it is time to degree up your audio

The ROG Kithara is already turning heads (and ears) all over the place. With an open-backed design, planar magnetic drivers, and audiophile high quality sound, the Kithara is in contrast to any gaming headset you’ve in all probability ever used. But if you happen to’ve by no means used an open-back headset earlier than, you is likely to be questioning what the distinction is. Should the you seize the open-back Kithara or a closed-back headset just like the ROG Delta II? Here, we’ll break down the variations and aid you discover the perfect gaming headset to your setup.

Open-back headphones present extra spacious, reasonable audio

The greatest distinction between an open-back headset just like the Kithara and your typical closed-back gaming headset is the design of the earcups. Most gaming headsets, together with the majority of ROG’s lineup, are closed-back, which means the cups enclose your ears absolutely. This provides some noise isolation, which means you possibly can hear your music or sport with out listening to different folks within the room round you. Certain frequency ranges like bass can even reverberate a bit higher on closed-backed headphones if you happen to like that low-end slam.

Open-back headphones, then again, use earcups with grilles that allow air (and sound) circulate extra freely out and in of the earcups. This supplies an enormous benefit in sound high quality, notably in terms of the perceived spatial width and depth of the audio. This is known as soundstage, and it makes audio sound unimaginable. Put on a pair of open-back headphones, and rapidly you are feeling such as you’re actually within the sport world. Instead of sounds coming from the house proper round your head, it sounds rather more pure and spacious. Trust me, if you happen to’ve by no means heard an open-back headphone, you’ll be blown away.

And whereas any such headphone has been fashionable amongst music-focused audiophiles, a wider soundstage makes all audio sound higher. Music sounds extra reasonable and current, motion pictures really feel extra immersive, and video games provide you with extra intuitive spatial cues, so that you get a greater thought of the place that enemy gunfire is coming from. (Combine that along with your favourite digital encompass tech, and also you’re actually cooking.)

A balanced sound signature is vital, placing your sport audio entrance and middle

Now, the earcup design isn’t the one think about how a headphone sounds — removed from it. The driver expertise, frequency vary, and tuning all have an enormous impact on sound as nicely. And we took all of these issues very significantly when designing the Kithara.

The ROG Kithara makes use of 100mm planar magnetic drivers, which offer an ultra-wide 8Hz–55kHz frequency vary with audiophile grade constancy. The distinctive development of planar magnetic drivers is especially suited to offering detailed audio with exceptionally low distortion, giving it a distinctly clear sound, particularly when mixed with the headset’s open-back development. (If you’re curious concerning the tech behind these drivers, you possibly can learn extra about planar magnetic headphones right here.)

The frequency response of the Kithara was specifically tuned by ROG to match the exact sound signature we knew audiophile players would crave. The bass thumps with out being overpowering, permitting the midrange to come back by sharp and clear — which is particularly essential for footsteps and different ambient sounds in aggressive video games. The excessive finish is current, however not harsh, offering a clear, heat sound that’s pleasing for every type of music and video games.

Whether you’re immersing your self on the planet of Ghost of Tsushima or taking part in aggressive rounds of Valorant, the Kithara has you coated. (And if you happen to actually wish to uncover a brand new degree of audio heaven, hearth up the orchestral majesty of Expedition 33, the heavy steel violence of Doom: The Dark Ages, or the unsettlingly atmospheric Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II.)

Open-back gaming headset vs common headphones: the value-add of a devoted mic (and extra)

So why purchase an open-back gaming headset relatively than only a common pair of open-back audiophile headphones? In the previous, this choice was a bit totally different, however with the Kithara, the selection turns into clearer — as a result of it actually does comprise the perfect of each worlds.

The ROG Kithara has a wealthy basis of high quality audio tech because of ROG’s partnership with HIFIMAN, a pioneer of recent planar magnetic headphones. And whereas the world of audiophile headphones has loads of high-quality open-back choices, the ROG Kithara was created particularly for players — by these captivated with each gaming and high-end audio. And it comes with the options that these players want.

First and foremost, the Kithara comes with a full-band MEMS increase microphone, which attaches to the headset for straightforward in-game comms and accommodates an simply accesible mute swap on the cable. But it’s not simply handy — its 20Hz–20kHz response and excessive signal-to-noise ratio supplies exceptionally clear voice pickup with minimal crosstalk because of its twin 3.5mm enter. This provides a ton of worth to the complete package deal — in any case, most audiophile headphones don’t include their very own headset mic, so that you’d have to purchase a mic individually, which raises the overall price of your setup.

We’ve bought players coated on the software program facet, too, with ROG’s personal digital encompass providing in addition to a built-in equalizer with gaming-oriented presets built-in. Combined with the 2 units of included earpads, you’ve gotten loads of methods to fine-tune this headset to your preferences and the sport at hand. (The leatherette ear pads are our default advisable choice, whereas the velour pads give a barely hotter, bassier sound. Both are insanely comfy, and your private choice will dictate which is finest.)

All in all, the Kithara offers you the standard of an audiophile headphone with the options of a gaming headset, multi function wonderful package deal.

Where closed-back headsets nonetheless win

Open-backed headphones include loads of benefits, however they don’t render losed-back headphones out of date. Depending in your setup, a closed-back headset should be the best way to go.

The very nature of open-back headsets minimizes the sound isolation you usually get from closed-back headphones. That implies that even with the headphones on, you possibly can hear somebody communicate in the event that they’re sitting subsequent to you, and so they can hear your sport audio extra clearly leaking out of the headphones. So whereas the sound high quality is unimaginable, they’re extra excellent for many who sport alone, in a devoted room, the place you received’t trouble these round you.

If you are likely to play in a communal house, like a front room or multi-person workplace, you would possibly nonetheless want a closed-back headphone just like the ROG Delta II for practicality. It additionally contains a well-balanced sound signature, focusing on the Harman Curve well-known for becoming the preferences of most individuals (together with extra discerning audiophiles). Its removable increase mic sounds nice, its earcups are remarkably comfy, and just like the Kithara it comes with two units of ear pads so that you can select from.

So the selection, finally, will depend on your use case. If you’ve gotten a devoted house for gaming and also you haven’t heard a pair of open-back, audiophile-grade headphones earlier than, do your self a favor and provides the ROG Kithara a strive. We suppose it’ll blow you away. But if you happen to want the sound isolation that solely a set of closed-back headphones may give, the Delta II remains to be a wonderful alternative. And irrespective of which you select, you should definitely take a look at our gaming audio optimization information to get essentially the most out of your new cans.