RIG 400 Gen 2 Headset Review – Stripped-Down for Sound

RIG 400 Gen 2 Headset Review

I think it’s pretty safe to say that for most gamers, a comfortable headset is right up there with a responsive controller, keyboard, or mouse when it comes to essential gear. Aside from enveloping you in sound and bringing the action to sonic life, headsets isolate all the explosions and epic music from easily perturbed family members. Communicating with others in multiplayer is another huge bullet point. Those are the basics, and the RIG 400 Gen2 headset is about as basic as they come. Sold as a WalMart exclusive for around $40, the RIG 400 Gen2 checks all the baseline boxes but by design doesn’t aspire much beyond that. However, the reality is that for most gamers, a well-made, inexpensive headset is all they need.

Leave the Bells and Whistles at the Door

Over the past decade or so, the headset market has been beset by feature creep. Upscale headsets often have wireless or Bluetooth connectivity, programmable RGB lights that sync with other peripherals, large drivers, and audiophile specs with extras like support for Dolby Atmos 3D audio. That’s all cool if you have the cash. Honestly, I’ve never really understood the need for RGB. The wearer can’t see it, for one thing.

The entry-level RIG 400 Gen2 strips away the frills and focuses on the fundamentals. It’s an over-the-ear, wired headset with a 3.5mm jack, 40mm drivers, and a flip-to-mute microphone. Do you want to modify the sound? There’s a volume control on the earpiece. The headset is size adjustable via three side snaps. The headband and earpieces are cushioned by fabric-covered foam. It basically works with any device that has a 3.5mm input, from PCs to gaming consoles to smartphones, provided you’re ok with being tethered.

Construction is all plastic, which keeps things lightweight but doesn’t exactly translate to a luxury feel. The 1.2-meter cable is fairly short, but most users will plug the RIG 400 Gen2 into their PlayStation or Xbox controllers, so a long cable isn’t really necessary. However, the cable is thin plastic, a little prone to tangling, and feels like a potential failure point.

Sound Where It Counts

With a relatively modest 40mm driver and a frequency response of 100Hz-10 kHz, the RIG 400 Gen2 obviously doesn’t deliver an audiophile experience. Keep your expectations in check, however, and the sound is well-separated and crystal clear in the middle range. It struggles at the extremes and the bass is not gonna loosen your fillings or punch a hole in your gut. The headset isn’t noise cancelling, but noise dampening. That’s a fancy way of saying it muffles outside noise.

The flip-to-mute mic is totally functional for gaming, but I wouldn’t take it into a recording situation where frequency response is critical. I like the flip-to-mute control, as it’s sometimes awkward to find the mute button on headsets with multiple control buttons.

Though it doesn’t exactly disappear on your head, the RIG 400 Gen2 is lightweight and comfortable enough to support extended wear during long play sessions. The snap-in size adjustment system looks a little flimsy but it locks in well. However, unlike some headsets with a sliding system, it isn’t the kind of thing you can adjust easily while actually wearing the set.

The RIG 400 Gen2 comes in a choice of Urban Camo and Artic Camo designs. The base model 400 is an entry-level headset in the RIG line which tops out at around $250 for the feature-packed RIG 900 series. For $20 more than the RIG 400 Gen2, the RIG 500 Pro HX Gen2 has a 50mm driver, metal construction, and a wider frequency response.

No Frills, No Thrills but No Filler, Either

Headsets are a necessary component of gaming. But while it’s nice to have a high-end set, the reality is that basic, affordable gear is usually all you need to get the job done. The RIG 400 Gen2 doesn’t pretend to be anything more than an entry-level headset. But it feels comfortable and sounds decent enough for most gaming and casual music applications. The flip-to-mute mic is nice, and I enjoyed not having to download software just to use a pair of headphones. There are more expensive options, but the RIG 400 Gen2 handles the basics well.

***Unit provided for review***