ASUS Strix 7.1 Surround Gaming Headset Review

ASUS Strix 7.1 Surround Gaming Headset

Flashy and fashionable audio wear has been a fascinating trend with new ideas being tested every year. The ASUS Strix headset lineup is perhaps one of the showiest audio products to be released that we are getting the chance to take a look at. Curves and edges give way to large owl eyes on the exterior of the earcups that light up. For the Strix 7.1, an Audio Control Station acts as a stylish desktop remote control that hides an audio processor that drives the headsets true 7.1 surround sound design. This is a gaming headset thats seemingly overdone in just about every way.

The sticker price of $199 is scary to see, but its more palatable considering that the Strix 7.1 is a surround sound headset bundled with an external sound card from the likes of ASUS, renowned for producing a range of quality sound cards under the Xonar lineup. Knowing this, we go in this review with high expectations and ASUS seems willing. The box outlines ambition features as if this headsets predatory appearance hasnt already given that impression.

ASUS Strix 7.1 Surround Gaming Headset Features:

• Plug-and-play USB audio station: Hold total control in your hand with the Strix 7.1 USB plug-and-play audio station, which works as a USB sound card and includes loads of sound effects and intuitive controls. Only the strongest survive, so your gaming gear must become an extension of your very being Strix 7.1 gets everything done for perfect in-game audio immediately.
• True 7.1 surround sound: Each ear cup of Strix 7.1 houses five discrete neodymium sound. Together with the optimized position of each driver and precise chamber mechanics, Strix 7.1 delivers realistic surround sound that makes every gamer feel the excitement of being right in the center of the game. No matter if your favorite game features 7.1, 5.1, or stereo game audio, Strix 7.1 promises to reproduce it in the most optimal, natural way. Game without compromise!
• 90% environmental noise cancellation: Strix 7.1 USB audio station features a build-in microphone that actively detects and counters more than 90% of environmental noise, such as mechanical keyboard tapping and speech, so your allies arent distracted in chat by noises occurring around you.
• Four game-audio spectrum profiles: With the profile settings, you can enable the best aural performance for a variety of genres, including first-person shooter (FPS), racing and action/role-playing games (RPGs.) Choose the suitable game-audio profile to boost critical audio details instantly. Aggressive wheel-drift effects put you right in the middle of the race track, and enhanced footsteps and gunfire sounds mean youll pinpoint enemies more quickly and with exceptional precision!
• Static and breathing lighting effects: Express your gaming style with Strix 7.1 and its owl eyes that even light up in the dark. Choose between static or breathing lighting with a simple click of a button on the audio station.
• Large protein leather ear cushions: Strix 7.1 is cushioned with ultra-soft, full-size memory foam (130mm at the widest point) and highly breathable protein leather, generating greater comfort over prolonged sessions with no ear fatigue.

ASUS Strix 7.1 Surround Gaming Headset Specifications:

• Headphone
  • Connector
    • HDMI connector
    • USB for PCs (through the audio station)
• Speaker driver dimension
  • Front: 40mm
  • Sub-woofer: 40 mm
  • Center: 30mm
  • Rear: 20mm
  • Side: 20mm
• Driver material: Neodymium magnet
• Impedance: 32 ohms
• Frequency response: 20Hz-20kHz
• Ear-cup Protein leather with memory foam
• Weight 350g (without cable)
• Cable: braided cable: 1.5m + 1.5m = 3m
• Lighting effect: Static/Breathing/Off
• Microphone
  • Type: Detachable
  • Pick-up pattern: Uni-directional
  • Frequency response: 50Hz-16kHz
  • Sensitivity: -40 +/- 3dB
• Audio station
  • ENC performance: More than 90% environmental noise cancellation
  • Features
    • USB-powered
    • Master volume control, individual surround channel volume controls, microphone volume control, headphone amplifier, game audio spectrum profiles (footstep, gunshot, racing, action/RPG), lighting effects control
    • Speaker output
    • HDMI-to-3.5mm adapter cable (some sound effect functions do not work for speaker output)
• 2-year warranty