We’ve reviewed a lot of headsets over the years at GameSpew. Very few headsets turn out to be terrible, but the serious contenders carry a hefty price tag. We’re talking in the hundreds. Not everyone has that sort of money to spend on a set of earphones, but we all deserve to enjoy our games with good quality audio. Allow us to introduce you to the RIG 300 Pro headset. At just £30, it’s one of the cheapest headsets around – and with RIG falling under Nacon’s branding, it’s a brand name proven for quality. Honestly, we’re super impressed by this thing, and if you don’t have a fortune to spend on a headset, this one is a no-brainer.
Sure, there are tons of headsets out there costing around £30. But most of them feel cheap to touch, don’t last very long and have tinny, unsatisfying sound quality. That couldn’t be further from the truth with the RIG 300 Pro. On the shelves you’ll find this wired headset branded for either PlayStation, Xbox or Switch, but no matter which you pick up you can use it with any device with a headphone jack. We’ve used our Switch-branded RIG 300 Pro with a PS5 and a laptop, and it’s an excellent all-round headset.
Wires may be inconvenient for some now, but at this price point, wireless tech is basically a pipe dream. The benefit is you don’t need to worry about charging: simply plug in the headset and you’re good to go instantly. The cable isn’t braided, unfortunately, but it’s thick and sturdy enough that we don’t feel like it’s at risk of fraying or breaking any time soon. There’s an in-line control on there, too, allowing volume to be controlled and a handy on/off toggle for the mic. What is unusual, however, is that the cable is attached to both earcups, joining under your head.
It’s not the only strange feature of the RIG 300 Pro, either. The reason the cable is attached to each cup is that the earcups can be removed from the band – and the padding on the band can be removed too. It’s a weird choice, but Nacon has its reasons, and it makes sense. Removing the padding is actually a good idea, as it allows it to be cleaned without hassle. And the earcups can be clipped into three different positions on the band, allowing you to find the best fit for you. It means you might not get an exact, snug fit in the same way an adjustable band would give you, but adjusters tend to be metal, adding extra weight to a headset – and they’re prone to breaking and wearing over time. The RIG 300 Pro’s unique way of adjusting means the headset can remain as light as possible.
And it really is light, but not in a cheap, flimsy way. It’s a headset that still manages to feel solid and well constructed despite its lack of heft – it weighs just 233g according to the official website. That means it’s much more comfortable to wear for extended periods than your standard, heavier headset – and it really is. Accompanied by the thick padding on the earcups and headband, it’s incredibly comfortable and puts next-to-no pressure on your head or ears.
But all of this would be by the wayside if the sound quality was duff. We’re happy to report that the RIG 300 Pro sounds incredible for its price point. Sounds are rich and full with a great balance. For gaming, the result is excellent: we played Diablo 4 wearing the headset and heard a whole new level of environmental sounds that had been lost upon us through the TV speakers. We’ve used the headset for listening to music, too, which also sounds excellent. Push the volume up to max (which is loud) and you’ll lose a bit of the quality. But at a medium level, we’ve been very impressed.
Like any gaming headset, there’s also a microphone attached to the RIG 300 Pro. It’s a solid plastic mic that folds up against the left ear cup when not in use. When it is in use, it simply clicks down, sitting neatly at the side of your face without distracting your peripheral vision (nothing worse than a bulky mic you keep catching sight of, right? Or is that just us?). When it’s folded up, it’s completely out of the way – and the in-line mute toggle is very handy if you want to quickly mute a chat.
Make no bones about it: the RIG 300 Pro is one of the best budget headsets you can buy. Lightweight, stylish, great build quality and even better audio quality, it has just about everything you could want from a headset. If you’ve got a limited budget and don’t mind having a wired headset, you won’t find much better than this. It’s available directly from Nacon or from Amazon.
Thanks to Nacon for providing a headset for the purposes of this review.
