ASUS ROG Kithara

G GameSpace.com Mitchell Gassner · reviewer · May 2026

The Kithara is easy to recommend: it’s exceptionally comfortable, sounds fantastic, and justifies its price on its own. The Cetra, meanwhile, is perfectly usable, but its awkward identity and underwhelming sound make it a much harder sell at its asking price. If you want one of these, the choice is simple: buy the Kithara. It’s the only one that feels worth the money.

R ROG Global ROG Global · 766K subscribers · Jan 2026

Designed for gamers who want more than just loud sound, the ROG Kithara was built in collaboration with HIFIMAN and focuses on clarity, detail, and comfort for long sessions. In this episode, we walk through the headset’s design, build quality, and audio‑focused features, and talk about what separates an audiophile‑leaning gaming headset from the rest.

Using the open backed design and wide sound stage, it separates deep bass, mids and treble in a defined way to allow players to easily distinguish between enemy footsteps, gunfire and your own movement, giving you an advantage. It also has a detachable boom microphone too for swapping out between gaming and music listening when needed.

R ROG Global ROG Global · 766K subscribers · Mar 2026

Designed for gamers who demand uncompromised high-fidelity audio, the ROG Kithara is powered by HIFIMAN’s industry-leading acoustic technology. Its open-back architecture and ROG-customized 100mm planar magnetic drivers deliver lifelike soundstages with sharp, precise detail.

and after some serious hours of music + gaming… I think I really dig this headphone. Especially coming from the recent Audeze Maxwell, this surprised me in many ways. Technical performance is very close to the HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth, but with better imaging accuracy and MUCH better build quality. I may bravely say… more premium.

R ROG Global ROG Global · 766K subscribers · Apr 2026

It's one of those things where you don't know what you're really missing out on until you experience it, and I can confidently say that these headphones completely changed the way I hear sound. It is so damn clear. You hear everything. ASUS actually worked with Hifiman for matching the left and right driver. This is huge for positional accuracy. I think the imaging precision of this is phenomenal.

Bought the ROG Kithara and it's literally night and day over my blackshark. My blackshark began to cut out and pop, and never truly sounded great in the first place. Music, games, movies, and videos all sound way better now and much fuller. As if the sound is actually there and not just playing through cups over your ears.

S SoundGuys SoundGuys · 323K subscribers · Feb 2026

With an open-back design and planar magnetic drivers, you get excellent sound quality, though it is certainly different than a traditional gaming headset.

S Subscribers Kevin Lee · reviewer · Jan 2026

The Asus ROG Kithara is the audiophile-grade headset gamers have been dreaming of for decades. Announced at CES 2026 , it combines 100mm HIFIMANN planar magnetic drivers into an Asus ROG-tuned gaming headset. The result is a wired gaming headset that delivers deeper bass and detailed stereo gaming sound.

G GGF Events GGF Events · 223K subscribers · Feb 2026

We saw the ROG Kithara at CES and loved them and now after spending a little time with them we love them even more.

A Audiophile Sound for PC Gamers Article

The ROG Kithara Gaming Headset is powered by two large 100mm HIFIMAN planar magnetic drivers, custom-tuned by ASUS's ROG team. Each ROG Kithara is calibrated and factory tested to ensure it matches the frequency profile of the reference design, which spans 8 Hz to 55,000 Hz.

M Micro Center Micro Center · 109K subscribers · Mar 2026

The ROG Kithara Gaming Headset from ASUS is a an AMAZING headset that delivers sharp audio and mic quality.

T TechRadar Article · Apr 2026

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.

L LATE KNIGHT TALKS LATE KNIGHT TALKS · 6K subscribers · Mar 2026

If you're looking for a premium gaming headset with great sound imaging, strong bass, and clear vocals, the ROG Kithara might be an interesting option. But are they actually worth the price? Let’s find out.

O Overclocking.com EN Nico_CPK · reviewer · Apr 2026

On paper, pooling Hifiman’s audio expertise with Asus’s gaming experience has everything going for it. We have every right to expect a remarkable product.

N NAG NAG · 3.7K subscribers · Jun 2026

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.

F Forbes Mark Sparrow · reviewer · Feb 2026

Developed with HIFIMAN, ROG Kithara brings true high-fidelity planar magnetic sound to competitive and immersive gaming.

G GGChrono GGChrono · 2.8K subscribers · Mar 2026

And spoilers, I think this is a great headphone. But is it a great gaming headset? Let's talk about it. Hey everyone, it's Crono and today I have the Kithara with me, which is a headphone born from a partnership between HiFiMAN and ASUS's Republic of Gamers series.

B Basic Tutorials Article · Feb 2026

This is premium through and through, I really like it!

G Game One PH Game One PH · 2.4K subscribers · Mar 2026

Experience audiophile-grade gaming audio with the ROG Kithara. Powered by HIFIMAN technology, its open-back design and 100mm planar magnetic drivers deliver incredibly detailed sound. A built-in MEMS microphone keeps your comms clear, while the balanced cable and USB-C adapter ensure high-fidelity audio across multiple devices.

Z ZoneOfGadgets ZoneOfGadgets · 1.6K subscribers · Mar 2026

Unlike traditional gaming headsets, the ROG Kithara introduces planar magnetic driver technology designed to deliver exceptional sound clarity, precise imaging, and a wider soundstage for competitive gameplay. With its 100mm planar magnetic drivers, open-back design, and high-fidelity tuning, this headset aims to bridge the gap between professional audiophile headphones and gaming headsets.

T Tech with Segnar Tech with Segnar · 310 subscribers · Jun 2026

The ASUS ROG Kithara is a premium open-back gaming headset designed for gamers, audiophiles, streamers, and content creators. Featuring ROG-tuned HIFIMAN planar magnetic drivers, a wide open-back soundstage, and multi-platform compatibility, it delivers a detailed and immersive audio experience for gaming and music alike.

J Jake Technos Jake Technos · 271 subscribers · Jun 2026

Experience premium gaming audio like never before with the ASUS ROG Kithara. Featuring ROG-tuned HIFIMAN planar magnetic drivers, an immersive open-back design, crystal-clear microphone performance, and support for PC, console, DACs, amplifiers, and mobile devices, this headset is built for gamers and audiophiles who refuse to compromise.

T TechNest TechNest · 165 subscribers · Jun 2026

Right away, the standout feature here is the ROG tuned Hyman planar magnetic drivers. Unlike traditional dynamic drivers, planar magnetic systems use an ultra thin diaphragm suspended between magnetic fields, which results in faster transient response and lower distortion. In real world terms, that means footsteps in FPS games like Veiler or CS style shooters feel more precise.

T TechByte TechByte · 102 subscribers · Mar 2026

ASUS Republic of Gamers ha annunciato ROG Kithara, le prime cuffie gaming con driver magnetici planari ad alta fedeltà sviluppate da ROG in collaborazione con HIFIMAN, innovatore di fama mondiale nel campo delle cuffie planari, offrendo a tutti i giocatori e gli appassionati un audio incredibilmente coinvolgente e di qualità superiore.

K Kim Digital Kim Digital · 89 subscribers · Jun 2026

Built for audiophiles who game, the ROG Kithara delivers massive soundstage, ultra-low distortion, and studio-grade clarity.

G GadgetsFlow GadgetsFlow · 72 subscribers · Jun 2026

Experience premium gaming and audiophile-grade sound with the ASUS ROG Kithara Open-Back Wired Headphones. Developed with ROG-tuned HIFIMAN planar magnetic drivers, these headphones deliver exceptional clarity, detail, and soundstage for both competitive gaming and music listening.

K Kylomi_ Kylomi_ · channel · Feb 2026

Quand le géant du gaming ASUS s’associe à la légende de l’audiophilie HIFIMAN, le résultat est forcément IN-CRO-YABLE !

H Happy Mag Happy Mag · channel · Mar 2026

The ROG Kithara throws out the usual “gamer headset” formula and instead teams up with audio legends HIFIMAN to deliver something much closer to a proper hi fi listening experience.

T Tech Hunter Tech Hunter · channel · Jan 2026

ASUS has officially revealed the ROG Kithara Gaming Headset at CES 2026, and this launch is turning heads in the gaming and audiophile communities. Developed in collaboration with HIFIMAN, the ROG Kithara is a wired open-back gaming headset focused on delivering high-fidelity, planar magnetic audio with precise positional awareness for competitive gaming.

E ecoustics.com Aaron Sigal · reviewer · Jun 2026

But for the right user, the Kithara makes a lot of sense. If you want planar-driver speed, an open and spacious presentation, strong gaming positional accuracy, and a tuning that works well for both music and FPS titles, the ASUS ROG Kithara is one of the more interesting wired gaming headsets in its class.

S SML Tech EN SML Tech EN · 682 subscribers · May 2026

Unfortunately, cable noise transfers a lot to the mic. So, if you're moving during gaming a lot, your teammates won't be very thrilled about that. And they won't be thrilled about the lack of any kind of built-in noise canceling, either, because the background noise comes through pretty easily.

A Androidheadlines Article

All of that being said, the ROG Kithara is a very good gaming headset that does deliver some exceptional audio quality in the right spaces, and in the right games. It’s not cheap, but it’s definitely worth the money if you want a wired open-back gaming headset.

B Bonus Action Laura Gray · reviewer · Jun 2026

After testing the headphones for the past four months , I have genuinely come to love them, though there is one setback I hope to see ROG address in any future versions, as it has had a fairly big impact on my daily use of the Kithara.

T Techgoondu Article · Feb 2026

Comfort is more of a mixed bag, however. The stock leatherette ear muffs are large and oval, with generous padding that easily clears most ears and avoids the cramped feeling common to smaller gaming headsets.

H Headphonesty Article

Open-back design does come with tradeoffs. Sound leaks out, and external noise leaks in. In return, you get the spacious presentation and natural imaging planar magnetic headphones are known for.

S Stream Tech Reviews by BadIntent BadIntent · reviewer · Mar 2026

Wired only . The wires are kind of a PITA to work with. They’re 70 inches long which is good, but you have to fumble around with the adapters depending on what you use these with.

S SoundGuys Jhaycee Calvez · reviewer · Feb 2026

This means that if you’re looking to use the ROG Kithara for some production work, you don’t have to swap out to studio headphones.

W Windows Central Article · Feb 2026

The ROG Kithara is a niche headset that puts sound quality ahead of features. It makes sense for a very specific type of user.

While the AED 1,238 price tag is surprisingly reasonable for this level of audio tech, there is a catch.

C CGMagazine Matt Keith · reviewer · Apr 2026

Amazing Sound with one Design Concern