Customer Ratings & Reviews

Have tried them all definitely this has great sound keep mind are open back so you can hear things next to you if it’s loud fans but if room quiet definitely sounds are clean

Great sound quality and build, and surround sound sounds amazing on it

I am writing this review for the ASUS ROG Kithara Wired Audiophile Open-Back Gaming Headset with ROG-Tuned HIFIMAN Planar Magnetic Drivers. And that is a lot to say. I have never owned (or even had the privilege of using) planar magnetic driven headphones before, so I was completely NOT prepared for what I was about to experience. First let me say ASUS, as always, hits the quality ball clear out of the park. As I unboxed the headphones, I was actually stunned by the apparent quality of not just the headphones, but the included accessories as well (cord, jack adapters, even an alternate set of ear pads). The materials are seriously top-tier, well-designed, and beautifully crafted. These are the headphones that when you take them anywhere and take them out of the case, people will gasp in amazement. ASUS, holy cow, you guys outdid yourselves on this one. I’ll start with this… I didn’t get these because of specs, I got them because they’re ASUS. Every piece of ASUS gear I’ve owned—laptops, routers, you name it—has been top-tier. So at some point you just stop questioning it and go, “alright… let’s see what you’ve got this time.” First impression when putting them on: I noticed the way they felt on my head... as though they actually belonged there. They encompassed my ears with zero pressure. They felt amazingly soft...gentle, yet they also let you know by their build that they are beasts. They didn’t press. In fact, they didn’t even remind me they were there. They just… belonged. It’s a bit difficult to explain, but these are planar magnetic earphones. My first pair, ever. And I was not prepared for their shape. After doing homework, I discovered that because they are “planar magnetic” they require more footprint on the ear. Which is actually amazing once I understood why. They are substantially heavier than any other pair of headphones I own, probably around 10 pair. But they DON’T feel heavier. The headband: You actually have two parts up there: the outer frame (the ‘beast’ part) which is aluminum, and the headband strap. They combine to distribute the weight across the top of the head evenly. This is why they feel much lighter than they really are. Now this is a good point for me to insert this very important aspect of the Kithara headphones… HiFiMan… This is big, and represents a profound marriage of ASUS (known for their high-performance computer hardware and consumer electronics) and HiFiMan (known for their high-end audio products …very high end). The result is the Kithara headphones, the subject of this review. Okay, so they fit absolutely perfectly over the ears, and they feel…well, they feel almost like they are not there. But what about the sound? First, the music. I’ve been on a Loïc Nottet kick lately, so that’s where I decided to start. And just to be sure I was being fair, I pulled out another set of high-end headphones to compare, just to make sure I wasn’t fooling myself. I listened to several tracks, switching back and forth from one headset to another. Surprisingly, the differences were not huge…at all. But I will say this, the Kitharas sounded more natural, and this is the first time I have experienced such a level of natural-ness. With cone-driven headphones, the sound is like it is being “pushed” at my ears, but the Kitharas are like sitting in my living room and listening to a sound system. They are airy, spatial, like the sound is all around and I’m right there in the middle of it. There is no beating pressure. At one point as I was listening to one of the songs, I experienced something I don’t think I’ve ever experienced before… a kind of wave moving through the earpieces. Not from one to the other, but inside each one. It was etheric, beautiful, intoxicating… I had to play that part over and over again, just to keep experiencing it. I know it has everything to do with the 100mm planar magnetic drivers, and how the frequencies are transmitted, but I’m not going to pretend I am an expert on such things, because I am not. But I recognize superior sound when I hear it, and that’s what these headphones deliver. So okay, I know, these are supposed to be gaming headphones, but not to worry, I put them to use there as well. I decided on Cyberpunk 2077. Yes, I have other headphones that I used for playing before. Cone-driven headphones. If I was blown away by music, I was absolutely looking forward to game play sound. This is where things got interesting. I fired up Cyberpunk, started walking around…just to listen…and at some point I realized: I wasn’t playing the character anymore. I was the character. Sounds dramatic, but that’s exactly how it felt. The sounds weren’t “in my headphones,” they were around me. Footsteps actually moved closer and farther away, traffic sounded like it existed somewhere, not just left/right. The city felt alive, and I actually stopped moving at one point to just stood there and listen. It felt like I was standing on a real street. Not perfect reality, obviously—but closer than anything I’ve experienced in a headset before. Even “booming” was different. In other headphones, the booms always “pound” my ears. With the Kitharas, the boom is there, but it most certainly isn’t trying to pound those booms through your eardrums. Open-back thing (important): These are open-back, so, you hear your surroundings, much like the “Aware” setting on ANC headphones. But, not only do you hear other people and noises, people around you will hear what you’re listening to as well. But the tradeoff is the sound can breathe, and that’s what creates that space and realism I’m trying so hard to describe. There isn't a whole lot to really say about the included microphone. It's good, people can hear and understand you quite easily. The mike is actually a very good mike, but in all honesty, we're not really talking about the microphone here. Another important thing you need to know… the Kithara headphones come with TWO sets of ear pads in the box. I didn’t even realize there was a second set of ear pads in the box at first. Almost threw them away. I’m very grateful I found them before tossing the box. So naturally I swapped them out, and yeah, that changed things. They come with the “leatherette” ear pads installed, the other set is like “velour…” The leatherette pads allowed for a tighter, more focused and more punch sound, while the velour had a more open, air drifting sound. Both great, but the difference is noticeable. There is a downside to these swappable earpads… they are a pain in the @@@ to take off, and put back on. But to maintain the integrity of the sound, it is necessary to make sure they are sealed all the way around. Me? Rather than go through the hassle, I think I will just pick a set and stick with them. THE BOTTOM LINE These aren’t your typical “gaming headset.” They don’t try to impress you with booming bass or flashy nonsense. They do something else… they make sound feel… real. Not like a recording, not like a tape playing… more like something happening around you, like you are the center of the gaming world, or sitting at a live concert. HiFiMan: ASUS did not partner with HiFiMan for any other reason than they were serious about producing perhaps one of the best gaming headphones money can buy. That is not an exaggeration. The Kitharas are the real deal. If you want something that feels natural, immersive, and just… right… these are the ones.

To start off, let's be real about something. Big time gamers and even more so, those who consider themselves audiophiles, are far less likely to take price into consideration IF the product meets expectations. And frankly, I have yet to find an item from the ROG line that didn't meet or exceed. The ASUS ROG Kithara is one of those rare headsets that doesn’t try to blur the line between “gaming gear” and “audio gear” — it just said “nah, I belong in both worlds” and then delivered. The first thing that stands out is the planar magnetic drivers tuned with HIFIMAN. If you know audio, you already know that’s not just marketing fluff. The clarity here is on another level. You’re getting detail in the highs that doesn’t feel sharp or fatiguing, mids that actually carry weight and presence (voices sound incredibly natural), and bass that’s tight and controlled instead of muddy or overblown. The open-back design is where this headset really separates itself from the pack. This isn’t about booming isolation or artificially boosted sound — it’s about space. The soundstage feels wide, almost speaker-like at times, which is something you just don’t get from most “gaming” headsets. In competitive games, positional audio becomes incredibly precise. You’re not just hearing footsteps — you’re placing them. In music, it’s even better. Tracks feel alive, layered, and breathable in a way that makes you want to go back and re-listen to your favorite songs just to catch details you’ve missed before. Comfort also deserves a mention because audiophile sessions aren’t quick. These are meant for hours of listening, and ASUS gets it. It’s premium without being heavy, and the fit stays comfortable even during extended use. Nothing about it feels cheap or like an afterthought. What I appreciate most is that this isn’t trying to be a “one size fits all” headset even though it is hitting more than one target market. This is clearly built for people who care about sound first. If you’re expecting heavy bass emphasis or noise isolation, this probably isn’t your lane. But if you understand what open-back planar audio brings to the table, this headset absolutely delivers in a big way. At the end of the day, this is one of those products where you stop thinking about whether it was worth it pretty quickly — because once you hear it, you get it.

I went into the ROG Kithara pretty interested because it’s clearly trying to do something a little different from the typical gaming headset, something that sounded (no pun intended) like it was made for me. Most options in this space lean hard into exaggerated bass and a very processed sound, and this feels like ASUS intentionally went the other direction. After spending time with it, I’d say it delivers a more refined experience than most gaming headsets, but it also makes a few choices that won’t land for everyone. The biggest differentiator here is the sound. This doesn’t come across like a traditional “gaming” tuning at all. It leans much more into a planar-style presentation where everything feels controlled, detailed, and fast. The bass is tight and responsive, but it’s not trying to overwhelm you. You’re not getting that deep, rumbling low end that shakes everything, but you are getting clean impact and definition. For me, that tradeoff makes sense depending on what you’re using it for. If you’re expecting a cinematic, bass-heavy experience, this might feel a little reserved. If you care more about clarity and separation, it’s a noticeable step up. Where I found it most impressive was in the mids and upper mids. There’s a clear emphasis there that brings voices, footsteps, and layered audio forward in a really intentional way. It gives everything a sense of clarity and presence that feels very deliberate, almost like it’s tuned to highlight the information you actually want to hear in games. At times that can lean slightly aggressive depending on the content, but it never felt artificially boosted or overly sharp to me. It’s just a different approach, and one that I think works well if you give your ears a little time to adjust. The included sound tuning card is also a nice touch and something I think gets overlooked. Having that individualized frequency response profile straight from the factory adds a layer of confidence in what you’re hearing. It reinforces that this isn’t just a generic tuning slapped onto a gaming product, but something that’s been measured and dialed in with more intention. It doesn’t change the experience moment to moment, but it does add to the overall feel that this headset is trying to lean more into the audiophile side of things. That same philosophy shows up in the soundstage. It feels wider and more open than most gaming headsets I’ve used, and it presents audio in a way that feels more natural than artificially enhanced. Instead of forcing positional cues, it just gives you space and lets the detail do the work. For story-driven games, movies, and even music, it’s a really enjoyable listen. It’s one of those cases where it doesn’t immediately “wow” you with effects, but the longer you use it, the more you appreciate what it’s doing. This is essentially a very solid headphone that just so happens to have an attachable mic, allowing it to become a headset as well. Build quality is another area where it stands out. It feels solid and well put together without leaning into the usual aggressive gaming design. There’s a good amount of metal in the construction, and the overall look is clean and understated. The swappable ear pads are a nice addition as well. The stock pads give you a slightly fuller, more sealed sound, while the velour pads open things up and feel a bit more breathable. Being able to tweak both comfort and sound slightly like that is a nice bonus and adds some flexibility depending on how you want to use it. The cable setup is also pretty versatile. You get multiple termination options and a detachable system that makes it easy to adapt to different setups. It’s clear this was designed with more than just plug-and-play console use in mind. And similar to a lot of gear in this category, it does scale a bit with better equipment. Running it through a dedicated DAC or amp brings out more dynamics and makes everything feel a little more alive compared to plugging straight into a controller or laptop. They’re also long and feel quality as well. Sidenote: it will take a bit of power to drive the headphone, and if used with a mobile device, the volume can skew towards lower than higher. There are a few small design quirks that stood out to me, mostly around usability. The inline controls sit a bit higher up on the cable than I’d like, which makes them slightly awkward to adjust without looking. The modular cable connections are a great idea in theory, but they do feel a little delicate if you’re frequently swapping tips. It’s not something that will matter to everyone, but it’s worth noting if you tend to change setups often. The headband at the top, while serviceable, is really finicky in keeping the notches still. One accidental grab and you’ll have to adjust again. The microphone is also a bit poor. It’s perfectly usable for voice chat and casual communication, but it’s not something you’d rely on for anything beyond that. It gets the job done without really standing out, and is a bit nasally overall without having any low-end extension. Lastly, I wish there was a carrying case or slip cloth to use if/when needing to transport the headphones to protect them. Overall, the ROG Kithara feels like a headset that was built with a very specific goal in mind. It prioritizes sound quality, clarity, and a more natural presentation over the typical gaming-style tuning, and in that sense, it succeeds. The audio performance is genuinely strong, especially if you prefer a more balanced, detail-oriented sound. The build and flexibility add to that, and the inclusion of things like the tuning card and pad options makes it feel more considered than most. At the same time, it’s not trying to be everything for everyone. If you’re looking for something that hits hard with bass and delivers that big, cinematic gaming feel, this probably won’t be your first choice. But if you want something that leans more toward accurate, engaging sound while still being usable for gaming, there’s a lot here to like. It ends up being one of those products that I respect more than I universally recommend, and for the right person, that distinction won’t matter at all. For me, I will be using this headset for the foreseeable future.

I honestly did not know what to expect from the ASUS ROG Kithara. However, I will say that I now get it. The sound experience is just something else. Out of the box, the design language is fairly classic ASUS ROG. They are not the most inconspicuous headsets. The ear cups are gigantic. When you wear it, the space between the soft headband that touches your head and metal frame also looks a bit funny. That being said, these aren't headphones that I will be using to listen to music out in public. The headband feels a bit flimsy and cheap, but otherwise the build quality feels solid and premium. It's not the lightest gaming headset I have used but it really is one of the most comfortable. I could play and listen for hours without fatigue. If you don't have experience with open-back headphones, they are exactly what the name implies. They don't have an outer barrier. The idea is that this allows for a more "natural" sound as the air moves freely. As a result, there is zero noise isolation. This also means that there is significant sound leakage to other people. Thus, these ideally are for those who are able to have a quiet dedicated space for themselves that would have little sound contamination and also not bother those around you. Now in terms of sound quality, these were awesome. I don't really consider myself an audiophile but I do like a more balanced frequency response than most. These don't have an excessive bass kick which I love but may be off-putting to some. The immersion is excellent. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to music in these as well and I was able to notice details that I previously missed in songs. All in all, the ASUS ROG Kithara is a gaming headset that focuses on sound quality. It may be a bit "plain" in other aspects and lacking some features compared to other headsets at this price point. I do think there are certain scenarios and situations where the ASUS ROG Kithara is not the option for you but if you want an upgrade in sound quality, then this really should be on your short list.

I’m not sure anyone makes a product like this yet. I’m not an audiophile, but I definitely don’t like the sound of cheap headphones. My current PC setup is Sennheiser open ear headphones from Massdrop with over ear velour pads. When I’m at my PC all day, I don’t want to fuss with battery, and I don’t want my ears sweating. So there’s a specific type of headset I’m looking for, and these Kithara’s fit the bill. The ear pads are some kind of very soft mesh - breathable and very comfortable. The box includes a ton of accessories to hook in to any type of DAC or equipment you have in front of the headphones. There is a standard 3.5mm cable without microphone, with braided, separate connectors for each ear cup. The boom microphone is a separate cable and clicks in fully integrated and flush with separate 3.5mm connections for audio and mic. If your computer doesn’t have two jacks, there is an included USB-C to dual 3.5mm jacks for that. But I see these more as a desktop replacement for most people, where they’ll be plugging in to their sound card. Music sounds awesome through these, because they’re open air. I’m used to the lack of “insulation” but be aware if you’re coming from sealed leather pads, you might miss the isolated boominess of most gaming headsets. These are my new go to all in one headphones for my PC now. A major win for ROG brand from Asus

Really good do need extra power to run at there best