Our rating: 8/10

Until now, the RØDE NTH-100 headphones have been the first foray from RØDE into the headphone market.

These headphones have been specially designed for content creators, musicians, and other professionals.

Known primarily for their high-quality microphones, the same attention to detail has been brought into the forefront with the NTH-100 headphones.

These over-ear headphones promise great sound, fantastic comfort, and rugged durability that make them ideal for a variety of content creation and audio work, from podcasting and video editing to studio recording.

They are very fairly priced at $149, serving as a great balance between professional-grade sound and affordability.

This makes them a solid competitor with other more industry-standard headphones such as the AKG K371 and the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro. Now, let us get into details.

N.B.: We don’t participate in any affiliate programs: the links to the manufacturer’s site are purely to provide more information, with no financial benefit for us. What truly matters to us is your trust.

Design and Build Quality

Putting great sound aside, one might say that the leading edge in the NTH-100 is its truly unique ergonomic design.

While most headphones are round or ellipse-shaped, the earcups of the NTH-100s are triangular to closely follow the shape of the human ear.

Thanks to such alternative design, these headphones are providing a snug fit and passive noise isolation.

The memory foam cushions are infused with CoolTech™ gel that absorbs and dissipates heat to keep your ears cool and comfortable during long listening or recording sessions.

Another thing that is worth mentioning is the headband. The FitLok™ system allows this headband to be locked into position once you have managed to achieve just the right fit.

In this way, the headphones remain adjusted to the size of your head and are not constantly in need of readjustment for comfort.

This proves even more helpful for those people who use headphones in a number of different settings, as it will stay consistent in terms of fitting and comfort.

When it comes to the build, these headphones are rock solid. The spring steel headband is treated with a scratch-resistant coating, and its overall build oozes durability.

These headphones are built to last and are designed to withstand daily wear and tear well.

Therefore, they become an ideal companion for those who need reliable gear for professional use.

Key Build Features

• Durable Headband and Earcups: Long-lasting thanks to the use of high-quality materials, such as spring steel and Alcantara® fabric.

• CoolTech™ gel: Maintains your ears at a cooler temperature, even during long sessions, for no-fatigue performance.

• Adjustable FitLok™ system: Sees to a perfect fit and locks it in through countless uses. Modular design: Easily replaceable parts like ear cushions and cables extend the use of the headphones.

Built overview

• Headband Material

• All-metal with scratch-resistant coating

• Cushion Material

• Alcantara® fabric with CoolTech™ gel

• Adjustability

• FitLok™ system for locking headband position

• Replaceable Parts

• Earcushions, cable connectors

Comfort Designed for Extended Use

Comfort is one of the main design factors going into the RØDE NTH-100, and it certainly shows. The memory foam ear cushions, along with CoolTech™ gel technology, develop a breathable and comfortable seal around your ears, which is really beneficial on those long listening and recording sessions.

Whether you’re into hours of editing podcasts or mixing music, the NTH-100 would make sure that the fatigue just isn't there.

The headphones are also designed for eyewear, even when worn, without diminishing comfort due to the bi-directional movement of the ear cups, adjusting perfectly according to the shape and size of one's head.

That adaptability makes the headphones fit a large range of users regardless of head size and whether they wear glasses.

Sound Quality

The sonic performance is really what differentiates the RØDE NTH-100 from its class.

These headphones sport 40mm dynamic drivers that have been expertly tuned to deliver an impressively accurate frequency response.

Bass Performance

In the NTH-100s, the slightly elevated mid-bass response provides a lot of warmth and depth without overloading the general sound signature.

The bass remains tight and controlled, and for that reason, the headphones are suited for music genres that require clarity on the low end: rock, jazz, or classical music.

However, the sub-bass response is somewhat shy, and for those liking more powerful bass, this might not be exactly what one wants to hear.

Midrange Clarity

The midrange is great on the NTH-100. Instruments and vocals sound crystal clear with no signs of coloration, thus providing one with a clean and natural listening experience.

These headphones would be quite good for podcast editing, for example, since their midrange is smooth.

A slightly forward midrange will help at critical listening jobs, like audio editing and mixing, to make sure you hear everything that is in that audio.

Treble Performance

Treble is presented smoothly and refinedly, never coming across as overly harsh or sibilant, even at volumes cranked up high.

While the treble isn't exactly bumped up in frequency response, it strikes a perfect balance, providing just enough sparkle and detail to not make it at all tiresome.

This makes the headphones suitable for long sessions, as one wouldn't experience ear fatigue with them-a common problem with headphones that have slightly more aggressive treble.

Frequency Range & Performance

• Bass: Warm, controlled, non-boomy

• Midrange: Clear, neutral, well-balanced

• Treble: Smooth, no harshness

Noise Isolation

Although the NTH-100s don't have active noise cancellation, passive noise isolation is effective.

The tight seal around your ears, provided by the memory foam ear cushions, blocks out a lot of the surrounding ambient noise, which is just what a content creator wants when working in less-than-ideal environments.

Soundstage and Imaging

Impressive for closed-back headphones, the soundstage of the NTH-100 is pretty decent. It is not as wide or deep as any open-back headphones, but there is enough space to sort instruments and vocals clearly.

Imaging is spot on, good enough to determine where instruments sit in a mix, which makes these cans suitable for applications like audio mixing and mastering.

Comparison with competitors

The main competitors of the RØDE NTH-100 are:

• AKG K371

• Sony MDR-7506

• Beyerdynamic DT 770

Here is a comparison table with the main features:

The RØDE NTH-100 comes in at $149.00, boasts an impressive frequency response of 5Hz – 35kHz, and boasts an exceptional comfort rating of 9/10. It's perfect for podcasting, mixing, and monitoring, making it highly versatile.

The AKG K371 comes at the same price of $149.00 but with an even higher frequency response of 5Hz – 40kHz. For comfort, I would rate it 8/10. This is really good for studio monitoring and making music with great precision for audio professionals.

The Sony MDR-7506 is a more budgetary choice at $99.00, and it has a narrower frequency response: 10Hz – 20kHz. It has been reviewed with a comfort rating of 7/10 and is most suited for broadcast monitoring and field recording due to its reliability and portable nature.

The Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro has a 5Hz – 35kHz frequency response and goes for $159.00, with a comfort rating of 8/10. For professional mixing and audio production, this is a good alternative, featuring strength in sturdiness and great sound.

Each model has its merits, leaning toward a specific need you might have in your career with podcasting, monitoring, and production.

Portability and Accessories

In the box, the NTH-100 headphones come with a removable 2.4m TRS cable, a 3.5mm to 6.3mm adapter, and colored clips that let your preference show in customizing the cable. It's those little touches, like cable clips, along with the optionally available NTH-Mic, that will make this pair quite adaptable to whatever use one can imagine.

The dual-sided cable attachment allows you to connect the cable to either the left or right earcup, depending on your setup, adding to the flexibility of the headphones.

Admittedly, the NTH-100 doesn't fold up for portability, which could be a drawback for those on the go.

However, with a soft pouch, a little protection is afforded while traveling, though a hard case would be more durable for the mobile worker.

Final Thoughts

The RØDE NTH-100 headphones fit the bill for content creators everywhere, providing a perfect blend of sound quality, comfort, and durable construction.

They provide features that make them suitable for podcasting, video editing, or music production.

headphones always offer natural, well-balanced sound that ensures you hear every detail in your audio.

And with CoolTech™ gel cushions and a FitLok™ headband, they'll remain comfortable through long sessions, while the modular design will see them persisting through years of heavy use.

With foldability and a hard carrying case likely to be deal-breakers for some, the excellent build quality of the NTH-100, accuracy of sound, and long-wearing comfort more than makeup for those relatively minor omissions.

For the professional in search of high-quality, reliable headphones at a competitive price, the RØDE NTH-100 is among the best in its class.

What Do Users Think? - Reviews and Feedback

The RØDE NTH-100 have obtained fantastic reviews from nearly a 1000 users from a major online selling platform, and from many others.

Customers love the sound of headphones, their comfort, good for use with podcasts or overall listening with a good fit without pinching glasses.

A lot of them value them as good for what they pay for. Negative consumers feel that the plastic material should not be used to make this accessory or has design flaws.

While opinions on durability are mixed compared to other products from the same brand, considering the price, we still believe these headphones are a solid choice for podcasters.

User’s rating: 8.1/10

Still unsure how to choose the best headphones or mics for your podcast? If so, read our guides:

How to choose the best podcast headphones (2024)

How to Choose the Best Microphone for your Podcast

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