What is it like using the ASUS ROG Cetra Open Wireless Gaming Earbuds?
One of the first things I noticed when using the ROG Cetra Open Wireless was just how light and comfortable the earbuds felt. Each earbud weighs only 11 grams, and since the drivers sit outside your ear canals, you do not experience the pressure or fatigue that can come with traditional in-ear earbuds. The soft silicone ear hooks wrap securely around your ears and do a great job of keeping the earbuds in place. Even when moving around, I never felt like they were going to fall off. ASUS also includes a detachable neck strap if you want some additional security while exercising or using them outdoors.
The open-ear design allows you to remain aware of what is happening around you, but it also means the listening experience is different from what you would get with sealed earbuds or a traditional gaming headset. The 14.2 mm diamond-like carbon drivers deliver clear and detailed sound with a fairly open soundstage. Dialogue, music, and smaller in-game audio cues all come through clearly. You should not expect the same deep, physical bass response that you would get from earbuds that seal inside your ears, although ASUS provides a Phantom Bass mode to improve the perception of low-frequency impact.
Gaming is where the ROG Cetra Open Wireless really impressed me. Using the included USB-C dongle and ROG SpeedNova 2.4 GHz connection kept latency low, so the audio remained properly synchronized with the action on screen. While playing Apex Legends, the directional audio made it easy to determine where footsteps, gunfire, and other players were coming from. I could tell whether an enemy was approaching from the left or right and get a good sense of how close they were. That spatial awareness is extremely important in a competitive game like Apex Legends, and the earbuds provided enough separation and detail to make those positional cues useful.
For voice communication, the earbuds use four built-in microphones along with AI Noise Cancellation. My voice came through clearly enough for in-game chat, Discord, calls, and online meetings, while the noise-cancellation processing helped reduce sounds occurring around me. Since the microphones are built into the earbuds rather than positioned directly in front of your mouth on a boom, they will not sound quite as full or natural as a good dedicated gaming headset or standalone microphone. Rather than simply taking my word for it, you can listen to the audio sample below to hear exactly how the microphones sound.
Charging is handled through the included case, which also protects the earbuds when they are not being used. ASUS rates the earbuds for up to 16 hours of playback on a single charge, with the case providing another 48 hours for up to 64 hours of total listening time. These figures are based on Bluetooth use with the microphone, RGB lighting, Phantom Bass, and Immersion Mode disabled, so actual battery life will vary depending on your settings and connection type. Fast charging is also supported, with 15 minutes in the case providing up to three hours of playback. The USB-C 2.4 GHz dongle even has a pass-through charging port, allowing you to charge a compatible phone or handheld gaming system without removing the wireless receiver.
The ROG Cetra Open Wireless can be configured through ASUS Gear Link, which is available as both a web interface and a mobile application. The software displays the remaining battery level and provides access to the equalizer, RGB lighting, control assignments, audio modes, and other device settings. You can enable Phantom Bass when you want more low-end presence or use Immersion Mode to reduce steady background sounds such as fans and low-frequency rumble. Gear Link also allows the touch controls on the left and right earbuds to be configured independently. The interface is relatively straightforward, and since the PC version runs through a web portal, you do not need to install the full Armoury Crate software suite just to customize the earbuds.
