Not long ago, Plantronics announced their wireless gaming headset RIG 800 for consoles (Xbox One and PlayStation) and the PC. Thanks to them, we could take a closer look at the RIG 800HD.

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Let’s start with Plantronics itself. According to them, Plantronics helps you experience the clearest audio while enjoying distraction-free environments with a broad range of headsets for businesses and consumers. Differentiated by our innovative software, leading-edge solutions for managing noise, and the industry’s best customer support, Plantronics can be found in every company in the Fortune 100. For over 55 years, Plantronics has been committed to helping the world’s airline pilots, call center agents, mobile professionals, music lovers, and gamers perform at their best. It all began in a garage in 1961 when two airline pilots set out to invent an alternative to the conventional headsets of commercial aviation. The product Courtney Graham and Keith Larkin created in that tiny garage in Santa Cruz, California was more than just the world’s first lightweight headset. It was the birth of a company called Plantronics, and the first of a half-century of breakthroughs in communications. Plantronics made history when Neil Armstrong walked on the moon and uttered those legendary words: through a Plantronics headset.

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Dolby Atmos is especially for headset-user a great thing. Because of the Dolby Atmos feature, user can enjoy a fantastic and fine virtual surround sound out of most of speakers existing. Unfortunately, it is not a software for free which is a an obstacle for many people to get it. It looks like Plantronics want to create a Dolby-Atmos-Edition portfolio. Like said before, we could test the RIG 800 HD for you.

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We could notice very quickly, that there are no many technical differences between the Dolby-Atmos-Variations and previous headsets made by Plantronics. By paying a small higher price you will get a with the Dolby Atmos Headsets a Prepaid-Code for Windows 10 and/or Xbox Live. An other example for this is the all-rounder RIG 600. Check out the RIG 600 Review here.

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According to the producer, Dolby Atmos creates an amazing headphone experience with breathtaking, moving audio that flows above and around you. “You’ll feel like you’re inside the action as sound comes alive with richness and depth, and seems to move in three-dimensional space. Immersive and emotive, Dolby Atmos is sound you can feel— sound that creates a powerfully moving entertainment experience.” Technically there are no differences between the two headsets. But like we said before, Dolby Atmos gives the headset a great push for better sounds. We tested the headset with Star Wars Battlefront II, Assassin’s Creed Origins, Battlefield 1 and Overwatch and could hear the difference from the first glance.

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In a little bit higher class than the RIG 600 you can get the RIG 800 HD. This is a wireless gaming headset for PC. You can get it for about 149,99 Euro/$. Because of this, the RIG 800 HD is in the same price class like for example the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 or the Astro A20. Like the A20 you can connect the RIG 800 HD with the wireless base via USB to your PC. We like it that it works fantastic and you do not have to install any additional software. But if you like to, you can get the drivers from the official page. Here are some Specifications:

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Mic frequency response	100 Hz–10 kHz
Mic sensitivity	-45 dBV/Pa
Mic signal-to-noise ratio	>42 dB
Mic pick-up pattern	Uni-directional
Headphone weight	290 g/10 oz
Headphone frequency response	20 Hz–20 kHz
Headphone impedance	32 ohms
Headphone sensitivity	111 dBSPL/V
Headphone maximum input power	40 mW
Headphone drivers	Dynamic 40 mm
Compatibility	PC/Laptop and PC

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We like it that the wireless base is very small. There is only a button to connect the headset with the base. Headset and the base are already configured before you take them out of the box. Unfortunately, there is no additional USB-port on the base to load the headset. That means, that you need two free ports at your PC, one for that base and another one to load the headset.

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The headset itself weighs only 289 Gramm. This is very light for a wireless headset and only possible, because the headset’s headband is made out of plastic. Thanks to a stiffening, this headset looks very robust. Great is, that if something happens to it, you can easily exchange it. Reason that this is possible is, that ear cups and headband are modular. The second headband, which hold the headset on your head is padded and very flexible. Because of the included rubber band it gets a great adjustability. It is also possible to change the position of the earcups. Because of this all, we can say, that this headset is wearable for people with small, but also with bigger heads and hearcuts.

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The ear cups are have great size and very soft polster and a covered with textile. Great is, that the temperature under this cups stay cool even if you wear this headset for a longer time, or on hot days. Great is also, that the pressure from the side is not so huge. That means, that the headset is also very comfortable for people who are wearing glasses. Generally, the comfort of this headset is great and stays at this high level even if you wear it for a longer time. Great done Plantronics

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Your voices are recorded by the help of a unidirectional microphone. Great is, that you do not only can flip it. This mic comes with the flip-to-mute-function. It includes the typical bandwidth between 100 Hz up to 10 kHz. This mic is totally great for voice chats. But you should not give many on the noise cancelling technology. We wished, this feature would be same  great like in the RIG 600. What we like is, that you can change the regulator on the ear cups the Game-Chat-Balance. For this, you have to connect an optical cable which is unfortunately not included. Additionally, on the ear cups you can find a regulator for the volume, a On-/Off-/Pairing-Button and a button you can choose between different equalizers. What we love are the tones and the voice messages keep you informed about the status, the chosen mode and the charge level.

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The wireless transmission works via the 2.4-GHz-technology. We can confirm, that even in the use it a regular office, we had no disturbances. The range of ten meter is totally enough. What we also like is, that the battery life of 24 hours. And yes, we tested this, too, and can confirm the runtime.

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The stereo-headset’s sounds are fantastic. The 40-mm-drivers with the frequency response from 20 Hz up to 20 kHz and an impedance about 32 Ohm, who are also equipped with bass reflex tubes, offers the users great gaming sounds. The bass is powerful but not oversized. The middle sounds are also powerful and the high sounds stay pleasantly clear. Great is, that all detailed sounds does not get lost and all ranges are great balanced. What we especially like is the clear sense we have of where the sounds direction. If you activate additionally Dolby Atmos feature, the headset quality raises quickly. We noticed very quickly, that the headset can also be used very good for music and movies.

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We think that the RIG 800 HD does not have to hide himself against the strong competition in the price range. RIG 800 HD is a fantastic alternative compared to for example the Astro A20 or the Turtle Beach Stealth 700. The RIG 800 HD offers a bombastic great gaming-sound, which get much better by using the Dolby Atmos feature (Prepaid-Code in box). We also like the long battery life and the long range of the wireless transmission. The headset is very comfortable and because of the polster and the low weight. We think, that Plantronics did a fantastic job and that this headset is your money worth. We have to admit, that we never thought that Plantronics could release such a great headset, in such a great quality for such a great price. For those reasons we want to give Plantronics the jadoRendr award for “great price-performance ratio”. Well done.

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