ROG Kithara is built for gamers who demand true high-fidelity, audiophile-grade sound, powered by HIFIMAN’s leading acoustic technology. Its open-back acoustic design and ROG-customized HIFIMAN 100mm planar magnetic drivers deliver lifelike audio with sharp, precise detail. Engineered for competitive play, Kithara features an integrated full-band MEMS microphone for clear in-game communication. A balanced headphone cable with swappable plugs, along with a USB-C® adapter, ensures uncompromised audio fidelity and broad compatibility across a wide range of devices.
ROG teamed up with HIFIMAN, a leader in planar magnetic headphone technology, to deliver audiophile-grade sound for tactical in-game advantages. Combining ROG’s unrivaled expertise in competitive gaming and HIFIMAN’s advanced driver technology, the Kithara delivers high-precision, crystal-clear sound tuned to meet the intense demands of gameplay.
Co-developed with HIFIMAN and ROG acoustic experts, along with power gamers, and refined through extensive listening tests, the drivers used in the Kithara are tuned for a balanced sound signature. Leveraging advanced magnet-diaphragm technology, the Kithara delivers HIFIMAN’s crisp, detailed mid-highs and enhanced bass to ensure every nuance on the battlefield is heard with clarity and precision.
The planar magnetic drivers offer exceptional extension at both ends of the spectrum with minimal distortion—delivering deep, smooth bass and crisp, well-extended treble for clearer, more refined listening experiences.
Planar magnetic diaphragms offer uniform movement, rather than from a single point, to deliver ultra-clean, resonance-free audio with superior clarity and high-fidelity reproduction.
Planar magnetic drivers like the one found in the Kithara deliver superior transient response, preserving clarity without lingering effects. This means key in-game audio cues are sharply defined, enabling you to react more quickly to enemy footsteps and reloads.
Each driver is measured, sorted, and paired to ensure consistent frequency response between earcups, delivering accurate stereo imaging and enhanced immersive gameplay.
Positional awareness is critical in competitive gaming. ROG sound engineers conducted detailed acoustic evaluations to test angled textures, internal structures, and venting ratios during the development of Kithara. The resulting open-back earcup design delivers precise spatial awareness through a balance of form and functionality.
Different sound sources tend to cluster closer together, making it harder to pinpoint precise locations.
More accurate positional audio, excellent imaging, and a deeply immersive gaming experience.
The open-back design creates an extremely spacious, dimensional soundstage compared to closed-back headsets. The design enhances separation across deep bass, mids, and treble to prevent low frequencies from masking critical cues – so you can clearly distinguish footsteps from explosions and react faster to every in-game movement.
20Hz - 20kHz
Wider Frequency Response
Total Harmonic Distortion < 0.1%
Accurate, Clean Vocal Pickup
High SNR 74dB
Clearer Sound
Unlike traditional audiophile headphones that lack a microphone, the Kithara features an on-cable, full-band MEMS boom mic for crystal-clear voice capture for seamless team comms even in the most intense battles. Compared to the standard ECM mics found in most gaming headsets, MEMS technology delivers an ultrawide 20Hz–20kHz response and higher SNR in a compact form—ensuring clear, natural voice pickup with minimal distortion.
The detachable cable with microphone uses dedicated wiring for the audio and microphone signals to effectively eliminate crosstalk, ensuring clean, uninterrupted communication.
The Kithara’s versatility makes it ideal for audiophile or gaming setups. It features a 3-in-1 cable with swappable 4.4mm balanced, 3.5mm, and 6.3mm single-ended plugs for high-fidelity playback across DACs, amplifiers, gaming consoles and PCs. The 4.4mm balanced connection enables higher output power with lower noise and crosstalk, unlocking cleaner and more detailed audio. A USB-C to dual 3.5 mm adapter is included for audiophile-grade sound on almost any device. In addition, the headset features 3.5mm jacks on both left and right earcups, allowing users to use their preferred cables for customized sound.
The headphone cable features swappable 4.4 mm balanced, 6.3 mm, and 3.5 mm single-ended plugs to enable a lossless, high-fidelity listening experience.
The dedicated microphone cable uses separate wiring for audio and mic signals, ensuring pristine, uninterrupted in-game communication.
For broad compatibility across laptops, consoles, and mobile devices, Kithara also includes a USB-C to dual 3.5 mm adapter, delivering audiophile-grade sound on almost any device.
Every aspect of the ROG Kithara is carefully tuned to deliver optimal user comfort and acoustic performance. Multiple prototypes were evaluated and tested on a dummy head inside an anechoic chamber to ensure that what looks good also sounds exceptional.
The open-back design enhances airflow and reduces listening fatigue. Large oval earcups fit various ear shapes and sizes for long-lasting comfort, while the refined earcup angle balances clamping force and minimizes pressure against the jaw. A precision-crafted diamond-cut metal plate with ROG detailing completes the look.
The headband features a three-layer design using leatherette, breathable mesh, and memory foam to provide lasting comfort and reduce pressure across the head. The extended length enhances stability and weight distribution to minimize pressure across the lower cheek during marathon gaming sessions.
The headband has eight adjustment levels and an aluminum hinge to ensure a secure, comfortable fit that accommodates different head shapes and sizes.
The Kithara includes a leatherette-with-fabric pad for breathable comfort and more focused sound, along with a velour pad for a softer fit and warmer acoustics. Each earpad is also shaped to distribute pressure evenly around the ear, enhancing long-term comfort when gaming or listening to music.
Compared to earcup-mounted buttons, dedicated in-line controls on the Kithara enable you to mute or unmute the mic, and adjust volume via a scroll wheel for more intuitive adjustments.
