Asus ROG STRIX Fusion 700 Gaming Headset: Review

Asus ROG Strix Fusion 700 are the new headphones for players with Virtual Surround 7.1: that is, their main goal is to provide the most faithful possible positional audio.

The peculiarity of this solution concerns the ability to connect in USB 2.0 to PC, PS4 and Nintendo Switch, and via Bluetooth to answer phone calls or to listen to music wirelessly. The headset features a high-fidelity ESS 9018 digital-to-analog converter, 9601 amplifier, an exclusive sealed chamber and the typical 50 mm ASUS Essence drivers already found in other devices.

As we said, they use a type of Virtual Surround 7.1, which returns a very convincing positional sound, developed in collaboration with Bongiovi Acoustics. For players, they risk becoming an indispensable object, because in this way, they have competitive advantages in multiplayer titles like Overwatch, Fortnite and PUBG, having, among other things, precise perception of the direction of origin of the sounds of the steps, and the position, of the adversaries.

Thanks to Bluetooth 4.2 support, not covered by the Fusion 500, the new headphones allow you to connect simultaneously to the PC and the phone, which allows, among other things, to answer a phone call without interrupting the gaming experience, which will continue in the background with high-quality sound.

This allows you to manage group chat aimed at the gaming session via an Internet connection, that of the mobile phone, different from the connection reserved to the game system, in order to limit the impact of the chat on the latency of the multiplayer session.

The Asus ROG Strix Fusion 700 incorporates an audio converter (sound card) DAC capable of decoding the Hi-Res source to its original quality. So you do not need to buy a separate sound card.

By scrolling up or down you can adjust the volume, while scrolling to the right or left you move from one piece of music to another. The new function of the Asus ROG Strix Fusion 700 provides just to respond to phone calls with a simple tap on the left pavilion, so you can start the conversation without leaving the game even for a fraction of a second.

Furthermore, if you touch the sensitive surface for a minimum of 3 seconds, the synchronization procedure of the light bands on the headphones is started with the lighting systems of other Aura Sync compatible devices. The surface with the touch controls is still large enough to make the experience comfortable and captivating.

The Bluetooth connection is powered by a battery that guarantees a wide autonomy, with over 17 hours of listening to music without having to recharge. The association with the Bluetooth device is very simple: just press the relevant button that is located under the left headphone pavilion and complete the association in the list of Bluetooth devices detected by the mobile phone.

But the most interesting aspect of this Asus ROG Strix Fusion 700 solution concerns the quality of the audio determined by the 50mm drivers used, already experimented in previous Asus solutions. The sealed chamber ensures optimal balance, while 24bit / 96K playback without loss of quality offers a very pleasant dynamic range and minimal distortion.

ROG’s audio engineers have expanded the area around the drivers to provide the most immersive hearing experience possible. The watertight chamber has been enlarged to create the conditions for better air circulation inside. The outer rubberized surface seals the chamber in a hermetic manner, which allows for a more consistent and better balanced frequency response.

Between the drivers of the two pavilions of a pair of headphones, it is possible to create differences in terms of frequency response up to 6dB, which together with the absence of a watertight chamber can make the positional sound very poor. In the case of the Asus ROG Strix Fusion 700 technicians have not only made sure to reduce the differences in functioning between the two drivers, but have ensured the highest possible fidelity of the sound using the sealed chamber to keep the drivers.

Apart from the fact that the drivers are firmly wound inside the watertight chamber, it is then crucial from this point of view the seal with respect to the head: if the headphones do not adhere perfectly to the head, some frequencies may be significantly more pronounced than others. This is why the drivers are kept in well-defined and stable position thanks to the sealed chamber.

The Virtual Surround 7.1 is managed through an algorithm developed in close collaboration with Bongiovi Acoustics, who have used the most famous multiplayer titles of the moment to create a profile as balanced as possible. In games like PUBG, Fortnite, CS: GO and Overwatch it is very important to realize the direction in which the sounds come: a solution like Asus ROG Strix Fusion 700, first of all, aims to satisfy this need. The Virtual Surround 7.1 sound is enabled simply by pressing the button below the left-hand panel (the same applies to Bluetooth).

We said of the two light bands: these can display RGB backlighting at 16.8 million colors configurable via the Aura Headset app for mobile device. The Aura software is also available on PC, where you can customize more in depth the lighting effects, their cycles and rhythm, also depending on the music.

For teams taking part in professional tournaments, it is very important to have synchronized lighting effects between the members and, for each member, among all the devices he is using. The Aura synchronization technology allows you to do it very simply and immediately.

Asus ROG Strix Fusion 700 features a digital arm microphone with a sound processing algorithm to make communications within multiplayer gaming sessions clearer. Just physically bend the microphone to automatically silence it. The quality of the voice recording is good, even if slightly muffled, sufficient to ensure clear conversations even during the busiest gaming sessions.

Unlike the Fusion 300, and like the Fusion 500, the new Asus ROG headphones feature a digital microphone. This means that the software performs an on-the-fly rework of the input by cleaning it out of superfluous noise and making it as clear as possible for truly effective in-game conversations.

In addition, the Asus ROG Strix Fusion 700 uses ROG Hybrid ear pads that combine protein leather for the inside and fabric for the outside. These are in circular shape to better adhere to any shape of the head, while in the package, very elegant, there is a second set of bearings, in fabric only. We have also found excellent results in terms of acoustic insulation compared to the outside.

	Asus ROG STRIX Fusion 700
Driver size	50 mm
Driver material	Neodymium magnet
Hi-Fi DAC / Amp	ESS 9018 DAC ESS 9601 Amp
Connections	Bluetooth 4.2 (mobile phone) USB 2.0 (Console / PC)
Impedance	32 ohms
Frequency response	20 Hz-20K Hz
bearings	ROG Hybrid & 100% Leather
Weight	360g
Cable	2 meters, braided
Lighting effects	Static / Breath / Color Cycle / Music (PC only)
Microphone	Unidirectional, retractable
Frequency response	50 Hz-10K Hz
Sensitivity	-39 ± 3 dB

Like the Fusion 500, the new ROG Strix headphones also incorporate an audio converter (sound card) DAC capable of decoding the Hi-Res source to its original quality. So you do not need to buy a separate sound card as often happens with other gaming headsets, although certified with the same logo.

The Asus ROG Strix Fusion 700 complete the Fusion headset family, which already includes the ROG Strix 300 and the ROG Strix 500, currently available. With the arrival of 700 will be offered to users a complete product family, able to support all the needs.

As we have seen in the case of the Fusion 500, of which the configuration is confirmed also in terms of drivers, this family of headphones Asus excels for the positional audio, a little ‘less for the quality itself, both bass and as regards the cleaning of the highs.

This is a consideration that applies exclusively to audiophiles, while for the needs for which this headphones are designed, that is to say, gaming, the Asus ROG Strix Fusion 700 is still an excellent choice, especially by those who consider the auditory component as a possible option to achieve competitive advantages. Furthermore, this is the most complete proposal of the ROG Strix Fusion range, since nothing is lost in the quality of previous products and the functionality of the connection in Bluetooth is added.

	ROG Strix Fusion 700	ROG Strix Fusion 500	ROG Strix Fusion 300
Connection	Bluetooth 4.2 (mobile phone), USB 2.0 (Console / PC)	USB 2.0 (Console / PC)	USB 2.0 (PC), 3.4 mm (Mobile phone / Console / PC)
ESS DAC & AMP	Yes	Yes	No
Virtual Surround 7.1	Made to measure, developed with Bongiovi Acoustics	Made to measure, developed with Bongiovi Acoustics	Standard
Waterproof chamber	Yes	Yes	Yes
Asus Essence driver	Yes	Yes	Yes
Lighting	RGB	RGB	Only in red
Aura RGB synchronization between device and device	Via Bluetooth	Via BLE	Absent
Microphone	Digital	Digital	Anaolog
Touch controls	Yes	Yes	No
Pavilions	ROG Hybrid and 100% protein skin	ROG Hybrid and 100% protein skin	ROG Hybrid and 100% protein skin

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87%

Awesome

Asus ROG Strix Fusion 700 Headset

• Comfort
• Design
• Sound Quality