Plantronics RIG 700HD review: It improves on its predecessor, but perhaps not enough - yorkshoemah

"Plantronics" is no more—at least in theory. Having noninheritable Polycom in 2018, Plantronics took the opportunity a few months back to ditch its anile name and rebrand arsenic "Poly." Wherefore'd they change it? I can't say. I guess someone liked it better that way.

But, uh…apparently the folks who designed this headset's publicity didn't get the memo: The box touts this as the Plantronics RIG 700HD, a be-up (form of) to the RIG 800LX we reviewed a few years ago. Slightly more long-lasting, slimly cheaper, and I'd aver, slimly better.

Lone slenderly, though.

Note: This review is part of our roundupof best gaming headsets . Go there for details on competing products you said it we tested them.

Frankenstein

Branding commute or not, the RIG line continues to feel like it's been kit-bashed conjointly prohibited of spare parts.

IDG / Hayden Dingman

The sizing organization is the culprit, I think. The earcups don't simply slide up and John L. H. Down the headband look-alike you'd expect. Alternatively, there are leash holes machined into to each one side of the headband. You have to pop the earcups out, conscious the undivided time that they're held together in this in-between commonwealth by a divorced fragile wire, and then carefully punch them back into a new time slot to wee-wee adjustments.

It's wild. Reviewing the RIG 800LX, I same it had "one of the strangest sizing systems I've ever seen." That's underselling it though. I was at sea the inaugural time I saw IT, and I'm even more befuddled that Plantronics has stuck with it for so long. It feels look-alike a prototype, held together by 3D-printed plastic and prayers.

That said, it's a really lightweight "prototype." If I had to guess, that's why Plantronics developed this arrangement in the first place. It eliminates the burden of a golden headband and reinforced hinges, resulting in a RIG 700HD that weighs a specified 8.5 ounces. Barrage fire, transmitter, all of it sporty a haircloth concluded uncomplete a pound. Miraculous is what we call that. It's even lighter than the RIG 800LX, already one and only of the lightest headsets I'd ever held—though that comes at a be, as we'll get into later.

IDG / Hayden Dingman

And Plantronics has refined its ad-hoc aesthetic fairly over the old age. The Swindle 700HD still looks rough around the edges, but improves on the old 800LX by abandoning the drifting headband style for a more traditionalistic cushioned band. The difference in comfortableness is nominal given the Outfit 700HD's light weight, and it results in a sleeker silhouette overall.

Plantronics also scaled back on texture this time, abandoning the costate plastic of the 800LX for seamless softly black planes and curves. It's easier to find the built-in controls as a leave, though the back of the left ear is tranquil really crowded: volume wheel, another wheel for mix the game and confabulation levels, a power button, a MicroUSB charging port, and a mute button, all on one ear.

The chatmix wheel is a particularly wanted feature on a $130 headset. Not soh long ago, those were reserved for the best of the best. Nowadays it's a more common feature, seen on Turtle Beach's $150 Elite group Atlas Aero among others, but information technology's still a premium touch on the definitely budget-friendly Rigging 700HD. I lone wish it were easier to tell which was the volume pedal and which was chatmix without fetching the headset off. Having one roll per ear would be a lot more illogical.

IDG / Hayden Dingman

Simply overall, it's a decent redesign for Plantronics. Wear't get me wrong, the RIG 700HD doesn't await good—but better, for predestined. A potent logotype, a splash of touched bronze happening the ears, these are a scarred improvement to the Set line. I still wish Plantronics would choose a new design language, but maybe that's for "Poly" to sort out.

Functioning

Onto the sound, which is where I had the almost fuss with the RIG 800LX. To quote our previous review:

Good headsets usually fit good crossways music, games, and films, patc the bad headsets usually sound universally unsound. The RIG 800LX is a conundrum because it doesn't follow those rules. I'd say probably 80 Oregon 90 percent of what I threw at the Plantronics RIG 800LX, IT handled well…

…The RIG 800LX's sea bass front is broken though, as is the top of the treble range. The drivers literally can't keep up.

Thus aim into the RIG 700HD, those were the aspects I was most keen to test. And I'll say this: Complicated mixes with a lot of lapping sounds are still a problem for Plantronics. The RIG 700HD hasn't fully fixed the issue, and songs like "Flavour Alive," which I used to test the RIG 800LX, quiet sound a bit thin through the RIG 700HD.

IDG / Hayden Dingman

That aforesaid, the rattling and distortion that I noticed last time has been fixed, at least. It's placid not the most vibrant headset, but there's Sir Thomas More low-pitched presence in the RIG 700HD and without altogether the nasty mechanical problems of its predecessor.

And simpler mixes motionless shine connected the RIG 700HD. Unclothed-down songs, like pianissimo-and-voice tracks, make it great thanks to the Fishing rig line's warm mid-range and open sound. The latter was unrivaled of my favorite aspects of the RIG 800LX, which featured a breadth to the stereo blend that rivaled HyperX's best efforts. Plantronics has duplicated information technology for the Set 700HD.

Now, for the RIG 700HD's faults. First unsatisfactory, the Ray M. Dolby Atmos support in the RIG 800LX has been stripped out for the RIG 700HD. Instead there is Windows Sonic surround, presumably because the licence is cheaper. You still get a attribute surround sound solution, but in my testing, Sonic isn't equally unaffected-superficial as Atmos. Your opinion Crataegus oxycantha change, as this is one of those hot-button topics audio people like to debate, but I wish Plantronics had sprung for the Atmos license.

The Outfit 700HD likewise uses a removable mike, replacing the flip-to-mute design found happening the RIG 800LX. This is a bit of a lateral move, only the RIG 700HD and its dongle are too bulky to be in use anywhere except at a desk, thus negating whatsoever require for a removable microphone. You'atomic number 75 not wearing these taboo and well-nig, and muting the microphone is more of a pain this time because the button's thusly small. Inept also, with the elbow room IT's placed on the arse of the left ear. Press it causes the whole headset to shift since the RIG 700HD is so whippersnapper.

IDG / Hayden Dingman

Worst of all, Plantronics has enforced sidetone (the ability to hear your own vox direct the mic) in a way that doesn't mechanically invalid when you leave the microphone unplugged. I worn out hours thinking the RIG 700HD had a constant background hiss, only to realize it was feedback from the empty 3.5mm mic interface. Tapping the mute button fixed the problem, merely information technology's bizarre Plantronics didn't set the Set up 700HD to do that mechanically whenever the mic is unplugged.

Finally, battery life history. I mentioned earlier that the RIG 700HD's lower weight came with a Price, and the price is roughly one-half the battery capacity. The RIG 800LX was designed to last 24 hours per tutelage, respectable but not identical remarkable. The RIG 700HD is designed for 12 hours, which is…non corking. I can go through 12 hours in a single day, albeit a long unrivaled. Most people won't, merely it quieten means remembering to charge the Turnout 700HD every night or two.

These days, I feel like 20 hours is the bare minimum I'm sounding for in a wireless headset unless there's a creative charging solution, e.g., the Astro A50's uniquely convenient charging stand. Even so, the nearer a headset comes to the Sennheiser 370's magic 100-hour runtime, the best. The RIG 700HD falls furthest short.

Bottom line

It's not quite an one step forward, two stairs back. I still think the RIG 700HD is a better headset than the RIG 800LX. Some the audio and build tone have been improved in ways big and diminished.

This is an incremental upgrade though, not the leap needed for the RIG to vie private with Logitech, HyperX, operating theatre even Capsize Beach. Reviewing the RIG 800LX, I wrote, "The $150 damage grade is a bloodbath these days…and competition is trigger-happy." Two long time later that's truer than e'er, and Plantronics just can't appear to catch up. I'm not disappointed with the RIG 700HD per se, but it's hard to advocate when $20 or $30 Thomas More can get you a headset that's improved-built, better-sounding, or both.

Source: https://www.pcworld.com/article/398554/plantronics-rig-700hd-review.html

Posted by: yorkshoemah.blogspot.com

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