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Nacon RIG 900 Max HS: one-minute review
If you’re looking to buy a brand new PS5 or PC compatible gaming headset, then the Nacon RIG 900 Max HS will likely be a notable upgrade over your current peripheral. You’d probably expect that given its premium price tag, but the 900 Max HS still manages to go above and beyond.
Going through the checklist, I found that the RIG 900 Max HS ticks almost every box. It’s remarkably durable, and those plush ear cups are tailor-made for gaming the hours away in comfort – never did the headset begin to chafe the sides of my head or become uncomfortably warm, even during 5-6 hour gaming sessions.
And that’s great, because the RIG 900 Max HS is an incredibly difficult headset to take off. Not in a weird ‘cursed helmet’ kind of way – rather, its audio quality is so pristine that I couldn’t imagine playing immersive single-player games like The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered or Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 without it.
You can expect impressively detailed audio here that accurately picks up on a wide range of sounds – loud, quiet, and everything in between. Its bass profile is also highly satisfying, which can be further enhanced by accessing the equalizer in the wonderfully easy-to-use companion app. Multiplayer gamers are well-served here, too, with an impeccable flip-to-mute mic that – according to my friends and colleagues – sounded much clearer over calls than even some of the best PS5 headsets I’ve used.
If I had to levy any complaints, one would be that the build – like other Nacon products – still relies somewhat on cheap-feeling plastic. The durable metal headband is a notable improvement here, but the sides of the band as well as the cup exteriors are a little hollow. Turning the headset on and off, as well as pairing, also isn’t as immediate as I’m used to with other headsets.
But otherwise, the RIG 900 Max HS is an excellent premium gaming headset that’s well worth the price of admission.
Nacon RIG 900 Max HS review: price and availability
The Nacon RIG 900 Max HS is available now and should retail at $249 / £215, but at the time of writing, stock appears to be quite limited in the US and the UK.
It is widely available in Europe, however, and is listed on Nacon’s website for €249.90.
I will return to update this section as and when US and UK availability becomes more widespread.
Nacon RIG 900 Max HS review: Specs
|
Price |
$249.99 / £215 (tentative while availability is limited) |
|
Weight |
10.37oz / 294g |
|
Dimensions |
7.6 x 8.0 x 3.7in / 194 x 204 x 94mm |
|
Compatibility |
PS5, PS4, PC |
|
Connection type |
Wireless (2.4Ghz, Bluetooth), Wired (USB-C) |
|
Battery life |
20-30 hours |
Nacon RIG 900 Max HS review: design and features
Nacon hasn’t done much to bolster the overall build quality of its headset line-up here, but one crucial change does make a big difference. The 900 Max HS features a durable, metallic headband that not only looks nice, but its flexibility makes for a more durable build overall.
This headset line-up has also always featured unbelievably comfy plush ear cups, and that’s the case here, too. These allow the 900 Max HS to sit on your head snugly, remaining comfy and unintrusive for longer gaming sessions. There are no issues with the headset feeling overly warm, nor did it ever start to chafe my ears even during longer stints.
Onboard buttons here are also very simple and straightforward. You naturally have the power button, as well as a USB-C slot for charging purposes (though this can also be done with the included charging dock). A multi-function button lets you quickly pause or unpause videos and music. It also lets you accept calls if also connected to Bluetooth via the supported dual input mode (that’s Bluetooth and 2.4GHz at the same time). Handy.
Lastly is the Mode button, which lets you cycle through different pairing options including a ‘do not disturb’ Game Mode (available through 2.4GHz only), Dual and Bluetooth modes.
On the left of the headset is the flip-to-mute microphone. This unfortunately cannot be removed and feels built from rather cheap plastic, but – as I’ll get into later – it’s nonetheless an excellent mic that’ll serve you well on multiplayer comms.
Nacon RIG 900 Max HS review: Performance
Performance is really where the RIG 900 Max HS shines. As far as gaming headsets go, it has some of the cleanest, most robust audio around. The headset deploys powerful 40mm drivers to produce a rich soundstage, capable of covering an impressively wide range. In Monster Hunter Wilds, for example, I could make out streams of rushing water in the distance even while a vicious Rathalos was trying to make me its next lunch.
There is a dedicated bass boost mode, too, and it’s as strong here as it was on the RIG 600 Pro HS – if not moreso. Once I activated bass boost, I simply couldn’t play without it in single-player games. The added oomph to the explosive soundscapes of the Resident Evil 4 remake and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 only helped make those play experiences to be even more enjoyable.
But as mentioned earlier, multiplayer games aren’t being left out. That’s because the 900 Max HS’s flip-to-mute microphone is incredible. Whether it was gaming online with friends on Discord, or talking during a work meeting, my voice came through crystal clear. My colleagues noted it was a step up from my other go-to headset; the JBL Quantum 910P.
You can also expect a glorious multiplayer gaming experience thanks to accurate directional audio. That’s a real boon for when you need to call out distant shots or vehicle sounds to teammates in shooters like Call of Duty: Warzone or Fortnite.
Battery life is an improvement over previous RIG models, though I must say I didn’t get Nacon’s quoted 50-60 hours on a single charge here. On a full charge, I managed around 20-30 hours before needing to top up again. That’s still not bad at all, and in fairness I was regularly switching pairing modes across both PS5 and PC, so your mileage may vary here depending on your use case.
I also have to mention the excellent software that is the RIG 900 Max HS companion app. While it does take a few seconds to connect to the app via Dual or Bluetooth modes, the app itself is simple to use yet still quite powerful.
The app lets you create up to three individual sound profiles. There are equalizer presets like the aforementioned bass boost, as well as ones tailored to first-person shooters and overall voice clarity. You can also activate an ‘Expert’ mode here, giving you access to a more robust equalizer with 10 sliders.
You can also adjust mic gain, monitoring, and a volume level protection option that prevents the headset’s audio from becoming overly loud.
Should I buy the Nacon RIG 900 Max HS?
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Nacon RIG 900 Max HS review: Also consider
If the RIG 900 Max HS isn’t quite up your alley or out of your price range, you may wish to consider these excellent RIG brand alternatives.
| Row 0 – Cell 0 |
RIG 900 Max HS |
RIG 600 Pro HS |
RIG 800 Pro HX |
|
Price |
$249 / £215 |
$99 / £89.99 |
$149 / £199 |
|
Weight |
10.37oz / 294g |
8.47oz / 240g |
10.7oz / 308g |
|
Dimensions |
7.6 x 8.0 x 3.7in / 194 x 204 x 94mm |
7.5 x 7.9 x 3.5in / 191 x 200 x 89mm |
7.7 x 7.8 x 3.7in / 196 x 198 x 94mm |
|
Compatibility |
PS5, PS4, PC |
PS5, PS4, PC |
Xbox, PC |
|
Connection type |
Wireless (2.4GHz, Bluetooth), Wired (USB-C) |
Wireless (2.4GHz, Bluetooth), Wired (USB-C) |
Wireless (2.4GHz, Bluetooth) |
|
Battery life |
20-30 hours |
Around 18 hours |
18-24 hours |
How I tested the Nacon RIG 900 Max HS
- Tested for one week
- Tested across PS5 and PC
- Played single and multiplayer games, as well as general music listening
I tested the Nacon RIG 900 Max HS over the course of roughly a week, during which time it’s been my go-to audio device for both PS5 and PC. In my spare time, I typically don’t wear gaming headsets while playing, but I honestly haven’t been able to play without the RIG 900 Max HS whenever I’ve got a free hour or two. It may have converted me.
I played a whole bunch of single and multiplayer games with the headset on. These include recent releases like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Monster Hunter Wilds, Blue Prince and The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered. I selected these games because they all have diverse and unique soundscapes that really came alive when passed through this gaming headset.
For multiplayer, I hopped online with friends for Final Fantasy 14 Online, Fortnite, and a few rounds of Tekken 8 and Street Fighter 6. This was largely to test out the headset’s immaculate microphone, as well as get a feel for how well it handles directional audio.
First reviewed April 2025
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lewis.maddison@futurenet.com (Lewis Maddison)
