful, upcoming Black Friday low cost.
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However there are a variety of the reason why I’d really advocate conserving an eye fixed out for the RIG R5 Spear Professional HS over the gross sales interval, particularly if it’ll be your first time buying a gaming headset for contemporary platforms.
The worth is true
(Picture credit score: Future)
Let’s discuss in regards to the RIG R5 Spear Professional HS’s retail worth first.
At $69.99 / £69.99 (round AU$99), it’s already straddling the road between mid-range and finances worth factors. That isn’t unparalleled for wired gaming headsets on the whole. The Razer BlackShark V2 X, for instance, is available in at $59.99 / £59.99, whereas one other favourite within the HyperX Cloud Alpha is a bit increased in worth at $99.99 / £89.99.
What these competing headsets have of their favor, a couple of years after launch, is that they’re typically topic to extremely compelling reductions that comfortably undercut the retail worth of the R5 Spear Professional HS. So, why do you have to think about the brand new RIG headset given the competitors is more likely to be cheaper over Black Friday?
I’ve used all three of those headsets extensively at varied factors in my life, for gaming, work, and music listening functions. On all three fronts, I can confidently say that the RIG R5 Spear Professional HS has these different two beat by some measure.
Audio high quality is among the clearest and punchiest I’ve sampled in any wired gaming headset right here, particularly on this worth bracket. Nacon hasn’t been shy in promoting the headset’s 40mm graphene drivers, and for good purpose. They supply crystal clear audio with little or no in the best way of distortion, or muddying at increased volumes.
Audio performs a lot better total than the BlackShark V2 X, particularly. Whereas sporting nice construct high quality, as is typical of Razer merchandise, it’s very a lot a ‘gets the job done’ headset for these simply in search of one thing low cost and cheerful for hopping on-line with mates.
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Nothing unsuitable with that, after all, however the total audio expertise is far stronger with the R5 Spear Professional HS – whether or not that’s for on-line multiplayer, or immersing your self in some stellar single-player adventures.
A minimize above
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Consolation and customizability are two extra of the R5 Spear Professional HS’s sturdy fits. The headset depends on comfortable plush supplies for its ear cups and headband, suiting long-play classes by design. I sometimes desire this over low cost leatherette materials, because it doesn’t chafe practically as a lot, and doesn’t get as heat over prolonged classes.
You can too customise the headset with official magnetic mod plates. These are bought individually, however let you swap out the default (included) PlayStation-centric ones for one thing extra bespoke. I’m a very large fan of the EVO event design, as somebody who notably loves preventing video games as my go-to aggressive style.
One sticking level you might need with the R5 Spear Professional is that it’s a strictly wired headset. Nonetheless, to me, that’s not too large of a problem. Wired means the headset is absolutely platform-agnostic, one thing that’s rarer with wi-fi headsets on account of particular connectivity necessities. Being wired means the R5 Spear Professional works throughout PlayStation, Xbox, Swap, PC, and most different units with a 3.5mm headphone jack port.
When you could also be tempted to buy different wired gaming headsets over Black Friday in the event that they go on sale, I believe it is best to think about conserving an eye fixed out for reductions on the RIG R5 Spear Professional HS. Worth drops right here aren’t more likely to be as steep because the competitors, given its relative newness (probably round 10-20% tops), but when it dips under the $60 / £60 mark over the gross sales interval, I’ll virtually definitely be writing about it throughout Black Friday week
I extremely advocate you decide up the RIG R5 Spear Professional HS for having fun with one of the best PS5 video games, greatest Xbox Collection X video games, greatest Swap 2 video games, or whichever platform you primarily play on.

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