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The Asus STRIX 2.0 does not come with its own software driver for adjusting EQ or altering sound characteristics, making this a ‘plug and play' product with no further tinkering needed. So with that in mind, we can jump straight in to talking about comfort and sound quality.
I have been using the Asus STRIX 2.0 as my main headset for over a week now and overall, my impressions are pretty positive. However, I did undergo a ‘break in' period as the plastic frame was a bit stiff at first, which made the clamping pressure of this headset feel a bit too tight for the first couple of hours.
Once the initial adjustment period has passed, this headset is actually quite comfortable to wear and while it is quite large, the clamping pressure means it is definitely not going to slip off your head. I found the padded ear cups to be excellent and they really helped with noise isolation. Unfortunately, I did encounter some creaking while moving my head, which could be distracting in some scenarios.
In terms of sound quality, the STRIX 2.0 is actually a very good performer. The frequency curve is balanced well, keeping everything in-check. Throughout my testing I didn't find one frequency range dominating the balance. High and mid frequencies were clear while the bass was nice and punchy.
Gaming is where this headset really makes its mark, as you would expect from a gaming headset. This is a 2.0 stereo headset but I found audio sources to be positioned well and things like enemy footsteps were easy to listen out for in games of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. The 60mm drivers found in this headset are very good indeed, in-fact I would go as far as to say that in terms of sound, this is one of the best headsets I have tried all year.
That said, a headset can very easily be let down if its microphone isn't up to scratch. In order to evaluate microphone performance, I used Skype and Team Speak, two typical VOIP applications that plenty of gamers use on a daily basis.
The Asus STRIX 2.0 uses a unique dual microphone design, setting it apart from the competition. While this headset doesn't feature an electronic noise cancellation switch as we saw on the STRIX Pro last year, I found the microphone to perform admirably. I use a Cherry MX Brown keyboard, so my typing is usually quite prominent in the background of calls but this microphone was able to drown out most of the noise.
On top of that, my voice comes through very clearly, even with the microphone pushed off to the side, rather than being right in front of my mouth. In all, this would rank amongst the best headset microphones I have tried in the last 24 months.
