- Asus has launched the ROG Cetra Open wireless gaming headset
- They cost $229.99 / £174.99 and have an open design
- The brand advertises them as “perfect” for playing and exercising.
Asus has launched a new pair of gaming headphones, the ROG Cetra Open Wireless. They’re the first open-back gaming headset from a major hardware brand and are billed as “perfect for gaming, music, and active lifestyles.”
Open-ear (or open-ear) headphones are a relatively recent creation that have become increasingly popular in recent years thanks to popular models from big audio brands like Bose and JBL. They clip around your ears with drivers that sit a few millimeters farther away than regular in-ear headphones, which typically completely seal the ear canal with a silicone tip.
This leaves the ear open, allowing for almost complete situational awareness and greatly reducing fatigue. They are very comfortable to wear and the ability to hear outside sounds, such as traffic, makes them a good choice for sports and exercise outdoors.
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However, they are not exempt from some commitments. The lack of a seal inevitably means that bass-producing ability takes a big hit, and (although some models like the Honor Earbuds Open offer some form of active noise cancellation) the fact that they let in so much sound can be a double-edged sword if you want an immersive listening experience in a noisy environment.
That’s why it’s so surprising to see a model geared toward gaming, a market where strong noise cancellation is the norm.
A good fit?
The Asus ROG Cetra Open Wireless features 14.2mm diamond-like carbon-coated drivers and support for the brand’s 2.4GHz ROG SpeedNova technology via an included wireless dongle.
Bluetooth is also offered, with dual-mode connectivity for seamless platform switching. Each earbud has a physical button, which Asus says will keep them fully responsive in the rain or “intense workouts.” An included detachable neck strap even helps keep them in place while you run.
The idea of a product geared toward both gaming and fitness is certainly unusual, and there really doesn’t seem to be that many gaming-specific features here.
There are four built-in microphones for chatting, and of course there’s customizable RGB lighting, with an illuminated ROG logo on each button. New browser-based Gear Link software lets you boost the bass via a Phantom Bass setting or enable a more surround sound mode, but that seems to be its destination.
With a battery life of around 16 hours, with an additional 48 hours in the charging case, you at least get a lot more listening time than budget non-gaming alternatives like the Huawei FreeArc.
The starting price of $229.99/£174.99, on par with the cost of some of the best wireless gaming headsets and substantially more than most of the best gaming headsets, is definitely a tall order and I’m curious to see if the benefits of an open design are enough to convince gamers to spend the money.
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