ASUS ROG Cetra Open Wireless review: a different kind of gaming earbuds

The ASUS ROG Cetra Open Wireless are something that has never been seen before: open-ear earbuds designed specifically for gamers. No silicone earplugs, no noise-canceling and an open ear canal. Sounds niche? It is. This test shows whether this is a problem.

Technical specifications of the ASUS ROG Cetra Open Wireless

The product	Cetra Open Wireless
Bluetooth codecs	SBC, AAC
driver	14.2 mm
Frequency response	20 Hz to 20,000 Hz
Maximum operating range	15m (without obstacle)
Battery life	Up to 16 hours, 40 hours in total with charging case; (varies depending on volume level and audio content) / Up to 64 hours via Bluetooth
Charging time	2 hours (for charging case via USB-C)
Compatibility	PC; Mac, PS5; PS4; Nintendo Switch; iOS; Adroid; Bluetooth
Special features	Simultaneous multipoint; RGB lighting; Phantom bass; Immersion mode
Price	€ 240.49 *

ASUS ROG Cetra Open Wireless review: design and build quality

In-ear headphones for gamers: we’ve seen this before. For example, the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds (our test) or the ASUS ROG Cetra True Wireless. But as open-ear headphones? That’s new. It was only a matter of time before a manufacturer went down this route – after all, open-ears are considered to be the fastest growing segment in the headphone sector.

ASUS is fully committed to the ROG aesthetic in terms of design. The earbuds look comparatively chunky and angular for an open-ear model. You definitely have to like that. Of course, there is also RGB lighting, which can be adjusted or completely deactivated in the companion app – this makes the appearance much more discreet and, incidentally, extends the battery life. But even without lighting, the design remains unmistakably a gaming product, and one that does not hide its origins.

The ASUS ROG Cetra Open Wireless come in a massive charging case. Barely more compact than a medium-sized smartphone and quite thick. This is not really pocket-friendly. The main reason for this is the supplied 2.4 GHz USB-C dongle, which is securely stowed in the case. The charging case has an IPX2 rating, which protects against occasional splashes and damp environments. This is solid, but not all-weather protection. The dongle itself has an L-shaped design. Not an ideal solution, as it blocks the neighboring USB port when plugged in.

At least the dongle has a USB-C passthrough port, which allows you to continue charging a controller, for example. Pretty practical. The earbuds make a more solid impression. They are IPX5 certified, which offers protection against rain and sweat. Only the USB dongle is completely without water resistance. This is less important for indoor gaming sessions, but anyone who wants to use the earbuds for sports should be aware of this.

The wearing concept follows the classic open-ear ear clip approach: each earbud fits over the ear cup with a clip, the driver sits directly in front of the ear canal without closing it. The weight is 11 grams per earbud. Light enough to hardly be noticed after a short familiarization phase. A reflective neckband with built-in spring steel keeps the earbuds additionally secured if required. The clamping force can be adjusted by turning the earbuds during insertion.

As someone who has already tested many open-ear headphones, I find that the wearing comfort takes some getting used to. This is perhaps due to the fact that the ASUS ROG Cetra Open Wireless rely on a rather large and wide counterweight that rests behind the ear. Not ideal, but you get used to it. The individual button on each earbud has a pleasantly tactile pressure point and can also be easily felt blind. The workmanship of the earbuds themselves is very good, but unfortunately the somewhat wobbly plastic charging case can’t keep up.

Features of the ASUS ROG Cetra Open Wireless

On paper, the ASUS ROG Cetra Open Wireless offer an unusually wide range of features for gaming earbuds. Thanks to Bluetooth and a 2.4 GHz dongle, they are compatible with PC, macOS, PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, iOS and Android.

This means that the Cetra Open Wireless covers almost every relevant gaming platform. A real advantage over competitors, some of which are only optimized for one console generation or one ecosystem.
Particularly practical and by no means a matter of course in the gaming segment: the Cetra Open Wireless support simultaneous multipoint connectivity. With the 2.4 GHz dongle on the PS5, they can be simultaneously connected to a smartphone via Bluetooth. This allows you to listen to music or podcasts on your cell phone and immerse yourself in the game at the same time.

Many users are familiar with standard multipoint, where only one connection delivers active audio at a time – but simultaneous multipoint, which processes both sources at the same time, is not a matter of course, even with more expensive gaming headsets. Anyone who switches a lot between games, calls and music will appreciate this feature.

The drivers are 14 mm units with a carbon-coated membrane that cover a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. Bluetooth 6.0 is supported, but only the SBC and AAC codecs are available. This is sufficient for the primary gaming application, especially as high-resolution codecs such as aptX or LDAC hardly make sense in the open-ear segment anyway.

The control via the integrated buttons is basically logical: tap once for play/pause or answer call, twice for the next track or reject call, three times for the voice assistant and four times for the volume – left for quieter, right for louder. At least the entire button assignment can be customized in the Gear Link app according to your own preferences. The buttons themselves have a pleasant, crisp pressure point and are easy to find, even without looking.

Another practical detail: the USB dongle has a USB-C passthrough port, which allows the connected device to continue charging even if the charging port is occupied by the dongle. In practice, this is particularly relevant for smartphone gaming or laptop use, where every port counts.

Battery life of up to 16 hours

The battery life is one of the most impressive aspects of the ASUS ROG Cetra Open Wireless. ASUS claims a runtime of up to 16 hours per charge, with the charging case providing a further 32 hours. This means a total capacity of 48 hours. These figures are pleasingly realistic: after extended gaming sessions of eight hours or more, the earbuds showed no worrying signs of exhaustion.

The comparison with the competition is clear: The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds, one of the strongest competitors in the gaming earbud segment, manage around ten hours per charge with 30 hours in the case. In this discipline, the Cetra Open Wireless are clearly better positioned than their direct competitors.

When used via the USB dongle with Immersion Mode activated (dampens low frequencies such as humming or fans), it lasted around seven hours and 30 minutes. That shows: If you use all features simultaneously (RGB lighting, immersion mode, dongle connection), you should expect significantly shorter runtimes than the manufacturer’s specifications suggest. The 16 hours are achieved under optimized conditions, i.e. with deactivated lighting, without Phantom Bass and without Immersion Mode. In realistic everyday use with mixed connections and active features, you can expect eight to ten hours per battery charge, which is still very good.

According to the manufacturer, the charging case provides around three full charges of the earbuds. It is a pity that wireless charging is not supported. A feature that is no longer a rarity in this price range and would have made everyday life much easier.

App connection via Gear Link

The software connection is one of the product’s positive surprises. The ASUS ROG Cetra Open Wireless can be controlled via the Gear Link platform, either via a mobile app or a browser-based web app.

Instead of relying on classically installed software, ASUS has developed a browser-based solution that requires no local installation and works on practically any PC or smartphone as long as there is an internet connection. In concrete terms, this means: no Armory Crate, no forced registration. This is a real plus point, especially for gamers who already have enough bloatware on their computer.

EQ settings, RGB lighting, button assignments and microphone settings can be adjusted in both the mobile app and the web version. The equalizer offers ten bands and various presets for gaming, music and film. That’s more flexibility than many gaming headsets in this price range offer.

The microphone settings are particularly well thought-out: there is a noise gate option and a “Perfect Voice” feature that automatically optimizes your own voice and ensures clearer transmission in team play.
Immersion mode can also be activated via the app. This mode works as a kind of attenuated version of noise canceling: it reduces continuous ambient noise such as the hum of an air conditioning system, the noise of traffic or voices in the surroundings without completely eliminating the perception of the environment. This is no substitute for full ANC, but it does noticeably reduce the noise level in quieter environments. In really loud situations such as the subway or in an open-plan office, however, it clearly reaches its limits.

The touch gestures of the earbuds can be fully customized in the app. Overall, the Gear Link app is surprisingly clear and pleasant to use for a gaming product. Not a matter of course in a segment where companion apps often cause more frustration than joy.

Sound quality of the ASUS ROG Cetra Open Wireless

The sound quality of the ASUS ROG Cetra Open Wireless is undoubtedly difficult to describe. What you have to give the open-ears credit for is that they sound really good in this product category. But they are also far from being an all-rounder.

Let’s start with the positives. In dialog-heavy single-player games such as Baldur’s Gate 3 or Claire Obscure, the Cetra Open Wireless reproduces voices clearly and in great detail. Individual words don’t blend into each other and even emotional nuances come through clearly. The sound effects and spatiality are also pleasing: Enemies’ footsteps can be located precisely and explosions sound powerful.

However, as soon as you move towards a more voluminous, bass-accentuated sound, the weaknesses of the open-ear concept become apparent. The bass is noticeably in the background and does not manage to position itself clearly alongside the mids and highs. The treble in particular is overemphasized, which can sometimes lead to an unpleasant sharpness at high volumes.

The phantom bass feature in the app tries to counteract this, but it cannot conjure up deep bass in the ear (or in front of it). Horror games with a dense atmosphere in particular lose out significantly here. However, the music is also unable to unfold in the way you would expect from gaming headsets or headphones. The soundtrack is noticeably lacking in substance, instruments sound rather thin and lack a certain pomp.

Compared to closed in-ear gaming earbuds or over-ear headsets, the sound is inevitably thinner. That was to be expected. In combination with the shrill treble, the ASUS ROG Cetra Open Wireless sound too strained for my taste, which can be tiring in the long run.

Microphone test recording ASUS ROG Cetra Open Wireless:

As for the microphone: It basically works well, delivers clear speech intelligibility and a decent signal-to-noise ratio. However, very loud noises can occasionally overwhelm the microphones and lead to clipping. Even then, the AI-supported noise suppression isolates your own voice well. This is absolutely sufficient for team play communication in online matches, but you shouldn’t expect much more.

ASUS ROG Cetra Open Wireless Review: Conclusion

Let’s be honest: the ASUS ROG Cetra Open Wireless are a niche product. Open-ear headphones undoubtedly have their raison d’être in everyday life and sport – as evidenced by the increasing popularity of the product category. But for gaming? I don’t really see the point (or advantage) of open-ears here.

Gamers usually want the best possible sound and this classification simply can’t offer that. This is not a problem for ASUS ROG, but is simply due to the design. For gamers who want or need to consciously react to their surroundings – be it to hear conversations, not miss the doorbell or simply because they don’t like in-ear solutions – the Cetra Open Wireless offer real advantages: convincing wearing comfort over many hours (if they fit your own ear), a strong battery life, simultaneous multipoint, broad platform compatibility and a well thought-out software connection without any bloatware.

However, if you are looking for complete immersion in the game world and want a full and lively sound, this is not the right place for you. The bass is very subdued and the overemphasized treble can become tiring in the long term. Added to this is the high price, which can hardly be justified: Alternatives that don’t come from the gaming segment are already much cheaper. Or with more features for the same price. In-ears such as the aforementioned Arctis Game Buds from SteelSeries, on the other hand, offer a much more well-rounded overall package. However, if you are looking for open-ear earbuds specifically for gaming, there is simply no alternative at the moment. The ASUS ROG Cetra Open Wireless are the only product on the market in this niche.