While other manufacturers seem happy to sit on their laurels for a few years at a time, Nacon’s RIG are committed to incremental improvements in the line, steadily upgrading, enhancing and adding to the range. The 600 Pro HS is the latest in their mid-range line-up, bringing wireless connectivity via a USB-C dongle, while packing in Bluetooth as well. It’s a headset that ultimately fits most people’s needs, all at a very tempting price.
You can recognise a RIG headset from a mile off thanks to the one unchanging element of their lineup. The industrial design mimics a piece of steel girder wrapping around your head, and while that might sound a bit much, I’ve grown to love the style over the years. It’s not for everyone, but Nacon has done their best to make the range look sleek and modern, though our review model’s camo paint job may tip it over the edge. One thing the 600 Pro HS has in common with a steel girder is that it’s incredibly strong, with the plastic headband putting up with a barrage of twisting and stretching.
The only thing that does happen is that the earpieces pop out. That’s due to the RIG sizing system, which allows you to place the earpieces into one of three sockets depending on how much space you need, rather than having a sliding headband like many other manufacturers do. The big positive to this is that no matter what, you’re always able to get a consistent fit, and even if the earpiece does pop out while you’ve flung it in a drawer, they slot right back into place.
The RIG 600 Pro HS’ USB-C dongle works with the PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, PC and Mac – an Xbox version is also available – while its Bluetooth will connect to anything pumping out a signal. I had no problems pairing it to my iPhone 14 Pro, and it handily connects to calls when you’re playing if you have it set to Dual mode. There’s a physical call control button on the left earpiece, and this also lets you play and pause your music when you’re not taking a call, so if you want to play Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora while battering your ears with Sleep Token, you can.
The dongle itself is nice and small, and it’s perfect for use with the Switch or the Steam Deck while on the go. There’s a USB-A adaptor included in the box too, which helps if that solitary USB-C socket on your PS5 is already taken up by something else. I experienced no connection drops at any point, and Nacon’s technology on this front has proven to be spot-on in recent years.
The RIG 600 Pro HS uses a mobile phone app to tailor its functions, and once you’ve installed it – versions are available for both iOS and Android – you can dive into setting your headset’s EQ, microphone gain, mic monitoring and a few other secondary functions. The included EQ settings are limited, but there is a custom option, and if you opt for Expert Mode there’s a 10-point frequency scale to tinker with. It’s a great addition, and thanks to the Dual setting you can play and alter your EQ at the same time.
You will need the app as the on-board controls are fairly limited. Situated on the left earpiece there’s a power button, Bluetooth toggle, a cheap-feeling volume wheel and the aforementioned call control button. It would have been nice to have some form of on-board EQ control, but the ease of use and connection with the app makes up for this.
Tailoring your EQ will mean you’re able to get the best out of the Nacon 600 Pro HS, and the 40mm drivers are as good as those in Nacon’s other recent RIG headsets. When playing Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora the ambient sounds of the alien landscape sounded clear and enticing, while explosions had plenty of bottom end rumble, particularly after I’d played with the 600 Pro’s EQ settings.
Utilising the 3D audio of the PlayStation 5, the 600 Pro HS was more than capable of delivering a convincing 3D landscape, with plenty of depth to the soundstage despite being a closed-back headset. The direction of gunfire in Avatar was also easy to discern, as was the arrival of my Ikran mount as it flew overhead.
Thanks to that adaptable EQ I found that listening to music with the 600 Pro HS was similarly enjoyable, taking the booming down-tuned guitars of Sleep Token and convincingly translating all of that depth and aggression. Vessel’s vocals retained their precision and clarity through the mid-range and there was plenty of detail to the top-end too, meaning that you can merrily take the 600 Pro on a trip – if you can get over the looks.
The Nacon 600 Pro HS sub-£100/€100/$100 price tag is only really visible in the cheaper plastics of the earpieces, and the workmanlike foldaway mic. That plastic does have the advantage of keeping the 600 Pro’s weight down, and this is a headset that you can comfortably wear for hours at a time without any fatigue. That’s also helped by the soft fabric of the ear cushions and the headband, and these certainly don’t feel cheap or scratchy.
At this pricepoint one of the main competitors to the 600 Pro HS is Sony’s own Pulse 3D headset, and the PlayStation headset it’s certainly the more attractive of the two, you lose out on the Bluetooth connectivity which is a huge compromise. The 600 Pro HS will also keep you gaming for much longer, with its 18 hours of battery life handily beating out the Pulse 3D’s 12.
