ASUS ROG Centurion 7.1 Headset Review

1. Introduction2. Unboxing and First Look3. Testing4. Closing Thoughts5. View All Pages

The ASUS ROG Centurion 7.1 ships in a large, dark grey box. On the front is a product photo as well as some ROG branding.

Inside, there are two manuals – one is a multi-lingual quick-start guide while the other details warranty information.

ROG also supply replacement ear cushions – by default the headset has leather cushions attached, but you can swap those out for some fabric cushions (pictured above, left) if you prefer.

Another neat accessory is a plastic stand for the headset – this is a convenient solution for storing the headset when it is not in use.

Before coming to the headset itself, it is important to note that the Centurion requires a small USB station to function properly. This acts as an amplifier (using the ESS 9601 amp) but also as a control station. The front wheel lets you select which audio channel you want to adjust, while the wheel on the top of the station can be used to adjust the volume or select a specific game profile. We go into more depth about this feature on the next page.

The USB station requires a USB input which connects to your PC for power and to transfer the data signals. There is also a HDMI port allowing you to connect your speakers to the amplifier as well. These ports are on the right-hand side of the USB station.

On the left-hand side is the headset input – also a HDMI connector.

Two cables (not including the headset's own cable) are included for use with the USB station – pictured on the left is the 1.5m USB (type A) cable which requires two USB ports from your PC due to the added power requirements of the control station.

Pictured on the right is the optional speaker cable which lets you hook up your speakers to the amp.

Moving on to the Centurion itself. Above we get a ‘big-picture overview' of the headset, and below we will take a closer look at the headset's features.

Here I would just say that I think the headset looks pretty good – it is on the bulky side but I think this helps with its durability.

Starting with the ear-cups, we can immediately see that the Centurion uses a closed-back design. There is also some trademark ROG ‘Mayan-inspired' detailing on the back of the cups, while the ROG logo illuminates red when the headset is plugged in.

Flipping the ear-cups over, it becomes apparent that these cups are circumaural – meaning they completely cover your ears. This usually provides the best noise isolation and audio quality but can result in your ears getting a bit warm.

It is also worth mentioning that the ear-cups are rotatable, so they can lie flat (as is demonstrated in both of the above images). This helps with transporting the headset as it reduces the depth of the headset. That being said, ASUS did not include a carry bag with the Centurion, something I definitely would have liked to see, especially given the high £220 asking price.

Moving up to the headband, the headband itself features a stitched ROG logo. Above the headband, though, is a hard-plastic support beam which provides rigidity and stability while you are wearing the headset.

On the underside of the headband there is some extra padding which should ensure good comfort. It is also worth noting that the headband is retractable, meaning it stretches to fit your head as you put it on – you do not have to slide the ear-cups up or down, as with some other headsets.

The mic is also retractable and fully flexible, so it can be bent into any desired shape, or you can just leave it be.

Lastly, the headset features an integrated (non-removable) 1.5m braided HDMI cable for use with the USB control station.

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