If you’re in the market for a $250+ gaming headset, you’re probably in the market for something that excels in just about every way a headset should function. It should sound fantastic. It should feel fantastic. It should at least last all day of heavy use. It should feel like it can hold up after months of use. It should give you the power to customize it as you wish. If you’re looking for just about every single one of those checkmarks checked, I’m going to highly recommend that you consider the RIG 900 MAX HX.
Released at the end of September, the RIG 900 MAX HX (what a name, by the way) is NACON’s answer to the higher end category of headsets. It’s a solid addition to the RIG X00 line of headsets, featuring some of the same features that set this line of headsets apart from others while elevating the 900 MAX HX to exist in a class of its own as a premier audio device. Some of this review may sound reiterated from our recent RIG 600 PRO HX/HS review because of this, but do know that the RIG 900 MAX is a worthy addition to the $250+ tier of headsets.
The RIG 900 MAX HX looks similar to its counterparts, maintaining the matte black look but with a premium textured feel on the outside earcups. Its headband is constructed of reinforced steel with a separate leatherette mesh sling-headband that acts as a buffer between the top of my head and the headband. The left earcup has the red-accented power button, volume wheel, and pairing buttons. It looks much more refined and worthy of the price tag. Its oversized over-ear cups are plush and made of the same leatherette material as the plush sling-cushion.
In the box are the same set of accessories as the 600 PRO barring the addition of the optional charging dock. It came with a USB-C to USB-A cable and a Bluetooth adaptor for the 2.4GHz mode. The dock is fantastic and weighty, too. When it comes time to charge the headset, it’s easy to place the headset onto the dock’s magnetic pins without it budging.
Wearing the headset is just as airy as, perhaps even more-so than, the 600 PRO. NACON somehow incorporates durable and sturdy metal into the headset that can withstand pulls and drops while remaining light as a feather. It’s almost alien pulling the headset out of the box because of its lightness. Unlike other models, though, it does not feel cheap in the slightest. The inside of the earcups has a soft material that ensures breathability while lightly pressing upon my ears. Despite the lightness and comfort, the headset stays in one place and refuses to move. They don’t press against my glasses, either!
Like the 600 PRO, the 900 MAX HX has a microphone with a physical mute function. Unlike its counterpart, the 900 MAX HX’s microphone is always exposed and relies on a flip-to-mute function. Part of me wishes that it was recessed into the left earcup to become fully flush with the headset, but I’ll take what I can get because so few headsets have physical mute functions. Other than that, the button layouts are relatively the same between the 600 PRO and 900 MAX HX. The Snap-Fit adjustment system is here, too. I have the same minor quibbles about the button layouts lacking some intuition and the Snap-Fit system allowing the earcups to literally hang by a thread, but it’s not enough to detract from the overall fantastic experience of wearing and using the headset.
NACON has upped the audio quality of the 900 MAX HX, utilizing 40mm audio drivers with enhanced bass and a precisely tuned acoustic chamber. The bass sounds more punchy than the 600, but it sounds a smidge more hollow than I would prefer. Again, it didn’t overshadow the mids and lows from other music genres like I’ve experienced with Apple’s AirPods Max, but the acoustics feel less crisp than my SteelSeries 7 – a worthy competitor in price and quality. This can be easily adjusted using the RIG 900 MAX app, but I wish I didn’t have to fiddle with the EQ. I want great sound right out of the box. The earcups prevented sound leakage on my head, though, meaning that I was fully immersed in what I was listening to without being distracted by other noises.
That said, the 900 MAX HX is also integrated with Dolby Atmos in that I can get a “personalized audio experience.” For US customers, all you have to do is download the Dolby Atmos app onto your Windows computer and use your phone’s camera to take images of your noggin. The software will then adjust your audio based on your physical features. It sounds cool on paper. Admittedly, I didn’t notice that much of a difference when the software did its thing.
On the topic of the RIG mobile app, it’s strange for players to be expected to control their device on their phones and their phones alone. If there’s a firmware update or you want to adjust the EQ, you’re forced into using the mobile app to make those adjustments. As a PC/console player, I am hoping for NACON to create a PC standalone app that functions similarly to the mobile app so that I can keep my headset connected to the device I use the most.
The RIG 900 MAX HX’s microphone is the least stellar aspect of the headset. I would go so far as to sat that it’s a solid letdown compared to other microphones in the category. In Discord calls on my PC, my friends could sort of hear me. As a secondary measure, I recorded some videos with me talking. I sounded far away and slightly muffled. NACON claims that the omni-directional microphone has noise rejection technology. Either it’s tuned too aggressively, or the levels need to be boosted to play nice with PC players. I had to use Equalizer APO to adjust my microphone’s level so that I didn’t have to yell to be heard at a reasonable volume. For Discord users, I sincerely hope that future NACON headsets better incorporate themselves with Discord and other chat platforms for the optimal chat experience.
Like the 600 PRO, the RIG 900 MAX features the same Dual listening mode along with the Gaming 2.4GHz mode. Dual lets you connect to your phone and another device at the same time, seamlessly switching audio when needed. Again, it’s a cool novelty for those who need it, but it takes some getting used to. If you didn’t want to connect to the USB dongle, the headset supports up to Bluetooth 5.1, so there’s that.
In my review of the RIG 600 PRO, I praised the headset for its incredible battery life. Now that I have the RIG 900 MAX HX in hand…y’all. NACON has put some black magic spell on this headset because, put simply: It doesn’t die. I’ve been told that the headset can last up to 60 hours in a single charge. I didn’t believe it, so I unplugged the charging dock and opted to just use the headset until it died/hit low battery. During my review, I lost count of how many hours I was using the headset after the 60-hour mark; it hit that low battery indicator well after that mark was reached.
Of course, some of you may be thinking that I’m joking or being facetious: I am not. I spent the first two weeks of the review mindlessly putting the headset back on the dock when not in use, so I kept having to restart my battery tests because of my own nonsense. However, the fact remains that I’ve never come across a headset that lasts over two days of continuous use on a single charge. It’s wild that the RIG 900 MAX HX lasts this long. Nothing compares to this headset’s battery life, but it remains to be seen how well the battery holds up after a year of heavy usage.
I’ve been reviewing this headset and putting it through its paces for just under a month. I would like to reiterate to publishers and manufacturers alike: If you want an honest review that takes into account growing pains and the process of a headset becoming a daily driver – give reviewers time to get past the honeymoon phase of a shiny new piece of tech!
Since receiving the RIG 900 MAX HX, I’ve grown to love it. I’ve worn it while working, reviewing PC games, reviewing PS5 games, doing chores around my house, taking Discord and other phone calls, and even plain ‘ol listening to music. At the start, I missed my older SteelSeries headset because of the dual channel setup and its sound quality. Now? Not so much: The RIG 900 MAX HX has fully converted me into appreciating its comfort, battery life, and its overall build quality. Its sound quality is like the SteelSeries 7, albeit slightly less full, but I can get around that thanks to being able to control the EQ settings on my phone. It’s a shame about the microphone, though.
In the higher end of the headset spectrum, consumers should expect their headset to excel in nearly every single audio category to be worth the price tag: Sound quality, microphone quality, build quality, comfort, battery life, accessories, and unique features. The RIG 900 MAX HX excels on just about every front, making it a worthy addition to your Holiday Gift List if you’re wanting to upgrade to a new headset and willing to make some adjustment to its EQ and microphone.
A headset was provided by NACON for the purpose of this DigitalChumps review.
