Nacon RIG has unveiled the brand new RIG R5 Spear Max HD headset today, the latest of the brand's R-series lineup. The new pair of cups is designed to be one of the best gaming headsets for PC players, and comes equipped with mighty 40mm GrapheneQ audio drivers from Ora, which are custom-tuned for first-person shooters and competitive play.
The $149.99 (Amazon) wired headset is available in the US, which is a relief when plenty of previous RIG headsets were previously exclusive to UK gamers. This time, the pair with its high frequency range of 20 - 40kHz, broadcast-grade 6mm unidirectional microphone, and Dolby Atmos support can be picked up only at US Amazon, and better yet, it includes my favorite feature from previous RIG cups - the customizable Snap+Lock mod system.
I'm a sucker for good customization, and Nacon RIG ticked all my boxes when it launched the RIG R5 Spear Pro HS during November last year. The budget pair was the first to feature the brand's Snap+Lock system, which provided additional earcup covers that could magnetically "snap" and "lock" into place. It was designed to be one of the best PS5 headsets, so it came packed with additional cups (what Nacon RIG named 'mod plates') sporting the Sony logo, but the RIG R5 Spear Max HD is a PC headset through and through.
Instead, its mod plates feature an embossed RIG logo on either cup, which are still pretty stylish to snap on. The best aspect of this system is that RIG provides STL 3D printing files for you to make your own. Without access to a 3D printer myself, I haven't yet dived into creating some GamesRadar+ themed earcups, but just the fact that RIG fully supports this creativity is one of the reasons why I'm fond of their cups - especially since they could have easily abandoned this design for this brand-new release.
That's not all that's technically customizable. The snap-lock design ethos carries onto the microphone too, which can be attached to either the left or right earcup. There's a section of magnetic prongs at the bottom of each, which can attach to the microphone unit, or be covered up with a plain black part, which is attached straight out of the box.
When I attended the official press briefing for this headset, it wasn't its customizability that was the main focus, however. Instead, it was those 40mm GrapheneQ audio drivers I mentioned earlier. That's because Nacon RIG partnered with Montreal-based graphene company Ora to specifically create the speaker tech, which they explain carries a "unique combination of high stiffness and low density," to produce improved audio and ultra-low distortion.
For you audiophiles out there, the fact that this headset carries a USB-C DAC with a portable digital-to-analog converter will be another draw. It can support 32-bit/384kHz sample rates, and includes power passthrough for gaming on the go, and an auxiliary port, which is handy for streaming. I currently have it plugged into my PC as I'm typing these very words, as Nacon RIG sent a sample unit my way, and it's been incredibly handy where my convoluted gaming setup is concerned.
It'll take a few weeks of testing to put its "new standard for studio-grade game audio" marketing spiel and USB-C audio DAC to the test and see what it can do for my favorite PC games. If you can't wait, you can grab it right now if you're based in the US straight from Amazon, and put it to the test yourself instead.
I've also rounded up the best PS5 headsets, the best Nintendo Switch headsets, and the best Xbox Series X headsets if the RIG R5 Spear Max HD doesn't sound like a great fit for your gaming setup.
