As of today, the ROG Carnyx is the only microphone from ASUS that has immediately stormed into the top of the most popular gaming devices. It is positioned as a premium-class professional device designed for gaming, streaming, and podcasting. The microphone boasts a cool futuristic design, a wide range of features and settings comparable to studio-level equipment. What exactly is being discussed – read on in the review.
Specifications
To get an idea of the technical features of the microphone, let’s provide a brief list of its main parameters.:
- Usage Scenario: Gaming/Multimedia
- Interface: Wired
- Connection: USB-A
- Platform Support: PC/MAC
- Microphone Sensitivity: -37 dB (±3 dB)
- Microphone amplitude-frequency response: 20-20000 Hz
- Backlight: RGB Aura Sync
- Microphone drivers: 25 mm condenser capsule
- Polar pattern: cardioid
- Sampling frequency: 192 kHz
- Bitrate: 24 bit
- Maximum SPL: 120 dB
- Weight: 634 g
- Cable: USB-A to USB-C (3 m)
- Package: USB-A to USB-C cable (3 m), user manual
Positioning and price
The ROG Carnyx is positioned as a professional-grade gamer microphone designed for gaming, streaming, reading books, recording podcasts, music, and more. With its features, which we’ll talk about later, it will provide quality recording and professional sound.
If you look at the prices of gamer microphones presented in Ukrainian stores, you can conclude that ROG Carnyx is one of the most expensive devices in this segment. That is, among its closest competitors we can single out only niche products, for example, SteelSeries Alias.
Why such a price? We’ll find out when we examine the microphone along with all its features.
Package contents
The ROG Carnyx comes in a branded red and black box with all the recognizable attributes: logo, trademark font, and other markings. The box is made of quite dense cardboard, which ensures the integrity of the device during shipping, transportation, etc.
On the cover and the right side of the box, the microphone itself is depicted along with its full name – ROG Carnyx USB Gaming Microphone. On the back side, you can see a brief list of specifications and the main features of the device. The box lid is not removable: it flips upwards from the bottom, so be careful not to damage the packaging.
Inside the device is covered with a cardboard with glued foam inserts, which gives additional protection. Under it there is a paper documentation for users. The microphone is securely fixed in the deep foam: it does not dangle, does not ride on the box. In a black cellophane bag there is a three-meter USB cable in a nylon braid, tied with branded Velcro. There’s nothing else in the box, so let’s move on.
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Design and ergonomics
The ROG Carnyx boasts a cool futuristic design dominated by angular and triangular shapes. Adding brightness and individuality is the RGB lighting. The developer offers two color options for the microphone – charcoal black and snow-white, but we will be considering the black one. Most of the device’s elements are made of metal, namely, the body, stand, and base. The latter is solid, metallic, and heavy, which collectively ensures stability for the microphone and prevents falls if, for example, the device is accidentally bumped. The finish is matte, pleasant to the touch, and does not leave fingerprints.
Let’s take a look at the microphone, so to speak, from top to bottom. At the top of the body, we see a plastic cover – this is the touch mute button, which turns on and off with a light touch. Below is a grille around the perimeter of the body, under which is the pop filter. At the front of the body is the microphone settings dial – a small knob that rotates tightly and can also be pressed inward. At the back are the 3.5mm headphone jack and USB Type-C port. About the functions performed by all the control elements, you will learn in another section of the review, as right now we are only looking at the appearance.
The microphone itself is secured by a suspension shock mount, which is attached directly to the stand by clamping on the thread, allowing the structure to be tilted at an angle of up to 38 degrees. It should be noted that each of the listed elements is made of metal, so there is no doubt about their reliability and durability. The structure can be tilted at an angle of up to 38 degrees.
The base is solid, heavy, adorned with decorative milling on top, and embellished with the brand logo. Around the perimeter at the bottom, there is a rubber pad to prevent slipping on surfaces. The base can be unscrewed to attach the microphone to a pantograph.
The device weighs 634 grams, which may seem like a lot at first glance, but don’t forget that it’s almost entirely metal. However, the microphone is compact and won’t take up much space on your desk.
Externally, the ROG Carnyx makes a very serious impression: a sturdy, monolithic, metallic device with a futuristic design, adorned with stylish logos on the body and individual elements. Such a microphone will captivate anyone and fit into a modern gaming setup seamlessly.
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ROG Carnyx Features
The ROG Carnyx is a cardioid USB microphone with a 25-millimeter condenser capsule, a sampling frequency of 192 kHz, and a bit depth of 24 bits. The 25mm capsule diameter is one of the main advantages of the device, which enhances sound quality, suppresses noise, and voice distortions. According to the developers, this is the largest diameter, meaning the sounds should be deep, natural, and detailed.
A sampling frequency of 192 kHz is a sufficiently high indicator typically used in professional equipment for enhanced sound recording quality. Together with a 24-bit bit depth, it forms a powerful format, ensuring clear sound reproduction without loss of quality.
The microphone’s cardioid polar pattern indicates that sound will be recorded from the front, while attenuating it from the sides and back. This is the best mode for streaming because in such a scenario, the speaker is directly in front of the device, while all other voices and sounds coming from different directions are muted. By the way, the pop filter made of layers of foam and mesh prevents sound distortion, even when speaking from a very close distance. Additionally, the microphone has a high-pass filter that eliminates low-frequency background noises, such as noise from outside, rumble, or hum. Consequently, the voice in the recording will sound clean and without interference.
Combining all the solutions mentioned above, the ROG Carnyx is an excellent tool for high-quality studio-level sound recording. For those engaged in professional sound recording at home, it is indispensable. If you consider the microphone from this perspective, it definitely justifies itself, but in other cases, a simpler device for less money will suffice.
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Controls
Let’s move on to the practical part of the review, namely, controlling the microphone. At the top of the device, there is a touch button that turns the recording mode on and off. A red indicator light will indicate when the button is activated. It’s quite easy to touch the button to switch modes, and holding it for 2 seconds activates the RGB lighting.
On the front of the body, there is a multifunctional knob that adjusts the volume, and toggles the high-pass filter on and off. Above it are three indicators that show the status of the current settings of the knob. Pressing and holding the knob for 2 seconds activates the high-pass filter.
Underneath the metal suspension on the rear of the body are the 3.5mm headphone output and USB Type-C port. This is where the USB cable, which is included in the package, is connected.
The microphone is ready to use “right out of the box”. That is, you simply take it out, connect the USB cable to the device and, accordingly, to the computer, and start recording. Additional settings for the device and lighting are available in the Armoury Crate application.
Software
More detailed microphone settings are found in the proprietary Armoury Crate software, which is used for ASUS devices. After connecting the microphone to the PC, the application automatically initiates and updates the device. Let’s take a closer look at the available settings.
The program offers four main menus: Microphone, Settings, Lighting, and Firmware Update.
The “Microphone” tab allows you to adjust noise reduction, voice correction, toggle the high-pass filter on/off, and change the voice equalizer (dark, natural, and bright).
In the “Settings” menu, you can adjust headset sound, customize channels, and voice volume during recording. You can also specify the desired bit rate and sampling frequency here.
The “Lighting” tab will be useful if you want to change the lighting mode of the device. You can choose one of 6 pre-made effects or synchronize the microphone with other devices via Aura Sync. The Aura Creator option will help you create your own unique lighting effect.
In the last menu, “Firmware Update,” you can check the firmware’s current version and, if a new version is available, update the device.
Testing
To give you a good idea of the sound of the microphone, let’s record a short voice sample on the following settings:
- voice enhancement – off
- equalizer – Natural
- microphone sound – 50%
- bitrate and sampling rate – default 24 bit / 192 kHz
Listen to what came out:
In short, my impressions: the sound on the recording is clean, clear, and without interference, even though there was an open window nearby overlooking a busy street with heavy traffic. As you can hear, there are no extraneous sounds on the sample, the voice is clearly audible, so the ROG Carnyx has passed its test with flying colors.
Conclusions
The ROG Carnyx microphone is a successful solution for gamers, streamers, and professionals working with audio recording. The device features a stylish and intuitive design, convenient control elements, and flexible settings available in the Armoury Crate application. The metal body ensures the microphone’s reliability and durability. The minimal package includes only a USB cable, but this does not affect the device’s performance, so we won’t count it as a downside. The 24-bit / 192 kHz format guarantees high-quality sound, while the cardioid polar pattern ensures clear recording without noise from the front. It’s worth noting that the recording modes could be expanded, for example, by adding at least a bidirectional mode to make the device more versatile. Overall, there are no complaints about the microphone, so it can be confidently recommended for inclusion in your setup.
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