ASUS's ROG soundbar, priced at $600, allows you to engage in trash-talk without needing a headset, and it's now available in the US.
ROG Gjallar arrives in the US, offering a headset-free voice-chat experience
Asus
Gaming headsets are fantastic until I've worn one for three hours and long to get my ears free. ASUS claims it has a solution with the ROG Gjallar, its first gaming soundbar to enter the US market, priced at $599.99. Currently, Best Buy lists the system as out of stock, and ASUS is accepting notification sign-ups, indicating that availability might be limited initially.
At this price point, it is definitely a premium soundbar. However, the Gjallar is more than just an ordinary soundbar.
Multiplayer gaming without a headset on my head
Asus
ASUS incorporates the soundbar with a separate LCD control hub that features built-in microphones. The Acoustic Echo Cancellation feature eliminates game sounds and your teammates' voices from the speakers, while AI beamforming helps reduce background noise, such as that from PC fans.
This technology allows users to engage in multiplayer games while talking to their team without needing a headset or a standalone microphone on their desk. The Gjallar itself is a 2.1.2-channel Dolby Atmos system equipped with four 50mm full-range drivers, two 27mm tweeters, and upward-firing channels. A separate 6.5-inch, 65W subwoofer connects using a dedicated low-latency 5GHz wireless link.
$600 provides ample connectivity options
Asus
ROG has equipped the Gjallar with various ports, ensuring it fits seamlessly into a complex gaming setup. It includes HDMI 2.1 with eARC and 4K/120Hz passthrough, USB-C, optical inputs, 3.5mm AUX, and Bluetooth 5.3. It is compatible with PCs, Macs, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, TVs, and mobile devices, and two USB-A ports are available for managing dongles and other peripherals.
The control hub allows users to switch inputs, adjust EQ profiles, manage playback, and control the essential Aura RGB lighting without needing to access software. Six hundred dollars is a significant investment for desktop audio. In our review of LG’s $500 UltraGear GP9, we noted the gaming speakers were hard to justify, despite their impressive audio and built-in microphone. While ASUS is asking for an additional $100, the Gjallar offers a proper wireless subwoofer, dedicated height channels, HDMI 2.1, and enhanced connectivity. Nevertheless, I would need to test it to determine if all of these features justify the $600 price tag.
Vikhyaat Vivek is a tech journalist and reviewer with seven years of experience focusing on consumer hardware.
Sony BRAVIA 9 II Review: One of the best HDR TVs I've tested
Instant Insight
The Sony BRAVIA 9 II may be among the most ambitious LCD TVs Sony has developed. The company aims to do more than just create another brighter Mini LED TV; it seeks to address one of Mini LED's main challenges: providing exceptional brightness without compromising on accurate and stunning colors.
TCL QM7L Review: The mid-range continues to offer outstanding value
TCL's mid-range model for 2026 presents excellent value.
See at Best Buy
Instant Insight
Your ESPN bill is about to increase, and Disney+ and Hulu bundles may not be safe either
ESPN Select, Unlimited, and various Disney+ and Hulu bundles will see price hikes starting September 17.
Once again, streaming services are raising prices. This time, it's ESPN that's impacting your budget. Beginning September 17, both ESPN Select and ESPN Unlimited will cost more (as confirmed by ESPN support). This price increase will also affect several Disney+ and Hulu bundles, marking the first raise since the standalone ESPN app launched last August.
Other articles
ROG's latest gaming mice are designed for esports, but they'll also be a great help for your spreadsheets.
At Gamescom 2026, ASUS ROG unveiled the Gladius IV Ace and Spatha X 65K gaming mice, alongside new esports collaborations and an updated Instagram channel for fans.
Parents can now track their teenager's Uber ride as it happens.
Uber is providing parents with an additional method to monitor their teenagers' rides; however, its new live video feature also brings up some privacy concerns.
Parents can now track their teenager's Uber ride in real time using the driver's phone.
Uber is allowing parents to monitor their teenagers' rides in real-time through the driver's phone, with no option for other passengers to opt-out and no information available regarding end-to-end encryption.
ERP, MES, SCADA: a unified low-code platform for industry instead of a "zoo"
The Russian MES systems market will exceed 15 billion rubles in 2026, maintaining a growth rate of no less than 8%. However, behind these figures lies a deeper transformation: customers are increasingly rejecting the "zoo" of disparate solutions in favor of unified platforms capable of covering the entire production cycle. AggreGate, one of the developers of such platforms, recently released updates to its key products — SCADA/HMI 6.4 and MES — to respond to this market demand.
Sony BRAVIA 9 II Review: Among the top HDR TVs I've evaluated
The Sony BRAVIA 9 II features remarkable 4,000-nit HDR brightness, impressive color accuracy, and Sony's advanced image processing, making it one of the most impressive LCD TVs I have evaluated. While OLED technology still excels in black levels and performance in dark environments, Sony's new Mini LED presents a strong argument for bright living spaces.
Android 17 has finally introduced the Pixel feature that my motion-sensitive self has been anticipating.
The new Motion Assist feature from Android 17 is being rolled out to Pixel 11 phones, incorporating animated screen cues aimed at alleviating the sensory mismatch that leads to motion sickness.
ASUS's ROG soundbar, priced at $600, allows you to engage in trash-talk without needing a headset, and it's now available in the US.
ASUS' inaugural ROG gaming soundbar features 2.1.2 Dolby Atmos, a wireless subwoofer, and integrated noise-canceling microphones intended for multiplayer gaming without the need for headsets.