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RIG R5 Spear Pro HS: one-minute review

(Image credit: Future)

Quality gaming audio doesn’t have to cost the earth; something that Nacon’s RIG brand has proven time and again with some of the best PS5 headsets around. Now, its RIG R5 Spear Pro HS wired gaming headset has landed around the top end of the budget spectrum, and yes, it’s also a winner.

I’m usually wary of cheapish gaming headsets as there’s usually always at least one glaring weakness, even if other aspects impress. However, the R5 Spear Pro is a fantastic all-rounder, providing great build quality, a high level of comfort thanks to its plush ear cups, and superb audio for both gaming and listening to music.

I guess the one big ‘weakness’ here is that the R5 Spear Pro is a wired-only gaming headset, an advantage the aptly named SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 Wireless would have over it, for example. That means you won’t be going wireless via 2.4GHz or Bluetooth. But the silver lining here is that the headset will work with any platform, device, or controller that has a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The R5 Spear Pro is advertised as a PlayStation-facing headset, compatible with PS5 and PS4, while also supporting the brand’s Tempest 3D audio profile. However, you can expect it to work just fine on Xbox Series X, Series S, Nintendo Switch 2, and others, given its simple wired connection.

I really have very little to complain about here, so expect a review on the shorter side. Some on-board features would’ve been nice, like mic muting or EQ switching, but what’s here is impressive for the price.

(Image credit: Future)RIG R5 Spear Pro HS: Price and availability

• List price: $69.99 / £69.99 (around AU$99)
• Available now in the UK and Europe; US release on November 1
• Comparable in price to the Epos H3 and Corsair HS50

The RIG R5 Spear Pro HS gaming headset is having a bit of a staggered release right now. It’s available in the UK and Europe now, but US folks will have to wait until November 1. It retails for $69.99 / £69.99 (around AU$99), and can be bought from Nacon’s website or regional stores.

It’s a pretty fair price tag for what you’re getting here, finding itself between the retail prices of the Epos H3 - our pick for the best wired gaming headset - and another budget banger in the Corsair HS50. Though at this price and sound quality, RIG might just knock Epos’s long-conquering headset off its throne.

RIG R5 Spear Pro HS: specs

Price

$69.99 / £69.99 (around AU$99)

Weight

0.74lbs / 0.34kg

Drivers

40mm graphene

Compatibility

PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, Switch 2, PC

Connection type

Wired (3.5mm)

(Image credit: Future)RIG R5 Spear Pro HS: design and features

Out of the box, the R5 Spear Pro presents a seriously no-frills package. You’re getting the headset itself and a pair of PlayStation-branded mod plates for the ear cups’ exterior. More on those soon.

The headset doesn’t draw much attention to itself with a largely matte black finish. The RIG logo is emblazoned on top of the headband and mod plates, but it’s an otherwise low-key aesthetic. Which, hey, we definitely expect at this price point.

The headset, like other RIG products, is made from sturdy plastic that’s strongly resistant to wear and tear. RIG headsets are always impressively durable, and it’s a similar story here. It’s incredibly comfortable, too, with plush material for the headband and earcups resting nicely on your head without irritating over longer gaming sessions.

The headset naturally features a mic attached to the left earcup. It’s unfortunately not detachable, meaning you probably won’t be leaving the house with it, but it’s impressively flexible and easy to shape into a position that feels right for you.

The centerpiece of the R5 Spear Pro’s design, though, is its bespoke magnetic mod plates, which attach to the headset’s ear cups. As mentioned, the box contains a pair with the PlayStation logo slapped onto them, but you can buy other official designs separately. That includes one specifically designed for the EVO fighting game tournament.

RIG R5 Spear Pro HS: performance

The R5 Spear Pro simply provides brilliant, crisp audio for the price. When I got to testing by plugging it into my DualSense Wireless Controller for a Ghost of Yotei play session, I was immediately struck by the impressively layered audio that picked up on everything from the swaying breeze to distant clashes of swords.

Directional audio is brilliantly accurate, too, with audio flitting between left and right channels in an impressively immersive manner. The absorbing soundtrack of Tetris Effect Connected really came alive here, its audio-reactive gameplay really playing to the R5 Spear Pro HS’s strengths. Its 40mm graphene drivers, overall, provide pristine audio with little distortion even at higher volumes. I’d have preferred its bass register to be a little stronger, but it’s by no means underwhelming here.

Microphone quality is also solid. Not quite as impressive as with the RIG 900 Max HS’s crystal clear quality, but this one still more than gets the job done. It certainly works best on consoles, this flip-to-mute mic, as on my Windows PC I did have to wrestle a bit to get it to recognize the mic. However, using it while connected to a controller on PC solved that issue for me in the short term.

As mentioned, there isn’t much in terms of on-board functionality. The cable does have a volume slider, though it’s honestly a little stiff, and I ended up preferring using software settings on console and PC to adjust the headset’s audio.

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the RIG R5 Spear Pro HS?Buy it if...

You want exceptional audio quality for less
It’s hard to find sound quality this good at this price point. While not the absolute cheapest budget-friendly headset out there, I feel the R5 Spear Pro HS comes in at a very reasonable price given its fantastic audio and strong build quality.

You play on a variety of platforms
Whether you’re on PlayStation, Xbox, or Switch consoles or PC, the R5 Spear Pro HS is an impressively versatile gaming headset, delivering stellar audio quality across all major platforms.

Don't buy it if...

You prefer having on-board buttons and features
Aside from its volume slider, there are no quick shortcuts or buttons on the headset itself. It doesn’t need many, to be fair, but it means you won’t have access to desirable features on other headsets like EQ profiles.

You want better customization
With no compatible companion software, the R5 Spear Pro HS is very much a case of ‘what you hear is what you get.’ Not a terrible thing in and of itself, as you can always rely on Dolby Atmos or Tempest 3D, but those after a more customizable audio experience won’t find it here.

RIG R5 Spear Pro HS: Also consider

Here are a couple more gaming headsets that come highly recommended if you’re not keen on the RIG R5 Spear Pro HS.

RIG R5 Spear Pro HS

Turtle Beach Atlas 200

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X Wireless

Price

$69.99 / £69.99 (around AU$99)

$59.99 / £49.99 (around AU$79)

$109.99 / £99.99 / AU$109.99

Weight

0.74lbs / 0.34kg

0.62lbs / 0.28kg

0.57lbs / 0.27kg

Drivers

40mm graphene

50mm Nanoclear

40mm Neodymium

Compatibility

PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, Switch 2, PC

PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, Switch 2, PC

PC, Xbox Series X (Xbox version only), PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android

Connection type

Wired (3.5mm)

Wired (3.5mm)

Bluetooth, 2.4GHz wireless (USB-C receiver)

Turtle Beach Atlas 200
A real budget powerhouse, once again providing shockingly good audio for the price. Throw in a comfy fit and a crystal clear mic, and this one just may tempt you away from the RIG R5 Spear Pro HS for good reason.

Read our full Turtle Beach Atlas 200 review

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X Wireless
One for consideration if you’re looking for wireless options instead, but want to keep costs down. The Arctis Nova 3X Wireless is a brilliant, cost-effective gaming headset that’s multiplatform-capable and has a lightweight build that remains comfortable for hours on end.

Read our full SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X Wireless review

How I tested the RIG R5 Spear Pro HS

• Tested for two weeks
• Tested across PS5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC
• Compared to other RIG headsets like the RIG 900 Max HS

I tested the RIG R5 Spear Pro HS for two weeks for this review. While I mostly played games with the headset, I also used it for work purposes, as well as casually listening to music in my spare time.

I used the headset across all major platforms, including PS5, Xbox Series X Digital Edition, Nintendo Switch 2, and my gaming PC. For this review, I played titles including Ghost of Yotei, Final Fantasy 14 Online, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, Tetris Effect Connected, PUBG Battlegrounds, and Tekken 8.

During testing, I went back and forth between the R5 Spear Pro HS and the pricier wireless offering, RIG 900 Max HS. I found audio quality to be largely identical across both products, though, as you might expect, build quality is better on the more expensive product, which also feels more durable thanks to its metallic, flexible headband and better materials used overall. Still, the R5 Spear Pro HS isn’t far off.

First reviewed October 2025

Read more about how we test

Detailed audio and a reasonable price tag make the RIG R5 Spear Pro HS a very compelling wired gaming headset.

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