IF YOU CAN COUNT on one thing from
Asus’s headset line, it’s the unexpected.
There’s a swashbuckling approach to its
gaming c an s that ’s unl ike any of it s r i v al s ,
characterized by confusing subdivisions
of Republic of Gamers (ROG) models and
The Ultimate Force (TUF) options, which
represent a premium and budget split.
These ROG Deltas feature a totally
different design from ROG’s flagship
Centurion cans, and differ completely
from the TUF Gaming H7s and H5s, too—
which are also dramatically different from
each other. Perhaps it’s unfair to take
from this that Asus is still searching for
that one killer headset design, whereas
SteelSeries bases all models around the
Arctis, and Razer iterates on a couple of
basic shapes (the Nari and Kraken).
Whether there’s any truth to that or
not, this luxuriously specced Delta White
Edition proves just such a killer design.
Broadly comparable to Corsair’s VOID
shape, the earcups sit nice and tight
around your ear, creating a chamber for
the bass to resonate within, while very
generous memory foam pads in protein
leather finish keep the sensation soft and,
for want of a better word, “premium.”
The finish is the stuff of $250-plus
headsets all over, from its noiseless
joints to the slightly pearlescent white
finish on the earcups and brackets. The
RGB lighting is among the best we’ve ever
seen, too—its default pattern is an array
of tastefully paired color combinations,
which look razor sharp around the outer
edge and ROG logos. The headband
itself could do with a bit more padding
underneath, though, as it can dig in after
a while and become uncomfortable—
perhaps a broader band would solve it.
In a characteristic twist, this model
features not only a native USB-C
connection in the name of multiplatform
support, but virtual surround, too
(thankfully optional and disabled by
default), and also an ESS 9218 quad DAC
capable of 24-bit, 96kHz audio. In other
words, it sounds clear as all heck and
Premium cans with
a hi-fi grade DAC and
luxurious looks
Asus ROG Delta
White Edition
8
VERDICT Asus ROG Delta White EditionWHITE KNIGHT Hi-res ESS
quad DAC; superb RGB effects;
easy multiplatform support.
ROG BOTTOM Drivers are over-tuned;
comfort issues.
$150, http://www.asus.comSPECIFICATIONSDriver Size 50mm
Frequency Response
Range
20Hz–40kHz
Impedance 32 ohms
Weight 13.7ozConnection Type USB-C
Lighting Customizable RGByou can use it with your smartphone and
consoles without swearing at a pile of
cable adapters.
Throwing in a hi-fi grade DAC doesn’t
guarantee great sound across the board,
though, and as is so often the case,
the 50mm drivers in this headset have
been tuned for a scooped EQ response.
And that’s great for picking out high
frequencies in games or listening
to late ’80s thrash metal, but with
warmer-sounding sources, such as
singer-songwriters and melancholic
indie adventure games, that harshness
becomes obvious.
So, the benefits of a great DAC are
muted slightly by the EQ tuning and,
as ever, it’s not possible to simply load
up the Asus Armoury app and tweak it
back to a flat response using software
sliders—this is a hardwired response,
and it can’t be undone at a software level.
Which means—and we really should
set up a macro on our keyboard for this—
although the headset sounds suitably
bombastic and dramatic in games, its
scooped EQ means it’s not versatile
enough for use as a “one solution”
headset with your phone, too. Podcasts
and music just don’t have the warmth or
sparkle that they ought to—and, indeed,
could, given the DAC involved.
Still, this model is a net win for
Asus, which has demonstrated beyond
a shadow of a doubt it can put togethera truly luxurious set of cans that,
although pricey, feel much more
expensive than they are. Even the mic is
surprisingly clear and full-bodied, and
Asus’s Armoury has handy boost and
clarity functions for even better Discord
squabbles. It’s just one iteration from
being a real no-brainer in the wired
market, but as it stands, the headband
discomfort and V-shaped EQ response
hold back an otherwise preposterously
well-specced package. –PHIL IWANIUKmaximumpc.com MAY 2020 MAXIMUMPC 73