

Sony WH-1000XM5
3 of 5 would buy again
5 owners · owners report ~40 h per charge vs 40 h claimed
Comfort beat their expectations
Expected more from the fit and build
The battery beat their expectations
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1 / 4A 4.1 puts its audio quality in the top half of over-ear headphones we've measured.
Measured on 48 of the 242 we've cataloged.
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Wired-3.5mm is the most common — on 47% of the 252 over-ear headphones we've cataloged (of 242).
above average for over-ear headphones — based on 200 of 242 we've cataloged.
Objective measurements from the SoundGuys test lab — overlay other models to see how this one compares.
ASUS ROG Kithara Frequency Response (measured on a B&K 5128)
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Measured frequency response (dB relative) against the SoundGuys Headphone Preference Curve. When the measurement goes above the dashed line, that frequency is louder than our preference curve, and when it goes below: it's quieter. Use the curve for comparison purposes only, as your taste may vary.
| Frequency (Hz) | Response (dB) |
|---|---|
| 20 | -2.7 |
| 25 | -2.3 |
| 32 | -2.1 |
| 40 | -1.8 |
| 50 | -1.2 |
| 63 | -0.9 |
| 80 | -0.7 |
| 100 | -0.8 |
| 125 | -1.1 |
| 160 | -1.5 |
| 200 | -2.0 |
| 250 | -2.4 |
| 315 | -1.8 |
| 400 | -1.4 |
| 500 | -1.1 |
| 630 | -0.1 |
| 800 | -0.3 |
| 1000 | 0.6 |
| 1250 | 0.6 |
| 1600 | -0.9 |
| 2000 | 2.0 |
| 2500 | 6.5 |
| 3150 | 10.3 |
| 4000 | 8.8 |
| 5000 | 5.3 |
| 6300 | 10.4 |
| 8000 | 7.2 |
| 10000 | 2.0 |
| 12500 | -0.4 |
| 16000 | -3.6 |
| 20000 | -10.4 |
ASUS ROG Kithara Attenuation (measured on a B&K 5128)
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Solid lines: passive isolation (dB) with ANC off — how much ambient noise the fit blocks on its own. Higher on the chart means more attenuation.
| Frequency (Hz) | Attenuation (dB) |
|---|---|
| 21 | -1.2 |
| 26 | 0.3 |
| 33 | -0.1 |
| 41 | 0.1 |
| 52 | -0.2 |
| 65 | -0.0 |
| 82 | -0.1 |
| 103 | -0.0 |
| 130 | -0.1 |
| 163 | -0.2 |
| 205 | -0.1 |
| 259 | -0.3 |
| 325 | -0.2 |
| 410 | -0.6 |
| 516 | -0.8 |
| 613 | -1.3 |
| 772 | -1.7 |
| 972 | -2.1 |
| 1220 | -0.9 |
| 1540 | 1.6 |
| 1940 | 3.8 |
| 2440 | 4.1 |
| 3070 | -5.0 |
| 3870 | -2.8 |
| 4870 | 4.5 |
| 6130 | 5.1 |
| 7720 | 8.4 |
| 9720 | 8.1 |
| 12200 | 3.0 |
| 15400 | 1.8 |
| 19400 | 9.3 |
ASUS ROG Kithara MDAQS
Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores, Scale 1 - 5
Virtual mean opinion scores (MOS) on a 1–5 scale, modeled from the measured response by HEAD acoustics’ MDAQS (Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Score) model. Higher is better across timbre, distortion, and immersiveness — add other models to see where this one lands.
The verdict
The ROG Kithara is a high-end studio headphone that comes with a removable boom microphone and lots of connectivity options. With an open-back design and planar magnetic drivers, you get excellent sound quality, though it is certainly different than a traditional gaming headset. To those who are curious, this may well be a great upgrade from the bog-standard gaming headsets.
✓Liked: Reference-grade sound quality, Excellent microphone, Swappable cable terminations
✕Could be better: Short wire for desk use, Not ideal for FPS games
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Commentary and deep dives from the SoundGuys editorial team.


3 of 5 would buy again
5 owners · owners report ~40 h per charge vs 40 h claimed
Comfort beat their expectations
Expected more from the fit and build
The battery beat their expectations


1 of 1 would buy again
1 owner
Nothing surprising about comfort


0 of 1 would buy again
1 owner
The noise cancelling beat their expectations



0 of 1 would buy again
1 owner · 1 photo-verified
Expected more from comfort


0 of 2 would buy again
2 owners · 2 photo-verified
The noise cancelling beat their expectations
The battery beat their expectations

0 of 1 would buy again
1 owner
Comfort beat their expectations