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We've recently released our Test Bench 1.6 update for Headphones! Read the Latency R&D Article to learn more.

Plantronics RIG 800LX Wireless Headphones Review

Tested using Methodology v1.5
Review updated Aug 17, 2020 at 02:31 pm
Latest change: Writing modified Feb 23, 2022 at 01:47 pm
Plantronics RIG 800LX Wireless Picture
8.1
Neutral Sound
5.1
Commute/Travel
6.0
Sports/Fitness
6.4
Office
7.6
Wireless Gaming
5.9
Wired Gaming
6.6
Phone Calls

The Plantronics RIG 800LX Wireless are good gaming headphones with a comfortable and lightweight modular design. Their controls are easy-to-use, they have great battery life, and their sound profile is balanced enough for a variety of audio content. Unfortunately, like most gaming headsets, they're not made for outdoor use, and their build quality feels a bit cheap for their price point. Some users have also reported bass distortion, although this is correctable by turning down the channel mixing dial on the headphones as low as possible before you lose your audio altogether.

Our Verdict

8.1 Neutral Sound

The Plantronics RIG 800LX are good for neutral sound. They're comfortable and have a slightly excited v-shaped sound profile that's still balanced enough for most audio content. Provided you lower the channel mixing level as much as you can when listening to audio, you shouldn't have a problem with bass distortion.

Pros
  • Four EQ presets available.
  • Modular design and decent build quality.
  • Comfortable fit.
  • 24.7 hour continuous battery life.
Cons
5.1 Commute/Travel

The Plantronics RIG 800LX are disappointing for commuting. They aren't travel-friendly headphones as they don't block out a lot of noise, and their bulky design doesn't fold either. Their USB transmitter also limits them, so unless you use them with your laptop, they won't be suitable for traveling and most commutes.

Pros
  • Modular design and decent build quality.
  • Comfortable fit.
  • 24.7 hour continuous battery life.
Cons
  • Bulky and cumbersome design.
  • Poor noise isolation and leakage.
  • Restrictive wireless transmitter.
6.0 Sports/Fitness

The Plantronics RIG 800LX are sub-par for sports. They have a big and bulky gaming design that's not made for running and jogging. They're not very stable and are limited by their transmitter dongle.

Pros
  • Modular design and decent build quality.
  • Comfortable fit.
  • 24.7 hour continuous battery life.
Cons
  • Bulky and cumbersome design.
  • Unstable when worn during physical activity.
  • Restrictive wireless transmitter.
6.4 Office

The Plantronics RIG 800LX are sub-par for office use. They don't block a lot of noise, so you can easily hear what's going on around you. They also leak quite a bit of audio, which may distract your colleagues. On the upside, they're comfortable, compatible with PCs, and they have a long battery life so you can listen to your music continuously for hours.

Pros
  • Modular design and decent build quality.
  • Comfortable fit.
  • 24.7 hour continuous battery life.
Cons
  • Bulky and cumbersome design.
  • Poor noise isolation and leakage.
7.6 Wireless Gaming

The Plantronics RIG 800LX are good for wireless gaming. They have a balanced sound, low audio latency, and convenient wireless design. They're also comfortable and breathable enough to wear for a reasonably long uninterrupted gaming session. Unfortunately, they don't block enough noise for particularly noisy environments, and they don't have any supporting software for added customization options.

Pros
  • Four EQ presets available.
  • Modular design and decent build quality.
  • Comfortable fit.
  • 24.7 hour continuous battery life.
Cons
5.9 Wired Gaming

The Plantronics RIG 800LX are wireless headphones and can't be used for wired gaming.

6.6 Phone Calls

The Plantronics RIG 800LX are adequate for phone calls. While you may not be able to use these headphones with your phone as they require their wireless transmitter to work, you can take calls via your PC. Their boom microphone captures speech clearly, although it sounds a little thin and lacking and detail. You should have no problem being understood, even in a noisy environment.

Pros
  • Modular design and decent build quality.
  • Comfortable fit.
  • 24.7 hour continuous battery life.
  • Boom mic has great noise handling.
Cons
  • Poor noise isolation and leakage.
  • Restrictive wireless transmitter.
  • 8.1 Neutral Sound
  • 5.1 Commute/Travel
  • 6.0 Sports/Fitness
  • 6.4 Office
  • 7.6 Wireless Gaming
  • 5.9 Wired Gaming
  • 6.6 Phone Calls
  1. Updated Jan 18, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
  2. Updated Jan 11, 2021: Updated 'Wired' box to clearly reflect lack of a wired connection.
  3. Updated Aug 17, 2020: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
  4. Updated Feb 19, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
  5. Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
  6. Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
  7. Updated May 01, 2018: Review published.
  8. Updated Apr 29, 2018: Our testers have started testing this product.
  9. Updated Apr 29, 2018: Early access published.
  10. Updated Apr 27, 2018: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  11. Updated Mar 26, 2018: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

There's a similar model called the Plantronics RIG 800HS Wireless, which are meant to be specifically compatible with the PS4. However, this headset appears to be discontinued. There's also a variant of these headphones called the Plantronics RIG 800LX SE. The manufacturer reports that they're the same model as the Plantronics RIG 800LX, but they're only available through Best Buy. If you come across another variant of these headphones, please let us know in the discussions.

Compared To Other Headphones

The Plantronics RIG 800LX Wireless are a good gaming headset with great but flawed sound quality. They're lightweight compared to other gaming headsets, and their modular design makes them decently durable, but they look a bit cheap for their price range. On the upside, they have a well-balanced sound that caters to both neutral listening and gaming.

See our recommendations for the best Xbox One gaming headsets, the best PS4 headsets, and the best wireless gaming headsets.

Astro A50 Gen 3 Wireless 2017

Both the Astro A50 Gen 3 Wireless 2017 and Plantronics RIG 800LX Wireless are good gaming headsets. The Astro feel more solid and are slightly more comfortable than the Plantronics. Both have great audio reproduction, but the Astro have a graphic EQ plus presets within their companion software. In comparison, there's only four EQ presets for the Plantronics, and they're found directly on the headphone's controls. The Astro’s dock is superior, as it has multiple inputs and acts as a charging platform for the headphones, while the Plantronics only have a USB dongle. On the upside, the Plantronics have better wireless range than the Astro and about twice the battery life, which is great. 

Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Wireless

The Plantronics RIG 800LX Wireless are a better gaming headset than the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Wireless. The Plantronics have a fairly well-rounded sound and don’t feel as flimsy as the Turtle Beach. Most of the parts are easily replaceable, and they have an amazing 25-hour battery life. However, the Plantronics don’t have the versatility of the Turtle Beach headset. You can only use it with its USB dongle, while the Turtle Beach can be used wirelessly with its dongle while streaming audio from your phone via Bluetooth.

SteelSeries Arctis 7 Wireless 2017

The SteelSeries Arctis 7 Wireless 2017 is a slightly better gaming headset than the Plantronics RIG 800LX Wireless. The SteelSeries have a better performing boom mic, a companion app with a graphic EQ and presets, and it's compatible with PC, PS4, and Xbox One via an analog connection. However, the Plantronics perform more consistently across reseats and users.

SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless

The SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless are better performing gaming headphones, but the Plantronics RIG 800LX Wireless are more versatile since they can be used with PS4, Xbox One, and PC. The SteelSeries are designed for the Xbox One only. The Plantronics also have better wireless latency. On the other hand, the SteelSeries have a nice companion app with customization options, they are also Bluetooth compatible, and they don’t require a transmitter to work. Their microphone recording quality is noticeably better too. If you only play on Xbox One, the SteelSeries are the better option, but if you need a versatile headset, the Plantronics might be a better alternative.

Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Type Over-ear
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless Yes
Transducer Dynamic

The Plantronics RIG 800LX have a fairly unique design that keeps them lightweight, but not all users will appreciate their modular configuration. They're mostly made from plastic, which makes them look a little cheap, especially compared to other gaming headsets in their price range. Also, the ear cups have a fairly unorthodox shape, but they're well-padded and do not stick out too much once on your head. They have an understated color scheme that's not too flashy regardless of the console variant you choose.

7.5
Design
Comfort
Weight 0.7 lbs
Clamping Force
1.1 lbs

The Plantronics RIG 800LX are comfortable headphones with a self-adjusting ski-band headband. They have large ear cups, comfortable and breathable padding, and they're not too tight on the head. You can also further adjust the fit of these headphones by attaching the ear cups to a lower slot on the headband. They're relatively lightweight compared to similarly designed gaming headsets. However, there are only three available spots on the headband for adjusting the ear cups, which should be fine for most users but may not be ideal for all.

6.0
Design
Controls
OS Compatibility
Not OS specific
Ease Of Use Good
Feedback Decent
Call/Music Control No
Volume Control Yes
Microphone Control Mute/Unmute
Channel Mixing
Yes
Noise Cancelling Control No
Talk-Through
No
Additional Controls Presets

Update 02/23/2022: Plantronics reports that you can't use the chat mix wheel when connected to your PC as the wireless adapter lacks an optical cable port. The mixer only works when connected to an Xbox console. We have updated our review to reflect these results.

These headphones have a simple and easy-to-use gaming control scheme. They provide two dials on the right ear cup for volume and channel mixing control, as well as a power button that doubles as the pairing switch. There's also an extra button on the left ear cup to alternate between preset EQ modes: Pure, Seismic, Intensify, and Vocal Focus. Overall, the buttons are easy to find and fairly intuitive to use with decent feedback, but the dials don't provide discrete clicks when adjusting the volume or chat mixing levels, which some users may find less than precise. PC users also can't take advantage of the chat mix wheel as this control only works on Xbox consoles.

6.8
Design
Breathability
Avg.Temp.Difference 4.9 °C

The Plantronics RIG 800LX are fairly breathable for an over-ear design. They have slightly porous pads that keep your ears decently cool when compared to other headphones with faux leather padding. That said, their over-ear design still obstructs a lot of airflow, and they won't be the best choice for physical activity. However, they should be fine for gaming and more casual uses.

5.6
Design
Portability
L 7.1" (18.0 cm)
W 7.4" (18.8 cm)
H 3.1" (7.9 cm)
Volume 163.00 in³ (2,671.08 cm³)
Transmitter Required Yes

Like most gaming headsets, the Plantronics RIG 800LX have disappointing portability. They have large ear cups that don't fold or lay flat, and they're limited by their transmitter dongle since they have no other connection option. They're a hassle to carry on you if you don't have a bag or a backpack. They also don't come with a case or pouch, which is slightly disappointing.

0
Design
Case
Type No case
L N/A
W N/A
H N/A
Volume N/A

These headphones don't come with a case or pouch.

7.0
Design
Build Quality

The Plantronics RIG 800LX have a decent build quality. They're made from lightweight but dense plastic, and they should be durable enough to handle multiple drops without breaking. However, their plastic build quality still feels a little cheap. The audio cables leading to the ear cups are also somewhat exposed and since the ear cups are detachable, there's a higher risk of accidentally snapping the cables when trying to adjust the fit of the cups.

6.0
Design
Stability

Like most gaming headphones, the Plantronics RIG 800LX Wireless have mediocre stability. They're not made for physical activity, and their bulky design can fall off your head if you use them while working out. On the upside, since they're wireless Bluetooth headphones, there's no cable to get caught on something and yank the headphones off your head.

Design
Headshots 1
Design
Headshots 2
Design
Top
Design
In The Box

  • Plantronics RIG 800LX headphones
  • Base transmitter
  • USB charging cable
  • Manual

Sound
Sound
Sound Profile
Bass Amount
-0.48 dB
Treble Amount
0.33 dB

The Plantronics RIG 800LX Wireless have a slightly excited v-shaped sound profile, but it's still balanced enough to be suitable for a wide range of audio content. While they don't have a companion software, if you prefer a different sound, there are four EQ presets you can toggle through directly on the headphones.

7.6
Sound
Frequency Response Consistency
Avg. Std. Deviation
0.47 dB

The Plantronics RIG 800LX have a good frequency response consistency. Treble delivery can vary due to the ski-band headband design and is sensitive to how the headphones are positioned and placed on your head.

Sound
Raw Frequency Response
8.3
Sound
Bass Accuracy
Std. Err.
2.37 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
16.82 Hz
Low-Bass
1.97 dB
Mid-Bass
2.34 dB
High-Bass
2.73 dB

The Plantronics RIG 800LX have great bass accuracy. The bass is slightly overemphasized across the range, but it still has a fairly flat response that isn't too overwhelming. The result is a thumpy bass that has a good amount of warmth and kick.

8.9
Sound
Mid Accuracy
Std. Err.
1.44 dB
Low-Mid
0.43 dB
Mid-Mid
0.89 dB
High-Mid
0.94 dB

The mid accuracy of the Plantronics RIG 800LX is excellent. It's fairly flat and neutral, resulting in vocals and lead instruments that sound detailed, natural, and present in your mixes.

7.2
Sound
Treble Accuracy
Std. Err.
4.12 dB
Low-Treble
4.26 dB
Mid-Treble
1.94 dB
High-Treble
-1.1 dB

The Plantronics RIG 800LX have alright treble accuracy. There's some overemphasis in the low treble, which makes lead instruments sound sharp and harsh. There's also a bit of brightness coming from the mid-treble.

7.8
Sound
Peaks/Dips
Peaks
1.48 dB
Dips
0.92 dB

Their peaks and dips performance is good. There are several small peaks across the entire range. The low-bass brings thump and rumble, while the dip in the high-mid weakens vocals and lead instruments. The peak in low-treble makes the upper harmonics of vocals and lead instruments harsh, and sibilants such as S and Ts or cymbals sound dull in comparison.

8.9
Sound
Imaging
Weighted Group Delay
0.25
Weighted Phase Mismatch
2.77
Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
0.33
Weighted Frequency Mismatch
1.55

The stereo imaging is excellent. Except for a small peak in the low bass, the group delay response falls below the audibility threshold, resulting in a tight bass and a transparent treble reproduction. Additionally, the L/R drivers of our test unit are very well-matched. This is important for accurate placement and localization of objects (voices, instruments, video game effects) in the stereo image.

6.9
Sound
Passive Soundstage
PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)
2.17 dB
PRTF Size (Avg.)
3.48 dB
PRTF Distance
8.2 dB
Openness
9.2
Acoustic Space Excitation
5.9

The passive soundstage of the Plantronics RIG 800LX is okay. Although they're closed-back headphones, they sound fairly open and natural. That being said, their soundstage is still perceived as relatively small, as if it were located inside your head.

0
Sound
Virtual Soundstage
Head Modeling
No
Speaker Modeling
No
Room Ambience
No
Head Tracking
No
Virtual Surround
No App

These headphones don't have any virtual soundstage features.

8.3
Sound
Weighted Harmonic Distortion
WHD @ 90
0.162
WHD @ 100
0.080

The weighted harmonic distortion is great. All frequencies fall within acceptable limits, which should result in a clear and pure audio reproduction.

It should be noted that some users have reported hearing a lot of bass distortion. This can be corrected by lowering the channel mixing volume dial on the headphones as low as it can go without losing your audio. After that, you can control volume using the bottom volume dial.

Sound
Test Settings
Firmware
Unknown
Power
On
Connection
Wireless (Proprietary)
Codec
PCM, 24-bit, 48kHz
EQ
Default
ANC
No ANC
Tip/Pad
Default
Microphone
Boom

These are the settings used to test the Plantronics RIG 800LX Wireless, and our results are only valid when using these settings.

Isolation
1.8
Isolation
Noise Isolation
Isolation Audio
Overall Attenuation
-5.7 dB
Noise Cancelling No
Bass
-0.08 dB
Mid
0.23 dB
Treble
-16.94 dB

The Plantronics RIG 800LX have terrible isolation. They struggle to isolate bass noise like the rumble of airplane or bus engines, and really struggle to cut down mid-range sounds like speech. They do a better job of reducing treble range sounds like sibilants, but it's still a disappointing performance overall.

4.9
Isolation
Leakage
Leakage Audio
Overall Leakage @ 1ft
50.04 dB

The Plantronics RIG 800LX leakage performance is poor. They have a leakage that's more full-bodied compared to that of in-ears and earbuds. The overall level of the leakage is relatively loud. If you like to listen to your music at max volume, people can easily hear what you're listening to, even if you're in a moderately loud environment like an office.

Microphone
Microphone
Microphone Style
Integrated
No
In-Line
No
Boom
Yes
Detachable Boom
No
Mic Yes

The Plantronics RIG 800LX have a boom microphone.

7.4
Microphone
Recording Quality
Recorded Speech
LFE
409.04 Hz
FR Std. Dev.
1.95 dB
HFE
6,358.31 Hz
Weighted THD
0.166
Gain
21.47 dB

The Plantronics 800LX's microphone has a decent recording quality. Speech sounds a bit thin and lacks a little bit of detail and airiness. On the upside, it doesn't sound too muffled, and it's quite easy for others on the line to understand you.

8.0
Microphone
Noise Handling
SpNR
29.51 dB
Noise Gate
Always On
Speech + Pink Noise Handling
8.0
Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample
Speech + Subway Noise Handling
8.0
Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample

The boom microphone of the Plantronics RIG 800LX is very good at noise handling. It's able to separate speech from ambient noise, even in loud environments, like a subway station.

Active Features
8.2
Active Features
Battery
Battery Type
Rechargable
Continuous Battery Life
24.7 hrs
Additional Charges
0.0
Total Battery Life
24.7 hrs
Charge Time
3.2 hrs
Power-Saving Feature
Standby mode
Audio While Charging
Yes
Passive Playback
No
Charging Port micro-USB

These headphones have great battery life. They have a very long-lasting battery, which should be more than enough for most gaming sessions. You can also use them while they're charging, so you can easily stay in the game, provided you're near a wall outlet. Unfortunately, they take quite a bit of time to charge and don't automatically power down when inactive. That said, they do have a fairly long standby time, and a quick 30-minute charge can give you about three hours of playback.

0
Active Features
App Support
App Name No App
iOS No
Android No
macOS No
Windows No
Equalizer
No
ANC Control
No
Mic Control No
Room Effects
No
Playback Control
No
Button Mapping No
Surround Support
No

These headphones don't have any compatible software for added customization options.

Connectivity
0
Connectivity
Bluetooth
Bluetooth Version
No Bluetooth
Multi-Device Pairing
No
NFC Pairing
No
Line Of Sight Range
N/A
PC Latency (SBC)
N/A
PC Latency (aptX)
N/A
PC Latency (aptX HD)
N/A
PC Latency (aptX-LL)
N/A
iOS Latency
N/A
Android Latency
N/A

These headphones aren't Bluetooth compatible. If you want a gaming headset with Bluetooth support, check out the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 or the SteelSeries Arctis 9X Wireless, especially if you mostly play on the Xbox One.

8.8
Connectivity
Non-Bluetooth Wireless
Non-BT Line Of Sight Range
110.00 ft (33.53 m)
Non-BT Latency
19 ms

When using their transmitter dongle, the Plantronics RIG 800LX Wireless have excellent non-Bluetooth wireless connectivity for gaming and watching movies as their latency is quite low.

0
Connectivity
Wired
Analog Audio
No
USB Audio
No
Detachable No
Length N/A
Connection
No Wired Option
Analog/USB Audio Latency
N/A

Update 01/11/2021: The 'Connection' and 'Length' fields have been updated to more clearly reflect that these headphones don't support any wired connections. The score hasn't changed.

These headphones don't come with an audio cable that you can use without their transmitter dongle. If you want a gaming headset with an audio cable, then consider the SteelSeries Arctis 7 Wireless 2017.

Connectivity
PC Compatibility
Analog
No
Wired USB
No
Non-BT Wireless
Audio + Microphone
Connectivity
PlayStation Compatibility
PS4 Analog
No
PS4 Wired USB
No
PS4 Non-BT Wireless
Audio + Microphone
PS5 Analog
No
PS5 Wired USB
No
PS5 Non-BT Wireless
Audio + Microphone
Connectivity
Xbox Compatibility
Xbox One Analog
No
Xbox One Wired USB
No
Xbox One Non-BT Wireless
Audio + Microphone
Xbox Series X|S Analog
No
Xbox Series X|S Wired USB
No
Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless
Audio + Microphone

These headphones are only fully compatible with the Xbox One when using their transmitter dongle.

3.4
Connectivity
Base/Dock
Type
Wireless USB Dongle
USB Input
Yes
Line In
No
Line Out
No
Optical Input
No
RCA Input
No
Dock Charging
No
Power Supply
USB

These headphones come with a simple, console-specific USB transmitter. They have only one input, which is their non-detachable USB cable, and you can switch between PC or console mode on the transmitter. Unfortunately, the base doesn't work across platforms, so you won't be able to switch between your PS4 and Xbox One, and there's no optical input.

There's also limited functionality when connecting the transmitter to the PS4 if you set the transmitter to PC mode. We've tested this setup and confirm that it gives you audio and microphone support but no controls. You won't be able to change the volume or microphone balance directly on the headset but having voice and audio support on the PS4, even with limited functionality, is pretty great.