Nacon RIG 800 Pro HX review – close, but no cigar
The Nacon RIG 800 Pro HX delivers excellent sound, but is held back by a few frustrating design issues
There’s a lot to like about the Nacon RIG 800 Pro HX. The sound quality is genuinely excellent, battery life is impressive, and it’s easily one of the most comfortable headsets I’ve worn in quite some time. (Considering I have a huge head and Spock-like ears, that’s no easy feat.)
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What holds it back, however, is a lack of standout features, annoying audio issues, and some dumb design decisions, which makes it difficult to recommend. Competition is fierce at this price range, and plenty of headsets do more for the money. Read my Nacon RIG 800 Pro HX review below.
🏆 Score: 3.5 out of 5 🏆
How I tested the Nacon RIG 800 Pro HX 🧪
I used the Nacon RIG 800 Pro HX as my daily driver headphones for a couple of weeks. During that time I connected the headset to an Xbox Series X and Windows 11 PC. On Xbox Series X, I played various games like Halo Infinite, Sea of Thieves, PUBG Echo Generation, and Forza Horizon 5. I used Dolby Atmos on Xbox Series X for spatial audio and stuck with the ‘Game’ performance mode equalizer. I tested the headset’s microphone by hopping in multiple Xbox party chats and a Google Meet call. I also used them extensively to listen to music on PC.
What I loved about the Nacon RIG 800 Pro HX ❤️
🪨 Durable design. The Nacon RIG 800 Pro HX may look like an accessory that Christian Bale would wear in Batman: Dark Knight, but this is a sturdy and well-built headset. I never noticed any creaks when gaming, despite the all-plastic design.
🎵 They sound great when listening to music. From heavy metal to the latest dance hits, the Nacon RIG 800 Pro HX excels with all genres of music. The majority of gaming headsets fall short when it comes to music, so it’s pleasing that the RIG 800 Pro HX is no slouch in this department.
🎮 They sound superb when gaming. The Nacon RIG 800 Pro HX has a surprisingly wide soundstage for a closed-back pair of headphones. Bass has a satisfying thump to it but the low end never muddies the sparkling highs and mids, which sound crisp and clear.
😍 They’re super comfortable. The ski-like headband and lightweight design (they’re just 290 grams) mean you can wear these cans for hours. The earcups are also large enough that they won’t pinch your ears, and the clamping force is negligible.
💰 You get a Dolby Atmos license for free. That’s a $14.99 saving, giving you instant access to fantastic 3D audio. Atmos really helps the Nacon RIG 800 Pro HX come alive, so I’d strongly recommend turning it on.
🔇Flip-to-mute mic. While I’d have preferred a tactile bump to know when the mic is on mute, the headset provides a clear audio cue instead.
🗣️ Three levels of mic monitoring. You can choose between three levels of mic monitoring that let you hear your voice back when speaking, a must for closed-back headsets. You’ll end up shouting otherwise.
🕑 24-hour battery life. I never found myself worrying about the headset’s battery life, thanks to the 24-hour run time. Charging was also a breeze with the included dock.
👂 Voice cues. When you turn the headset on or off, a soothing voice lets you know the current battery level – low, medium, or high.
🤌 On-ear controls. The Nacon RIG 800 Pro HX has easy-to-use on-ear controls, allowing you to adjust the overall volume and game/chat balance easily. The volume wheel also lets you make minor adjustments, instead of sweeping changes.
🎙️ Great mic quality. I know a headset’s microphone sounds good when my friends can’t tell that I’ve switched from my usual daily driver. The Nacon RIG 800 Pro HX’s mic can also be positioned in multiple ways, thanks to the gooseneck boom arm.
What I hated about the Nacon RIG 800 Pro HX 💔
🙄 There’s no USB Type-C. It’s 2022, Nacon. No headset should be using micro USB in this day and age.
🤫 It isn’t loud enough. I wish the Nacon RIG 800 Pro HX were a little louder overall. A few games I tried, like Resident Evil 7, were too quiet for my liking.
👂 Intermittent popping. Every five minutes or so, the Nacon RIG 800 Pro HX would suffer from the odd pop or split-second drop-out when gaming. I’ve encountered this issue with a few Xbox headsets during my time, and it appears to be an issue with Microsoft’s console primarily. It could also be due to wireless interference in my apartment, but it’s tough to narrow down. Some headsets appear more prone to this issue than others, and the Nacon RIG 800 Pro HX is one of them.
👎 There’s audible white noise. You won’t hear it during gameplay, but it is noticeable during quieter moments. If you’re someone who hates hearing the constant hiss of white noise when wearing a wireless headset, the Nacon RIG 800 Pro HX isn’t for you.
💡 There’s no LED indicator. A curious design decision, but no LED indicator shows after the headset is turned on. A voiceover cue plays whenever you turn the headset on or off, but not being able to tell whether your headset is on when you’re not wearing it is rather bizarre.
🔋 The charging base is barebones. The charging base is a nice addition, but it doesn’t do anything other than… well, charge the headset. Compare it to the Astro A50’s dock, which shows your EQ setting, has a battery indicator, and an AUX port, it’s hard not to wish the Nacon RIG 800 Pro HX did more.
😰 No Bluetooth. Listening to a Bluetooth device while gaming is one of my favorite features modern wireless headsets can have, so it’s disappointing that this functionality isn’t available at this price point.
🎧 No 3.5mm jack. The Nacon Rig 800 Pro HX is a wireless-only headset that works on Xbox consoles and PCs. No 3.5mm jack means you can’t use it on Switch, PS5, or your phone, for example.
💵 It’s too expensive in the UK. The Nacon Rig 800 Pro HX is $149 in the US but a whopping £199 in the UK. That’s quite the mark-up and puts the headset in direct competition with higher-end cans that offer more bang for your buck.
Should you buy the Nacon RIG 800 Pro HX? 🤔
Yes, if…
✅ You want a great-sounding headset.
✅ You want something extremely comfortable to wear.
✅ You want an incredibly durable headset.
No, if…
❌ You’re sensitive to white noise and the odd audio drop.
❌ You like your headsets to get loud.
❌ You want a headset that can be used on multiple devices.
Updated: September 1, 2022
First published: July 1, 2022