50 mm drivers, triple connectivity, multi-platform compatibility and a high level of comfort: the Asus ROG Pelta has pretty much everything a good gaming headset needs. However, with its oval ear cups and ski goggle headband, the headset is strikingly reminiscent of SteelSeries products. Our test.
Technical data
| The product | Pelta |
| Design | over-ear |
| driver | 50 mm |
| Frequency range (headphones) | 20 – 20,000 Hz |
| Impedance | 32 Ohm @ 1kHz |
| Microphone type | Unidirectional |
| Frequency range (microphone) | 100Hz – 10kHz |
| Sensitivity (microphone) | -40 dB |
| Connections | USB type C |
| Connection | 2.4 GHz wireless connection; Bluetooth |
| Battery life | Up to 60 hours (without RGB); Up to 40 hours (with RGB) |
| Battery weight | 309 g |
| Compatibility | PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Mac, Nintendo Switch, Mobile |
| Price | € 149.00 * |
Asus ROG Pelta review: We know this from somewhere
- Pleasantly low weight
- Simple design with RGB
- somewhat rickety plastic workmanship
With its oval ear cups and ski goggle headband, the Asus ROG Pelta is strikingly reminiscent of SteelSeries gaming headsets such as the Arctis Nova 5 (our test) – but that’s not a bad thing, as the Danish manufacturer’s devices impress with their excellent wearing comfort and appealing design.
This also applies to the Pelta, which looks impressively light when you first unpack it. It weighs 297 grams without the detachable microphone and 309 grams with the mic. Not a record value, but still pleasantly light, which underlines the excellent wearing comfort.
Of course, this also benefits from the pleasantly thick and large ear pads made of soft mesh fabric, which are almost 35 mm thick and leave 62 mm x 50 mm (height x width) of space inside the ears – making them ideal for larger ears.
In combination with the flexible, inward-rotating ear cups, this results in excellent wearing comfort. However, the plastic workmanship seems a little wobbly and rickety. I would have liked a little less play in the headband in particular, the whole thing seems a little fragile – even if this impression cannot be confirmed in practice.
A highlight of the Asus ROG Pelta is undoubtedly the RGB lighting, which extends over the ROG logo on both ear cups, but can also be deactivated if desired. The microphone also lights up red on the underside when it is muted. This is practical as it is easy to see in front of the mouth. In any case, I really like the look of the headset.
Features and operation
- Wireless, Bluetooth and cable connection
- Versatile platform compatibility
If you opt for the Asus ROG Pelta, you will get an excellently equipped gaming headset, that much is certain. It offers tri-mode connectivity, which enables connection via 2.4 GHz wireless dongle, Bluetooth or USB-C cable. Although unfortunately not simultaneously, as switching between modes is done via a switch on the bottom left.
In wireless mode, a ROG SpeedNova dongle in the modern USB-C standard is used, but don’t worry: the manufacturer includes a USB-A adapter in the scope of delivery. Commendable.
So you are of course completely free to choose your platform. PC, Mac, PlayStation consoles, Nintendo Switch, mobile devices… all get along with the headset without any problems and the connection is made quickly.
In combination with the detachable microphone, you can also easily use the Pelta as over-ear headphones for listening to music, but without the equalizer or settings available on the PC.
The Razer Barracuda X Chroma (our test) is therefore somewhat more versatile in this price range. The Razer counterpart also offers the more convincing virtual surround sound. This can also be activated via software on the Pelta, but unfortunately it didn’t convince me at all in terms of sound, as it noticeably impairs the audio quality.
Operation of the Asus ROG Pelta
- Intuitive operation
- Practical multifunction button
- Software with little added value
The Asus ROG Pelta is operated via the elements, all of which are located on the underside of the left ear cup. These are self-explanatory. In addition to the mode switch, there is a convenient volume dial and a microphone mute button.
The button in between serves as a multifunction button, which you can use to pause and resume playback (press once) or skip to the next or previous song, for example. The button is also used to control calls and works perfectly in practice.
You can also make further settings in the Armoury Crate Gear companion app, although unfortunately only on a PC or notebook. So if you want to use the Pelta primarily on consoles, you’ll have to make do with the default settings. Here too, Razer and SteelSeries offer more value for money with a smartphone app.
Within the software, for example, you can adjust the sound using an equalizer and add a bass boost, voice amplifier or compressor to the sound if desired. With the microphone, you can use various tools to improve your own voice or reduce ambient noise.
The RGB lighting can also be regulated in four different effects, adjusted in terms of brightness or completely deactivated to save battery power. These are all rather standard settings, but you can use them to customize the headset to your preferences.
Battery life of the Asus ROG Pelta
- Up to 60 hours of battery life (wireless) without RGB lighting
- Up to 90 hours battery life (Bluetooth) without RGB lighting
- with RGB only half the battery life
The battery life of the Asus ROG Pelta is at a very good level. Up to 60 hours are possible in wireless mode if you can do without the RGB lighting. In Bluetooth mode, you can even get up to 90 hours without RGB.
However, when the lighting is switched on, the runtime is halved – as with other gaming headsets with RGB. Still a very good value. There is also a quick-charging function, as 15 minutes on the cable is enough to recharge the headset for three hours of use.
Audio and microphone quality
- 50 mm drivers
- Pleasantly full, lively sound
- fairly neutral mix; weaknesses in spatiality
The Asus ROG Pelta features 50-millimeter ROG diaphragm drivers with a titanium coating, which are said to deliver a high-resolution sound with “crisp, detailed highs and reduced distortion for lifelike sound in games”. The headset has an impedance of 32 ohms and covers a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.
I like the sound of the Pelta quite a lot, even if I would like the maximum volume to be a little higher. Especially in competitive shooters, I would like to hear acoustic cues a little louder.
On the other hand, the factory tuning leaves a very good impression. The bass is powerful, dynamic and detailed, but without overpowering the mids and highs. This makes the headset a coherent all-rounder, which can be further adjusted to personal preferences by adjusting the equalizer, at least on the PC.
However, I find the factory configuration, which is relatively neutral, very pleasant. There’s not much to complain about here, both when gaming and listening to music. Even if the competitors mentioned do sound noticeably fuller and more detailed across all frequencies.
However, the very high frequencies above 8,000 Hz can be a little sharp, while the sub-bass lacks some brilliance. But in terms of sound, what Asus ROG has delivered here is absolutely well-rounded. It would have been nice if it had been a little louder. In my opinion, however, there is a lot of catching up to do, especially in the spatial representation of the sound, where the Pelta is noticeably behind and I sometimes had problems locating opponents in VALORANT or The Finals perfectly.
Asus ROG Pelta test: Microphone quality
Asus ROG equips the Pelta with a unidirectional microphone that covers a frequency response of 100Hz – 10KHz. And I really like the sound that comes out of the microphone – for a wireless gaming headset.
The Pelta reproduces your own voice in a pleasantly clear, detailed and dynamic way without distorting it. We can always be understood very well in voice chat and the volume is also comparatively high, so we don’t have to shout into the microphone or eat it halfway.
However, the mic also records ambient noise relatively well. You can counteract this with the help of the accompanying software. With “Perfect voice”, you can bring the voice more into focus, but from a value of over 50 percent, this results in a rather unnatural presentation.
Asus ROG Pelta test recording – sound effects:
Asus ROG Pelta microphone test recording:
Razer Barracuda X Chroma microphone test recording:
With “echo cancellation and noise reduction”, you can also filter out ambient noise and reverberation from recordings. Personally, I have had the best experience with a value of 50% for the perfect voice and active echo suppression.
Asus ROG Pelta Review: Conclusion
With the Asus ROG Pelta, the manufacturer delivers a good wireless gaming headset. Above all, the outstanding wearing comfort and the really convincing microphone quality should be emphasized. Another practical feature is the versatile connectivity, thanks to which the headset can be connected wirelessly to PCs, consoles and mobile devices via Bluetooth – although unfortunately not in combination with wireless operation.
I also like the sound of the headset, which is mainly due to the rather neutral mix. It also has a really good battery life of up to 60 hours if you can do without the RGB lighting.
The problem is that some competitors in the highly competitive price range up to 150 euros offer more for the money. The Razer Barracuda X Chroma or the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 in particular offer an even more well-rounded overall package – especially if you plan to use the headset primarily on consoles.
Asus ROG Pelta
Workmanship
Wearing comfort
Sound quality
Recording quality
Features
Value For Money
87/100
Extremely comfortable and versatile wireless gaming headset with long battery life and good sound.
