Gaming open earbuds tested: do they beat over-ear headsets

Open-ear audio gear is starting to appear in gaming lineups, but does that make sense for most players today? After a week using the Asus ROG Cetra Open Wireless, the answer depends less on novelty and more on what you expect from game sound and how you split your time between indoor play and life outside the headset.

Comfort that keeps you playing

The most immediate advantage of the Cetra Open Wireless is comfort. Each bud sits outside the ear canal and uses a lightweight earhook, so there’s no in-ear pressure and little risk of slippage during long sessions. I wore them through an eight-hour test day without soreness or the need to readjust.

Because the speakers don’t block the ear, ambient noise remains audible. That can be useful if you want to hear a doorbell, keep a casual conversation going, or stay aware of traffic when you’re mobile. But if most of your gaming happens in a closed room, that contextual awareness may be less valuable than richer, more isolated sound.

Sound: clear highs, weak low end

On paper the hardware looks capable: 14mm carbon-coated drivers spanning the typical 20Hz–20kHz human range, plus a companion app with EQ controls. In practice, the listening profile leans toward sharp treble and restrained bass. Explosions and deep synths lack weight, while metallic, high-frequency effects can feel overly prominent.

This balance makes the Cetra Open Wireless suited to dialogue-heavy or stealth titles where situational cues and speech clarity matter, but less satisfying for action games that rely on bass impact to sell explosions and environmental weight.

• Drivers: 14mm carbon-coated diaphragms
• Frequency range: 20Hz–20kHz
• Fit: earhook, open-ear placement
• Companion app: EQ and tuning options available

Spec	Detail
Weight (each)	≈0.38 oz
Notable strengths	Comfort, mic performance, battery life
Price (retail)	$229

Practical pros and cons

From hands-on use, the product stacks up like this:

• Pros: Comfortable for extended wear, good vocal clarity, reliable microphone, easy-to-use app and stable battery life.
• Cons: Thin low frequencies, overly bright treble at times, niche appeal for dedicated indoor gamers relative to over-ear options.

Those trade-offs shape the value proposition. At a $229 price point, the Cetra Open Wireless compete with full-size gaming headsets and higher-performing in-ear alternatives that generally deliver stronger bass and a more immersive soundstage.

Who should consider these?

If you split time between workouts, commuting and casual gaming, and you prioritize awareness of your surroundings, the Cetra Open Wireless can be a reasonable single-pair solution. They also work well for titles where dialogue and subtle cues matter more than raw low-end power.

But if your priority is cinematic immersion, deep bass, or competitive sound-stage precision while playing indoors, a dedicated over-ear headset or higher-performing in-ear buds will likely deliver better value and a more satisfying audio experience.

In short: the Asus ROG Cetra Open Wireless are a well-made, comfortable attempt to bring open-ear ergonomics into gaming, but their sound signature and premium price limit their appeal to a relatively small group of users.