ASUS ROG Kithara Open-Back Gaming Headset Promises Audiophile Sound For $299

The peripherals market is absolutely flush with gaming headsets of all kinds, so how do you make a splash in a sprawling sea of options? You team up with HiFiMAN, which specializes in planar-magnetic headphones, to develop a headset built for gamers and purportedly discerning enough for audiophiles, and price it at $299. That's exactly what ASUS and its Republic of Gamers (ROG) just did.

ASUS is putting the word out that its new ROG Kithara is now available to purchase. While not cheap—it's $100 more than the Fractal Design Scape we reviewed—it brings some interesting attributes to the table. Designed by HiFiMAN, this is ASUS's first open-back planar magnetic gaming headset, and it comes with the promise of delivering "uncompromising audiophile-grade sound for games who demand absolute clarity, precision, and realism."

We haven't sampled this headset yet, but it certainly sounds promising on ...