Aura Kasih
Asus has unveiled a compelling new contender in the wireless audio market with the Cetra Open Wireless earbuds, a product meticulously engineered to enhance the portable gaming and content consumption experience. Eschewing the traditional earbud design that prioritizes a sealed fit, these innovative buds adopt an open-ear architecture, allowing users to remain aware of their surroundings while immersing themselves in digital audio. This unique approach, coupled with a suite of advanced features and an exceptionally versatile USB-C transmitter, positions the Cetra Open as a significant advancement for a burgeoning segment of the tech landscape.
The portable gaming and multimedia consumption sectors have experienced exponential growth, driven by the increasing power and accessibility of devices like smartphones, handheld consoles, and tablets. As users spend more time engaging with these platforms on the go, the demand for audio solutions that balance immersion with practicality has intensified. Traditional noise-isolating earbuds, while excellent for focused listening, can create a disconnect from the environment, posing potential safety concerns and limiting situational awareness. Conversely, purely ambient audio solutions often sacrifice sound quality and bass response. Asus, with the Cetra Open, appears to have struck a nuanced equilibrium, addressing these competing needs with a thoughtfully designed product.
At the heart of the Cetra Open’s innovative design lies its open-ear form factor. Unlike earbuds that create a seal within the ear canal, the Cetra Open rest gently outside, allowing ambient sound to naturally mix with the audio output. This design choice is not merely a stylistic preference; it represents a strategic decision to cater to users who value situational awareness. For gamers playing on devices like the Nintendo Switch or Steam Deck, this means the ability to hear in-game cues while simultaneously being aware of household sounds, conversations, or environmental alerts. Similarly, for those consuming content on their commute or in public spaces, this open design fosters a more connected and less isolating experience.
However, this open architecture does present inherent trade-offs. The immersive quality of the audio is directly influenced by the external soundscape. In quieter environments, the experience can be highly engaging, with game audio and ambient sounds blending seamlessly. In noisier settings, such as crowded public transport or busy cafes, the external noise can potentially overpower the audio from the earbuds, diminishing the intended immersion. Furthermore, the open design means that at higher volumes, audio leakage is a possibility, which could be a consideration in shared or sensitive environments. Asus acknowledges this nuance, suggesting that the ideal use case involves environments where a degree of ambient sound is either desired or unavoidable.
Despite these considerations, the Cetra Open distinguish themselves through an impressive array of features and a commitment to user comfort. The earbuds are reportedly designed for extended wear, a critical factor for lengthy gaming sessions or prolonged content consumption. The sound quality, while inherently different from sealed designs, is lauded for its robustness. Asus incorporates its proprietary "Phantom Bass" technology, which is active by default, to enhance the low-frequency response, aiming to deliver a more impactful audio experience without the need for a tight seal. This feature addresses a common challenge for open-ear audio solutions, which often struggle to reproduce satisfying bass.
A standout feature of the Cetra Open package is the inclusion of a USB-C 2.4GHz audio transmitter. This small yet significant accessory is designed to overcome a common limitation of many portable devices: the scarcity of ports, particularly when charging. The Asus transmitter is unique in that it features a passthrough USB-C port. This allows users to connect the transmitter to their device and simultaneously charge it, whether it be a smartphone, tablet, or handheld gaming console. This is a crucial convenience for extended use, ensuring that battery life does not become a bottleneck for uninterrupted entertainment. The transmitter itself is compact, minimizing bulk and improving portability. Asus confirms that this passthrough functionality supports up to 60W of one-way charging, which is more than sufficient for modern portable gaming devices.
The versatility of the Cetra Open extends to their connectivity options. They support multipoint connectivity, allowing for simultaneous connection to two Bluetooth devices, or one Bluetooth device and the 2.4GHz transmitter. This feature facilitates seamless switching between audio sources, such as transitioning from a mobile game to a video call on a smartphone, without manual intervention. While simultaneous playback from two sources is not supported, the ease of switching is a significant boon for users who juggle multiple devices throughout their day.
Battery life is another area where the Cetra Open aim to impress. Asus claims up to 16 hours of playback in Bluetooth mode with RGB LEDs and microphones disabled. In the 2.4GHz mode, which offers lower latency for gaming, the battery life is rated at approximately 10 hours per charge. The charging case itself is described as substantial, capable of recharging the earbuds multiple times before requiring its own power replenishment. The earbuds themselves offer rapid charging capabilities, with the ability to gain significant battery life in a matter of minutes, mitigating the impact of any unexpected power depletion. Charging of the case is handled via USB-C, a ubiquitous standard that ensures broad compatibility.
Customization is also a key component of the Cetra Open experience. Users can tailor various settings through either the Armoury Crate mobile app or the PC-based Gear Link web interface. This includes adjusting audio profiles, microphone sensitivity, and RGB lighting effects. Furthermore, the physical buttons on each earbud can be reconfigured for single, double, triple, and quadruple presses, allowing for personalized control schemes for playback, volume, and other functions. Audio prompts can also be customized, offering a choice between spoken language options or sound effects for system feedback.
The implications of the Cetra Open extend beyond individual user convenience. As the lines between dedicated gaming devices and general-purpose mobile devices continue to blur, audio solutions that cater to both are becoming increasingly valuable. The success of the Cetra Open could signal a broader trend towards open-ear designs in the gaming peripheral market, particularly for portable and mixed-reality applications where environmental awareness is paramount. The innovative USB-C transmitter also highlights a growing need for accessories that address the practical constraints of modern portable devices, such as limited port availability and the constant demand for power.
In the competitive landscape of wireless earbuds, particularly those targeting gamers, established players like SteelSeries and Sony offer compelling alternatives. The SteelSeries Arctis Buds and Sony InZone Buds, for instance, provide active noise cancellation and a snug, isolating fit, which are highly desirable for focused gaming sessions. However, the Cetra Open carve out their niche by prioritizing comfort, ambient awareness, and the unique utility of their charging-passthrough transmitter. This differentiation positions them not as a direct replacement for ANC-focused earbuds, but as a complementary or alternative solution for a specific set of user needs and preferences.
Looking ahead, the Cetra Open Wireless earbuds represent a thoughtful evolution in personal audio technology. Their success will likely depend on how well they resonate with the target audience and whether their unique feature set justifies their market positioning. As portable gaming continues its upward trajectory and augmented and virtual reality technologies mature, the demand for audio devices that can seamlessly integrate with both digital content and the physical world will only grow. Asus, with the Cetra Open, has taken a significant stride in meeting this evolving demand, offering a product that is both innovative and highly practical for the modern digital consumer. The company’s ability to refine this open-ear audio approach and integrate further advancements in future iterations could solidify their position as a leader in this dynamic market segment.
Lisa Mariana
Ayu Aulia
Safa Marwah