Founded in 2006, Republic of Gamers or ROG was formed as a separate division for the purpose of delivering innovative hardware for gamers. ROG is ASUS’ Premium line for Gamers from PC components, systems, laptops all the way to peripherals. ROG now extends its branding through eSports with sponsorships and the launch of its own tournament, the ROG Masters.
The ROG Centurion 7.1 comes with 10 discrete Neodymium drivers to provide an immersive 7.1 surround sound experience in gaming. These drivers also make the headset bulky, but is compensated with the wide sound stage.It resembles the build a of the ROG Strix Wireless with a Sci-Fi design that’s evident on the controller.
FEATURES
- True 7.1 surround sound with 10 individual sound drivers
- Noise-cancelling digital microphone for clear communication
- Hi-Fi grade ESS headphone amplifier
- Full audio control with Sonic Studio
- Two sets of interchangeable ear cups to fit each gamer’s personal preference
- USB audio station with handy in-game audio controls
- Exclusive ROG stand for storing the headset when not in use
SPECIFICATIONS
- Connector: USB
- Driver Material: Neodymium Magnet
- Driver Diameter: Front(40mm), Subwoofer(40mm), Center(30mm), Side(20mm) and Rear(20mm)
- Microphone: Uni-directional
- Frequency Response: 20 ~ 20000Hz
- Cable: Braided Fiber Headset Cable(1.5M) and USB Cable(1.5M)
UNBOXING and FIRST IMPRESSIONS
The front of the box only shows the 2 main components, the headset and the control knob. It is unlikely that there are no product feature highlights or icons included in the front box. Aside from the ROG logo, the only thing noticeable is that it has a label of being a TRUE 7.1 SURROUND GAMING HEADSET. Normally, a 7.1 surround headset has more than 1 driver per ear.. These extra drivers allows the headset to create a 7.1 surround environment but this additional drivers also makes the headset way more expensive. Nowadays, headset manufacturers just rely on software to make their headset 7.1 surround.
Moving to the back of the headset, you can see the 2 main components but now with feature highlights. The specifications of the headset are listed at the side of the box.
The headset comes with the following:
- Centurion 7.1 Headset
- Controller
- Y splitter USB Cable
- Extra Mesh earcup
- HDMI to 3.5mm jacks
- Product Manual
- Product Warranty Guide
It’s very surprising to see a headset stand included with a purchase of a headset. The headset stand is made of acrylic with a glossy finish. The ROG branding can be seen at the front of the headset stand.
The USB 3.0 cable is split along the way as the first end is used for connectivity and the other one is for auxiliary power. The HDMI splitter is for the speaker where you could still connect your speaker. This allows you to switch between your headset and speaker at any given time just by pressing the speaker button on the controller.
The headset sports a similar body with that of the ASUS ROG Strix Wireless Gaming Headset, with the headband having the most resemblance. It has a matte finish with some glossy parts on the earcups. It still carries some Strix theme as the headset also has orange highlights.
What I dont like with this structure as I also stated in my ROG Strix Wireless Headset Review, the clamping force of the headset hurts your head when its brandnew. It takes a while before the plastic settles or you just being immune to the clamping force. Nonetheless, it is still a comfortable headband with the cushions to support your head when worn.
The headset has an illuminated ROG logo at the back part of the earcups which can be turned on/off by using the controller. The headset also has a retractable boom mic that you can just move up when not in use.
ASUS lets you choose between having a leather or a mesh type earcups depending on your style of comfort. The earcups also have an uneven round design to fit most ear sizes.
The control knob has lots of things going around. First, we go through its ports. HDMI is used for the headset’s input. ASUS claims that HDMI was used for a better audio quality, but this gives a trade-off as users won’t be able to use the headset without the controller, not to mention that they can’t use it on their mobile phones.
The bottom knob lets you choose which type of setting would you want to access. The top knob then lets you choose the volume for that specific setting. The addition of LEDs on the top knob is useful in the dark so that you’ll have a visual indicator on the level of volume that you have. However, it is more useful to see the feature on the bottom knob as it is better to know what setting is currently on.
SOFTWARE
The software gives you a cherry on top modification for the headset. All of the settings accessible through the controller are also present in the software. The app allows you to configure the equalizer and toggle features such as Bass Boost, Voice Clarity, Mic Noise Gate, Compressor and Perfect Voice. There are also profile presets available in the software as well as reverb presets.
A great addition to the headset is the Sonic Radar Pro. It shows a radar overlay that shows where a the is coming from.
User Experience & Conclusion
Performance. Nothing beats having a TRUE 7.1 Surround Sound Gaming Headset as it gives you a more accurate directional sound as compared to gaming headsets relying on their respective software. The Centurion has a wide soundstage and gives out crisp details that will give you an estimate on how close your enemies are.
Build Quality. The Centurion is sturdy enough given that the frame is just plastic. TThe leather earpads are one of the most comfortable ones that I’ve used. The retractable microphone doesn’t loosen it posture overtime as most retractable mics demonstrate.
Functionality. The Centurion by itself gives you a remarkable gaming experience without the need for the 7.1 software. Everything can be controlled via the control knob without flashy gimmicks such as RGB. However, the headset does not have any portability as it uses an HDMI cable for connection and that the knob is too bulky to carry around.
Bundle. For anything premium such as the Centurion 7.1, ASUS never fails to deliver to its users the feeling of having a premium product. The headset stand is a nice addition to your desk as well as getting a place to store the large headset. The option of a speaker to be plugged in via an HDMI splitter adapter is a feature that I really like as it removes the hassle of the user to plug-in and out the audio device of choice.
Value. For Php 11,970 SRP, this is already way out of the gaming headset price range as it enters the audiophile price range. However, for the features of the headset, you will be getting superb audio clarity and a wide sound stage. Using the software and the controller maximizes customizability to tune the headset to your own style.
The ROG Centurion is definitely true 7.1 headset backed up with a great sound stage, customizability and 1 year warranty, we give it our Editor’s Choice Award!
2 Comments
No RGB, no buy.
We’ll be reviewing the ROG Strix Fusion RGB Headset soon 😀