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The ASUS ROG Cetra Open Wireless are open-ear gaming earbuds built around comfort, awareness and eye-catching RGB rather than isolation. That makes them appealing if sealed in-ear tips become tiring or you need to hear people and traffic around you, but the available reviews agree that bass impact and overall tonal balance are weak for a premium-priced gaming pair. At the review price of $229.99/£184.99, the comfort and charging design do not fully compensate for sound that can feel thin in music and effects.
GamesRadar, Tom’s Guide and SoundGuys all describe a niche product: useful for dialogue, footsteps and all-day wear, yet a poor fit for players who expect powerful low end, natural mids or noise blocking. The right choice depends on whether open-ear awareness is your priority or an unwanted compromise.
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Buy these earbuds if you specifically want an ear-hook, open-ear design that leaves your ear canals unsealed, supports both Bluetooth and low-latency 2.4GHz wireless, and can keep charging through the included USB-C dongle. Avoid them if immersive bass, isolation or the most convincing sound for the money matters more than comfort and environmental awareness.
The product is not a failed design so much as a specialized one. GamesRadar liked the comfortable hooks, passthrough charging and RGB styling, but found the bass and midrange underpowered. Tom’s Guide similarly praised comfort, speech clarity and footsteps while criticizing weak bass, prominent treble and the premium price. SoundGuys’ measurements also found under-emphasized bass and stressed that fit and driver placement vary with ear shape. Those are consistent warnings, not evidence that every listener will hear exactly the same result.
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What are the key ASUS ROG Cetra Open Wireless specifications?
| Feature | What is documented | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Open-ear earbuds with ear hooks | Your ear canals remain open, improving awareness but providing little isolation. |
| Wireless modes | Bluetooth and ROG SpeedNova 2.4GHz | Bluetooth suits phones and general use; the 2.4GHz link is intended for gaming latency. |
| Dongle | USB-C dongle with one-way passthrough charging | You can charge the connected device while the earbuds remain linked. |
| Drivers | 14.2mm diamond-like-carbon-coated diaphragm drivers | The large driver specification does not guarantee strong bass; reviewers still found the low end restrained. |
| Controls | Physical buttons | Tactile controls avoid relying entirely on touch gestures. |
| Sound features | Immersion Mode and Phantom Bass | These modes attempt to alter the presentation, but they cannot create the isolation of sealed earbuds. |
| Battery claim | Up to 16 hours of continuous Bluetooth use | ASUS specifies this with sound modes and RGB lighting off and the microphone muted. |
| Quick charge | 15 minutes provides up to three hours of listening | A short top-up can cover a gaming session. |
| Water resistance | IPX5 splash resistance | Suitable for splashes, not a license for swimming or submersion. |
ASUS announced the earbuds on January 6, 2026, with the features above in its official ROG Cetra Open Wireless announcement. The 16-hour figure is a manufacturer claim under specific conditions, so treat it as a best-case reference rather than a universal runtime.
How does the open-ear fit feel in practice?
The hooks rest around your ears instead of forcing silicone tips into the ear canal. That removes the pressure and heat some people associate with sealed earbuds, and both GamesRadar and Tom’s Guide called the fit comfortable. An open design also lets you hear a colleague, a doorbell or nearby road noise without removing an earbud.
Comfort is still individual. SoundGuys notes that ear shape and the position of each driver can change both fit and sound. If the driver sits slightly away from the intended point, volume, bass and stereo image may shift. The hooks also need to stay stable during movement; an earbud that feels light at a desk may move when you turn your head or walk.
Because the design does not seal the canal, outside sound remains prominent. Tom’s Guide and SoundGuys both emphasize that there is effectively no active or passive isolation. That is helpful for awareness, but it means a fan, conversation or train engine competes directly with game audio. You may need to raise the volume, which can reduce the comfort advantage in loud places.
Why do reviewers say the audio misses the mark?
The central criticism is balance. GamesRadar found the bass and midrange lacking power and described the overall sound as less natural than expected. Tom’s Guide also reported weak bass and prominent treble, while SoundGuys’ measurements showed under-emphasized low frequencies. Together, those findings explain why explosions, engine noise and music can lack weight even when voices remain intelligible.
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Bass and effects
Open-ear acoustics make bass especially difficult because there is no seal to build pressure in the ear canal. The Cetra’s 14.2mm drivers and Phantom Bass mode are intended to address that limitation, but the reviewers did not consider the result especially forceful. Players who want cinematic impact in a shooter, racing game or action RPG should expect a lighter presentation than from many sealed gaming earbuds or a headset.
Mids, dialogue and treble
Tom’s Guide found dialogue clear, and it praised footsteps in stealth-oriented games. That suggests the Cetra can make positional cues and speech easy to follow, even when the full mix lacks warmth. The trade-off is a brighter, more treble-forward character that some listeners may find fatiguing or less natural, particularly with music.
Music versus gaming
SoundGuys characterizes the product as more gaming-oriented than suitable for critical music listening and reports a 1.7 MDAQS mean opinion score. That number is a model-based estimate of listener ratings, not a survey of 200 owners, so it should be read as a comparative signal rather than a laboratory grade. For game chat, dialogue and directional cues, the compromises may be tolerable; for albums, films and bass-heavy soundtracks, they are harder to ignore.
Do the sound modes fix it?
Immersion Mode and Phantom Bass give you options to alter the presentation. They may make a particular game feel fuller, but a processing mode cannot restore the physical isolation of a sealed earbud or guarantee a neutral tonal balance for every ear. Use them as tuning choices, not as a reason to expect conventional headset impact.
Are the Cetra Open Wireless good for gaming latency and connectivity?
The earbuds support Bluetooth and ASUS ROG SpeedNova 2.4GHz wireless. For compatible gaming devices, the included USB-C dongle is the mode to consider when timing matters; Bluetooth is more convenient for phones and general listening but can have platform-dependent latency. The available data does not establish a universal compatibility list, so check that your console, handheld or computer accepts a USB-C audio dongle before buying.
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The dongle’s distinctive feature is one-way passthrough charging. ASUS says you can charge the connected device while the earbuds remain connected, which is useful for a phone or handheld whose only USB-C port would otherwise be occupied by the receiver. GamesRadar specifically liked this arrangement. It is a convenience feature, not extra battery capacity: the earbuds still need their own charge.
Physical buttons provide direct control, and ASUS includes RGB lighting for the flashy look. Remember that the stated 16-hour Bluetooth runtime assumes sound modes and RGB are off and the microphone is muted. Enabling those features or using a different wireless mode can change endurance; ASUS does not provide one universal runtime for every combination.
How good is the microphone?
Tom’s Guide praised microphone performance, making the Cetra a reasonable option for team chat and calls when you want to remain aware of your surroundings. The open form does not automatically make a microphone immune to background noise, however. In a loud room, nearby sound can still reach both your ears and the microphone, so expectations should be lower than with a well-isolated headset using aggressive noise processing.
What does the $229.99 price mean for value?
GamesRadar listed the earbuds at $229.99 in the US and £184.99 in the UK at review time. Those are historical review prices, not a verified live November 2026 offer; availability and discounts can change. At that level, buyers are paying for the specialized open-ear construction, dual wireless system, RGB, passthrough charging and comfort rather than for class-leading sound quality.
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That value equation is difficult because the compromises are fundamental. If you need isolation and heavy bass, a conventional gaming earbud or headset can put more of the budget into sealed acoustics. If you dislike canal pressure, need awareness for safety or alternate gaming with active daily use, the Cetra’s design may solve a problem those products cannot. The premium is easier to justify when open-ear comfort is a requirement, not merely a novelty.
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How does it compare with conventional gaming earbuds?
TechRadar identifies SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds as a conventional gaming-earbud alternative with a lower listed price. That type of product is aimed at isolation and immersive sound, so it addresses the Cetra’s weak points but does not provide the same awareness benefit. The choice is therefore about priorities rather than a simple winner.
| Priority | Better fit | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Hear people, traffic or room sounds | ROG Cetra Open Wireless | The open ear leaves the canal unsealed. |
| Strong bass and cinematic impact | Conventional sealed gaming earbuds or headset | A seal generally supports more perceived low-end weight and blocks competing noise. |
| Long sessions without canal pressure | ROG Cetra Open Wireless, if the hooks suit your ears | Reviewers consistently praised comfort, but fit remains ear-shape dependent. |
| Quiet-room competitive play | Either, depending on sound preference | The Cetra can make dialogue and footsteps clear; sealed alternatives may deliver a fuller mix. |
| One USB-C port on a handheld | ROG Cetra Open Wireless | Its dongle supports one-way passthrough charging while connected. |
Do not choose the Cetra expecting an open version of a sealed earbud’s isolation. Choose it because openness is the feature you need, then decide whether its lighter sound is acceptable.
How should you set up the ROG Cetra Open Wireless?
Before pairing, confirm that your gaming device supports the included USB-C receiver and charge the earbuds. The following sequence keeps the two wireless modes clear:
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- Charge the case and earbuds. A 15-minute charge is rated for up to three hours of listening, while the maximum Bluetooth claim is up to 16 hours only with sound modes and RGB disabled and the microphone muted.
- Use the 2.4GHz path for gaming. Connect the USB-C dongle to the computer, console or handheld, then select the dongle as the system audio output. If that port is also needed for power, use the dongle’s one-way passthrough charging arrangement.
- Use Bluetooth for phones and general listening. Put the earbuds into pairing mode and select them in the device’s Bluetooth menu. Bluetooth is the mode associated with ASUS’s 16-hour headline claim.
- Start with the default sound. Listen to voices, footsteps, music and effects before enabling Immersion Mode or Phantom Bass. This gives you a reference for whether processing improves your particular fit.
- Adjust the physical fit. Move each hook and driver until it is stable without pressing painfully on the ear. Small placement changes can alter bass and clarity, as SoundGuys notes.
- Check the microphone in your chat app. Ask a teammate whether your voice is clear at your normal playing volume, especially in a room with fans or other people.
What are the main drawbacks and how can you work around them?
- Thin bass: Try Phantom Bass, but do not expect sealed-earbud pressure. Lowering competing room noise is often more effective than simply increasing volume.
- Bright or sharp treble: Reduce treble with any available device equalizer, or use the least aggressive sound mode. The exact controls depend on the host device and software.
- Outside noise overwhelms the game: Move to a quieter space or switch to a sealed headset. Open earbuds cannot provide the isolation they intentionally omit.
- Inconsistent sound between users: Re-seat the hooks and drivers. Ear shape and placement can materially change the result, so another listener’s impression is not a guarantee.
- Battery falls short of the headline: Turn off RGB and sound modes, mute the microphone when it is not needed, and use the quick-charge claim as a planning guide rather than assuming 16 hours in every mode.
- Water exposure: Treat IPX5 as splash resistance. Keep the earbuds away from swimming, showers and submersion, and dry them before charging.
Is the ROG Cetra Open Wireless worth buying?
It is worth considering only when open-ear comfort and awareness are central requirements. The hooks are comfortable for the reviewers who evaluated them, the microphone and speech detail are useful, and passthrough charging is genuinely practical for USB-C devices. Those strengths make the Cetra a credible niche all-purpose option.
It is not a strong value choice for someone simply seeking the best gaming audio at roughly $230/£185. GamesRadar, Tom’s Guide and SoundGuys each identify some combination of weak bass, uneven balance, limited isolation or narrow appeal. A conventional gaming earbud or headset is the safer direction for players who want weight, immersion and isolation; the Cetra makes sense when those qualities are secondary to keeping your ears open.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I wear the ASUS ROG Cetra Open Wireless outdoors?
You can hear surrounding traffic and people because the earbuds do not seal your ear canals, which is the main safety advantage of the design. They are still electronic devices with splash resistance rather than a guarantee of safe listening in every environment, so keep volume moderate and remain attentive to hazards.
Does the USB-C dongle charge the earbuds?
The documented passthrough feature lets you charge the connected phone, handheld or other host while the earbuds remain linked. The earbuds themselves still require their normal charging arrangement; passthrough is not described as a way to refill their battery.
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Not necessarily. ASUS documents Bluetooth and a USB-C 2.4GHz dongle, but compatibility with every console or handheld is not established, so verify USB audio support and any platform restrictions before purchase.
Why can two people hear different bass from the same earbuds?
Open-ear drivers sit outside the canal, and SoundGuys notes that ear shape and driver placement affect the result. Hook position, glasses, hair and movement can all change how close the driver is to your ear, altering bass and clarity.
