The Asus ROG Kithara is one of those rare gaming products that have taken things so far that it’s become one of the best in its category. If you are a bit of an audiophile, then this headset review is for you.
At the heart of the Kithara are ROG-tuned 100mm HiFiMAN planar magnetic drivers, with an 8Hz to 55kHz frequency response and 16-ohm impedance. Those are some high-end specs. Planar magnetic drivers are not new, but they are still not something you find in every gaming headset, mostly because they are expensive, fussy, and generally associated with people who use the word soundstage in normal conversation
The other big design decision is the open-back architecture of these headphones, and this is where the Kithara sets itself apart from other gaming headsets. In games, it gives audio room to breathe, and the game world sounds like it’s living around. Asus says the design is built to improve separation across bass, mids, and treble while helping spatial awareness on the… uhm, soundstage.
There is a catch, of course. Open-back headphones are not made for isolation. These leak sound, and outside noise gets in. The Kithara belongs in a quieter setup or studio environment.
Connectivity is also wonderfully old-school in the best way. The Kithara comes with a balanced cable and swappable 4.4mm balanced, 3.5mm, and 6.3mm plugs, plus a full-band MEMS boom microphone cable and a USB-C to dual 3.5mm adapter. Platform support covers PC, laptops, mobile devices, DACs, amps, PlayStation, Switch, and Xbox controller audio, although mic support varies depending on the connection method. The microphone itself has a 20Hz to 20kHz frequency response, with Asus positioning it as a cleaner full-band option than the usual basic headset mic.
At around 420g its not a light headset, but the large oval earcups, soft adjustable headband, and metal frame, help it feel far more comfortable than most other headsets.
For me, the real surprise was music, and even compressed digital tracks revealed layers I do not often hear through my home speakers. Retailing for around R7,000, this is not a casual buy, but if you know what you want from audio, the Kithara makes a very strong argument for itself.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I am about to drag out my circa-1999 Ogg Vorbis collection and find out how much damage nostalgia can survive.
