ROG Gjallar Gaming Soundbar REVIEW Immersive Dolby Atmos Audio for Your Desktop ...Middle East

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ROG Gjallar Gaming Soundbar REVIEW Immersive Dolby Atmos Audio for Your Desktop

ROG Gjallar Gaming Soundbar

ASUS rog.asus.com $599.99 Price as of 08/24/2026 View on Best Buy → ⓘ We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. This helps support MacSources and keeps our content free. Thank you!

The ROG Gjallar combines Dolby Atmos, a wireless subwoofer, HDMI 2.1, versatile connectivity, and a built-in microphone to create a premium all-in-one desktop audio system.

For several years, I’ve neglected my workspace. It has been functional, and that’s been enough for me. In the past couple of weeks, I’ve been making some effort to make it more of a space I enjoy instead of just one I have to sit at. One of the elements I updated was my audio setup. I have been using a lovely set of speakers for a while, but I decided I wanted an upgrade, and so I added the ASUS ROG Gjallar Gaming Soundbar.

About the ROG Gjallar Gaming Soundbar

The ROG Gjallar is ASUS’s first gaming soundbar, designed to deliver an immersive audio experience without taking up the space of a traditional speaker system. It combines a 2.1.2-channel configuration with Dolby Atmos, dedicated up-firing speakers, and a wireless 6.5-inch subwoofer to create a wider, more three-dimensional soundstage for gaming, movies, and music.

    Beyond its audio capabilities, the Gjallar is designed to serve as an all-in-one audio hub for a gaming setup. It features HDMI 2.1 with eARC and 4K/120Hz passthrough, USB-C, optical, AUX, and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity, along with two USB-A ports for peripherals. A dedicated control hub with an LCD display provides convenient access to volume, source, EQ, playback, and other settings.

    The soundbar also incorporates beamforming microphones with Acoustic Echo Cancellation for in-game communication, while ASUS’s Gear Link software provides additional control over audio profiles, microphone settings, RGB lighting, display options, and the subwoofer. With its combination of compact design, flexible connectivity, and gaming-focused features, the ROG Gjallar is designed to simplify a desktop setup while providing a more immersive audio experience.

    Features & Specs

    Audio Configuration: 2.1.2-channel Audio Technology: Dolby Atmos with up-firing speakers Soundbar Drivers: 4 × 50 mm full-range drivers and 2 × 27 mm tweeters Wireless Subwoofer: 6.5-inch (165 mm) driver Soundbar Output: 80 W Subwoofer Output: 65 W, up to 130 W peak power Subwoofer Connection: 5 GHz wireless Frequency Response: 50 Hz–20 kHz Microphone: Built-in beamforming microphone with Acoustic Echo Cancellation (AEC) and noise reduction Display: Integrated LCD control hub Connectivity: HDMI 2.1, HDMI 2.1 eARC, USB-C, optical, AUX, and Bluetooth 5.3 HDMI Passthrough: Up to 4K at 120 Hz USB Hub: 2 × USB-A ports RGB Lighting: ASUS Aura RGB with four preset effects Software: Gear Link web-based software and mobile app Audio Customization: EQ profiles, subwoofer level, up-firing speaker control, microphone settings, and audio profiles Supported Platforms: Windows PC, Mac, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series consoles, Nintendo Switch, TV, and mobile devices Soundbar Dimensions: 607 × 92 × 82 mm Subwoofer Dimensions: 125 × 315 × 356 mm Control Hub Dimensions: 90 × 82 × 37 mm Soundbar Weight: 2.4 kg Subwoofer Weight: 5.7 kg Control Hub Weight: 0.191 kg Color: Black

    Pricing & Availability

    The list price for the ROG Gjallar Gaming Soundbar is $599.99 and is available from rog.asus.com and Best Buy.

    User Experience

    Getting the ROG Gjallar up and running was surprisingly easy. The soundbar itself requires very little setup, while the wireless subwoofer automatically pairs with the soundbar when everything is powered on. Once I connected the necessary cables and powered everything up, I was able to start using the system without having to troubleshoot or configure much of anything.

    One of the things I particularly appreciated was how easy it was to access ASUS’s Gear Link software. Rather than requiring me to download and install another application, I could connect to Gear Link through Chrome and make adjustments or perform firmware updates directly through the browser. This is especially convenient for me because I regularly use both Windows and macOS. Gear Link worked properly in Chrome on my MacBook Pro, although I was unable to use it through Safari.

    Connectivity was equally straightforward. I connected my computers via USB and had no issues getting audio working. I also quickly became a fan of the control hub’s playback controls. Being able to control media playback from the Gjallar’s physical controls was something I didn’t realize I wanted until I had it. It made controlling music and other media without reaching for the computer noticeably more convenient.

    The Gjallar also worked as expected when I connected my gaming PC through HDMI 2.1, including the HDMI passthrough functionality. Because I regularly use multiple devices, I was able to use the soundbar with my MacBook Pro for productivity, my gaming PC for gaming, and my iPad Pro over Bluetooth for movies and other media. Switching between those sources from the control hub was quick and easy, making the Gjallar feel more like a centralized audio system than a soundbar connected to a single device.

    Gaming & Dolby Atmos

    I tested the ROG Gjallar with Call of Duty and The Finals, and I was very impressed with how full and immersive the gaming experience was. The combination of the 2.1.2 speaker configuration, Dolby Atmos processing, and wireless subwoofer gives games a much greater sense of scale than I was accustomed to getting from my previous speaker setup.

    In Call of Duty, directional sounds such as footsteps, gunfire, vehicles, and other environmental cues were easy to pick out. Headphones still provide me with a more precise sense of positioning, particularly when I am trying to pinpoint exactly where a sound is coming from, but the Gjallar creates a much more immersive experience overall. Instead of feeling like the sound is coming from a couple of speakers sitting on my desk, it feels like the audio is filling the space around me.

    I also spent time playing The Finals, which provided a great opportunity to test the Gjallar’s ability to reproduce a busy and dynamic soundscape. Explosions, gunfire, environmental destruction, and other effects have considerably more impact with the subwoofer in the mix, while the soundstage makes it easier to follow what’s happening around me.

    The up-firing speakers make a noticeable difference in supported content. I could hear a distinct sense of height, and I think this is one of the Gjallar’s most effective features. It doesn’t replicate the positional precision of headphones, but it creates a much more spacious presentation that makes games feel more cinematic.

    The wireless subwoofer was perhaps the biggest surprise for me. Before using the Gjallar, I was using high-quality speakers without a dedicated subwoofer, or headphones when gaming. I didn’t realize how much depth I was missing until I added the subwoofer. Explosions and other low-frequency effects have considerably more impact, but the bass doesn’t overwhelm dialogue or the rest of the audio.

    Movies, Music & Everyday Audio

    Although the Gjallar is designed with gaming in mind, I have been just as impressed with it for movies, music, and general computer use. I connected my iPad Pro to the soundbar over Bluetooth for watching movies and videos, and I didn’t experience any noticeable audio synchronization problems.

    One particularly memorable test was watching the opening sequence of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. The first few minutes of the movie are an excellent test of a sound system because they combine music, sound effects, dialogue, and a wide range of subtle environmental sounds. The Gjallar handled all of it extremely well. The sound was balanced, immersive, and surprisingly detailed. Even small sounds that I hadn’t noticed before were easy to hear. For the first time, I noticed Groot’s footsteps while he dances during the opening sequence. It’s an incredibly small detail in the overall sound mix, but the Gjallar reproduced it clearly.

    I also spent considerable time listening to music through the Gjallar, using tracks from several different genres to evaluate its ability to handle different styles, frequencies, and arrangements. My testing included progressive rock, R&B and hip-hop, orchestral recordings, movie soundtracks, and vocal-heavy musical theater.

    For testing, I listened to:

    “Brother of Mine” by Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe “No Diggity” by Blackstreet featuring Dr. Dre & Queen Pen “World Championship Finale 2” from Pitch Perfect 2 “A Thousand Miles” by Vanessa Carlton “Defying Gravity” by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande from Wicked “Duel of the Fates” by John Williams and the London Symphony Orchestra from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

    These tracks gave me a good mix of deep bass, complex instrumentation, vocals, orchestral arrangements, and large dynamic passages to work with. The Gjallar handled these different recordings extremely well. Vocals were clear and easy to distinguish from the surrounding instrumentation, while the subwoofer added weight to bass-heavy tracks without making the low end feel bloated.

    The orchestral and soundtrack recordings were particularly useful for evaluating the soundstage because they contain a wide range of instruments and dynamic changes. What impressed me most was the amount of detail the Gjallar was able to reproduce. Quieter elements remained audible without requiring me to turn up the volume, while larger musical passages had the room-filling quality I would expect from a much larger speaker system.

    Controls, Microphone & Gear Link

    The control hub is arguably one of my favorite parts of the Gjallar. It provides convenient access to volume, source selection, EQ, playback, and other controls without requiring me to reach for my computer. I didn’t realize how much I would appreciate having physical playback controls on the sound system until I started using them.

    The only thing I wish ASUS had included was a stand for the control hub. I happened to have a small phone stand that worked perfectly, but having a purpose-built stand in the box would have made the setup feel more complete.

    I also like having the LCD display, although I found the animated backgrounds somewhat distracting at times. Rather than having an animation constantly playing, I would have preferred an option to have the display mirror the soundbar’s RGB lighting effects. Ultimately, I changed the display to a static image through Gear Link, which worked better for my setup.

    The Gjallar’s built-in microphone also surprised me. It isn’t going to replace a dedicated broadcast-quality microphone, but it produces clear voice recordings that sound similar to a clean phone call. My voice did have a slightly hollow quality, which may be partially attributable to the acoustics of my room, but it was still clear and easy to understand.

    The Gjallar’s Acoustic Echo Cancellation was particularly impressive. During my testing, I played audio through the soundbar while recording through the built-in microphone, and I couldn’t hear the speaker audio in the recording. I even stopped talking completely and allowed the background audio to continue playing, and the microphone captured essentially none of it. Considering that the microphone is built directly into the soundbar, I was very impressed with how effectively it separated my voice from the audio coming from the speakers.

    Gear Link also makes the Gjallar easy to customize. I could adjust EQ settings, microphone settings, RGB lighting, the LCD display, subwoofer level, and other options without installing traditional desktop software. I actually prefer this approach to having another dedicated application running on my computer. Since I use multiple computers and operating systems, being able to open a browser and access the same configuration interface is considerably more convenient.

    I particularly like having independent control over the subwoofer level. Gear Link lets me fine-tune the subwoofer to match what I’m listening to, whether I want more impact while gaming or a more balanced presentation for music and movies. I do wish ASUS had included a way to make this adjustment directly from the physical control hub, but because Gear Link is so easy to access, this isn’t a significant inconvenience.

    Overall, the Gjallar has been easy to integrate into my setup and has proven to be much more versatile than I initially expected. I can use it with my MacBook Pro for work and productivity, my gaming PC for games, and my iPad Pro for entertainment, all while having quick access to the system’s controls and settings. More importantly, the audio quality has impressed me across all of those uses. The Gjallar doesn’t feel like a gaming soundbar that happens to work for movies and music. It feels like a complete desktop audio system that happens to be particularly good at gaming.

    Conclusion

    The ROG Gjallar Gaming Soundbar has completely changed how I think about desktop audio. I went into this review expecting a capable gaming soundbar, but I came away impressed by how well it fits into my entire workspace. Whether I was gaming on my PC, working on my MacBook Pro, watching movies on my iPad Pro, or listening to music, the Gjallar consistently delivered a full, detailed, and immersive audio experience.

    At $599.99, the ROG Gjallar is not an inexpensive addition to a desktop setup. However, ASUS has packed a tremendous amount of functionality into this system. It isn’t simply a soundbar for gaming. It can serve as the central audio system for a multi-device workspace, and it does an excellent job across gaming, productivity, movies, and music.

    The ROG Gjallar has earned a permanent place on my desk. For anyone looking for a premium desktop audio system that can handle gaming and virtually everything else they throw at it, the Gjallar is an impressive option.

    For more information, visit rog.asus.com

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