Plantronics has produced the answer to a question I'm not sure anyone is asking: How do you answer phone calls without taking off your gaming headset? That solution is the Rig, a $130 gaming headset that works with multiple platforms and sports a unique dual-channel mixer which empowers you to jump between chatting with teammates and talking to the pizza guy by flipping a switch.
Simple setup, solid performance
That mixer is the Rig's killer feature, and Plantronics has built it into an intuitively shaped, sleek, black puck that sports a paired cable (USB and 3.5mm audio) for your PC or game console, as well as a second audio cable for your smartphone or tablet. Plug the latter into your smartphone and you can use the Rig's headset to take phone calls by flipping over to the phone's channel and jabbing the call button on the front of the mixer.
It's plastic, sure, but the Rig's mixer is surprisingly sturdy and satisfying to use, with a puck-shaped design that feels good in the hand.
You switch between channels by punching the big rocker switch on top of the puck. You adjust the relative volume level of each channel independently using small sliders on the inside ring of the mixer, and control the overall volume by cranking the giant rotating dial that comprises the puck's outer ring. It's a simple control scheme that feels very natural and satisfying to use, like flipping switches and twisting dials on an old-fashioned radio. After a few minutes I was able to quickly adjust the volume of either channel and flip between channels without even looking.
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