Asus ROG Carnyx: Studio grade gaming microphone with RGB lighting and shock mount unveiled

Asus is expanding its ecosystem of gaming peripherals with the newly announced ROG Carnyx, a desktop USB condenser microphone that should be ideal for gaming and live streaming. The Carnyx features a 25 mm (~1 inch) diaphragm capsule, commonly found in studio grade microphones, for “warm, natural vocal tones”, and its built-in ADC outputs high resolution 192 kHz/24-bit audio. The single, large capsule also means that it has a fixed cardioid pickup pattern, unlike the older ROG Strix Magnus with its selectable stereo mode.

The Carnyx is also equipped with some noise reduction features vital for a vocal streaming mic, starting with the metal stand and integrated shock-mount. Suspended by elastic bands, the mic is isolated from vibrations that might be transmitted through the desk from, say, heavy keyboard use while gaming. It also has a built-in pop-filter for blocking plosives when the mic is positioned close to the mouth. Finally, a switchable 80 Hz high-pass filter eliminates low-frequency hum or accidental bumps.

The sleek design, available in black or white, is enhanced by customisable Aura Sync RGB light effects. On-board controls include a one-touch mute button, a switch for the high-pass filter, a 3.5 mm headset jack for monitoring, and a control knob for adjusting mic output and the monitoring headphone volume.

The ROG Carnyx mic will be available early in Q1, 2024; the launch price is yet to be disclosed. It will be entering a market already occupied by powerful contenders, such as the Logitech G Yeti GX dynamic mic, the Logitech G Yeti Orb, the Razer Seiren V2 X, the Razer Seiren Emote, the wireless Sony ECM-S1 and the HyperX QuadCast S.