Verdict
The RIG Spectre R8 Professional HS is a really perfect handy wi-fi headset for any person with a unmarried video games console and PC. Its dual-system and Bluetooth compatibility make it flexible for table and settee gaming, it delivers nice sound high quality, has superb battery lifestyles, and has some helpful replaceable portions. It is not somewhat the do-everything wi-fi headset champion, however what it does do, it nails.
- Handy charging dock
- Just right sound high quality
- Lengthy battery lifestyles
- Mic cannot be got rid of
- Restricted to Xbox or PS5, no longer each
The RIG Spectre R8 Professional HS is the newest within the corporate’s ever-expanding lineup of gaming headsets. With 31 other headsets lately to be had on its website, it will not be straight away obtrusive the place the R8 Spectre R8 Professional HS suits into the entire lineup. Then again, without reference to all its sibling contention, this can be a first rate wi-fi headset with just right sound high quality, a handy charging dock, PS5 or Xbox compatibility, Bluetooth, and a aggressive value.
This all combines to make it a powerful contender for our perfect gaming headset information, in particular if you are on the lookout for a unmarried headset to make use of together with your console and PC. Then again, it would possibly not paintings with each PS5 and Xbox – you have got to make a choice one or the opposite – and does not have fancy enter switching tech, so you must bodily switch the dongle between your PC and console. Learn on underneath to determine if it is the proper selection for you.
Specifications
Options
As mentioned above, the core options of the RIG Spectre R8 Professional HS are that it is a 2.4GHz wi-fi headset that still contains Bluetooth 5.2, and it may be hooked up by means of its USB-C port. It is appropriate with PC but in addition is available in two variations, each and every of which is appropriate with both the PS5 or Xbox Collection S/X.
This compatibility comes from the USB-C dongle that features a sliding transfer on its aspect, so you place it to PC for plugging into your PC, or PS5/Xbox for plugging into your console. On this sense, it is not anyplace close to as handy as an choice such because the Astro A50 X, which is able to take care of a connection to all of your units immediately and will transfer between them on the contact of a button at the headset. Then again, it does a minimum of come up with that dual-system compatibility, plus its Bluetooth connection can be utilized by itself or concurrently with the wi-fi connection, so you’ll take a decision whilst nonetheless gaming, for example.
What may be handy with this headset is charging it. It comes with a charging dock that you’ll plug into your PC. The headset then drops into this and fees by means of a collection of gold contacts. The dock additionally contains RGB lights, with a devoted button for switching the lighting on or off. You’ll be able to’t attach the headset on your PC by means of the dock, however as an alternative wish to plug the wi-fi dongle into the socket within the dock.
As to the headset itself, it is a slightly easy design in many ways. It has a non-removable increase mic with flip-up-to-mute capability and has simply 3 buttons, for energy, enter (Bluetooth, wi-fi, or each), and profile switching, plus there is a quantity wheel. That is a easy and tidy variety, nevertheless it way you fail to see the facility to take away the increase mic and use inside mics as an alternative, so it is not a really perfect journey headset choice.
It additionally does not have hot-swappable batteries within the sense that you just get two within the field and a charger for them, like with the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Professional Wi-fi. Then again, the battery can also be got rid of with out equipment to exchange it if it ever degrades.
What are swappable are the earcup pads. Those magnetically connect, making it simple to switch them out for a recent, blank/undamaged set if ever wanted. Additionally magnetically hooked up are the outer covers of the earcups. Those Mod-Plates can then be swapped for possible choices made by way of RIG, or you’ll simply cross to the town portray and customizing those plates, protected within the wisdom that you do not wish to masks off all of the remainder of the headset, and that you’ll simply purchase every other pair in case your efforts glance terrible.
Internally, the headset options 40mm graphene-coated drivers, which vary from the corporate’s natural graphene drivers used within the R5 Max HD. Graphene is coveted for its lightness and stiffness, which is perfect for speaker drivers, however there is a giant distinction between natural graphene and a graphene coating. Nevertheless, the corporate nonetheless claims an impressively large 20-40,000Hz frequency vary with sub 0.5% overall harmonic distortion.
Beneath the left earcup’s swappable duvet is a 1,180mAh rechargeable battery that RIG says is just right for 60+ hours of gaming. That is not completely class-leading, with the likes of the Razer BlackShark Professional V3 Professional pushing to 70 hours, however it is nonetheless proper on the higher finish. Just a yr or two in the past, flagship headsets lasted part as lengthy.
Design, convenience, and construct high quality
To be had in black, black, or extra black, the one visual distinction between the PS5 and Xbox variations of this headset is the colour of the RGB lights on its dock and the emblem at the swappable Mod-Plates earcup covers. In a different way, this can be a undeniable black choice that in large part appears fairly good and unobtrusive.
Construct high quality may be first rate, with the very weighty and considerable charging dock securely protecting the headset, and the headset itself feels rock forged. The magnetic portions additionally keep safe, with out a rattle, whilst ultimate simple to take away when wanted.
The headscarf is a fundamental design, with out a secondary elasticated bands or artful geometry to its adjustment. It is only a curved plastic piece with padding at the underside and stiff telescoping fingers for adjustment.
This simplicity way convenience is middling. It clamps very firmly to the edges of your head, making the headset really feel reassuringly safe. This additionally reduces power at the height of your head, because the earcup pads take the load as an alternative of the headscarf. Then again, even if the padding is deep sufficient that the drivers do not squash into your ears, you slightly straight away really feel that power round your ears, particularly should you put on glasses.
What is odd, regardless that, is that, when dressed in it for longer sessions, the sense of power does not essentially construct to being any longer uncomfortable. Some headsets can really feel nice to begin with, however then the power builds through the years, unexpectedly making you’re feeling a extra acute ache in a single spot or every other. Right here, regardless that, the sense of power is there straight away, however then it does not appear to worsen.
One oddity I discovered used to be having all of the controls and the mic at the proper earcup. I am in order that used to increase mics being at the left earcup and controls at the proper. It is a very minor level, regardless that.
In a different way, the controls really feel intuitive and simple to succeed in and inform aside by way of really feel on my own, regardless that I did to find I had an inclination to hit one or the opposite of the highest two buttons when taking out or donning the headset.
Sound high quality
The RIG Spectre R8 Professional HS has an straight away impactful and bold sound. It packs a major bass punch, however with none of the muddiness you get from some inexpensive headsets that attempt to overemphasize bass, similar to is relatively the case with the Logitech G325. It does not somewhat compete with the RIG R5 Max HD for really sub-bass energy, however it is nonetheless no featherweight.
Now not simplest that, however there actually is a tight quantity of element resolved by way of this headset. Once more, in comparison to a top-end headset just like the R5 Max HD, it is not bringing newfound ranges of element to songs, films, and video games that I have heard again and again earlier than, however there is a readability proper all the way through the sonic vary. It additionally works neatly for a variety of musical genres, with sufficient mid-range heat to make rock, nation, and vocals sound, neatly, warming.
The “full-bandwidth” mic does not somewhat reside as much as that description, however is apparent and far fuller-sounding than many inexpensive mics. There is no digital/AI noise cancelling occurring, regardless that. It isolates your voice simply via natural directional isolation, so increase place will subject.
The headset additionally helps Dolby Atmos three-D Audio, with an incorporated lifetime subscription by means of the headset’s app.
Battery lifestyles
As in step with RIG’s claims, the Spectre R8 Professional HS lasts a very long time, making it imaginable to get per week of day by day use out of this headset with out topping it up. However the truth that it has its charging station so readily to be had way you briefly get within the dependancy of docking it and having it absolutely charged each and every time you utilize it.
How this common complete charging impacts long-term battery lifestyles isn’t one thing I will take a look at, however there’s a probability it degrades the battery sooner than different headsets, the place you most commonly drain the battery and simplest price it as soon as per week. Then again, that is the place the straightforward substitute of the battery involves the rescue.
Value
The RIG Spectre R8 Professional HS value is $179.99, making it a top class headset, however one who competes strongly with rival choices. It is conveniently inexpensive than the Razer BlackShark V3 Professional whilst together with its charging dock and console compatibility, although it does lack the inner mics and ANC of that choice.
In a similar way, whilst the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Professional Wi-fi brings hotswappable batteries, a desktop keep watch over, and ANC, it is $100 extra. should you do not want the travel-oriented options like ANC and detachable increase mics, and also you do not want the many-console connectivity of the Astro A50 lineup, the R8 Professional HS is a smart choice.
Verdict
In many ways, the Spectre R8 Professional HS is slightly of an extraordinary headset, when in comparison to fashionable developments for gaming headsets. It is not seeking to be the every little thing headset for all events or a hyper-focused aggressive gaming choice. Then again, for its explicit area of interest, it is a nice choice.
What’s that area of interest? Neatly, when you have a console – only one – and need a unmarried headset for it and your PC, however you do not thoughts having to manually plug within the wi-fi dongle to each and every whilst you come to make use of it, the R8 Professional HS delivers. If you wish to have wi-fi and Bluetooth comfort, however simplest actually want it for at-home use, with out a want in your gaming headset to even be a journey headset, it delivers.
If you wish to have a headset that remains in your head securely and gives first rate long-term convenience, however that is not essentially probably the most cushy, cushioned, easily at ease choice whilst you first don it, it delivers. Oh, and it does sound superb, too.
This mix at this value makes this headset just right worth, and no doubt value taking into account. On the very least, its charging dock guarantees you have got someplace neat and tidy to retailer your headset.
