ASUS ROG Gjallar Gaming Soundbar Challenges Razer With Dolby Atmos and HDMI 2.1

ASUS ROG has been pushing deeper into gaming audio, and its latest product is aimed at users who have outgrown the tiny monitor speakers that make a $2,000 gaming rig sound like a clock radio with a graphics card.

The new ASUS ROG Gjallar Gaming Soundbar is a compact 2.1.2-channel Dolby Atmos desktop soundbar with a wireless subwoofer, HDMI 2.1 eARC, 4K/120Hz passthrough, USB-C, optical, AUX, Bluetooth 5.3, built-in beamforming microphones, RGB lighting, and a separate audio control hub.

That is not a casual checklist. That is ASUS trying to take a serious swing at Razer, Creative, and OXS in a category that has been waiting for someone to connect the PC desk, console setup, and small-room home theater without requiring 14 cables and a degree in rather advanced self-loathing.

The name comes from Gjallarhorn, the mythological horn from Norse mythology, and ASUS says Gjallar is pronounced “ga-lar.” Thankfully, you do not have to pronounce it correctly to use it, although someone in the comments will absolutely correct you anyway. Our friends at Schiit Audio would like a word.

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ASUS ROG Gjallar: A Real Dolby Atmos Gaming Soundbar

The ROG Gjallar uses a 2.1.2-channel configuration with four 50 mm full-range drivers, two 27 mm tweeters, up-firing height channels, and a 6.5-inch wireless subwoofer. ASUS lists the frequency response at 50 Hz to 20 kHz, which means the subwoofer is doing important work here, especially for explosions, engine noise, and cinematic effects.

The soundbar itself measures 607 x 92 x 82 mm (23.9 x 3.6 x 3.2 inches) and weighs 2.4 kg (5.3 pounds), while the wireless subwoofer measures 125 x 315 x 356 mm (4.9 x 12.4 x 14.0 inches) and weighs 5.7 kg (12.6 pounds).

That driver layout matters because most so-called gaming speakers are either glorified desktop toys with RGB lighting or headset alternatives pretending to be home theater products. The Gjallar is trying to occupy a more useful middle ground: compact enough to live under a monitor, but with enough hardware to handle games, movies, music, and console use without immediately reaching for headphones.

HDMI 2.1 Is the Big Deal

The most important feature may not be Dolby Atmos. It is HDMI 2.1.

The ROG Gjallar includes HDMI IN and HDMI OUT/eARC, and ASUS says it supports up to 4K@120Hz video passthrough. That gives the soundbar real relevance for PS5, Xbox Series X, gaming PCs, Blu-ray players, and streaming devices. HDMI OUT/eARC can connect to a TV’s HDMI eARC/ARC port, while HDMI IN can receive audio and video from external sources. That is a major advantage over many desktop gaming soundbars that remain locked into USB, Bluetooth, or basic analog connectivity.

The Razer Leviathan V2 Pro remains the obvious competitor because it offers head-tracking AI, adaptive beamforming, THX Spatial Audio, and a dedicated subwoofer. It is a clever product and still one of the most interesting PC soundbars available. But the Razer is more PC-focused, with USB, Bluetooth 5.0, and a 3.5 mm headset jack, while ASUS is clearly going after gamers who want a more flexible audio hub for PC, console, and TV/display use.

Control Hub, Microphones and RGB Because Of Course

The ROG Gjallar also includes a separate audio control hub with an LCD display. Users can adjust volume, EQ, playback, input selection, microphone settings, and RGB lighting. The control hub also houses the built-in Acoustic Echo Cancellation microphones, which are designed to filter out game audio, teammate voices, PC fan noise, and system hum for clearer voice pickup.

That could be useful for gamers who do not want to wear a headset all night, although we would want to test how well those microphones handle a real desk environment. “AI beamforming” sounds wonderful in a press release; a mechanical keyboard, loud GPU fans, and mom yelling from upstairs that your dinner is ready might have something to say how that works in reality.

Gear Link support allows users to adjust EQ, lighting, microphone settings, and other features through a web-based PC tool or mobile app. ASUS also includes Aura RGB lighting with up to 16.8 million colors and four preset effects, because apparently no gaming product is allowed to leave the factory without a light show worthy of a small electronic nightclub in Zurich.

The Competition

The ROG Gjallar enters a small but increasingly relevant category. The Razer Leviathan V2 Pro is still the headline rival, especially for PC gamers who want head-tracking beamforming and THX Spatial Audio. Creative’s Sound Blaster Katana SE and Katana V2/V2X remain important alternatives, particularly for gamers who want strong desktop audio without moving into full home theater territory. The OXS Thunder Pro 5.1.2 is another direct competitor because it also supports Dolby Atmos and 4K/120Hz passthrough, although it is positioned as a more elaborate 5.1.2 desktop gaming sound system.

The SteelSeries Arena 9 ($679.99) is another product worth mentioning, but it is not really the same thing. It is a 5.1 desktop speaker system with a 6.5-inch subwoofer and wireless rear speakers, which gives it a different footprint and setup requirement. Great if you want actual surround speakers around your desk. Less great if your workspace already looks like Best Buy exploded during inventory week.

Traditional soundbars from Samsung, LG, Sonos, Bose, Sony, and JBL are also part of the broader conversation, but the Gjallar is not really trying to replace a flagship living room system. It is aimed at gamers who want something more capable than basic desktop speakers, more open than headphones, and more flexible than a USB-only gaming bar.

ASUS ROG Gjallar Gaming Soundbar Specs:

• Price: TBA
• Speaker Configuration: 2.1.2-channel Dolby Atmos gaming soundbar with wireless subwoofer
• Drivers:
  • 4 x 50 mm full-range drivers
  • 2 x 27 mm tweeters
  • 1 x 165 mm / 6.5-inch wireless subwoofer driver
• Subwoofer Power: 65 watts
• Frequency Response: 50 Hz to 20 kHz
• Wireless Subwoofer Connection: 5 GHz
• Connectivity:
  • HDMI 2.1 input
  • HDMI 2.1 output with eARC
  • USB-C
  • Optical digital input
  • 3.5 mm AUX input
  • Bluetooth 5.3
  • 2 x USB-A hub ports
• Video Passthrough: Up to 4K/120Hz via HDMI 2.1
• Microphones: Built-in beamforming microphones with Acoustic Echo Cancellation
• Microphone Frequency Response: 100 Hz to 10 kHz
• Microphone Sensitivity: -37 ± 3 dB
• Control Hub: Included audio control hub with LCD display
• Control Hub Functions: Volume, EQ, playback, input selection, microphone settings, and RGB lighting
• Software: Gear Link and Gear Link Mobile
• Lighting: ASUS Aura RGB with up to 16.8 million colors and four preset effects
• Supported Platforms: Windows PC, Mac, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, mobile devices, and Bluetooth devices
• Soundbar Dimensions: 607 x 92 x 82 mm / 23.9 x 3.6 x 3.2 inches
• Subwoofer Dimensions: 125 x 315 x 356 mm / 4.9 x 12.4 x 14.0 inches
• Control Hub Dimensions: 90 x 82 x 37 mm / 3.5 x 3.2 x 1.5 inches
• Soundbar Weight: 2.4 kg / 5.3 lbs
• Subwoofer Weight: 5.7 kg / 12.6 lbs
• Control Hub Weight: 0.191 kg / 0.42 lbs
• Included Accessories:
  • 2 AC cables
  • Power adapter
  • USB cable
  • Pair of soundbar feet
  • Quick start guide
  • Warranty booklet

The Bottom Line

The ASUS ROG Gjallar Gaming Soundbar is not just another RGB speaker bar for people who think “immersive audio” means bass and blinking lights. The combination of 2.1.2 Dolby Atmos, HDMI 2.1 eARC, 4K/120Hz passthrough, a 6.5-inch wireless subwoofer, built-in beamforming microphones, USB-C, optical, AUX, Bluetooth 5.3, and a proper control hub makes it one of the more complete desktop gaming soundbars announced so far.

It is best suited for PC and console gamers who want a cleaner, more cinematic setup without wearing a headset every night. It is not a replacement for a serious AVR-based speaker system or a full-sized Dolby Atmos soundbar with rear channels, but for a desk, bedroom, dorm, or compact gaming room, ASUS may have something worth watching.

Pricing & Availability

ASUS has not listed confirmed U.S. pricing at the time of writing. That matters because the ROG Gjallar’s success will depend heavily on where it lands. The Razer Leviathan V2 Pro starts at $499.99, while the OXS Thunder Pro launched at $599, which gives ASUS a fairly obvious price window if it wants to be taken seriously.

For more information: rog.asus.com

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