The ASUS ROG Kithara ranks #41 out of 512 total Over-Ear Headphones for sound quality. See all Headphones rankings for every top pick.
Brand: ASUS
Prices on this page were last checked October 20, 2026 at 10:35 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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#41 ASUS ROG Kithara: $247.99 Amazon $247.99 eBay
Pros: An open-back planar magnetic gaming headset with a 100 mm driver and detachable mic, measured by two reviewers with a preference score of 88. Upper bass through the presence region sits within about 0.8 dB of target, with a slightly bright tilt for clear detail.
Cons: Sub bass falls 6 dB below target at 34 Hz, so explosions and electronic bass lack rumble, and treble has a 4.2 dB peak near 8.4 kHz. The open back leaks sound, and the HIFIMAN Ananda Stealth rates the same for the same money without the mic.
Is the ASUS ROG Kithara right for you?
Buy it if
- you want the tuning most listeners prefer in blind tests out of the box (Harman score 88).
Skip it if
- you want more bass (about 3 dB below target).
- you need isolation or will use it in public: open-back headphones leak sound both ways.
| Back | Open |
|---|---|
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.80 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic |
| Drivers | 1 x 100mm planar magnetic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 8Hz - 55kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 88 (average of 2 squig.link measurements scored separately, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 16 ohms |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 34 Hz (-6.4 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.36 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (420 g) |
EQ Presets
Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.2 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the average of 2 independent measurements from squig.link, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Harman match with this EQ: 99 out of 100, up from 88.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +4.6 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -6.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 25 Hz | +1.7 dB | 1.41 |
| Peak | 109 Hz | -1.9 dB | 0.84 |
| Peak | 966 Hz | -1.3 dB | 2.28 |
| Peak | 1,844 Hz | +3.4 dB | 4.43 |
| Peak | 2,246 Hz | +1.5 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 3,259 Hz | -2.5 dB | 3.86 |
Neutral target
Set a preamp of -3.3 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the average of 2 independent measurements from squig.link, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Neutral match with this EQ: 100 out of 100, up from 89.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -0.9 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -6.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 23 Hz | +1.9 dB | 1.86 |
| Peak | 109 Hz | -2.1 dB | 0.73 |
| Peak | 966 Hz | -1.3 dB | 2.41 |
| Peak | 1,844 Hz | +3.4 dB | 4.43 |
| Peak | 2,246 Hz | +1.4 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 3,259 Hz | -2.5 dB | 3.86 |
Studio flat target
Set a preamp of -6.0 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the average of 2 independent measurements from squig.link, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Studio flat match with this EQ: 98 out of 100, up from 58.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -2.8 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 182 Hz | -3.3 dB | 0.44 |
| Peak | 993 Hz | -1.4 dB | 2.37 |
| Peak | 1,705 Hz | +1.5 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 2,051 Hz | +5.9 dB | 2.73 |
| Peak | 6,505 Hz | -2.1 dB | 4.72 |
Warm target
Set a preamp of -6.3 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the average of 2 independent measurements from squig.link, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Warm match with this EQ: 100 out of 100, up from 73.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +4.8 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -6.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 26 Hz | +1.5 dB | 1.50 |
| Peak | 109 Hz | -1.7 dB | 0.93 |
| Peak | 1,029 Hz | -1.0 dB | 3.06 |
| Peak | 1,829 Hz | +3.3 dB | 4.32 |
| Peak | 2,230 Hz | +1.2 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 3,197 Hz | -2.6 dB | 4.32 |
| Peak | 4,944 Hz | +1.7 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 8,000 Hz | -3.4 dB | 0.52 |
Bass target
Set a preamp of -6.1 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the average of 2 independent measurements from squig.link, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Bass match with this EQ: 100 out of 100, up from 69.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +6.0 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -6.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 192 Hz | -1.5 dB | 1.57 |
| Peak | 966 Hz | -1.3 dB | 2.00 |
| Peak | 1,844 Hz | +3.4 dB | 4.43 |
| Peak | 2,244 Hz | +1.5 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 3,259 Hz | -2.5 dB | 3.86 |
Bright target
Set a preamp of -3.5 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the average of 2 independent measurements from squig.link, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Bright match with this EQ: 93 out of 100, up from 72.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -1.0 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 23 Hz | +1.9 dB | 1.77 |
| Peak | 109 Hz | -2.1 dB | 0.72 |
| Peak | 966 Hz | -1.4 dB | 2.28 |
| Peak | 1,857 Hz | +3.4 dB | 4.27 |
| Peak | 2,260 Hz | +1.3 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 3,199 Hz | -2.1 dB | 4.44 |
| Peak | 5,526 Hz | +3.1 dB | 1.50 |
V-shaped target
Set a preamp of -6.2 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the average of 2 independent measurements from squig.link, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted V-shaped match with this EQ: 94 out of 100, up from 76.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +6.0 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -2.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 80 Hz | +1.3 dB | 1.61 |
| Peak | 980 Hz | -1.9 dB | 2.40 |
| Peak | 1,893 Hz | +3.6 dB | 4.08 |
| Peak | 2,286 Hz | +1.3 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 3,285 Hz | -2.0 dB | 4.84 |
| Peak | 5,448 Hz | +3.5 dB | 1.22 |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
Frequency Response
How the ASUS ROG Kithara measures across the audible range, against the Harman over-ear target that most listeners prefer in blind tests. Where the line sits above the target that range sounds louder (more bass, brighter treble), below it quieter. The curve is the average of 2 independent measurements, and both lines are shifted so their 500 Hz to 2 kHz average sits at 0 dB.
Measurement data: the average of 2 independent measurements from the squig.link databases of capraaudio and sai. Thanks to each of them for publishing their work.