A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to share news about Nacon and RIg’s new wireless headsets, the 600 Pro HX and 600 Pro HS. Not realizing that Nacon had stepped into the tech realm, I looked forward to seeing how their hardware was stacked against previous brands I have used and covered on this site. I was given the opportunity to choose between the two, I chose the HX, as I hadn’t had the best luck with wireless headsets working well on the Xbox which weren’t officially licensed hardware. Alongside the 600 Pro HX, however, I also had some time with the 900 Max HX—the top-of-the-line sibling in this particular series of headsets. Here, I’d like to compare the two and share my experience with them.
Some highlights of the headsets are the use of the mobile companion app along with Dolby Atmos and 3D audio technology that help deliver the clean sound that enters your ears. Something I have yet to see from any other headset is the “snap-to” size adjustment feature. Dual audio also brings the ability to take calls in one second and get back to your intense battle in another with 5.1 Bluetooth that connects to your phone while staying connected to a USB dongle. While these two headsets share plenty of features, they also differ from one another in some areas. Which is the better option?
600 Pro HX
As I said before, getting wireless headsets to work with my Xbox seemed to be a chore in the past, and didn’t seem to have proper support for the console; that was not the case this time. I plugged in the Type-C dongle to the USB adapter, and it worked seamlessly as I joined my crew for a heist in Payday 3. I was impressed right away when I realized that I didn’t need to use the slider that balances game and party audio; I could hear my friends loud and clear alongside the game’s sounds. As my crew pulled off our latest caper, it was fascinating to hear police sniper bullets whizzing past my head and hitting the surface of the rooftop I was on. After using both headsets, there seem to be no compromises in the audio department with this mid-range headset.
An aspect of both headsets that caught me off guard is how size adjustment works. Instead of sliding both sides up and down to best fit your head, you’ll pop each earphone into a small, medium, or large labeled socket on the band of the headset. This “snap-to” feature, as they call it, limits the range of adjustability; I had the earphones set on Large and felt like the headset wouldn’t fit if my head was any bigger. However, I tend to wear my headsets fairly loose, which is counter to getting the full range of audio when wearing any kind of headphones or headset when they aren’t properly aligned with your ears. The limited adjustable range taught me I wasn’t getting the full experience with my previous headsets, but could be a reason that some people choose not to purchase this particular headset.
One of my favorite features of this headset is the microphone. The 600 Pro not only has a flip-to-mute feature, but it tucks itself away into the headset when not in use. Surprisingly, this is a feature that the 900 Max is lacking; the mic on the 900 simply sits at the side of the headset when it is flipped up. The ability to hide the mic makes the 600 a solid option for travel if you’re looking to bring something in addition to your standard earbuds. The audio quality coming from the mic seems to be great as well, though a minor gripe from my friends is that I sounded a little distant. The microphone itself is not adjustable to bring it closer to your mouth, but the decision to stow it away ultimately makes its usage more versatile and gives it a cleaner look.
900 Max HX
For the 900 Max, you’ll want to keep these puppies at home or in your office. The high-quality build makes some improvements over the 600 Pro which made a huge difference for me. The first is my previously mentioned woes about comfort. This headset includes a “self-adjustable sling” under the band that adds extra range to the snap feature and offers greater comfort without sacrificing the experience. What I appreciate about Rig’s approach in this category is that I never need to worry about either headset sliding off of my head, which was another sign that I’ve been wearing headphones wrong for many years now. While the 900 Max sits at the very top of Rig’s product line, there are a few options between it and the 600 if you’re in need of that extra range.
While both headsets make use of 3D audio and Dolby Atmos, the 900 seems to be a true level-up in the audio department. In the past, it seemed I would need to purchase a license to use Atmos until I acquired this headset—which seems that the a license is built into it. I downloaded the personalization app which led me to getting the Dolby Atmos app on my Xbox and PC. It is no surprise that I truly noticed an improvement in audio quality when playing games such as Payday 3, Counter-Strike 2, and Darktide. Even on my Playstation 5, using the 3D audio features was a major enhancement as I could hear the wind blowing and grass moving in a game like Fortnite. Even most recently with Sonic Superstars, I was instantly immersed as I took in the soundtrack and all the sound effects. This reminds me, that I especially love listening to music with this headset as I can hear every little sound and interest and feel the bass in the earphones.
Lastly, I want to mention the charging station. The 900 Max comes with a wireless charging station which I have hardly had to use at the time of writing this article. This headset boasts a whopping 50-60 hours of battery life, and yet I only hit medium power a few days ago—I only know that because it told me when I hit that point. All that time is more than enough, as my longer gaming sessions can go from 3-5 hours depending on what I’m playing or if I’m gaming with friends. In comparison, the 600 Pro is said to only stay alive for 18-24 hours, which still seems like more than enough. I especially enjoy that I have the charger plugged into my PC and that there is an extra port for me to plug in the USB-A dongle instead of taking up another slot if I desire to use the device there. The only times I used the charger were early on to see how it worked, and it stands up nicely as it connects via a connection slot at the bottom of the right earphone and a connector on the base.
Conclusion
My method for experiencing both of these headsets was to first open up the 600 Pro because I had a feeling it would be used much less when I started using the 900 Max—I was absolutely right. with the difference in price($99 vs $249), it was clear which one was the more robust option. However, I’m no longer comparing them to see which one is better. What matters is choosing the right one that is for you as the consumer. I hadn’t realized until doing some research that there are seven different options starting as low as $29.99. The different headsets both include and lack certain features that may or may not specifically meet your needs.
The timing was also perfect for me to experience Nacon and Rig’s new headsets; after recently becoming a cat owner I was in search of a wireless option so that she wouldn’t attempt to yank the cords from the controller or the headphones off of my head. I am grateful for the opportunity to provide coverage for both the 600 Pro HX and 900 Max HX and would’ve remained impressed even if I only went hands-on with the former. I had some Astro A40s for a very long time that went dead a few years ago, since then I have been through a few headsets that paled in comparison. My search is now over; the 900 Max will last me years to come and I’ll be donating the 600 Pro to someone much less fortunate. If you’re in the market for a new headset, you shouldn’t sleep on Nacon and Rig’s line of headsets.
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