When it comes to wireless earbuds, just a quick look at any online market and you’ll find tons of them for sale. It’s not that hard to find quality ones though as you only need to stick to reputable brands. In most cases, some offerings among these established brands differ only in looks, price, and some features. But what if an outlier promises to offer more than what is required? This time, we get to review the ROG Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova (a mouthful, I know), an upgraded gaming earbuds from ASUS ROG. Is it good though? Let’s find out in this review!
| Usage Scenario | Gaming Multimedia |
| Interface | Wireless |
| Connector | 2.4Ghz BT |
| Driver Size |
10 mm neodymium magnets
|
| Headphones Impedance | 32 ohms |
| Headphones Frequency Response |
20 Hz – 40 kHz
|
| Microphone Pick-up Pattern |
Omnidirectional
|
| Microphone Sensitivity | -38 dB |
| Microphone Frequency Response |
100 Hz – 10 kHz
|
| Active Noise Cancellation | Yes |
| Lighting | RGB |
| Aura | No |
| Battery |
BT Mode:
up to 46 hrs 6.5+19.5 (ANC on, RGB on) 11.5+34.5(ANC off, RGB off) 10+30 (ANC off, RGB on) 7.5+22.5 (ANC on, RGB off) 2.4 GHz Mode: up to 36 hrs 5+15hrs (ANC on, RGB) 9+27 hrs (ANC off, RGB) 6.8+20.4 hrs (ANC off, RGB) 5.8+17.4 hrs (ANC on, RGB) |
| Accessories |
2.4 GHz USB-C® dongle USB-C to UCS-A adapter dongle Charging case Ear tips (3 sizes) Charging cable User document
|
| Note |
Support platform: 1. Bluetooth mode: PC, Mac, iOS, Android, Nintendo Switch. 2. SpeedNova dongle mode: PC, Mac, Android, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation® 4, PlayStation® 5
|
One main selling point of the ROG Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova is its versatility. It can connect to both wireless 2.4Ghz and Bluetooth. Similar to wireless peripherals from ASUS, this thing can connect to two devices. The difference is it is smart enough to connect to both at the same time. Say that you are playing a game on PC and you are connected via the 2.4Ghz dongle and your phone is connected to the earbuds via Bluetooth. When a call comes through your phone, the ROG Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova prioritizes it, allowing you to seamlessly transition from one device to another. Cool, right?
The problem with the dual connectivity setup is that the dongle itself does not have a storage of some sort in the charging case. Why? I also don’t know. Maybe ASUS thought that the USB dongle could just be left permanently on a device, but that just negates the versatility and the mobility part, right? It’s a design choice that leaves one baffled as the USB dongle might get lost if you frequently use different devices.
Despite being known from being a problematic app on desktops, ASUS Armoury Crate functions stably in mobile form. For you to fully utilize the ROG Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova, you have to download the ASUS Armoury Crate on your mobile system. In my case, I used it with my Android phone and what surprised me was that you can tweak a lot of things. Usually, earbuds tend to not have a lot of customization or tweaking options but this one went the extra mile.
One thing that also leaves me baffled is the amount of controls on the ROG Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova. Don’t get me wrong, I want things to be fast when walking while listening, and a simple tap or two on an earbud would make things more efficient. But with this one, you’ll have to get used to a lot of tap commands. Each earbud has a corresponding action when pressed with a specific number of taps. Taps can go as high as four per bud. It might be a bit of a bother to memorize at first but I found myself getting used to it after two days. It’s a lot but if you frequently use it, you’ll get the hang of it in no time.
RGB on something I don’t see? Color me surprised. To no one’s surprise, the ROG Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova has built-in RGB. Pretty catchy if you walk around with glowing things sticking out of your ears but it does affect the battery life. If you don’t fancy looking like a man from the future and would want to lengthen the charge of each bud, best turn off the RGB via the Armoury Crate.
If you’re reading this review because you are looking at the ROG Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova as your earbuds for “meetings”, then you’d be in good hands. I’ve tried it on several online meetings and my voice was crystal clear according to those that listened.
One thing worth noting is the Auto ANC (Active Noise Cancellation). You can count on it to give you a decent degree of blocking out unnecessary noise from the surroundings the moment you put it on. You can also turn this feature off via ROG Armoury Crate.
The ROG Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova manages to pull-off something that makes it unique in the wireless earbuds scene. The hybrid connectivity, it being highly customizable even on mobile, and controls, make it a good option for those searching for an all-in-one audio device for home and mobile. Audio quality is above average and it does not sound cheap. Overall, another banger from ROG.
With great features come a great price tag. The price of the ROG Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova may turn off some given that some established brands sell half or 2/3 the price for their own premium earbuds. Although you lose some of the versatility and convenience, some may just find it appropriate to designate unique audio peripherals, with less price combined, for each device that they use. If that’s the case, the ROG Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova loses a good and valid selling point.
To sum it all up, the ROG Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova is an impressive offering from ROG. It’s an earbud that manages to transcend the average, offering something unique without compromising on quality and features. However, the temptation to get it becomes a tad muddier once you consider the price and other options available in the market.
The ROG Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova is available in the Philippines and you can buy it from online and local retailers. It has an SRP of PhP 9,550. For other gaming headsets, check out our ROG Delta S Review.
For more information about the ROG Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova, head over to ASUS’ official product page here.
