You Won’t Believe What Happens When You Try the New ASUS ROG Pelta Headset

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Launched towards the end of last year, the ASUS ROG Pelta wireless gaming headset serves as a more affordable option compared to the high-end ROG Delta II. Although priced significantly lower, it comes with many of the same features and offers exceptional value for gamers seeking an upgrade.

This headset offers exceptional sound clarity, comfort, and a fashionable yet understated style, making it versatile enough for everyday use, whether you’re grooving to tunes during your travels.

What’s In The Box?

  • ROG Pelta gaming headset
  • Wireless 2.4 GHz USB-C dongle
  • USB-C to USB-A dongle adapter
  • USB-C to USB-A charging cable
  • Quick start guide
  • Warranty booklet

The ROG Pelta is enclosed in a protective cloth sack, not intended for long-term carrying, but designed to safeguard the headset from scratches during transportation. It boasts its lightweight construction for gaming purposes, and this weight advantage is noticeable upon unboxing it. Equipped with mesh fabric ear pads, these are the sole cushion options included in the package, unlike the Delta IIs which offer alternative choices.

Specifications And Features

2.4GHz, Bluetooth, or wired USB Type-C.

The ROG Pelta comes at a more affordable cost, but it lacks the DualFlow Audio feature found in the Delta II, which means only one audio source can be played at a time. Unfortunately, due to the absence of a 3.5mm audio jack, it also forfeits compatibility with Xbox consoles. However, it remains functional with PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and 5, and mobile devices.

Weighing a mere 309 grams, the ROG Pelta is lighter than the Delta II, a model known for its lightness. The elastic band provides three adjustment levels, functioning effectively but perhaps not optimally from an aesthetic perspective. This model features breathable mesh ear cushions shaped like ovals, which harmoniously match with the headband.

The ROG Pelta comes equipped with a battery capacity of 900mAh, touted to provide up to 70 hours of gameplay when in 2.4GHz mode and RGB lighting disabled. With the RGB lights on, it offers approximately 45 hours of playtime. In Bluetooth mode, you can enjoy up to 90 hours and 60 hours of playback time respectively. Moreover, it supports fast charging; a quick 15-minute charge gives you three hours of uninterrupted gaming.

Design, Build Quality, And Comfort

The build quality and design style reminiscent of ROG are evident in this model too. The rotatable ear cups on the ROG Pelta can lay flat when placed on your desk or around your neck, offering flexibility. Despite its lightweight construction, there isn’t any squeaking or shaking noises from anywhere. Unlike the triangular earcups found on the ROG Delta II, these are oval-shaped and have a more subtle gamer look, even though they feature an illuminated ROG logo on both ear cups. When the RGB lighting is turned off, the Pelta can function as regular headphones for enjoying music or videos during travel.

The flexible headstrap ensures a comfortable fit on the headset, providing the perfect pressure. When set at its midpoint, the ROG Pelta fitted snugly on my head, while the ROG Delta II and its multiple adjustment levels felt slightly loose. However, the elastic band design can give an amusing appearance as the actual headband hovers above the top of the head, creating a comical look. Keep in mind that the fit may vary for different head shapes and sizes, but for me, it was quite amusing to see.

Even though it doesn’t reduce comfort, the featherlight build combined with mesh ear cups ensures extended gaming sessions feel effortless. The ear cups are spacious enough to prevent your ears from touching the inner fabric, and you can even remove the adjustable headband for additional space.

The controls for this device are all situated on the left ear cup. These consist of a microphone mute button, a volume control knob, a function button, a switch for connectivity options, a microphone jack, and a USB Type-C port. When using the ROG Pelta with a 2.4GHz connection to a computer, you’ll primarily use the volume dial and the microphone mute button. I found the placement of these controls quite intuitive and easy to adapt to swiftly.

Audio Quality, Software, And Battery Life

I’ve been raving about the ROG Pelta, and let me tell you, it shares the same titanium-plated drivers as the ROG Delta II. This headset delivers outstanding sound quality, with a well-balanced tone and an expansive soundstage that feels quite open. Straight out of the box, it’s set to a ‘Flat’ EQ, but the ‘FPS’ tuning takes it to a whole new level, especially for shooters. Even single-player games like God of War: Ragnarok sound fantastic when you give the Bass Boost setting a slight boost. The boom mic captures clear and crisp vocals without letting too much background noise seep in.

Despite not having noise-cancellation technology, the one-way design and its close proximity to the speaker help minimize background noise effectively. Additionally, this device benefits from the ROG SpeedNova technology, ensuring seamless connectivity and low latency during use.

The Armoury Crate program enables you to tailor and adjust the sound, microphone, and lighting settings of your headset. Similar to the ROG Delta II, I needed to install a firmware update on the Pelta more than once to ensure it had the most recent version. After updating, I began using the headset with an FPS equalizer, setting the Bass Boost between 25-35%, and enabling spatial sound. The headset effectively depicted where various sounds originated in games, making it easy to estimate distance as well. Even when the Armoury Crate isn’t active, there is a system tray icon that displays the battery level.

As a movie enthusiast, I’ve been testing out the ROG Pelta headset and found that its claimed 45 hours of battery life on 2.4GHz with RGB turned on is quite accurate, but only up to a point. After roughly 10 to 12 hours of use, I noticed it dropped down to around 70%. This means the actual battery life is closer to 35 to 40 hours. Despite having a smaller battery (900mAh) compared to the Delta II (1800mAh), its longevity is impressive due to its minimal RGB lighting and lack of simultaneous connectivity to two sources, which help extend its lifespan.

Price And Final Thoughts

The ROG Pelta retails at a budget-friendly $130, making it a cool hundred dollars less expensive than its counterpart, the Delta II. If you’re not fussed about using dual simultaneous connections via 2.4GHz and Bluetooth, this headset presents an attractive offer. It delivers top-notch sound quality similar to its costlier counterpart, boasting robust construction and battery life, all while keeping the price tag low. Against competitors like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5P and Logitech G733 LIGHTSPEED, it holds its ground with larger drivers and superior battery life. However, it is slightly heavier than these two models.

In essence, the ASUS ROG Pelta headset, boasting its versatile tri-connectivity, top-notch sound quality, and robust battery performance, stands as a formidable contender against comparable products from leading brands. It’s a fantastic choice for users within the ROG peripheral community, and even those outside this ecosystem might find the Pelta to be an attractive offer.

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2025-04-04 01:06