RØDE’s first ever over-ear headphones deliver accurate sound for under $150
The NTH-100’s ‘FitLok’ locking system makes sure you never have to re-adjust your headphones again.
Image: RØDE
Microphone expert RØDE are dipping their toes into fresh waters with the release of the new NTH-100, a $149 pair of over-ear headphones.
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Built with two things in mind — exceptional sonic performance and superior comfort — the NTH-100 sport a closed-back, wired design with no Bluetooth or noise cancellation frills.
Each pair features custom-matched 40mm dynamic drivers that are designed for accurate frequency response and ultra-low distortion, making them ideal for all forms of content creation, from music production to streaming and location recording.
Along with the unique contoured earcup construction, the memory foam cushions used in the NTH-100 ensure that the headphones fit closely around your ears, providing excellent passive noise isolation. In addition, the headphones feature what RØDE calls ‘FitLok’, a locking system that allows you to secure the earcups in place so you don’t have to manually adjust them every time you put them on.
The NTH-100’s headband and cushions are also coated in Alcantara — a luxury synthetic material often used for the interiors of race cars — to maximise comfort. Though extremely soft and lightweight, Alcantara is highly durable and easy to clean, making it ideal for daily use. RØDE has also added a layer of their proprietary CoolTech gel between the memory foam and Alcantara covering to help dissipate heat and reduce wearing fatigue.
With its high-strength spring steel headband, scratch-resistant coating and locking cable connectors, the NTH-100 are built to last. And in order to maximise longevity, both the cushions and the cable of the NTH-100 are user replaceable.
Since the cables are removable, those who prefer some customisation to their headphones can opt for a pair of replacement cables that are available in five colours. There’s even a 2.4m version available if you need the extra length.
As for the all-important question: how do they sound? Our review of the NTH-100s revealed them to be “ruthlessly accurate across the frequency range”, without sounding “rolled-off at the bottom end”, a feat that not many under the under-$200 market have achieved.
Read the full review here.
