First, it was headsets, now it’s controllers. It looks like everyone is starting to get onto the whole bandwagon when it comes to third-party accessories for the latest generations of consoles. As with my 8BitDo SN30 Pro 2 controller review, it looks like another third part brand is looking to muscle its way into the accessory market with this entry for the Xbox franchise of consoles. As for the headset, I was sent this to work specifically with this controller, so that’s why we’re giving you a two-for-one review special.
Product Name: RIG Nacon PRO Controller & RIG 500 PRO HX Headset
Product Type: Controller & Headset
Manufacturer: RIG
Compatible With: Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Available: Now
Price: AUD$89 (RIG Nacon PRO Controller) / AUD$110 (RIG 500 PRO HX Headset)
Technical Specifics – RIG Nacon PRO Controller
[table id=36 /]Technical Specifics – RIG 500 PRO HX Headset
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Positives – RIG Nacon PRO Controller
Looking at the controller first, the RIG Nacon PRO Controller is a pretty lightweight and interesting piece of technology. Due to stripping some of the fancy extras like feedback motors and a battery pack from the controller, the RIG Nacon PRO Controller feels a lot more responsive than the normal Xbox controller. The design reshapes things into a more “standard” controller form that has been in place since the days of the SNES and PlayStation before Microsoft came into the picture and thought only Andre The Giant could hold one of its controllers… I’m looking at you, Duke.
While the layout of the controller reflects the layout of the standard Xbox controller, the RIG Nacon PRO Controller grips like you are using something closer to a Switch PRO or PlayStation 4 controller, and as someone who has spent most of his time playing PlayStation consoles for a majority of his gaming life, this is something that I like, as the normal Xbox controller usually has me spending more time looking at what I’m doing on the controller rather than what I’m doing on screen.
The RIG Nacon PRO Controller sticks are very responsive, though a bit tight right out of the box, so you’ll want to spend a little bit of time working the sticks around before getting into any serious gaming like Call of Duty. The buttons are nice and responsive too, with a good press feel to them as you hammer in inputs for whatever game you are playing. (Disclosure, I played Call of Duty Black Ops 4, DOOM Eternal, Metal Gear Solid 5, and Killer Instinct using this controller). The triggers on the top of the RIG Nacon PRO Controller are nice, but since using the haptic feedback of the PlayStation 5 dual sense controller, it’s hard to get the same feeling and response from any other trigger types on any other controller.
Positives – RIG 500 PRO HX Headset
The RIG 500 PRO HX Headset, on the other hand, works extremely well with the RIG Nacon PRO Controller. The idea here is very much like standard controllers, where the headset plugs into the controller, allowing the sound to go directly to you without using another USB or other audio input port. The RIG 500 PRO HX Headset plugs into the RIG Nacon PRO Controller very easily and works instantly and without any issue at all.
Where the RIG 500 PRO HX Headset shines is it using Dolby Atmos for games that support 3D audio, and when you get something that uses Atmos, you head EVERYTHING. I’m used to hearing surround sound when it comes to playing games on the PC, but to get this level of audio quality and area awareness from a headset that is plugged into a controller via a 3.5mm headphone jack, I was truly shocked.
As usual, the RIG 500 PRO HX Headset sits really well on the head, with adjustable sides that allow even the biggest of egos to fit in it. The ear cups and nice and soft, but as someone who wears a headset for 8-9 hours a day at work, I know that when it comes to comfort, there is a big difference between standard padding and foam that just feels wrong. Luckily, the RIG 500 PRO HX Headset has just enough padding that it doesn’t affect me too much during a long gaming session, though I think with enough use that the padding might wear down quickly.
Negatives – RIG Nacon PRO Controller
While there is a lot that the RIG Nacon PRO Controller does well, there is something that really bothers me about it. So let’s address the elephant in the room: The RIG Nacon PRO Controller is not wireless, and in an age where wireless controllers are pretty much standard across the entire gaming landscape, it’s sad to see that the RIG Nacon PRO Controller is a wired controller. I understand that having the RIG Nacon PRO Controller being wired helps deliver that crisp Atmos sound without any delay, but when Microsoft can do it with their standard controller, it’s a shame to not see others keep to this standard.
The other thing that will annoy some people with the RIG Nacon PRO Controller, something I praised, is the controller design. With the RIG Nacon PRO Controller looking and feeling more like a PlayStation controller, it’s sure to turn some hardcore Xbox players away. But that’s fine since the RIG Nacon PRO Controller works on PC too, giving it a new breath of life for those people who want something comfortable to use while playing PC Xbox Game Pass games.
Negatives – RIG 500 PRO HX Headset
Much like the RIG Nacon PRO Controller, the biggest flaw about the RIG 500 PRO HX Headset is that it is not wireless. Since moving to the JBL Quantum 600 headset, I’m now used to having no wires connecting me to my PC or console, allowing me to move freely around my house or office while playing games or talking on Discord. With the RIG 500 PRO HX Headset, I feel trapped once again, having to make sure that I move in a way that keeps the wires away from my feet so I do not trip over.
Other than that, I feel like this isn’t the best that RIG has to offer when it comes to headsets. The RIG 500 PRO HX Headset is fine for use with the RIG Nacon PRO Controller, but when you get it onto PC and aren’t using Dolby Atmos, the headset feels underwhelming compared to other companies and their headsets. Even the basic JBL Quantum 100 & 200 headsets I’ve gotten from JBL sound superior in comparison. The RIG 500 PRO HX Headset is a good headset with this particular combo only, and that’s a shame.
Together, the RIG Nacon PRO Controller and RIG 500 PRO HX Headset are a dynamite combo for gaming on the Xbox Series X|S, especially when you have a game that works with Dolby Atmos. However, on their own, neither accessory is worth having on either Xbox or PC when there are a lot of better built and performing units on the market. Yeah, they are priced on the low end of things, but that’s to be competitive. If you’re able to get these two in a bundle, go for it, otherwise, go out there and research your options before buying.
Review Disclosure Statement: RIG Nacon PRO Controller & RIG 500 PRO HX Headset was provided to us by Double Jump on behalf of RIG for review purposes. For more information on how we conduct and handle reviews here, please visit our Review Guideline/Scoring Policy for more info. Thank you
Affiliate Link Disclosure: One or more of the links above contain affiliate links, which means at no additional cost to you, we may receive a commission should you click through and purchase the item.
Summary
The RIG Nacon PRO Controller and the RIG 500 PRO HX Headset are two really average pieces of technology, but when you put them together and use them with the right games, they are stand-out ideas for what third-party accessories should be. However, both are feeling really cheap when you see what they took out to produce a good combination. Using wires in 2021 feels like an outdated concept that even the first-party companies have left behind. Why go backwards?
Pros
- Dolby Atmos works really well
- When combined, a perfect fit for Xbox
- Good transitional controller for PS/PC users
Cons
- Wires!
- Apart, neither stands up to standards set in the industry
- Dolby Atmos paid subscriptions
