Aesthetically clear, sturdy, and exceptionally snug
Inside the field, you’ll discover the RIG 900 Max HX headset itself, a USB-A to USB-C charging cable and the bottom station it prices for the headset’s wi-fi charging, and a USB Wireless Adapter. From the get-go, it’s clear that you simply’re not paying further for any aesthetic bonuses— very similar to RIG’s different headsets, these are available an all-black matte end with gloss black highlights on the mic increase arm and earcups and sport a silver RIG emblem on the highest and sides of the scarf. It’s smart-looking and includes a rugged ‘operator-style’ look that highlights its gaming objective whereas nonetheless showing clear and traditional. I’m a giant fan of the clear blackout look, and fortunately, that styling carries over to the bottom station as properly, which has a matte black end across the edges and a gloss black end on the highest, the place your headset sits to cost. There’s nothing right here that screams “premium headset,” although, because the 900 Max might simply mix in with its lower-priced siblings to nice impact. Smart, sure, however in order for you your headset to face out from the group when paying $250, you will probably be disenchanted right here.
While aesthetically pleasing, the construct high quality of the RIG 900 Max HX seems like a premium merchandise, from the versatile metal headband to the big, extraordinarily snug, noise-isolating cushioned ear cups. The headband itself has a whole lot of flex to it, and it feels such as you’d have to contort it with a good quantity of power to get it to snap. On the within is a secondary padded headband sling, which is snug throughout lengthy gaming periods. The earcups connect to the metal headband through a “Snap-Fit” mechanism. Unlike different retractable headbands, the Snap-Fit clips on every earcup slot into the hand band through three totally different heights, and it offers the earcups little or no wiggle room as soon as they’re connected, leaving the whole lot in a cushty place as soon as it’s in your head. It’s rather less versatile for locating the right match on your head than different headband kinds, however I’ve had no points. With the whole lot connected, together with the flip-down mic with noise-cancellation, the 900 Max HX weighs in at simply 295 grams, or 10.5 ounces, and you may actually really feel how gentle it’s after you’ve been sporting it for a great few hours and also you don’t have any uncomfortable aches occurring — it’s by far essentially the most snug headset I’ve ever graced my head with.
The RIG 900 Max HX is a wi-fi headset, and whereas it’s a Designed for Xbox product, the included Wireless USB Adapter lets you use the headset with different platforms through 2.4GHz wi-fi, resembling PC, PlayStation, and Nintendo. Out of the field, the adapter is slotted within the docking station, which can mechanically connect with the platform the docking station is plugged into with the USB cable. If you wish to put the station elsewhere, the adapter will be eliminated and plugged immediately into your machine, seamlessly connecting to the 900 Max with none points. The headset slots into the docking station through a four-pin connector on the bottom of the headset, and aside from the very rare wiggle you may want to present it to get the pins to attach, the headset pops into its holder with out fuss. It’s an important design: smart-looking, handy, and hassle-free.
Feature-rich and the primary headset to make use of Dolby Atmos Personalization
While the USB adapter lets you connect with your platform of selection wirelessly, Nacon has additionally included Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity with the 900 Max HX, and with twin connectivity, you possibly can concurrently use your cellular or different machine alongside your sport audio. If, like me, you take pleasure in being plugged into social media or WhatsApp whereas gaming, it goes with out saying that twin connectivity is required in a headset. Connecting to your machine is so simple as holding down the Bluetooth button on the headset’s left earcup for six seconds — all the controls are on that one earcup. By urgent the button, you possibly can swap between sport audio (2.5GHz), Bluetooth, or Dual-Connectivity. Nacon places the battery lifetime of the 900 Max HX at round 60 hours when in Bluetooth mode and round 50 hours when in 2,4GHz mode. During my time with the headset, I’ve managed to go a great few days (round ten hours per day) with out charging it, so I’d be inclined to agree that you simply’re getting a great little bit of life out of this headset — I might have gone longer, however I didn’t really feel it was overly vital.
Inside every earcup, you’ll discover high-sensitivity 40mm drivers, which give a fairly strong audio expertise from the get-go, with acceptable bass and acoustics, however favoring the mid-range frequencies. To get essentially the most out of the 900 Max HX, you’ll have to obtain two apps to your Android or iOS machine: 900 Max Navigator and Dolby Personalization apps.
While the usual audio settings supply depth and clear sound correct out of the field, the 900 Max Navigator app is an absolute should to get essentially the most out of the headset. It presents clear and intuitive controls for updating the headset, customizing the bass, mid, and treble the 900 Max HX emits — the addition of an knowledgeable mode offers you management to fine-tune it even additional. Standard presets are already obtainable for no EQ, FPS, bass enhance, voice enhance, and readability modes, or you possibly can create your personal utilizing the customized mode. It’s an important app that ensures you possibly can tweak the audio to your liking, however there’s a heavy reliance on it. You can set as much as three totally different profiles for varied makes use of, however to modify between them, you must manually go into the app, as there aren’t any buttons for it on the headset itself. It’s not an enormous deal in case you go away the settings in your customized mode, however in case you’re somebody who likes to modify between profiles for video games, films, or music, it is a bit of a ache every time — I would not say it is inconvenient, however a toggle on the headset itself would have been most well-liked.
The controls on the headset itself are the aforementioned Bluetooth button that may swap between Bluetooth, sport, and twin connectivity modes, a multifunction button for switching between voice and sport quantity when adjusting the amount wheel and answering calls, and an on/off button. It positively seems like there may very well be room for an audio mode button for a bit extra comfort right here.
Finally, the function Nacon is championing with the 900 Max HX is the brand-new Dolby Atmos Personalization app. Now, I’ve to be trustworthy, I used to be doubtful at first about this function, as I questioned if its 3D audio would dwell as much as the hype. I used to be mistaken. The Dolby Atmos Personalization is the pièce de resistance of the 900 Max HX’s audio capabilities, and it requires little or no effort to arrange. Simply obtain the app, sign up together with your Dolby ID, scan your face and the facet of your head with the app, open the Dolby Access app in your console, and away you go — 3D sound that envelopes you into the motion on display. To see how far the tech might go, I performed a bunch of Battlefield 1943 (sure, the 2009 Xbox 360 sport) and it was audibly far superior to what it was visually. Vehicle noises, gunfire, explosions, and the like are localized in each path, and even in a sport as outdated as 1943, the improved environment, deep impactful bass, and well-placed sound localization improved my expertise immeasurably. For as soon as, I’ve been blown away by a function I figured could be merely a gimmick… plus, with the 900 Max HX, Dolby Atmos comes as commonplace, so you will not want a subscription to entry it! Bravo.
Verdict
Nacon’s RIG 900 Max HX is undoubtedly worthy of its standing as a high-end peripheral, providing distinctive consolation as a consequence of its light-weight design, and a feature-rich toolset. While I’d have appreciated to have seen a extra handy method to swap between audio profiles, there’s little or no I do not like about this peripheral. It appears to be like good — however would not stand out from the group for the worth — its docking station makes the standard USB charging really feel cumbersome on different headsets, and it excels in each approach that counts relating to audio. The Dolby Atmos assist is a sport changer (pun meant), and it ensures the RIG 900 Max HX can roll with every other headset within the $250 worth vary. This is definitely a beast worthy of lengthy gaming marathons.
A take a look at unit was offered by Nacon for this assessment
