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Asus ROG Kithara: one-minute review
There are a number of gaming headsets available that support high-res audio, such as the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite, but the new Asus ROG Kithara is one of the first we’ve seen that really takes the plunge into the challenging waters of the specialist hi-fi market.
Although it carries the Asus name, and is part of the company’s popular Republic Of Gamers (ROG) brand, the Kithara was developed in conjunction with HiFiMan, a New York-based manufacturer of seriously expensive hi-fi equipment (founded by the fabulously-named Dr Fang, who really sounds like he should be the villain in a Bond movie).
HiFiMan is known in the audiophile market for its focus on ‘planar-magnetic’ headphones, which provide a more precise and detailed sound than the less expensive ‘dynamic driver’ designs used by most mass-market headphones. And, like many audiophile headphones, the Kithara also employs an ‘open-back’ design, which allows sound to pass freely through the earpieces.
Again, this could be a problem for some people, as background noise can leak right through the earpieces while you’re wearing them, while people nearby can also hear every note of your music, and every zap, ker-pow, ka-boom of your gaming action. However, the advantage of open-back headphones is that they provide a spacious, atmospheric soundstage that really immerses you in sound, whether it’s a concert performance or an alien planet crawling with zombies.
Asus ROG Kithara: Price and Availability
- List price: $299.99 / £284.99 / AU$569
- Less expensive than many high-end gaming headsets
- Focus is on sound quality, with few additional features
The planar-magnetic drivers used by the Kithara represent the high end of the hi-fi market and are normally more expensive than conventional headphones and headsets. Even so, the Kithara’s price of $299.99 / £284.99 / AU$569 isn’t wildly high when compared to high-end rivals such as the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro, SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro, or Audeze Maxwell 2 headsets.
Remember, though, that most gaming headsets also provide additional features, such as Bluetooth for wireless connectivity, noise-cancellation, or spatial audio. In contrast, the Kithara is a wired-only headset that spends its entire budget on producing the best possible sound quality, with little in the way of added extras.
Asus ROG Kithara: Specs
| Row 0 – Cell 0 |
Asus ROG Kithara |
|
Price |
$299.99 / £284.99 / AU$569 |
|
Weight |
14.8oz / 420g |
|
Drivers |
100mm Planar Magnetic |
|
Compatibility |
PS5*, PS4* Nintendo Switch*, Nintendo Switch 2*, PC, Mac, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One (audio only via audio jack on Xbox) (*Microphone requires USB-C adaptor) |
|
Connection type |
Wired only: 3.5mm audio jack, balanced 4mm, 6.3mm, USB-C |
|
Battery life |
N/A |
|
Features |
Frequency response of 8Hz – 55KHz; 1.8m gaming cable with boom mic; 1.8m hi-fi cable with 3.5mm, balanced 4mm, 6.3mm, USB-C adaptors (USB-C supports 24-bit/96KHz) |
|
Software |
N/A |
Asus ROG Kithara: Design
- Bulky 100mm drivers
- Separate cables and adaptor for a gaming rig and hi-fi system
- Limited console compatibility
This is one instance where form and function go completely hand-in-hand. The outstanding feature of the Kithara is its use of HiFiMan’s 100mm planar-magnetic drivers, which puts them in an entirely different league to conventional headsets, such as the 40mm drivers used in the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite. The precision of the planar-magnetic technology also provides an impressive frequency range of 8Hz – 55KHz, which goes beyond any gaming headset I’ve used, including my trusty Master & Dynamic MG20, and only rivalled by hi-fi headphones such as Sennheiser’s HDB 630.
The downside of those humungous drivers is that the Kithara is also one of the biggest and heaviest headsets that I’ve ever used. Wearing the Kithara for the first time, I was taken aback at the sheer size of the earpieces, which cover my ears with so much room to spare that the Kithara initially slid right down over my ears and almost ended up dangling around my neck. It’s heavy too, weighing in at 14.8oz / 420g, which is considerably heavier even than Apple’s metal-clad AirPods Max at 13.6oz / 386g.
Fortunately, HiFiMan’s experience comes to the rescue, managing to make the Kithara more comfortable than I might have expected. The headband provides plenty of room for adjustment, so I was quickly able to find a comfortable position for the earpieces, and the well-balanced design ensures that the Kithara doesn’t feel oppressively heavy when you’re wearing it. One nice touch is that there are two sets of removable earpieces included in the box – one set with thick memory foam padding and a leatherette finish, or a slightly smaller set of earpieces covered with a lighter mesh material. The open-back design of the earpieces also provides good ventilation, so your head shouldn’t get too swampy during long gaming sessions. You will, however, end up looking like a Cyberman from Dr Who, due to the sheer size of the headset.
The connectivity options are a little complicated, though. Wired headphones are normally relatively straightforward – you just plug them into your PC, console or mobile devices, and off you go. However, the Kithara is attempting to satisfy both gamers and audiophiles, so it provides an extensive set of cables and connectors for use with different types of devices.
There are two separate cables in the box – one cable that includes a flexible microphone boom for gaming, and a second cable designed for listening to music with hi-fi equipment, such as an external DAC or amplifier. Each earpiece on the Kithara has its own 3.5mm audio socket, so both cables have a double-ended connector that plugs into the 3.5mm connectors on the Kithara earpieces (having removable cables like this also allows audiophiles to use their own specialist cables if they prefer).
As mentioned, the gaming cable includes a microphone, and there’s an inline control for adjusting volume or muting the microphone as well. This cable has two 3.5mm audio jacks on each end, and the two jacks attached to the inline control plug into the 3.5mm connectors on the Kithara’s earpieces.
The other end of the cable plugs into your PC or gaming console, with one 3.5mm jack handling microphone input while the other handles the audio from your gaming rig. Some PCs do combine the microphone and audio into a single 3.5mm connector, but the Kithara also includes a USB-C-to-dual-3.5mm adaptor, which you can use with any device that has an available USB-C port. Asus states that a USB-C interface can provide a little more power and volume for the headphones, so it recommends using the USB-C adaptor whenever possible. The USB-C adaptor also supports high-res audio formats up to 24-bit/96KHz, so it can handle most of the high-res audio available on Spotify, Apple Music, and other services.
Unfortunately, this does raise some compatibility issues for console users. Asus states that when using a PlayStation 4 or PS5, the microphone on the Kithara only works via the USB-C adaptor included in the box. However, the microphone doesn’t work with the Xbox at all, and audio input requires the 3.5mm audio connector on an Xbox controller, so console owners should pay close attention to the compatibility info on the Asus website to make sure the Kithara will work with the console you own.
The second cable is designed for use with a variety of hi-fi and audio devices and has a slightly different design. It does have two 3.5mm jacks on one end for connecting to the Kithara’s earpieces. However, the other end has a special ‘3-in-1’ connector that can be used to connect any of the 3.5mm, balanced 4.4mm, or 6.3mm audio adaptors that are included in the box. Most computers, consoles, and mobile devices will work fine with the standard 3.5mm adaptor, but audiophiles may prefer to use the 4.4mm and 6.3mm adaptors with a DAC, amplifier, or other hi-fi equipment.
Asus ROG Kithara: Performance
- Planar-magnetic drivers provide superb sound quality
- Open-back design creates a relaxed, open soundstage
- USB-C adaptor supports high-res audio (24-bit/96KHz)
The Kithara arrived just in time for the new season of Diablo 4, and the first thing I notice as I zone into the capital town of Kyovashad is the sheer clarity and detail of its sound. The Kithara creates a real sense of a lively, bustling town around me, clearly picking out the sound of clanking metal from the blacksmith, and the bubbling cauldron of the alchemist when I stop by to stock up on some potions – details that I never really notice when I’m using my normal set of external speakers with my gaming laptop.
I’m not sure I’d call Diablo 4 a true open-world game, but the soundscape really opens up as I head out through the town gates. A crow squawks as I pass by, and I hear the sound of flapping wings panning over my head as it takes to the air. I also notice – for the very first time – the rattling armour and shield of my trusty companion, Raheir, as he jogs along behind me. The Kithara doesn’t have the spatial audio features of more expensive rivals such as the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, but the open-back earpieces are highly effective at creating a sense of space as I run along the road, including the crashing sound of a waterfall over to the left of me.
I get my first taste of combat as a band of Rogues pops up out of nowhere, and the first thing I notice is the power of those chunky 100mm drivers as I fire off a couple of lightning bolts. I only have the game volume set to 50%, but that’s more than enough as the chaos of combat erupts all around me. And there’s clarity as well as power, capturing the satisfying fizz of energy as my bolts swirl around, bouncing from enemy to enemy. My sorcerer is a typical glass canon, so I trigger my Earthen Bulwark magical shield, and it sounds like a slab of concrete being dragged along the ground as it swirls around me.
I’ve got to hand it to the sound design team on Diablo 4, as they’ve done a great job of keeping all the clashing sounds clear and balanced, and the Kithara is a great fit for the game as it has the precision needed to pick out all the sonic details of swords and shields, and the mystical energy of my spells as they all clash in combat.
Editor’s note – PS5 performance
Alongside Cliff’s extremely thorough and deep testing of the Asus ROG Kithara on a host of platforms, I have also been able to put the headset through its paces on PS5. Performance on Sony’s current-gen console looks to be a big deal to Asus, with a dedicated badge adorning the Kithara’s box – and largely it performs brilliantly. The audio quality is excellent and gives excellent, crisp, and detailed audio that’s a joy to experience. However, the connectivity, cable setup, and the fact that you can only use the headset’s microphone when plugged into the PS5’s USB-C port hold it back and make the logistics of using the headset a bit of a challenge, especially in ‘traditional’ under-the-TV setups.
Rob Dwiar, Managing Editor, TechRadar Gaming
The sound design on Doom: The Dark Ages is, admittedly, a little less subtle, but the Kithara digs deep for the opening music, landing the grinding sound of fuzz-drenched guitars with real weight, while the martial beat of drums sets the mood for the mayhem to come.
I’m more of a role-playing games (RPG) guy these days, but the gonzo adrenaline rush of the Doom games is hard to resist, and I enjoy the metallic thud of the shield charge that softens up my enemies as I return to the game’s opening section in Khalim. I decide to get some target practice in the Ripatorium mode, picking Unchained Predator by Finishing Move from the Jukebox. It’s not my favourite musical genre, but the track’s chugging guitar riffs cleverly sync with the bullets spewing from my pulse rifle, and the sheer gritty power of the guitar and drums will satisfy even the most die-hard metal-heads. And, as mentioned, the Kithara’s oversized drivers have enough power to really make your ears bleed.
But, of course, the Kithara is designed for audiophiles who will enjoy a range of different musical genres, so I grab my iPad with Apple Music and switch to the hi-fi cable that is also included in the box. I start with the bouncing bass of Billie Eilish on Bad Guy, powered by an iFi Go Link Max DAC with a balanced 4mm connector.
The deep electronic bass that opens the track is firm and precise, but the rhythm is relaxed enough to bounce along like a playful puppy, and it immediately gets my feet tapping. The bass isn’t overwhelming, though, and there’s a really crisp sound to the finger-snaps that lead through the chorus, and a smooth, whispery quality on Billie’s vocals. Planar-magnetic headphones are sometimes criticized for weak bass, but the Kithara can hold its head up with planar-magnetic rivals such as the Audeze Maxwell 2, as it lands the final section of the song with a slow, juddering bass pulse that hits like a pile-driver.
A new high-res mix of Queen’s Seven Seas Of Rhye recently turned up on Apple Music, and the Kithara proves that it can match the power and precision of traditional hi-fi headphones such as the Sennheiser HDB 630 as it really lets rip on Brian May’s swooping power chords. It can handle Queen’s multi-tracked harmonies too, catching all the different layers of sound, and making room for Roger Taylor’s shrieking falsetto as it leads into the guitar break.
The old-school approach of the Kithara won’t suit everyone, and the lack of Bluetooth and noise-cancellation features means that it will mainly appeal to wired-only purists. But, if you’re an audiophile who really prefers the quality of traditional wired headphones, then the clarity, precision and spacious sound of the Kithara are hard to beat at this price.
Should you buy the Asus ROG Kithara?
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Also consider…
If the Asus ROG Kithara might not be quite for you, then check out these fine alternatives as excellent audiophile options.
| Row 0 – Cell 0 |
Asus ROG Kithara |
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite |
Audeze Maxwell 2 |
|
Price |
$299.99 / £284.99 / AU$569 |
$599.99 / £599.99 / AU$1,349 |
$329 / £319 / about AU$450 |
|
Weight |
14.8oz / 420g |
13.4oz / 380g |
17.3oz / 490g |
|
Drivers |
100mm Planar Magnetic |
40mm carbon fiber with brass surround |
90mm Planar Magnetic |
|
Compatibility |
PS5*, PS4* Nintendo Switch*, Nintendo Switch 2*, PC, Mac, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One (audio only via audio jack on Xbox) (*Microphone requires USB-C adaptor) |
PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac, Mobile |
Playstation or Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC, Mac, Mobile |
|
Connection type |
Wired only: 3.5mm audio jack, balanced 4mm, 6.3mm, USB-C |
Hi-Res wireless (2.4Ghz via dongle), Wired (audio jack), Bluetooth 5.3 (LE Audio, LC3, LC3+) |
Wireless (2.4Ghz via dongle), Wired (USB-C & audio jack), Bluetooth 5.3 (LC3plus / LC3 / LDAC / AAC) |
|
Battery life |
N/A |
Up to 60 hours (2 x fully-charged batteries), Infinite Power System |
80+ hours |
|
Features |
Frequency response of 8Hz – 55KHz; 1.8m gaming cable with boom mic; 1.8m hi-fi cable with 3.5mm, balanced 4mm, 6.3mm, USB-C adaptors (USB-C supports 24-bit/96KHz) |
Certified Hi-Res audio (96kHz/24-bit), 40mm carbon fiber, brass ring surround drivers, ClearCast Gen 2.X – Retractable Boom Mic and Smart-Switching On-Ear Beamforming Microphone with AI noise rejecting, ANC, Omniplay GameHub (connect four devices simultaneously) |
Detachable hypercardiod mic, beamforming mic with physical and AI reduction, FILTER™ Noise Reduction Technology, embedded Dolby Atmos license (Xbox), |
|
Software |
N/A |
SteelSeries GG/Sonar (PC), SteelSeries Arctis Companion App (iOS & Android) |
Audeze HQ (PC) |
How I tested the Asus ROG Kithara
- Tested over two weeks, gaming and streaming audio
- Used on PC, Mac and mobile devices, on a variety of games and listening to high-res music on Apple Music
- Compared directly with the Master & Dynamic MG20 and Sennheiser HDB 630, as well as other gaming headsets and headphones
I’m lucky enough to test hi-fi quality headphones on a fairly regular basis, so I was able to compare the Asus Kithara with gaming headsets such as the Master & Dynamic MG20, as well as more conventional headphones from Sennheiser and Bowers & Wilkins.
As mentioned, I was eager to test the Kithara by jumping into the new season of Diablo 4 on my Alienware gaming laptop. Diablo has taken up most of my gaming time in recent weeks, but I also paid a return visit to Doom: The Dark Ages. And, believe it or not, I also spend a fair amount of time reviewing games on the Mac, allowing me to revisit Baldur’s Gate 3 and the zombie hordes of Resident Evil 3. And I was able to cover both bases with Death Stranding, which has a wonderfully eerie and atmospheric ambient soundtrack, alongside the beautiful, melancholy song-writing of Low Roar.
I also use a Mac for work all day long, so the Kithara was often plugged into my Mac mini in order to stream music from Apple Music, ranging from the high-res bombast of Queen to the classical elegance of Max Richter.
First reviewed March 2026
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