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ASUS STRIX 7.1 headset review

When I reviewed the original STRIX Pro last year, I was impressed. It had great sound and comfort and that has only been enhanced in the ASUS STRIX 7.1. This headset sounds better than its cheaper cousin and it is much better at audio positioning. Atmospheric titles are absolutely fantastic with surround sound and this headset does an excellent job of conveying that 360 degree auditory experience. Alien: Isolation is a terrifying game, but when you can really hear subtle noises behind you, it will get the heart pounding.

On top of that, ASUS has fixed the issues I had with the noise cancellation on the Pro headset, by incorporating the mic into the control hub rather than the headset itself. This leads to crystal clear VOIP audio for your teammates and much less background noise for everyone – it is a real win win. The control hub also gives you access to all the settings for your sound without the need to tab out of a game, which depending on the software can be problematic.

Fortunately gaming is not the only thing that the STRIX does well. It is also great for listening to music, with a good representation throughout the frequency ranges. If the volume went a little higher it would score even higher.

lights03
You can set the ‘owl eyes' to breathe in and out, or remain solid

Comfort levels are high, I have worn it for hours without issue. The only caveat I will add there, is that memory foam does have a tendency to retain heat, so I think in sweaty LAN party environments this headset may heat up your ears. Probably best to have a fan handy in those cases.

I only have one real complaint about the STRIX 7.1 and that is the creaky frame. It needs to be fixed. This problem was present in the Pro and it is still here. It is not something that is readily apparent all the time, but when using an Oculus Rift, or looking around the room with quiet music playing, it can become irritating.

As we would expect the Asus Strix 7.1 is an expensive product, but it remains competitive in the high end. It is unfortunately out of the reach of most gamers as it is hard to justify spending that much on a headset, but if you do, you will be impressed.

The ASUS STRIX 7.1 is not available yet, but is set to go on sale in the beginning of February at a suggested price of £169.99.

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Pros

  • Fantastic surround sound gaming.
  • Good for music too.
  • Control hub handles everything without software install.
  • Supremely comfortable over long periods.
  • Lighting looks cool.

Cons

  • Creaky frame still there from the Pro version.
  • A few notches extra on volume output would be welcomed.

KitGuru Says: The ASUS STRIX 7.1 is the kind of headset gamers dream of, offering excellent 360 degree sound with great bass. It even lights up on the outside! Expect to pay handsomely for it however.
WORTH BUYING

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13 comments

  1. But how does it compare to other surround headsets like the Roccat Kave 5.1 or the Razer Tiamat 7.1?

  2. i think it’t hard to compare the tiamat 7.1 with an USB headset, because alot depends on the sound-card used. i hope the mic is beter then the tiamat’s witch is not that great (sorry for bad English)

  3. When searching for a 7.1 headset for every person recomending the tiamat 7.1 there were 10 more saying no. seems it had some sound problems related to the drivers that was never fixed.

  4. I’ve tried the Strix 7.1 for 2 weeks and own the Roccat Kave 5.1. The Kave 5.1 has a louder volume but that’s it. The Strix 7.1 beats the crap out of the Kave. Sound Quality is way better, bass is better, lighter and way more comfortable, channel separation is miles better.

  5. HI, where can I buy the Strix 7.1, thanks.

  6. Hi, are they really worth the £169.99 price tag?

  7. To be honest, I prefer the setup I am using right now. Creative Sound Blaster Z with SBX Pro Virtual Surround at 100% and Samson SR850 Studio Monitor Headphones. £64+£32. But if you like the flexibility of having USB headphones and don’t mind the price, then the Astrix 7.1 are very good.

  8. are they better than the tiamat 7.1’s or the sennheiser g4me zero

  9. I’m sorry I bought this headset. I have them for about 7-8 months and the first problem I got was the mute button falling off. Next was the mic not working when plugging it into the headset. However when I plug it directly into the pc it works so there’s something wrong with the wires in the headset. Also, today the right ear piece randomly broke off so now it’s just loosely hanging from a cable. The sound quality is pretty good and the noise cancellation is amazing but I don’t recommend buyin.quite fast.

  10. dont trust this review. this headset is garbage. the sound quality is awful, they earcups do not fit properly, my ears were resting against the inside liner, they creak, and they are $200. DO NOT BUY!!

  11. Alexander Vander

    Sennheiser game one is the best….if not kingston cloud one or 2 but no the revolver….

  12. Alexander Vander

    Sennheiser game one is the best….if not kingston cloud one or 2 but no the revolver….

  13. i have the strix 2.0 and i love it, for me, 2.0 is surround