Conclusion
The ASUS Strix 7.1 surround gaming headset is an all-singing, all-dancing piece of audio kit and has a price tag to match - £170. That price is unequivocally expensive for any type of user, be it a casual gamer or enthusiastic prosumer. Such an elevated price is justified by the fact this product's main rival, the Razer Tiamat 7.1, fetches £175 and is still in high demand.
The ability to learn from the mistakes of the competition is what sets the Strix 7.1 in good stead. ASUS had the foresight to tailor this headset for users who do more than just game. The true 7.1-channel surround implementation with customisable audio profiles stands up brilliantly in compatible gaming environments but doesn't carry over as seamlessly to music and movies. That's where the ability to opt for the 2.1 mode comes in handy. The Strix 7.1 isn't as strong in 2.1-channel mode as other dedicated 2.1 headsets with larger drivers, but it does a much better job at handling stereo audio than other surround gaming headsets which often muddy the frequency range.
The ASUS Strix 7.1 has a worthy place in world of gaming headsets for gamers who crave true surround sound, directional audio and a versatile gaming experience. The Strix 7.1 isn't going to appeal to everyone but neither should it - a jack of all trades is usually a master of none. With that in mind this headset most certainly isn't direct competition to similarly priced stereo headsets, from the likes of Audio Technica and Beyerdynamic, that use a smaller number of large, higher-quality drivers
Against its most significant rival, the Strix 7.1 deals with a lot of the bugbears that might have previously put gamers off a true 7.1 surround headset, notably an inability to handle stereo audio well. Execution isn't flawless - we feel comfort, quality and the overall fit-and-finish should be better for the price. Nevertheless, being the first attempt at a true 7.1-channel surround gaming headset ASUS has made, the Strix 7.1 deserves credit.
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The Good
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The Bad
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Versatile USB audio station |
Expensive |
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ASUS Strix 7.1
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TBC.
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