The ASUS ROG Kithara Gaming Headset is an audiophile-grade headset designed in collaboration with HIFIMAN. ROG aims to break new ground by elevating its gaming headset to audiophile-grade acoustic quality. Leveraging the power and experience of specifically tuned HIFIMAN 100mm planar magnetic drivers, ROG aims to seamlessly integrate these two worlds of audio into a single, powerful headset.
With quality at the centre of the Kithara Gaming Headset design, these open-back headphones offer a unique look and feel. Reminiscent of HIFIMAN’s iconic oval structure, the Kithara’s teardrop structure features an aluminum frame that feels sturdy and well constructed.
With a full aluminum design, the ASUS ROG Kithara Gaming Headset feels premium in every sense of the word. The detachable earcups provide a plush seal around the ear thanks to the breathable foam badding and leave plenty of room for your ears to rest without being pinched. Examining the underside of the headset reveals dual 3.5mm headphone jacks that provide the Kithara a plethora of connection options.
With two different connection cables provided, ROG’s audiophile-grade headphones can support traditional 3.5mm, 4.4mm and 6.33 single-ended plugs. The cable features a twist-lock end, allowing each connection to be swapped out with ease on the single cable. As a hybrid gaming/audiophile headset, ROG has also included a second dual 3.5 mm cable that features a boom mic and USB-C adaptor, allowing for a seamless USB-C connection to everything from PCs, consoles, mobile devices, DACs, and amps.
It’s a robust list of cables and cable ends. What I appreciate, aside from the incredible level of adaptability, is that ROG has included all of these as part of the box price. No special ordering of extra cables or having to pick from one of many connection options. Its all part of a single complete package.
Examining the tops of the earcups reveals a sturdy swivel hinge that allows for up to around 100° of turn, meaning the headset can be laid flat for packing if taken while travelling. The headband carries the same robust and durable design as the rest of the headphones, with a foam tension band acting as the size adjuster, which reveals my one major issue with the headset’s design.
“With a full aluminum design, the ASUS ROG Kithara Gaming Headset feels premium in every sense of the word.”
While not quite as heavy as the Audeze Maxwell 2, the Kithara weighs in at a solid 420g. Where this begins to be problematic is in the foam tension band. I’ve found in testing that it struggles to stay at the adjusted point on the band, easily slipping to the next point of adjustment while gaming or listening to music. It’s not that it doesn’t work; it’s that it doesn’t lock into place well enough to manage the weight of the Kithara. As long as you stil fairly still, you should be okay, but if you move around frequently, the tension band tends to slip. Considering how well the rest of the headset is designed, this is a bit disappointing.
Shifting to the audio experience, on this front, ROG has nailed it with their audiophile-grade gaming headset. The inclusion of specifically tuned HIFIMAN 100mm planar magnet drivers is a delightful treat. For starters, the drivers support an incredibly wide frequency range of 8Hz to 55KHz, which, when paired with the open-back design, presents an incredibly detailed and wide soundscape.
In audio testing, the Kithara performed exceptionally well. Frequency testing showed a consistently clean presentation across the spectrum. The drivers present clear distinctions in the frequency bands, with the lows, mids and highs all presenting naturally and without distortion. While the lows and mids remain fairly flat in their frequency presentation, the highs punch up a bit, which works well in the final audio presentation.
In music testing, lows come through clean, clear, and very present, while the mids sound distinct and well-balanced. The highs push through to help accent vocal tones exceptionally well. The final result is an incredibly clear mix, with each element detailed and balanced. Gaming is the real treat, though, as every aspect of the mix is presented well. The wider soundscape also means that the overall mix feels full and robust, adding to the overall immersion of gameplay. The most impressive element of this powerful headset is that it only has 16Ω of impedance, so you can power it with your phone if needed.
The included boom mic simply adds to the overall experience with a frequency response of 20Hz-20kHz, ideal for vocal capture. In testing, my voice felt natural with little to no compression. It comes through loud and clear with very little background noise being pulled into the mix.
I am thoroughly impressed with the overall audio presentation in the ASUS ROG Kithara Gaming Headset. It’s clean, full and well-balanced, adding immersive listening to your gaming experience. While the tension band is an area that could use improvement, the rest of the headset’s design and build is spot on. For their first partnership with HIFIMAN and branching out into the world of audiophile territory, the ASUS ROG Kithara Gaming Headset is worth a listen.
- ROG-tuned 100mm HIFIMAN planar magnetic drivers: Audiophile-grade fidelity across an ultra-wide frequency range with vivid detail and exceptionally low distortion
- Open-back architecture: Spacious, natural soundstage with clear separation across bass, mids, and treble
