Sony is at it again bringing its audio prowess to gaming-focused products. Its latest offerings, the INZONE Buds and INZONE H5 are set to level up your gaming experience. These audio devices are a collaboration with Fnatic, the iconic esports team with back-to-back international titles.
INZONE Buds Wirelessly Elevating Your Gameplay
With the INZONE Buds, your gaming experience becomes a truly wireless one. The INZONE Buds come with a high-performance driver unit, the Dynamic Driver X, which can deliver deep bass, robust mids and highs. It also brings every sound within the game, from powerful explosions to subtle footsteps to life off the screen with minimal distortion. Sony touts unparalleled auditory realism with Buds. They also come with a new design that minimizes ear contact, making extended gaming sessions more comfortable.
The INZONE Buds comes with 360 Spatial Sound. The 360 Spatial Sound immerses you in the game. You’ll be able to hear your opponents no matter where they are with precision giving you a competitive edge. Sony has taken the science of sound to another level by customizing the sound field to your ears. Using the 360 Spatial Sound Personaliser app, you can create a personalized hearing profile based on your ear shape and canal acoustics.
INZONE Buds feature Sony’s active noise cancellation, ensuring you’re fully immersed in your game. This is enhanced with AI-augmented noise reduction which utilises the microphones of the buds to intelligently cancel out ambient noise.
Sony’s INZONE Buds takes speed and latency seriously. Like its recently announced PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds, the INZONE Buds come with a USB-C dongle connection. According to Sony, the USB-C dongle ensures a latency of less than 30ms and latency is crucial when it comes to gaming especially if you’re doing it competitively.
The INZONE Buds boast an impressive battery life, thanks to the low-power L1 processor. You get up to 12 hours on the headphones and an additional 24 hours with the charging case – the industry’s longest battery life. With Bluetooth Low Energy compatibility the INZONE Buds can provide 24 hours of battery life when connected to your smart device. You can even leverage Sony’s Headphone Connect app to tweak your settings.
INZONE H5: Your Ideal Gaming Companion
The INZONE H5 Headphones are a step above the H3 which was announced nearly a year ago. They offer a 2.4GHz wireless connection freeing you from your gaming setup. Like the INZONE Buds, the H5 delivers 360 Spatial Sound, pinpointing sound positions in 3D space.
Weighing just 260g, featuring soft-fit ear pads and a low-pressure design, the INZONE H5 is built for extended gaming sessions. AI-based noise reduction and a bi-directional microphone enhance your gaming experience while you also get to communicate seamlessly with your teammates.
You’ll be able to enjoy up to 28 hours of wireless gameplay on a single charge. If you run out of juice midway through your gaming session, you can simply plug in with the 3.5 mm plug.
Pricing & Availability:
These gaming audio devices will be available in Malaysia from October 2023.
The INZONE Buds will be available in Black and White and will be priced from MYR899.
The INZONE H5 will be available in Black and White. No pricing details have been announced just yet. However, given that it’s positioned between the H3 which is priced at MYR439 and the H7 which is priced at MYR1,099, we expect it to be priced at about MYR700 to MYR850. In the US, the H5 is priced at USD$149.99 which equates to about MYR709.
Together with the two new products, Sony also announced a new black colour for the INZONE H9 which is priced at MYR1,299.
Anker continues to expand its influence in the earbud market with its latest True Wireless entry in the Soundcore series, the Soundcore A20i. With prices going as low as RM 89 on discount, one could easily doubt the quality of these earbuds. But you are in for a pleasant surprise!
Design
Positioned as a budget-friendly model, the A20i is not the flashiest in terms of design. The charging case has the conventional cuboidal shape with rounded edge, as with most entries in the market. There is only the Soundcore logo branded on the top, a white LED charging indicator on the bottom lip of the case opening and a handy lanyard. This minimalistic design is also reflected on the earbuds themselves, with only the engraved Soundcore logo and slightly tapered edges for the button heads.
The same lightweight material is used for both the Soundcore A20i case and earbuds. It has good grip and more importantly, is not a magnet for dust or fingerprints. When using these earbuds in the gym or during brisk walking, its light weight coupled with well-fitting tips helped the earbuds stay on. The buds were still easy to grip even when handling with sweaty hands. The form factor of the buds are also on the smaller side and comes with rubber tips, which makes it very comfortable to wear for long periods of time. Even through sweat and long hours, there are times where I almost forget that I’m wearing them.
Hardware and Features
The wireless sound of the Soundcore A20i works over Bluetooth 5.3, with a very stable connection. I frequently used the buds at the gym or at work and rarely ever had a disconnect. Even when moving up to 4 meters away from my connected device, I did not experience any crackling or connection drops.
Pairing the earbuds was very quick and is mediated through the Soundcore app. Simply remove the earbuds from the case and it is immediately discoverable by Bluetooth, and with one tap, its ready. Connecting with PC was also seamless, with the buds being immediately discoverable and connected on both Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices.
As this is a budget set of earbuds, there are limitations in its features. There is no multi-point connection available, so you can only have one device connected to the A20i at any given time. There is no support for higher end audio features such as Hi-Res Audio and also, no Active Noise Cancelling. It does however, come with IPX5 waterproof rating, so no stress when caught in bad weather or hitting the gym.
Soundcore App
The Soundcore App is one of the plus points of getting the A20i, or any other Soundcore product for that matter. The landing page is streamlined, showing your connected device and a battery snapshot.
Tapping into your device brings up the device settings, allowing you to adjust the equalizer and customize the tap controls on the earbuds. At the bottom, tapping the tab with the Anker logo in the middle brings you to an Anker landing page with a few nifty features. The Discovery tab shows the latest news and products from Anker while the White Noise tab gives a selection of free, white noise channels with different subgenres to them. I spent some hours on these channels as they are quite diverse and rather relaxing to listen to while I’m at work, or even writing this article.
The Equalizer is pretty comprehensive and there are audible differences in the audio with each setting. As someone who prefers more punchier bass in their music, I find the soundcore Signature setting with BassUp turned on to be quite acceptable. I use the Podcast setting when I’m listening to podcasts, which helps improve clarity especially in noisy environments. The customization of the tap functions is simple yet covers the necessary bases. It is good enough to let me listen to music and use Google Assistant features without looking at my phone screen. One minor complaint is that when adjusting the volume via tap, there is a bit of a delay between the tap and the volume changing. However, it is no dealbreaker. I also found the user interface of the Soundcore app to be aesthetically pleasing and easy to use.
Performance
Sound Quality
Considering its price tag, the Soundcore A20i pleasantly surprised me with its sound quality. Testing was mainly done with Spotify, YouTube and Netflix. I was impressed with the volume of the earbuds. In a busy environment with the smaller ear tips, I was able to clearly listen to YouTube videos even without noise cancelling. There is very good clarity on the highs and mids; they did not sound muddled and even at full volume, I never heard any distortion. While the bass will not set your heart racing, it is audible and punchy enough to round out the music. The BassUp feature in the Soundcore Signature is definitely a must if you prefer louder punchier bass as without it, I found it pretty middling. The voice clarity, be it in music, podcasts, Netflix or YouTube videos, were always crisp and clear.
No complaints on call quality too. With testing on WhatsApp calls, Microsoft Teams and regular phone calls, I found call audio to be clear and crisp. The earbuds also come with dual mics, which resulted in the voice being clear and have good volume too. In a noisy environment however, the background noises did get picked up by the mics.
Audio quality in games is also good. There is a dedicated game mode which is claimed to enhance the sound of footsteps, voices and improves latency too. The audio quality on PUBG Mobile was good, with footsteps and gunshots ringing clear. Honestly, I did not hear a remarkable improvement in the sounds of footsteps in Game Mode. But that is mainly because I found the audio quality to be loud and clear enough even without Game Mode.
Battery life
The battery life is another impressive feature of the Soundcore A20i. With a single charge on the buds, I managed to get around 9 hours of playtime. The case holds up to two (almost) full charges and is charged with the provided USB-C cable. With a fully charged earbud and with additional charging from the case, the total playtime from the A20i was approximately 27 hours.
The Verdict – Probably the best no frills wireless earbuds of 2023!
Overall, the Soundcore A20i offers an impressive, no frills, true wireless earbuds that does the essentials really well. For a price point below RM100, it has impressive sound quality, IPX5 rating, stable connectivity, good build quality and wearing comfort. It is a great option for anyone looking for their first TWS earbuds on the cheap, as a pair of secondary earbuds or even as a pair of basic fitness buds.
Get ready for the new kid in town, everyone! Anker’s bringing its Soundcore brand to Malaysia, and it’s time to get excited for their affordable true wireless earbuds, Soundcore A20i and R50i.
Soundcore R50i: Longer Playtime, Longer Fun
The Soundcore R50i comes with 10mm drivers – this means the earbuds can bring you great sound quality. You will be able to personalize your audio experience using the 22 preset EQs on the Soundcore app. There is also the “Find My Earbuds” feature – so that you can easily locate misplaced earbuds.
With a full charge, the Soundcore R50i offers 10 hours of continuous playtime, and the charging case extends it to 30 hours. Anker claims that with just 10 minutes of charging, it will grant you an extra 2 hours of playtime. Additionally, the brands also boasts an IPX5 water-resistant rating, providing protection against rain or shine during your active lifestyle.
Soundcore A20i: Affordable True Wireless Earbuds
Soundcore A20i is a pair of earbuds designed for people who enjoy bass music and are on the lookout for affordable earbuds. Similar to the R50i, you can also choose from the 22 preset EQs within the app, especially the brand’s signature BassUp preset.
These earbuds has a playtime of 9 hours on a single charge, extendable to 28 hours with the charging case. According to Anker, you can gain an additional 2 hours of playtime with just 10 minutes of charging. They also come with the Bluetooth 5.3 technology, an AI algorithm, and two built-in microphones to deliver clear voice quality, even in noisy environments.
Pricing & Availability
The Soundcore A20i and R50i will be available starting 7 July 2023. The earbuds will be available during the 7.7 sales on Shopee and Lazada.
Sony’s Truly Wireless earbuds have gotten a new addition with the WF-C700N. The new truly wireless earbuds come in new, hip colours and bring some of the best that Sony has to offer at an affordable price point. Coming in shades of Sage Green, Lavender, Black and White, it comes with the perfect fit for your style.
The new WF-C700N adopts a design guided by the extensive ear shape data collected since the first in-ear headphones were introduced in 1982. This paired with the data on ear sensitivity for various types, Sony has created an earbud with a comfortable, stable fit no matter the ear size. It’s also so seamless that people may miss it while you’re zoning out to your favourite tunes.
Speaking of zoning out, the WF-C700N comes with noise cancellation and ambient sound. Two signature features in any pair of modern headphones or earbuds. The C700N comes with noise-cancelling technology that can be adjusted in the Sony | Headphone Connect app. If you don’t want to block out the world, Ambient Sound mode will allow you to keep it in the background of your tunes. The mics that power these modes also give the C700N its remarkable Focus on Voice mode and call performance. These modes hone in on voices allowing you to keep up with conversation better even with them in your ears. The Wind Noise Reduction Structure of the C700N also delivers clear voice in windy situations.
The WF-C700N packs a punch with Sony’s 5mm driver unit. The drivers produce rich, full sound despite its miniature stature. From deep bass to chirpy highs, you’ll be able to hear the full gamut of your music with the in-ear headphones. The Headphones Connect app will also allow you to customize your music to fit your preferences with its EQ. This is further expanded with Adaptive Sound Control which dynamically adjusts ambient sound depending on what and where you are. Need to multitask? No problem, the earbuds have Multipoint connectivity allowing you to connect with up to two devices over Bluetooth at the same time.
The C700N comes with up to 15 hours of battery life; 7.5 hours on the earbuds themselves with a single full charge in the cylindrical case. You’ll also be able to wear it even when you’re sweating or caught in a drizzle with its IPX4 water and dust resistance rating.
A New Shade of WH-1000XM5
Together with the new WF-C700N, Sony also announced a new shade of their critically acclaimed WH-1000XM5. The new Midnight Blue colour brings puts class and elegance front and centre. The subtle blue of the finish gives a sense of alluring mystery perfect for the WH-1000XM5
Pricing & Availability
The WF-C700N is already making its way to Sony stores near you starting on April 4, 2023. It will be retailing for MYR549.
The new Midnight Blue shade for the WH-1000XM5 will also be available at the same time. It will retail at MYR1,799.
Bower & Wilkins (B&W) is no stranger to audiophiles. The company has produced audio products – mainly speakers and audio solutions for large venues – since the 1960s. The company has recently begun producing earbuds and personal audio solutions, soundbars and portable speakers for the general consumer. These products bring the balance, soundstage and quality B&W is known for to a more affordable and accessible form.
The company’s headphones, portable speakers, soundbar and earbuds are now available in Malaysia through TC Acoustic. TC Acoustic has signed on as the exclusive distributor for Bowers & Wilkins in Malaysia and Singapore. As such, these products will be available at TC Acoustic Outlets. In Malaysia, this is the TC Acoustic Flagship Store in The Starhill in Bukit Bintang in Kuala Lumpur.
True Wireless With Enhanced Connectivity with the Bower & Wilkins Pi7 S2 & Pi5 S2 In-Ear Headphones
First released in April 2021, the B&W Pi7 and Pi5 redefined the true wireless experience with high-resolution audio, unprecedented audio clarity and quality. Building on the renown and acclaim of the first generation, the Pi7 S2 and Pi5 S2 make their debut and up the ante when it comes to true wireless audio experiences.
The new S2s feature upgraded wireless connectivity with a re-engineered antenna design. The new design enhances Bluetooth connectivity with an increased range of up to 25 metres. It also provides added stability and augments the listening experience. Together with this, the wireless earbuds also come with Qualcomm aptX Adaptive which enables up to 24-bit, 48kHz wireless streaming with compatible services.
Updated to Be the Best
It’s not just about connectivity, the battery on the Pi5 and Pi7 comes with a boost in battery life. Both boast up to five hours of listening time. With their quick charge technology, a short 15-minute charge will get you an additional 2 hours of listening time. If that’s not enough, the Pi7 S2’s case comes with an additional 16 hours of battery life while the Pi5 S2’s comes with an additional 19 hours.
The Pi7 S2 features bespoke, 9.2mm drive units and a high-frequency ‘balance armature’ driver. Each of the four drivers in the earbud is actively driven by its own amplifier. It also brings Adaptive Noise Cancellation to the table with six microphones (3 in each ear) that provide ambient sound data for the earbuds to dynamically adapt to isolate ambience noise. The microphones also provide excellent sound quality during phone calls.
The Pi5 S2 comes with a single 9.2mm driver in each earbud and supports streaming of CD-quality playback with aptX compatible devices. It also features noise-cancellation with its twin microphones. These microphones also provide excellent sound quality during phone calls.
Seamless User Experience & Audio Retransmission
The B&W Pi7 S2 and the B&W Pi5 S2 continue to be fully integrated with the B&W Music App. You’ll be able to do everything from setup to adjusting wear sensor sensitivity and even noise cancellation modes in the app. The app also integrates with apps like TIDAL and Deezer to support Hi-Res audio streaming directly from your mobile device.
The Pi7 S2 comes with B&W’s signature Wireless Audio Retransmission. The feature, first introduced in the first generation Pi7, allows users to connect to an external audio source such as your inflight entertainment system and wirelessly transmit the audio to the earbuds. This is done by connecting the smart charging case which will then stream the audio to your earbuds in all its glory. This also allows you to use the Pi7 S2 as wireless in-ear monitors.
Both models are controlled via a simple, one-button user interface. The capacitive button can perform multiple functions with click variations seamlessly. They are also compatible with Google Assistant and Siri.
The B&W Px8 Headphones Feature Hi-Res Audio with Noise Cancellation in a Stylish Form Factor
The Bower & Wilkins Px8 headphones bring the experience from B&W’s reference quality speakers into a portable, stylish form factor. The 40mm Carbon Cone drivers deliver best-in-class sound quality and accuracy. Its uniquely engineered cans have Carbon Cone drivers angled ensuring a consistent distance from the ears at every point across the driver’s surface.
Similar to its earbud cousins, the Px8 uses Qualcomm’s aptX technology to provide the best audio quality from your device. It also comes with USB-C and 3.5mm analogue cable connections. The Px8’s ultra-high performance drivers work together with B&W-developed Digital Signal Processing to deliver high-resolution, 24-bit audio. B&W engineering also leaves its mark with the proprietary B&W optimized noise cancellation technology. Similar to the Pi7 S2, the Px8 comes with six mics which work to provide ambient sound data for Adaptive noise cancellation and voice clarity.
Together with the regular Bower & Wilkins Px8, TC Acoustic is also bringing in two special edition Px8 – the McLaren Edition and the 007 Edition. These editions come with unique design cues and colourways that represent the iconic brand and character. The McLaren Edition takes its design cues from the McLaren Artura supercar and features a Galvanic grey finish with Papaya orange highlights. The Px8 007 edition comes with design cues from Bond himself – particularly from James Bond’s first appearance on screen. The Midnight Blue finish hearkens back to the dinner jacket from that first appearance. In addition, they also feature the signature iris design on the inner side of each of the cans.
Pricing & Availability
The Pi5 S2 will be available in Cloud Grey, Storm Grey, Spring Lilac and Sage Green. It will be priced at MYR1,699.
The Pi7 S2 will come in Satin Black, Canvas White and Midnight Blue. It will retail for MYR2,499.
The Px8 will be available in Tan and Black for MYR3,299. The Limited Edition McLaren and 007 versions will be retailing for MYR4,299 from 30th March 2023.
Wiko Malaysia has announced the release of their affordable earbuds, the Buds 10 in Malaysia.
Lightweight and affordable, the Wiko Buds 10.
The French manufacturer’s latest entry into the budget true-wireless earbuds market features 12-mm bio-diaphragm dynamic drivers with copper-coated aluminium armature. This design results in lightweight earbuds, weighing at 4.2g, without compromising on audio quality. Wiko claims that the earbuds will fit snugly and users will barely feel them when in use. With Bluetooth 5.2, the buds offer stable connectivity and low latency, useful for gaming.
Long battery life of up to 30 hours.
The lightweight design coupled with IPX4 rating makes these buds suitable for use outdoors and for exercise. Wiko claims a single playback charge will last up to 6 hours and 30 hours total with the charging case. There is also dual mic noise-cancelation for clearer calls, handy in noisy environments. The buds can also be controlled through touch via embedded smart sensors.
Jabra has officially brought its Elite 5 true wireless earbuds to Malaysia. The earbuds make its debut barely a week after the initial announcement in IFA 2022 on 5th September. The new earbuds create a new middleground in Jabra’s true wireless earbuds for everyday users who are looking for versatile, ambient noise cancelling earbuds.
The Jabra Elite 5 brings all the essentials that users are looking for in earbuds – lightweight ergonomics, quality sound and effective noise cancelling. The earbuds fit snugly between the Elite 3 and the Elite 7 series which are already available in the market. The Elite 5 one ups the Elite 3 by bringing a scaled back version of most of the features on the Elite 7.
The Elite 5 comes with Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation (Hybrid ANC) which uses feedback and feedforward microphones on the earbuds to eliminate any ambient noise. The feedback and feedforward mics work together for better ANC performance that is simpler to use and more reliable across a wider range of frequencies. This feature is powered by the Qualcomm QCC3050 Bluetooth System on a Chip (SoC).
The same SoC also enables AptX audio which allows for high fidelity audio over Bluetooth. The Jabra Elite 5 also supports AAC and SBC codecs for high quality audio playback. In addition to this, the Elite 5 comes with 6mm drivers. Users are able to customise their sound profiles throught the Jabra Sound+ application which is available on the Apple AppStore and Google Play Stores.
Support for Bluetooth 5.2 also enables multipoint Bluetooth connectivity between two devices. This allows users to seamlessly transition between two devices seamlessly when using the Elite 5. The Elite 5 also comes with built-in support for Google Assistant and Alexa. It also supports Microsoft Swift Pair and Google Fast Pair making connecting to an Android smartphone or Windows PC a breeze. It also has support for Spotify Tap Playback.
Design wise, the Jabra Elite 5 shares the same design cues we’ve seen in other Jabra earbuds. They’re lightweight and compact making them easy to transport and wear for long durations. You can even wear them when you’re working out as they come with IP55 water and dust resistance. Jabra claims that the Elite 5 has 7 hours battery life with ANC on and 28 hours with the case. Did we mention? It supports wireless charging too.
Pricing & Availability
The Jabra Elite 5 is currently available in stores for MYR699 or USD$149.99 internationally. It’s available in Gold Beige and Titanium Black.
Samsung is renewing its Galaxy Buds series with a new Pro version. The new Galaxy Buds2 Pro replaces the previous Galaxy Buds Pro as their top-of-the-line offering. It brings improved features and ergonomics.
The new Galaxy Buds2 Pro are slightly smaller and lighter. The Buds are 15% smaller than their predecessors. These design changes were done to make the Buds fit more securely and more comfortably when worn. They are more sustainable than ever before. Over 90% of the materials used in making the new Buds2 Pro are from recycled materials.
Together with the increased sustainability comes a whole host of new and improved features. The highlight of which is an increased fidelity in the audio streamed from your phones. The Galaxy Buds2 Pro comes with compatibility for Hi-Fi 24bit Audio. The higher audio fidelity comes with increased quality and clarity. Using Samsung’s new Seamless codec (SSC Hi-Fi), music streaming from your Galaxy device is more seamless than ever.
The Buds2 Pro continue to come with Intelligent Ambient Noise Cancellation (ANC) which allows users to drown out the world around them. However, if you need to speak, it pushes down the volume and allows you to hear what you’re saying. The custom coaxial 2 way speakers of the Buds2 Pro also give better audio quality with 360 Audio.
The Buds2 Pro also have improved connectivity with compatibility with SmartThings. You will be able to find your buds regardless of whether they are in their casing. In addition, the Buds2 Pro comes with compatibility with Samsung TVs allowing you to have a private viewing session. It will also be able to seamlessly switch between devices. Got a call coming in? The Buds2 Pro will automatically change to your smartphone to answer.
Pricing & Availability
The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro will be available in Graphite, White and Bora Purple. It will retail for MYR899.
Bluetooth, we think, is a gift to the world. It is the alternative to Wi-Fi. In its current Bluetooth 5.0 generation, the technology is better than it has even been. Over a short distance, it is one of the best ways to transfer large amounts of data. It allows multiple devices to be connected simultaneously. It is also the most stable type of short-range connection you can get in your mobile devices today at ultra-low latency.
That is why it is the preferred connection when it comes to your portable and wireless audio gear. Microsoft and Google have made it a point to allow for certified Bluetooth devices to connect to their devices much quicker and easier. The Quick Pair and Fast Pair functions saves us users a lot of time in connecting our Bluetooth gear.
There is a problem with all these conveniences however, or rather, an inconvenience. Especially since multi-device connectivity is available on Bluetooth earphones, getting your devices or audio coming out from the right devices seems to be an issue today. For you to switch audio input from one device to the other is still a manual labour, no more inconvenient that just completely switching your Bluetooth earphone’s input source.
Google Audio Switching
According to Google’s blog post, their audio switching technology works on top of their Fast Pair algorithm. That also means that you do need to have a Bluetooth device that supports Google Fast Pair for it to work. Most new Bluetooth enabled wireless headphones today, save for Apple’s offerings, features Fast Pair anyway.
They explained that using contextual information on what you are listening to, the algorithm automatically switches your audio input based on your actions. The algorithm is also highly dependent on audio prioritization to determine which audio source should be prioritized over which. For example, if your headset is connected to both your tablet and your smartphone and you are listening to music on your tablet and you received a simple notification on your smartphone, your gear should not be switching sources. When you get a call on your phone, for example, only then your audio source should prioritize the phone call and switch its source to your smartphone immediately.
While there is a default priority setting to what your Bluetooth device prioritizes, Google is also giving users the ability to select and customize the experience on their own. At the same time, the experience will not only be limited to Fast Pair enabled Bluetooth audio gear connected to Android or Google devices only. The feature will also be available for all devices that support Bluetooth multipoint connection allowing you to have the convenience of quickly switching audio sources from your smartphone to your Windows laptop and vice versa.
Currently, Google will be rolling out the new feature update to their own Pixel Buds Pro first. They say that they are rolling out the updates to their manufacturing partners like Sony and JBL over the next few weeks. From then on it is just a matter of time before the current line-up of Sony and JBL Bluetooth headsets get the update from the manufacturer’s end. You do not necessarily need an app to toggle audio switching as well, you just need to head into ‘Device details’ in the general Bluetooth settings page.
Before we go ahead with the report, we must give you a little bit of a disclaimer. Not all the new headsets that ASUS ROG just introduced are built with dual-mode connectivity. Among the four options, you only have two headphones that gives you two connectivity options.
We are talking about wireless headphones here, the trend of the decade. Ever since audio solution providers started working with speakers that can be connected to devices via Bluetooth, the demand for wireless audio gear has skyrocketed. The number of products that cater to variety of wireless audio needs have also has exponentially multiplied over the years.
If you were to go out today and said you wanted a Bluetooth enabled headphone, you will be pressed for choices. There are too many out there to count from the budget options to the premium options. If you want the best of the best though, you had to have something like a Sony in mind. However, the current best-of-the-best from Sony is not really made for gaming.
In that case, you do want to turn to the gaming brands. You want to turn to the likes of ASUS’s ROG for example, the gaming skunkworks of the Taiwanese computing giant. They already make brilliant smartphones, the ROG Phone 6 is currently one of the most powerful, if not the most powerful smartphone in the world at launch. If they can do that, what about gaming headsets?
ROG Cetra True Wireless Pro & True Wireless
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
We start with the most unique one in their range of new audio solutions, the Cetra True Wireless Pro. Yes, this one is the one where you get dual-mode connectivity built into the device. It is also a True Wireless (TWS) earphone, the little in-ear ones, not over-ear headphones; that is why it is such a big deal.
At its most basic form, the Cetra True Wireless Pro works as a Bluetooth headset. To ensure that users get the best audio experience, there is a built in Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound chip that lowers latency. The chip also allows for a high-quality 24-bit, 96 kHz streams to get through via Bluetooth. If you put the earphones into gaming mode, the ultralow-latency hits 45ms to ensure that you get near instant feedback from your games. The chip also facilitates the multiple ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) modes that you can choose from with the headset.
Rather than being a pure True Wireless headset, you can use it via a USB Type-C connection as well. To eliminate latency, wired headsets are always preferred. With smartphones today though, 3.5mm AUX tips are no longer a good option. So, you go with USB Type-C, which also allows ROG to pack more features into the headphone via the cable.
Within the cable is a hi-f- grade ESS 9280 DAC. That also means that the bundled cable is good for lossless audio with rather rich detailing and even spatial sound. It can process up to 130dB signal-to-noise ratio to ensure that you are not only getting the most accurate sound representation of any media you are listening to, but it also allows you to really pinpoint where sounds are coming from in your games.
The Cetra True Wireless Pro’s mics can filter over 500 million types of background noise. Its integrated AI Noise-Cancelling Microphone reduces up to 95% of noise while still allowing you to have clear communication with your teammates. Additionally, there are microphones inside your ears on the headset too to make for better ANC experience.
Source: ASUS
With the ROG Cetra True Wireless, you get everything that the Cetra Wireless Pro gets, except for the USB Type-C cable and the dual-mode connectivity function. It is still a rather compelling option for mobile gamers though. You get to push it to low-latency mode too with Gaming mode. It still features Hybrid ANC technology to ensure that you are not distracted by what is happening outside your game time.
ROG Delta S Wireless
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
If you prefer something that is more wholesome, something you want to use at home, something that covers your entire ears for a more comfortable fit and better seal, you go for an over-ear headset. What if you hate cable managing? What if your PC is placed in an odd location and plugging your cables in and out of the thing is a hassle? What is your console is far away from you? You get an ROG Delta S Wireless gaming headset.
The ROG Delta S Wireless is also a dual-mode headset. Instead of giving you the option to either having a wireless or wired connection though, it is dual-mode wireless connection. It offers the low latency, near instant, highly stable 2.4GHz wireless connection. At the same time, it offers the convenience of Bluetooth connection for you to work with for smartphones, if you wish to.
The idea of using 2.4GHz connection for your audio gear with a dongle is not only for the PC gamers, but also for the console gamers. Since it is made to handle up to 25m in distance, there should be little worry about where you place the connected PC or console within your house.
Source: ASUS
It is a gaming headset, so there is naturally a built-in mic for team communications. It is not like any other mic that might feel like an afterthought in gaming headphones though. There are AI Beamforming mics that is hidden on the headphone that targets a good portion of area in front of the user’s mouth to pick up the user’s voice. The AI Noise Cancellation algorithm also ensures that the mics only pick up your voice and nothing of much else for clear team communications.
The Delta S Wireless packs a rather large driver too. At 50mm, it is larger than most regular over-ear headphones you can find in the market. There are 60mm drivers too, in the market to be fair. The ASUS Essence drivers, at 50mm, should be enough to deliver highly detailed and punchy low-frequency sounds though. They say also that the drivers should be able to facilitate highly detailed audios for all sorts of use case too with a 12o tit on the drivers in an airtight chamber. At the same time, there is ROG’s Hyper-Grounding technology to ensure that there is as little electromagnetic interference as possible on the audio signals to ensure that noise is minimized.
ROG Delta S Core
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Source: ASUS
Again, if you prefer something more regular, more grounded, more basic solution with the least latency, wired connections are the way to go. In that case, the ROG Delta S Core is the one for you. The Delta S Core offers a universal 3.5mm AUX tip that is compatible with PCs, major gaming consoles like the PlayStation, the Nintendo Switch, and even the Xbox.
It still features the same 50mm drivers you find in its wireless sibling. Because there is no battery to weigh it down, it weighs only 270g. The ergonomic D-shaped earcups that is designed to closely match the shape of regular ears also ensures that you can game for extended hours without feeling fatigued.
The wired connection also allows for the headphone to pack virtual 7.1 channel surround sound with Windows Sonic. With virtual surround sound too, you can accurately place your enemies or teammates within your game just via audio signals. At the same time, the built-in microphone that are Discord and TeamSpeak certified ensures that you always have a clear line of communications with your teammates.
Price and Availability
The ROG Cetra True Wireless Pro is not available now. Currently, there are no confirmations on when it will be available in Malaysia. There is no information on its official pricing for the region yet too. Its regular counterpart, the Cetra True Wireless headset will be available in Malaysia soon for MYR 515. The two Delta S series headphones that are just announced will also be making it to Malaysia soon. The ROG Delta S Wireless headphone with dual-mode wireless connectivity will be available for MYR 899. The ROG Delta S Core will be available for MYR 388. More information on ROG’s latest gaming headsets can be found on their website.
