A ‘real’ gaming soundbar Dolby Atmos play, not another RGB toy
The ASUS ROG Gjallar is a compact 2.1.2-channel gaming soundbar Dolby Atmos system with HDMI 2.1 passthrough and a 5 GHz wireless subwoofer, designed to sit under a monitor and serve PCs, consoles, and small TVs as an all-in-one gaming audio hub.
ASUS ROG has been circling gaming audio for years, but with Gjallar it finally plants a flag in the dedicated soundbar market. This is not another plastic bar with rainbow LEDs pretending to be “premium.” It is a full 2.1.2 Dolby Atmos desktop soundbar with four 50 mm full‑range drivers, two 27 mm tweeters, up‑firing height channels, and a 6.5‑inch wireless subwoofer. In other words, it is built like a downsized home‑theater bar, not an overgrown headset dock. ASUS is very clearly taking a swing at established gaming brands that have treated PC soundbars as USB accessories instead of real audio hardware.
Why HDMI 2.1 passthrough gaming matters more than another logo
Dolby Atmos will sell the Gjallar on the box, but HDMI 2.1 with 4K/120 passthrough is what makes it interesting for serious gaming setups. The soundbar includes HDMI IN and HDMI OUT/eARC, and ASUS states it supports video passthrough up to 4K at 120 Hz via HDMI 2.1. That means a PS5, Xbox Series X, or high‑end gaming PC can run through the bar to a high‑refresh display without sacrificing frame rate or next‑gen features, while still getting proper home‑theater‑style audio. Many “gaming” bars are stuck on USB, optical, or basic ARC; Gjallar steps into the same conversation as full living‑room hardware rather than staying chained to the PC USB port.
This is where ASUS aims past Razer’s more PC‑centric Leviathan V2 Pro, which leans on USB, Bluetooth 5.0, and head‑tracking tricks but lacks HDMI 2.1 passthrough. By contrast, Gjallar looks built to sit under a bedroom TV or shared console display as comfortably as on a dual‑monitor battlestation. For anyone juggling a PS5, Xbox, and gaming PC on one screen, HDMI 2.1 passthrough gaming is no longer a luxury—it is baseline convenience.
Wireless gaming audio, fewer cables, and a bet on desk-friendly surround
If there is one thing modern gaming setups do not need, it is more wires. Gjallar’s 6.5‑inch subwoofer connects over 5 GHz wireless, so it can sit on the floor instead of eating up desk space or creating another cable to route behind furniture. Combined with the compact 607 x 92 x 82 mm soundbar that weighs 2.4 kg, the package aims to deliver credible cinematic impact without turning the room into a cable diagram. The 2.1.2 configuration promises overhead cues and spacious soundstage for explosions, engine noise, and cut‑scene spectacle, trying to bridge the gap between tiny desktop speakers and a full surround system draped around your chair.
ASUS also leans into wireless gaming audio on the communication side. Built‑in Acoustic Echo Cancellation microphones form a beamforming array that tries to cancel environmental noise and game audio so your voice cuts through party chat without a headset. In theory, that could change late‑night sessions for players who hate wearing cans for hours. In practice, this is exactly the sort of feature that needs testing in front of a mechanical keyboard and roaring GPU, not in a quiet demo room. Still, the ambition is clear: Gjallar wants to be a do‑everything audio hub, not an afterthought.”
Platform flexibility and the fight with entrenched gaming audio brands
Despite being marketed heavily at PC gamers, the Gjallar is deliberately platform‑agnostic. It supports Windows PCs, Mac, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, mobile devices, and Bluetooth sources, backed up by aux, optical, USB‑C, Bluetooth 5.3, and those HDMI 2.1 ports with eARC and 4K/120 passthrough. That breadth makes it a plausible single audio solution for a small apartment or dorm where one screen has to handle everything. It targets players who “want something more capable than basic desktop speakers, more open than headphones, and more flexible than a USB‑only gaming bar.”
Strategically, this is ASUS’s first entry into the gaming soundbar market, and it walks straight into the territory of Razer, Creative, OXS, and even compact 5.1 desktop systems like SteelSeries Arena 9. A related ASUS ROG Gjallar review already frames it as a “real Dolby Atmos gaming soundbar,” which is both a boast and a shot at RGB‑heavy but underpowered rivals. Pricing will make or break this ambition; ASUS has announced that the price is TBA and has not listed confirmed U.S. pricing yet, though some coverage suggests it cannot go far beyond around S$300 if it hopes to compete with better‑known gaming audio brands.
Verdict: A promising all-in-one, waiting on price and real-world tests
The ASUS ROG Gjallar aims to be the missing link between cramped PC speakers, isolating headsets, and living‑room soundbars. Its 2.1.2 Dolby Atmos design, HDMI 2.1 4K/120 passthrough gaming credentials, and 5 GHz wireless subwoofer give it a stronger technical story than many existing “gaming” bars. It is best suited for PC and console gamers who want a cleaner, more cinematic setup without wearing a headset every night.
What comes next is simple: real‑world testing and a sensible price. ASUS has confirmed that the Gjallar will arrive in stores beginning Q3, but exact pricing remains unknown, and ASUS has not listed confirmed U.S. pricing at the time of writing. If the company keeps it competitive against Razer and Creative while delivering on its Atmos promise, Gjallar will not just enter the gaming soundbar category—it will force everyone else in it to grow up as well.
