Image: HGG / Cody Campbell
Cody has been a gamer ever since his family got a Sega Genesis when he was five-years-old. In addition to his love of narrative-focused RPGs and ho... Read more
Reviewed by Benjamin Barr
Gaming headsets are great for communicating with your team and strong directional audio, but aren’t typically known for their audio clarity — something that’s incredibly important for content creation. Whether you’re making YouTube videos, editing a podcast, or recording music, you absolutely need to hear exactly what you’re working on. That’s where the Rode NTH-100 over-ear headphones come in.
These were designed specifically for content creators to provide an accurate frequency response. Rode sent us a pair so we could give it a fair and unbiased review. Here’s what we found.
Zoom In: Specs
- Dynamic headphones
- Good for content creation
- 40mm transducer
- 3-35Hz frequency response
- 32ohm impedance
- Has dual TRRS cable attachments
- Alcantra lined earcups
- Memory foam and CoolTech gel cushions
- Metal headband
- Fitlock headband locking system
- Price: $149.00
Build Quality
In the box, you will find the headphone inside a drawstring travel bag, a 2.4m rubberized headphone cable, a 3.5mm to ¼-inch adaptor, and one of Rode’s COLORS ID sets, which can be used to color-code which cable goes where.
The headphones themselves are very lightweight, but feel generally well made. There are TRRS cable attachments on both the right and left side, so users can choose which side to plug in. It has an adjustable metal headband that can be locked in place so the user doesn’t need to worry about them slipping as they’re handled and moved around. The CoolTech gel and memory foam earcups are coated in a layer of Alcantra (a soft, velour-like fabric). This keeps them cool and comfortable while being worn.
The lightness and comfort of the design make these ideal for long sessions of use.
Audio Quality
As we mentioned before, the Rode NTH-100s were designed for clarity, and they deliver that…pretty well. We tested them editing vocal audio and music. They performed well in both instances, though it’s worth noting that they definitely have a bass-forward sound and audiophiles may notice some masking in the lower-mid-tones. The NTH-100s sound good other than that, and while there are certainly headphones out there that offer a more accurate sound-quality, these are more than adequate for most users. They seem like they work best when used for editing speaking voices and music that emphasizes low-end audio.
It is also worth noting that these offer very little external sound dampening. Those looking for noise cancelling headphones should look elsewhere.
Are the NTH-100s Worth the Money?
There are other headphones out there in this same price bracket that may offer slightly more accurate sound that the NTH-100s, such as the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pros and the AKG Pro Audio K371s. There’s one area that the NTH-100s blow both of those out of the water however — comfort.
The light weight, in addition to the softness and coolness of the earcups, makes Rode’s newest headset easy to wear for hours on end without discomfort or fatigue. This is particularly important feature when considering the long hours that are often put into digital editing projects. That alone makes them an option worth considering.
Zoom Out: Verdict
Summary
The Rode NTH-100 Headphones are designed specifically for content creators. While they might not have the most accurate sound on the market, they do manage to come very close. They are also light, comfortable and sturdy, making them easy to wear for hours on end.
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Fairly accurate high and mid-tones
- Cable can be plugged into left or right earcup
- Leans toward low-end audio
- Very little noise isolation
- Alcantara is comfortable, but attracts dust and dirt
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