Copyright 9to5Toys
If you had asked me my opinion of RIG gaming headsets a month ago, I would wouldn’t have laughed at you, not to your face at least, but I might have given a little chuckle and said that they’re not worth the time or money… but then I started seeing this headset all over the gaming audio YouTube space – the RIG R5 Spear Pro HS. Coming in at $70, it’s not the cheapest headset in RIG’s line-up, but it’s been designed with competitive FPS games in mind. It’s light, comfortable, and has been fine-tuned with rigid graphene laminated drivers. And it shows. It’s officially licensed for PlayStation, but thanks to its simple analog wired connection, it will work on anything with a 3.5mm port. I used it on a PC but it also works on Xbox or compatible mobile devices. It’s available for preorder from Best Buy right now and is expected to be available on November 2. RIG R5 Pro HS: Design When it comes to design, most of RIG’s headsets are a bit over-the-top, in my opinion. They’re made to look more tactical than necessary. But the RIG R5 Pro HS takes a more subtle e-sports approach. It’s more like the Blackshark from Razer or the Pro X 2 headset from Logitech. Out of the box, the headset doesn’t have the Snap+Lock mod-plate covers installed, giving it a more retro look. But the box includes mod plate covers with a large PlayStation logo on either side. It looks like additional after-market mod plates will be available in the future, and RIG even has a quick download for the STL files if you’d like to 3d print your own mod plates. My only complaint about the design is the cord length. To plug it into the top of my PC tower, it doesn’t quite rest on my desk – it dangles above my arm. Thankfully, it isn’t a noisy cable. There have been gaming headsets in the past that pick up any movement and transfer that into the headphones, but the cable on the RIG R5 Spear is quiet. I didn’t have any issues. RIG R5 Pro HS: Video RIG R5 Pro HS: Comfort Coming in at around 320g with the mod plates installed and equipped with large, deep earcups, the R5 Spear is surprisingly comfortable. The ear pads strike a good balance between firmness and enough give for a comfortable fit. Personally, I find them to have just a bit too much clamping force. I was able to play for about three hours straight without having any long-term fatigue, but that would be the only thing that is keeping me from giving the R5 Spear a 5-star comfort rating. Otherwise, these are incredible for the price. Now, I haven’t been able to test this headset for months and months, so we’ll see how the long-term comfort and quality hold up, but currently, color me impressed. And, after market ear pad providers, Wicked Cushions, have products for other RIG headsets, and I would imagine it’s only a matter of time before the R5 Spear is on that list as well. The earpads are magnetically attached and are easy to remove. RIG R5 Pro HS: Audio Now let’s talk about audio, and here is where the R5 Spear really surprised me. I immediately booted up Battlefield 6 to test this headset and was surprised at the clarity that I heard. Things can get pretty chaotic in Battlefield, but the RIG R5 Pro HS handled them beautifully. The low-end still has plenty of presence, though. It may be too bass-heavy for my more neutral-leaning preference. Footsteps, gunshots, and explosions all had presence but weren’t so overwhelming as to make it hard to hear the other parts. Imaging is just exceptional on this headset. Going back and forth between FPS games and music, the ability to pick out separate instruments and crucial sound cues makes it an incredible gaming headset for the $70 price point. On the music side of things, the esports-tuned headset delivers an interesting listening experience, but to my ears, it sounds a bit muffled. The crazy-detailed mids were perfect for picking out guitar lines in cluttered my tracks, like my favorite test track, “Mist” by Protest the Hero, but the cymbals dropped off and got lost. Likewise, tracks like “Hate by Design” by Killswitch Engage lost some of their high-end sparkle and came across as a little too muddy for my liking. But that’s not what the R5 Pro HS was designed for. It was designed specifically for competitive shooters while still delivering deep, punchy bass. And that’s where it excels. How’s the mic The flip-to-mute microphone also sounds better than I expected. It’s not a full-body podcast-style sound, but it has enough clarity and presence to make it sound natural. The mic is very flexible and can be positioned anywhere you need it. 9to5Toys’ Take If you’re looking for a do-it-all multipurpose headset for gaming and listening to music, this might not be it. At least not for what my ears are looking for. But… for those looking for a simple and relatively affordable gaming headset that delivers clear audio for competitive FPS, the RIG Spear R5 has to be a top consideration. It absolutely nails comfort and clarity for long gaming sessions and has completely changed my perception of RIG headsets.
