Noise is a great concern nowadays when working at home. Thankfully, we have a headset that offers an all-in-one solution to this. This time we review the ASUS ROG Delta S Animate, a headset that has pretty lights coupled with noise-cancellation. It is great or is it mediocre? Let’s find out!
| Product Type | USB headset |
| Usage Scenario | Gaming |
| Interface | Wired |
| Connector | USB-A USB-C |
| Support Platform | PC MAC PlayStation® 4 PlayStation® 5 Nintendo Switch |
| Driver Material |
Neodymium magnet
|
| Driver Size | 50mm |
| Headphones Impedance | 32 Ohm |
| Headphones Frequency Response | 20 ~ 40000 Hz |
| Microphone Pick-up Pattern | Unidirectional |
| Microphone Sensitivity | -40 dB |
| Microphone Frequency Response | 100 ~ 10000 Hz |
| AI Noise Cancelling Microphone | Yes |
| Hi-Fi DAC | ESS 9281 Pro |
| Hi-Fi Amp | ESS 9281 Pro |
| Active Noise Cancellation | No |
| Channel | Virtual 7.1 |
| Lighting |
Single-colored LED
|
| Aura Sync | Yes |
| Foldablility | Yes |
| Weight | 310 g |
| Carry bag/box | No |
| Extra ear-cushion | Yes |
| Color | Black |
| Cable | USB-C cable: 1.5m; USB-A cable: 1m |
| Accessories | Detachable microphone User guide ROG Hybrid ear cushion USB-C to USB-A adapter |
| Note |
Support PCs, PS4, PS5 via using included USB-C to USB-A adapter
**Support iPad Pro by USB-C connection (Audio Only) |
This is what you get inside the box. You get two pairs of ear cushions: one hybrid leather/fabric and one protein leather pair. Also included are a USB-A to USB-C adapter, a detachable mic, a manual, and the warranty.
The ASUS ROG Delta S Animate has all of its controls on the left cup. Here, we have the volume control. Pressing it would mute the mic. The mic actually turns red when you’re on mute. Just beside it is the slider for the AniMe Matrix. The slider has three controls: soundwave light effect, customizable display, and off.
While you can flip the cups to flatten it, the headband cannot be folded. This makes it a bit harder to transport this thing as you have to have a wide enough space for the whole body.
Part of the visual charm of this headset is its AniMe Matrix displays. This comes with several preset settings and can be customized to display flowing text and unique animations. You do have to use the ASUS Armoury Crate in order to edit it. This can only be done on the PC so using it on mobile phones and consoles resets the headset to its default setting.
The ASUS ROG Delta S Animate does not support RGB lighting and only comes with AniMe Matrix.
Personally, I found the ROG Delta S Animate’s audio to be great and on-par to what I experience with my daily driver: an Audio-Technica M50X coupled with a Strix Soar sound card. That is to be expected given that it has its built-in DAC and AMP with the ESS 9281 Pro. It works well with gaming and it handles voices pretty well making it a great companion in Discord sessions or in online business meetings.
This is where the ROG Delta S Animate takes the cake. AI noise cancellation for voice input is available right out of the box. Just plug it in and blam! You don’t need to configure anything to screen out those loud voices from the background. It works for both mobile devices and game consoles too! Have a dog in your room? Your colleagues won’t hear them anymore. Noisy vehicles in the background? They’re now gone (audibly). This device offers a pretty nifty and easy solution to anyone experiencing disturbing noises that might affect your work or play. However, it comes with a catch.
While it is worth applauding the AI noise cancellation, it does have its limits. What I noticed is that if you have a persistent background noise, say the breeze coming from an electric fan, the headset effectively also cancels out your voice. Suffice to say, the system is not perfect. It works well for the occasional bangs and spikes, but other than that, the cancellation is still affected by on-going noise that can also filter out your voice.
Aside from making it look unique, the ear cushions that come with the ASUS ROG Delta S Animate are shaped to look like an angled D. Personally, it fits my ears but it may also be something to consider for other people with differently shaped and sized ears. It’s not the usual oval or square shape that we are used to. It also might be hard to buy custom pads for this one given its restrictive angles.
Without a doubt, the ASUS ROG Delta S Animate is a fine product. It radiates quality and features that are useful whether you stream online or not. However, all the benefits come at a steep price tag. The device itself is sadly out of reach for most gamers, even ones that are willing to spend a bit more for a better audio experience. But quality can be had here and if you are willing to spend a few bucks, you might get it.
But then again, there are more affordable and formidable options, just with less features and gimmicks. While it does offer everything in a single plug-and-play package, you may have a better experience if you buy a separate DAC, a decent mic, and a reliable headset from a reputable company. If it is still not obvious, my only qualm with the ASUS ROG Delta S Animate is its exorbitant price and that’s just it.
With that said, the ASUS ROG Delta S is still a fine product. It offers the tested AI noise cancellation that exceeds expectations and it offers it all to most devices, not just for the PC. It is something commendable given that I was able to use the device on both office and play setting without any problems. You can also say that it is a very stylish gadget. If you’re onto streaming, you can use the AniMe Matrix as another medium for promotions or shout outs.
The ASUS ROG Delta S Animate is available in the Philippines with an SRP of PhP 16,500.
You can learn more about the ASUS ROG Delta S Animate gaming headset here.
If you fancy a more affordable option, you can check out the ASUS H3 Wireless headset. Read our review of it here.
