RIG 900 Max HX impressions: exceptional sound and comfort, but blends with the crowd Nacon has launched its new flagship headset in the US, the RIG 900 Max HX, which offers features like Dolby Atmos personalization, a lightweight design, and superior audio. Here are our thoughts.Tom West Published 15 Nov 2023 FollowtopicsXbox Series X|SArticleTom West The RIG 900 Max HX is the latest flagship headset from Nacon, building upon its 800 Pro HX predecessor with dual wireless connectivity, multi-platform support (despite it being a Designed for Xbox peripheral), Bluetooth 5.1, and more. On top of that, the 900 Max is the first gaming headset to take advantage of the Dolby Atmos Personalisation app, which is designed to offer you a more personal 3D audio experience… and it’s fantastic. Of course, with these many features comes a higher price tag, and Nacon has it priced $100 higher than the 800 Pro. Currently, the RIG 900 Max HX is only available in the US via RIGGaming and BestBuy for $249.99. After using Nacon’s new high-end headset for the last few weeks, here are our thoughts.Aesthetically clean, durable, and exceptionally comfortableInside the box, you’ll find the RIG 900 Max HX headset itself, a USB-A to USB-C charging cable and the base station it charges for the headset’s wireless charging, and a USB Wireless Adapter. From the get-go, it’s clear that you’re not paying extra for any aesthetic bonuses— much like RIG’s other headsets, these come in an all-black matte finish with gloss black highlights on the mic boom arm and earcups and sport a silver RIG logo on the top and sides of the headband. It’s smart-looking and features a rugged ‘operator-style’ appearance that highlights its gaming purpose while still appearing clean and conventional. I’m a big fan of the clean blackout look, and thankfully, that styling carries over to the base station as well, which has a matte black finish around the edges and a gloss black finish on the top, where your headset sits to charge. There's nothing here that screams "premium headset," though, as the 900 Max could easily blend in with its lower-priced siblings to great effect. Smart, yes, but if you want your headset to stand out from the crowd when paying $250, you'll likely be disappointed here.While aesthetically pleasing, the build quality of the RIG 900 Max HX feels like a premium item, from the flexible steel headband to the large, extremely comfortable, noise-isolating cushioned ear cups. The headband itself has a lot of flex to it, and it feels like you’d need to contort it with a fair amount of force to get it to snap. On the inside is a secondary padded headband sling, which is comfortable during long gaming sessions. The earcups attach to the steel headband via a “Snap-Fit” mechanism. Unlike other retractable headbands, the Snap-Fit clips on each earcup slot into the hand band via three different heights, and it gives the earcups very little wiggle room once they’re attached, leaving everything in a comfortable place once it’s on your head. It’s a little less flexible for finding the perfect fit for your head than other headband styles, but I’ve had no issues. With everything attached, including the flip-down mic with noise-cancellation, the 900 Max HX weighs in at just 295 grams, or 10.5 ounces, and you can really feel how light it is after you’ve been wearing it for a good few hours and you don’t have any uncomfortable aches occurring — it’s by far the most comfortable headset I’ve ever graced my head with.The RIG 900 Max HX is a wireless headset, and while it is a Designed for Xbox product, the included Wireless USB Adapter allows you to use the headset with other platforms via 2.4GHz wireless, such as PC, PlayStation, and Nintendo. Out of the box, the adapter is slotted in the docking station, which will automatically connect to the platform the docking station is plugged into with the USB cable. If you want to put the station elsewhere, the adapter can be removed and plugged directly into your machine, seamlessly connecting to the 900 Max without any issues. The headset slots into the docking station via a four-pin connector on the base of the headset, and other than the very infrequent wiggle you might need to give it to get the pins to connect, the headset pops into its holder without fuss. It’s a great design: smart-looking, convenient, and hassle-free.Feature-rich and the first headset to use Dolby Atmos PersonalizationWhile the USB adapter allows you to connect to your platform of choice wirelessly, Nacon has also included Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity with the 900 Max HX, and with dual connectivity, you can simultaneously use your mobile or other device alongside your game audio. If, like me, you enjoy being plugged into social media or WhatsApp while gaming, it goes without saying that dual connectivity is needed in a headset. Connecting to your device is as simple as holding down the Bluetooth button on the headset’s left earcup for six seconds — all of the controls are on that one earcup. By pressing the button, you can switch between game audio (2.5GHz), Bluetooth, or Dual-Connectivity. Nacon puts the battery life of the 900 Max HX at around 60 hours when in Bluetooth mode and around 50 hours when in 2,4GHz mode. During my time with the headset, I’ve managed to go a good few days (around ten hours per day) without charging it, so I’d be inclined to agree that you’re getting a good bit of life out of this headset — I could have gone longer, but I didn’t feel it was overly necessary. Inside each earcup, you’ll find high-sensitivity 40mm drivers, which provide a pretty solid audio experience from the get-go, with acceptable bass and acoustics, but favoring the mid-range frequencies. To get the most out of the 900 Max HX, you’ll need to download two apps to your Android or iOS device: 900 Max Navigator and Dolby Personalization apps. While the standard audio settings offer depth and clear sound right out of the box, the 900 Max Navigator app is an absolute must to get the most out of the headset. It offers clear and intuitive controls for updating the headset, customizing the bass, mid, and treble the 900 Max HX emits — the addition of an expert mode gives you control to fine-tune it even further. Standard presets are already available for no EQ, FPS, bass boost, voice boost, and clarity modes, or you can create your own using the custom mode. It's a great app that ensures you can tweak the audio to your liking, but there is a heavy reliance on it. You can set up to three different profiles for various uses, but to switch between them, you have to manually go into the app, as there are no buttons for it on the headset itself. It's not a huge deal if you leave the settings in your custom mode, but if you're someone who likes to switch between profiles for games, movies, or music, it's a bit of a pain each time — I wouldn't say it's inconvenient, but a toggle on the headset itself would have been preferred.The controls on the headset itself are the aforementioned Bluetooth button that can switch between Bluetooth, game, and dual connectivity modes, a multifunction button for switching between voice and game volume when adjusting the volume wheel and answering calls, and an on/off button. It definitely feels like there could be room for an audio mode button for a little more convenience here. Finally, the feature Nacon is championing with the 900 Max HX is the brand-new Dolby Atmos Personalization app. Now, I have to be honest, I was dubious at first about this feature, as I wondered if its 3D audio would live up to the hype. I was wrong. The Dolby Atmos Personalization is the pièce de resistance of the 900 Max HX's audio capabilities, and it requires very little effort to set up. Simply download the app, sign in with your Dolby ID, scan your face and the side of your head with the app, open the Dolby Access app on your console, and away you go — 3D sound that envelopes you into the action on screen. To see how far the tech could go, I played a bunch of Battlefield 1943 (yes, the 2009 Xbox 360 game) and it was audibly far superior to what it was visually. Vehicle noises, gunfire, explosions, and the like are localized in every direction, and even in a game as old as 1943, the enhanced atmosphere, deep impactful bass, and well-placed sound localization improved my experience immeasurably. For once, I have been blown away by a feature I figured would be merely a gimmick... plus, with the 900 Max HX, Dolby Atmos comes as standard, so you'll not need a subscription to access it! Bravo.VerdictNacon's RIG 900 Max HX is undoubtedly worthy of its status as a high-end peripheral, offering exceptional comfort due to its lightweight design, and a feature-rich toolset. While I'd have liked to have seen a more convenient way to switch between audio profiles, there is very little I don't like about this peripheral. It looks smart — but doesn't stand out from the crowd for the price — its docking station makes the usual USB charging feel cumbersome on other headsets, and it excels in every way that counts when it comes to audio. The Dolby Atmos support is a game changer (pun intended), and it ensures the RIG 900 Max HX can roll with any other headset in the $250 price range. This is certainly a beast worthy of long gaming marathons.A test unit was provided by Nacon for this reviewXbox Series X|SWindowsXbox One Written by Tom WestTom has been playing video games since he was old enough to hold a controller, experimenting with a number of systems until he eventually fell in love with Xbox. With a passion for the platform, he decided to make a career out of it, and now happily spends his days writing about that which he loves. If he’s not hunting for Xbox achievements, you’ll likely find him somewhere in The Elder Scrolls Online or fighting for survival in Battlefield.