Rode NTH-100 review

They are closed-back headphones that are connected by a cable. They don’t have any of the modern features that Bluetooth headphones have, but their focus on sound, comfort, and build quality makes up for this easily. The NTH-100 looks classy and professional, and it was made with the same level of care.

All of the parts, from the headband to the swiveling earcups, give you a lot of confidence in how long they will last and how well they will hold up every day. With features like Alcantara on the earcups and headband and cooling gel and memory foam in the cups, you can wear these headphones for long periods of time without getting tired. Even though the headphones are big, these features help them to almost disappear when worn.

The sound quality is the real star of the show, living up to Rode’s high standards. Even though the headphones are closed-back, the 40mm drivers give the same sense of space and clarity as open-back headphones that are much more expensive. The sound is pretty neutral, which makes it great for monitoring and close listening.

However, the NTH-100 is more fun to listen to than other monitoring headphones we’ve tried. So, you might not get the same compression and excitement as with the Beats Solo 3 or Sony WH-1000XM4, but you also won’t get the usual fatigue and low-end shift that comes with it. The Rode NTH-100 are a great pair of headphones for their price because they focus on the sound without giving up comfort or durability.

Rode NTH-100 review: Design

We were happy with how the NTH-100s sounded in all studio situations. They make your sound clear and give you the confidence that you can monitor, mix, and master your music without changing the way it sounds. We also didn’t hear much or any noise at higher volumes, and it’s clear that a lot of care has been put into tuning the earcups and drivers so that the soundstage is both focused and wide.

Rde’s first attempt at making headphones, the NTH-100s, are a huge success. They have a unique look, a clear and accurate reproduction of sound, and a comfortable, durable, and high-quality build. Some of the best headphones we’ve tried in a long time are these ones. You can buy this headphone from its official website.

Rode NTH-100 review: Comfort

The RODE NTH-100 seems to be very well made. In comparison, the AKG K371 feels like a cheap, shaky toy. The housing for the cups, the structure of the yoke, and the headband are all solid. When it comes to the yoke structure, it’s pretty unique. It has a single arm piece that folds back on itself before angling up to the headband, where an arm extension with a locking clasp system keeps it in place. I think this headphone will last for a long time and hold up well over time.

Most of the time, comfort is also good. There is some clamping pressure, but the design is very light and there are no hot spots or pain points up top. The triangular ear pads are another strange design choice. This one isn’t my favorite because, even though most people will probably have enough room for their ears, the sides of the pads rub against my elephant ears a little bit. Still, the triangle shape is closer to the shape of a real ear than a round pad, which is a good thing.

Rode NTH-100 review: Noise cancelling

The NTH-100 are wired over-ear headphones, and you’ll notice right away that they don’t have features that many wireless headphones do. It doesn’t have a microphone, volume or playback controls, a voice assistant, noise cancellation, or (obviously) any way to connect wirelessly.

This is, however, planned. These Rode headphones are made for studio use and focused listening, so they’re not meant to be your everyday headphones for your walk or commute (although they still manage this rather well, despite their intention otherwise). Taking this into account, the design of the NTH-100 is amazing.

Aesthetically, the headphones look like professional gear. They aren’t as sleek and minimal as some Bluetooth headphones, since their cables are visible and they have a techy look, but their all-black color scheme is more stylish than most gaming headsets and other similar designs.

Rode NTH-100 review: Audio performance

On each side of the NTH-100 is an audio port. When I use my headphones at my desk, I plug them into the right port, which is the side that is closest to my audio interface. But when I use my stereo receiver to listen to music, I plug the cable into the left side. If you can choose which side the cable goes on, it won’t get in the way or rub against your lap when you move, which is very annoying.

Even though this is a small change, it makes it hard to go back to headphones like the M50x that only have one audio port. It’s gotten so bad that I’ve thought about getting the headphones with Bluetooth.

Rode NTH-100 review: Call performance

The cable that comes with it is 2.4m long, straight, and both ends have TRS mini-jacks. And in one last brilliant move, it comes with what Rode calls COLORS ID, which is a set of colored clips that snap onto the body of the jack connectors.

They also sell extra cables that are 1.2 or 2.4 meters long and come in many bright colors. No longer will your session have to be put on hold while you try to figure out which of those black headphone cables goes into a drummer’s head.

Rode NTH-100 review: Final words

The sound is neutral enough with the RDE NTH-100. Overall, they have a warm, round sound that gives mixes a bit more boom. The vocals and instruments sound soft and muddy, and sharp sounds like cymbals are masked. Unfortunately, the left and right drivers in our model don’t match up, and this can be heard with real-world content.

The right speaker doesn’t have as much low bass as the left one. The headphones also have trouble making a passive soundstage that is big and outside of the head, which is partly because they have closed backs.