The Mixer
Unusually, it's not the actual headset that's the most interesting part of the RIG package, it's what's further down the cable: a small, circular table-top device dubbed the Mixer.
Serving as the epicentre of the entire RIG experience, the Mixer is tasked with connecting the headset to your PC or games console, as well as your smartphone or tablet. The small device is about the same size as one of the headset's earcups, and, while made primarily of plastic, feels solid and well built.
Rubber feet on the underside help keep the Mixer in place during use, and though there are a myriad of buttons of ports, setting it up and using it is actually relatively straightforward. Up front, there are just two connectors; a 3.5mm jack for the headset itself (and yes, you could use any other 3.5mm headset if you wanted to), as well as a 2.5mm jack for connecting an Xbox 360 controller.
On the back, you'll find a further three ports, two of which are equipped with fixed cables. The first is a short 3.5mm jack for connecting to a smartphone or tablet, while the second is a split USB 2.0 and 3.5mm cable that connects to your PC or games console (both the Xbox 360 and PS3 are supported). The USB portion is used to supply power - there's no need for batteries and no need for drivers as this is a plug-and-play solution - and the 3.5mm plug supplies audio from your source. The third and final port is optical, which while useful for connecting to your games console, is the only connection that doesn't come with a bundled cable.
There are a fair amount of wires to contend with, and we'd really liked to have seen the Mixer connect to smartphones via Bluetooth, but once everything is plugged in accordingly, the device feels intuitive to use. The exterior dial controls master volume, a pair of internal sliders control volume independently for mobile/game sound, and an easy-to-hit central rocker switch allows you to toggle microphone input between your phone and your game.
Sounds more complicated than it actually is. In practise, it took us no time to get used to the controls, and the ability to mix volume from each source works particularly well. Up until now, I never knew I wanted to listen to podcasts on my mobile while playing games on my Xbox.
On the Mixer's nearest edge, Plantronics also provides three tactile buttons. From left to right, these are call answer/end, microphone mute, and equaliser selection. There's no manual EQ adjustment, but the Mixer provides a trio of presets dubbed Pure, Intense and Explosive, which in our experience work best with music, games and movies, respectively.
