Asus ROG Delta S Wireless gaming headset review

A gaming headset with no external mic? Interesting…

Over the last few years, ASUS ROG has garnered a deserved reputation for bullish designs and the “liberal” application of RGB lighting. They even put an LED array on a gaming headset with the ROG Delta S Animate, so you can imagine our surprise when the Asus ROG Delta S wireless gaming headset arrived at WePC sporting a rather reserved design.

We had grown so accustomed to the unapologetically gamer-esque visuals from Asus ROG that the Delta S Wireless looks almost boring by comparison. However, Asus ROG makes some of the best gaming headsets in the game so let’s look past the surprisingly quiet design and see how the Delta S Wireless performs in other areas.

Asus ROG Delta S Wireless gaming headset specs

ASUS ROG Delta S Wireless gaming headset

Connectivity

USB Type-C, 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth 5.0

Driver diameter

50mm

Frequency response

20Hz-20kHz

Mic

Omnidirectional beamforming

Weight

131g/11.04oz

Compatibility

PC, Mac, PS4/5, Nintendo Switch, Mobile

How We Review

Pros

• Lightweight

• Convenient dual-mode connection

• Very comfortable

• Alternate set of ear cushions included

• Great sound quality and EQ presets

Cons

• Mic is prone to background noise

• Expensive

Tech Specs

Connectivity

USB Type-C, 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth 5.0

Driver diameter

50mm

Frequency response

20Hz-20kHz

Mic

Omnidirectional beamforming

Weight

131g/11.04oz

Compatibility

PC, Mac, PS4/5, Nintendo Switch, Mobile

Impedance

32 Ohms

Mic sensitivity

-37 ± 1dB

Cable length

1m

What’s in the box & setup

Asus has played it safe with the packaging here as the unboxing experience is all but identical to the Delta S Animate. The black and red box feels premium and sturdy and has a close-up of the headset on the front, with specs and features on the reverse.

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Opening the clamshell box we are treated first by a layer of dense foam, then a thick piece of cardboard emblazoned with the ROG logo welcoming us to the ‘Elite Republic of Gamers community’. This is followed by a small paragraph about how the Delta S wireless will help you rise to “the next level of gaming mastery”. We’ll see about that, Asus.

• ROG Delta S Wireless gaming headset
• Wireless 2.4GHz USB- Type-C dongle
• USB-C to USB-A adapter dongle
• USB-C to USB-A charging cable
• Two sets of ear cushions: 1x ROG hybrid fabric, 1x ROG 100% protein leather
• Quick start guide

Beneath the welcome message lies the headset itself, securely cradled in a form-fitting cardboard insert. This ensures that the headset won’t be jostled around too much on its arduous journey from China to your desk. Removing this insert reveals a box containing the alternate ear cushions, cables, quick start guide, and other assorted paraphernalia.

As per usual with wireless gaming headsets, setup is completed in seconds by connecting the dongle to a vacant USB-C or USB-A port and turning the headset on. In this case, flipping the switch to the 2.4GHz position had the headset connected wirelessly within 5 seconds. To connect via Bluetooth flip the switch to the Bluetooth position then hold the button above the switch for around 5 seconds and the headset will show up in the Bluetooth connection menu of the device in question.

Design

We alluded to this at the beginning of the review, but this is one of the most visually stripped back headsets we’ve seen from ROG. There are no mad shapes or RGB lighting, just a two-tone matte black and white color scheme punctuated by the ROG logo on each earcup. We like a minimalist design here at WePC and the Delta S Wireless certainly delivers that, but those looking for the usual ‘out there’ ROG aesthetic might be underwhelmed.

Despite the lack of glowing eyes and RGB accents, the creative people over at Asus ROG have managed to retain the classic ROG design philosophy, while toning down the overall look of the Delta S Wireless. There are a few nice touches here and there though, like the extremely subtle diagonal stripes on the outside of the earcups, and the way the dongle magnetically clips into the right-hand-side earcup.

Additionally, the ergonomic D-shape of the earcups does give the headset a certain sense of angular aggression that hints toward ROG’s history of aggressive design. Aside from this, there isn’t too much to say about the design of this headset, as it’s one of the most visually inoffensive gaming peripherals out there.

Build quality

Happily, the lukewarm feelings towards the design of the Delta S Wireless do not extend to the build quality as it’s almost entirely good news on this front. Despite the 313g weight and plastic-heavy construction, there are little to no creaks or wobbles, and when subjecting the headband to an overly aggressive twist and stretch it returns back to form flawlessly.

Even considering the plastic construction, it’s clear that strong metal reinforcements lie beneath as the various pivots, joints, and fixtures all hold together very nicely and feel like they’ll stay put in the long run too. We’ve also noticed the semi-smooth, soft-to-the-touch plastic that covers the exterior of the earcups. The texture of said plastic feels excellent and manages to swerve the overly shiny brittle feeling plastics that plague many gaming headsets.

While robust and reinforced with stout aluminum, the intervals of adjustment on the headband aren’t quite tactile enough and the headband slips between adjustments too easily. This is annoying as it requires re-adjustment regularly, additionally, it gives us the feeling that the notches will wear smooth quicker than we’d like which will make readjustment even more frequent.

As mentioned earlier, the Delta S Wireless comes with two sets of ear cushions, one set being faux leather, the other being what Asus ROG calls ‘hybrid fabric’. We are happy to report that both of these are made with super premium-feeling materials and have managed to resist our juvenile attempts to tear the stitching or stretch the materials past their limits. Also, we have to say that this is the absolute best faux leather we’ve countered as it perfectly rides the line between soft and robust, which is a trickier line to walk than you might think.

Sound quality & gaming performance

As with most gaming headsets, the soundscape of the Delta S wireless is characteristically bass-heavy, though not to the detriment of the other frequencies, which is impressive. Even more impressively, the mix remains defined at higher volumes, only becoming muddled when you reach frankly dangerous levels of noise. Additionally, you’ll have some great fun playing around in Asus’s Armory Crate as not only can you significantly enhance the out-of-the-box soundscape, you can add extra effects. Try putting the headset into ‘church’ mode and maxing out the reverb, you can thank us later.

Asus ROG has smartly tilted the drivers by 12-degrees too. This means they are aimed directly down the ear canal as opposed to being perpendicular to the side of the user’s head, making for a more efficient transference of sound. Another side effect of the great comfort (more on this later), is that the thick ear cushions position the drivers slightly further away from the ear, making for a more natural and 3D-feeling soundscape. This opposes the more insular feeling sound that comes from earphones and is one of the primary advantages of headphones/headsets in general.

When it comes to gaming the Delta S Wireless headset does very well too, with the drivers producing dynamic, booming gunshots and the subtle pitter-patter of enemy footsteps equally well. However, this is one of the times we fully endorse the use of a headset’s software package as some of the EQ presets like ‘game’ and ‘FPS’ truly elevate the experience, for example, activating the FPS preset while playing Apex Legends totally redefined the audio and brought a lot of extra detail to the audio table. Additionally, Asus ROG’s virtual surround sound continues to be positionally accurate and defined enough to help you retain a competitive edge in the game of your choice.

The mic(s)

Asus ROG has opted for dual beamforming mics for the Delta S Wireless, and while we appreciate the more streamlined appearance and experience over that of a headset with a traditional boom mic, the mics do not perform well. Despite Asus ROG’s talk of AI noise cancellation and claim that it removes up to 95% of background noise, these mics did not do well in our testing.

They, unfortunately, picked up conversations from behind, keystrokes, and mouse clicks in addition to the user’s voice. The voice pickup was perfectly audible, but the amount of unwanted sound picked up alongside it means that you’ll find yourself irritating teammates. This can be mitigated to an extent with the various algorithms on offer from VoIP programs like Teamspeak and Discord, but if you regularly play competitive games that require vocal communication, this is not the headset for you.

Comfort

As mentioned earlier, the ear cushions are fantastic and they combine with the 131g weight of the headset to produce an effortless fit with enduring comfort even in warm rooms over the course of many hours. The headband could benefit from more padding but the aforementioned weight, or lack thereof means it’s no big deal. Of course, the real reason behind the incredible comfort is the included set of alternate ear cushions. As far as we remember, no other manufacturer has included extra sets, let alone extra sets in a different material.

This generosity has two main benefits: the first is that you can switch between them at will for marginally different audio experiences as the faux leather set creates a better seal for a more immersive experience whereas the fabric set sounds more natural and open. The second benefit is that people in warmer environments can switch to the fabric set for more breathability as faux leather can cause discomfort in humid conditions. So, taking the customizability into account the ROG Delta S Wireless headset is up there with the comfiest headsets we’ve tested, right up there with the incredible Corsair HS80 wireless.

Software

Ah yes, the inevitable peripheral companion software, in this case, Asus’s Armory Crate. Despite an initially confusing UI, it’s far more powerful and contains way more options than a lot of the competition like Razer Synapse, and Corsair’s iCUE software. As mentioned earlier, when it comes to EQ presets Armory Crate rises far above the competitors with more available out-of-the-box, and more granular adjustments for making your own.

Final verdict

The Asus ROG Delta S Wireless gaming headset brings excellent comfort, great audio quality, and an uncharacteristically inoffensive design to the table here and we really like it overall. The soundscape and customizability are ideal for an immersive gaming experience and the extra set of ear cushions are a conscientious offering the rest of the big brands continue to neglect. Additionally, the low weight, wireless performance, and dual-mode connectivity are agreeably convenient.

Unfortunately, we can’t recommend the headset if you play games where clear communication is vital, such as competitive CS:GO, League of Legends, or valorant, as the dual beamforming mics pick up far too much background noise which could lead to miscommunication. mistakes, and the inevitable barrage of insults. But if you only play multiplayer games with a casual group or favor single-player games, the Asus ROG Delta S wireless headset is a great option.

ASUS ROG Delta S Wireless gaming headset

Connectivity

USB Type-C, 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth 5.0

Driver diameter

50mm

Frequency response

20Hz-20kHz

Mic

Omnidirectional beamforming

Weight

131g/11.04oz

Compatibility

PC, Mac, PS4/5, Nintendo Switch, Mobile

How We Review

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