ASUS ROG Kithara review: How good is the open gaming headset with 100 mm planar drivers and high-resolution sound really? Let’s not kid ourselves… Gaming headsets are (largely) all the same. Powerful bass, tuned for fun. But they lack substance, neutral sound and honesty. These are all reasons why I’ve been gaming with studio headphones (from beyerdynamic) for years. The recently unveiled ASUS ROG Kithara wants to do everything differently. 100 millimeter planar drivers. Open design for a lively sound. High-resolution sound. And above all: a neutral, convincing mix. Sounds almost too good to be true, doesn’t it? I took a close look at the Kithara in the test and tell you whether this is the revolution among gaming headsets.
Technical data of the ASUS ROG Kithara
| The product | Kithara |
| Design | over-ear |
| driver | 100 mm HIFIMAN planar driver |
| Frequency range (headphones) | 8-55,000 Hz |
| Impedance | 16 Ohm |
| Connectivity | Wired (USB-C; 3.5/4.4/6.3 mm jack) |
| Microphone type | MEMS |
| Frequency range (microphone) | 20 – 20,000 Hz |
| Microphone weight | 420 g |
| Compatibility | PC, Mac, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, smartphone/tablet |
| Price | € 309.00 * |
ASUS ROG Kithara review: Elegant design with studio touches
The ASUS ROG Kithara makes it clear at first glance that it is not intended to be a classic gaming headset. The design is more reminiscent of high-quality audiophile headphones than the typical, curved RGB headsets from the ROG range. The metal frame looks robust and classy, the metal hinges are neatly finished and the entire housing conveys the feeling of a much more expensive product. This is premium through and through, I really like it!
The open ear cups with their characteristic ROG design element are visually understated and stylish. Stylish, simple and yet an eye-catcher thanks to the reflective elements.
The wearing comfort is particularly positive and can withstand really long periods of use. The headband is designed as a soft ski goggle strap (as known from SteelSeries, for example), which distributes the weight of the headset evenly over the entire head despite its rather thin padding.
The contact pressure is pleasantly moderate: after hours of gaming sessions or intensive music listening, it is hardly noticeable as a burden. At 420 grams, the Kithara is quite a heavyweight, but the weight is cleverly compensated for by the well-designed carrying strap. I certainly find it more comfortable than many other gaming headsets.
The sound certificate that comes with each unit and documents the individually measured frequency response curve of your own headset is a detail that creates and signals confidence in this price range: Here, each pair of drivers has been individually tested for consistency.
Features and operation: Not your typical headset
What immediately sets the ASUS ROG Kithara apart from the competition when unpacking it is the sheer variety of accessories. The scope of delivery includes: a 1.8-meter cable with dual 3.5 mm connection and inline remote control for microphone operation, another 1.8-meter cable with 3-in-1 plug end piece as well as separately interchangeable plugs in 3.5 mm, 4.4 mm balanced and 6.3 mm versions, plus a USB-C to dual 3.5 mm adapter. Anyone familiar with hi-fi headphones will immediately take notice of this bundle. Because this is equipment that makes even some audiophile manufacturers look old.
This also ensures versatility, as you can not only operate the headset via a jack on your PC/notebook or a DAC, but also use it digitally via USB-C or integrate it into your audio system if you wish. This clearly shows that ASUS ROG is not (only) targeting classic gamers here, but also wants to attract audiophile users. We’ll find out later whether this works.
At the heart of the Kithara are the 100 mm planar magnet drivers developed together with HiFiMan and tuned by ROG acoustics experts. According to the data sheet, these achieve a frequency response width of 8 Hz to 55 kHz. A value that stands out even among audiophile high-performance headphones. The impedance value is a low 16 ohms, which means that the Kithara sounds sufficiently loud and dynamic even without a dedicated headphone amplifier from a sound card or games console. However, if you have a DAC or amplifier, you can exploit the full potential of the headset – and this really does make an audible difference in practice.
By comparison, planar drivers are a rarity in the gaming headset segment. These are used in the Audeze Maxwell (our test), for example, but are somewhat smaller at 90 mm and do not achieve the high frequency response of the Kithara.
- What are the advantages of planar drivers? With planar magnetic drivers, a thin, flat membrane with embedded conductor tracks is moved between several magnets, which distributes the driving force evenly over the entire membrane surface. Conventional dynamic drivers, on the other hand, use a cone-shaped diaphragm that is only driven at a central voice coil point, which can easily lead to distortion at higher levels.
Operation via the inline cable, if you want to use it, is simple and functional. There is a volume control and a mute switch for the microphone. However, the volume control is a little too smooth for my taste, which can lead to unintentional adjustments.
Important to know: The ASUS ROG Kithara does not require any software. No equalizer, no simulated surround sound. Just pure, real sound. (Spoiler: And the gaming headset really doesn’t need the app connection). So if you’re looking for customization options, you’re in the wrong place here. The Kithara has a deliberately purist design and relies on analog, uncompressed signals instead of digital processing.
Connectivity of the ASUS ROG Kithara
The connectivity of the ASUS ROG Kithara is unusually well thought-out for a gaming headset and is aimed at a wide audience. From console gamers to desktop audiophiles. The system with interchangeable plug ends allows the identical cable to be terminated with a 3.5 mm jack, 6.3 mm jack or 4.4 mm balanced as required, without having to have a completely different cable to hand each time.
This is complemented by the included USB-C to dual 3.5 mm adapter, which also makes the Kithara compatible with modern laptops, smartphones or the Nintendo Switch.
The dual 3.5 mm system, which physically separates the microphone and audio output, is not just a technical detail. It solves a real problem. Anyone who has ever used a gaming headset with a single combined jack connection on a DAC or sound card will be familiar with the annoying crosstalk between the audio signal and microphone signal. With the Kithara, the separate wiring ensures that the audio quality and microphone signal do not affect each other.
A clear advantage over most competing products. According to ASUS, the headset is compatible with PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, iOS and Android as well as Xbox consoles via a 3.5 mm gamepad connection, making it a real all-rounder in your own setup.
Audio and microphone quality of the ASUS ROG Kithara
If you have worked with various gaming headsets for a long time (from SteelSeries Arctis to Razer BlackShark V3 Pro (our test) to the Audeze Maxwell), then you know that “good sound” has long been a relative term in the gaming segment.
The ASUS ROG Kithara takes a completely different approach here. Away from the thumping, bass-heavy sound and towards a more neutral, audiophile experience. As I mentioned at the beginning, I personally have been playing with studio headphones for several years now and this is exactly the experience that the Kithara is supposed to bring to the gaming headset segment.
After weeks of use in Battlefield 6, Apex Legends, F1 25 and many other games, I can clearly say that this headset not only sounds better than any other gaming headset I’ve ever had in my ears, it simply sounds different in a way that leaves you wanting more.
The Kithara’s 100 mm drivers are exceptionally large, even in an audiophile context. This driver size allows air to be moved with minimal distortion while maintaining speed and control. The usable frequency range of 8 Hz to 55 kHz does not make a bravura spec sheet promise, but simply ensures that the drivers operate in the audible range well below their technical limit. This ultimately culminates in a wider, clearer sound.
Of course, there is one caveat: the Kithara is an open headphone. And due to their design, they offer less bass and boom than closed headsets. However, this allows a much better airiness and spatiality than closed counterparts.
In other words: the bass sounds more restrained, less physically present. What the Kithara delivers instead is a quality that I only really appreciated after a few days: bass texture. With the Kithara, you can hear the shape of the bass, not just its pressure. Precise, detailed, but also a little behind. Anyone coming from other gaming headsets will certainly be (initially negatively) surprised. But for shooter players who have to watch out for enemy footsteps, it’s a clear advantage because the bass never masks low-frequency sound sources such as footsteps.
The Kithara’s mid-range performance is the area where opinions are most divided. According to ASUS’ official Sound Signature certificate, these are a little behind, which you can actually hear in practice. Voices, both when listening to music and in podcasts or dialogs, sit a little further back, while instruments lack a little assertiveness.
Nevertheless, in a direct comparison with conventional gaming headsets, the mids of the Kithara are simply superior. For competitive gamers in shooters such as Counter-Strike or Valorant, this means that the sound of an enemy reload animation is not only audible, it is well localized in the room. Only some acoustic details are somewhat in the background.
However, in my opinion, the Kithara is not the first choice for competitive shooters. During my test, I had some problems locating important audio cues ideally in the room. The reason for this is that the Kithara’s treble range is deliberately restrained and is noticeably reduced beyond the 5kHz mark. Those who prefer bright, airy highs with presence and brilliance will want more energy in the 8 to 12 kHz range. I’m afraid you’ll have to try it out for yourself and then decide for yourself.
Microphone: MEMS in a practical test
The detachable boom microphone based on MEMS technology (Micro-Electro-Mechanical System) clearly stands out technically from the ECM microphones (electret condenser microphone) that are installed in the vast majority of all gaming headsets. MEMS microphones inherently offer a better signal-to-noise ratio and a wider, more linear frequency response.
In the case of the Kithara, the full spectrum from 20 Hz to 20 kHz at an SNR of 74 dB. In practice, this means that your own voice comes across cleanly, naturally and without the typical, slightly nasal press that we are familiar with from gaming headset microphones.
ASUS ROG Kithara microphone test recording:
Background noise is reliably processed and as the dual 3.5 mm system physically separates the microphone and audio channels, there is no crosstalk between the audio signal and the voice. A particularly reassuring finding: despite the open housing concept, which allows sound to escape to the outside, the microphone did not pick up any measurable sound during the test. For communication in Discord, in-game chat or team meetings via Microsoft Teams, the Kithara’s microphone is clearly above average. Only those who stream or podcast will want to use a dedicated standalone microphone.
ASUS ROG Kithara Review: Conclusion
The ASUS ROG Kithara is not a headset for everyone and yet it does a lot better than most classic gaming headsets. If you’re looking for a wireless all-in-one headset with RGB and colorful software, you won’t find it. Nor is it the target group.
But for those who play for hours every day, listen to music and value real sound quality, the Kithara offers an experience that simply didn’t exist in the gaming world until now. With this product, ASUS and HiFiMan have proven that gaming and audiophilia do not have to be mutually exclusive. A successful combination of gaming headset and studio headphones that works.
The price of around 320 euros positions the Kithara in the upper gaming segment, but is more than justified in view of the driver technology, accessories and sound quality. Anyone who has ever considered buying separate audiophile headphones in addition to a gaming headset can kill two birds with one stone with the Kithara.
The small compromises, such as the lack of wireless, a somewhat plain cable and a recessed treble, are hardly noticeable in the overall picture. I only find the lack of a bag or hard case a pity, especially in view of the many cables and adapters included. However, the Kithara only unfolds its full potential with an amplifier. You should bear this in mind.
- Excellent sound
- Audiophile character
- Very good microphone
- High wearing comfort
- Versatile connectivity
- Excellent workmanship
- Cable a little short
- Not everyone likes the open design
- No transport case
ASUS ROG Kithara
Workmanship
Wearing comfort
Sound quality
Recording quality
Features
Value For Money
92/100
Audiophile sound in a gaming headset: The Kithara deliberately differs from classic headsets and impresses with its excellent sound and high level of comfort.
