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You may believe that Rode already has headphones. That’s fine, and it’s something that the company could probably already have in its arsenal. However, we’re here with the first pair of headphones from the Australian brand NTH-100. The $150 headphones over-ear might have taken a while to arrive, but if you have been following the brand over the last few years, you’ll notice they’re making a conscious effort to take over the audiobook and the streaming world. That’s the market these headphones are aimed at.
Rode says that the drivers of the NTH-100 are made to provide a precise frequency response, which is logical for pitching them to creators and streamers. They don’t sound too filled at the bottom, and mid-highs don’t make themselves stand out, which could be the case in this genre.
The NTH-100 are quite neutral in their sound. I was expecting them to be geared towards… something, but they don’t seem to do much for the original material. I’ve used them for all sorts of things, from Zoom phone calls, Podcast recording, and of course, all-day music listening, and they’ve served each of these needs perfectly.
I like them especially to monitor, and I’m not sure why. However, my monotonous voice appears to be remarkably dull when I hear these, and I like their sincerity (it helps me spice things up during the editing stage, and that’s the main purpose).
They’re also not too eye-catching, and that’s a good thing. Except for the small circular gold Rode logo, the sole visual element is the big “O” embossed on each earcup’s side (in high gloss). It’s a bit too big for me and is obvious in an otherwise subtle design, but since it’s black, it doesn’t impede their classy appearance enough.
A neutral and subtle look is nice, but surely there’s something a bit more there to make them interesting? It’s there, mostly in their comfortable fit. The Alcantara padding of the earpads feels extravagant, but that “CoolTech” gel lies beneath that’s the real delight. Rode says that this gel makes them feel colder on the ear. I was skeptical, but once they were on, they were cold, making a huge difference. Since these are designed for streamers, creators, and editors, you’ll likely wear these for longer durations, and things like this could be a big difference.
Additionally, a clever feature is known as “FitLock” eliminates the requirement to adjust them each time you apply them. Once you’ve got them exactly, they come with a locking clip to keep them from having to adjust the next time you use them. It took me a while to adjust to the notion that I wouldn’t need to make sure they’re properly positioned each when I wear them.
Because you’re likely to wear these at your office desk, Rode saw fit to ensure you have the cable either way. It is a minor detail; however, it could quickly cause buyer’s regret if you need to organize your desk to place an audio connection on one side or deal with the awkward cable.
The thing that’s not as surprising is that Rode has developed the NTH-100 to fit into the current creator-centric ecosystem. Suppose you have a Rodecaster Pro or utilize the Rode Connect, or perhaps you’ve just purchased a ” Colors” accessory for your NTUSB Mini. In that case, you’ll be aware that the company has centered many of its products on streaming and podcasting for multiple people and includes colorful ways to identify which microphone (or headsets) are part of which channel or host. The NTH-100 isn’t the only one with color tags inside the box.
If you’d like to take it a step further or simply wish to modify the cables so that they’re not all black, you’ll also be able to purchase replacement cables in all four of Rode’s attractive colors. It is an additional expense.
For $150, it’s a lot more expensive. The plastic material that covers the earcups may not be the most expensive. Still, the overall construction and sound quality should make them a desirable option for those who want something comfy while they get their work accomplished.
The NTH-100 will be available today.
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