Take a look around any professional audio set and you’ll see the RODE brand gracing anyone of the studio microphones for good reason. The brand has made a name for itself across the globe and is often considered the only microphone brand to consider – we’re personal users of the products ourselves. Like us, you were probably waiting around thinking “if they make such food microphones, why not make a pair of headphones…?” and we’re pleased to announce the brand has entered the headphone realm with the release of its NTH-100 professional over-ear headphones.
Related: Looking for a headphone stand for your NTH-100s? Check out the latest from Satechi.
Whether you’re monitoring, mixing, or mastering the RODE NTH-100s have been designed to deliver exceptional audio performance. We have our hands on a pair for review – coming soon – but in the meantime, we’re breaking down the technical features below to explain why and how these are early favourites of the Man of Many teams after just a few listens.
Image: RODE
RODE NTH-100 Key Features
- Custom-matched drivers for accurate frequency response and low distortion.
- Precision-engineered acoustic construction optimised for exceptional detail and clarity.
- Alcantara earcup and headband cushions for superior comfort.
- Unique ergonomic ear cups with memory foam cushions for excellent noise isolation.
- CoolTech gel for reducing fatigue.
- Fully adjustable headband with FitLok locking system for a tailored feel.
- Designed and made using high-grade components in RØDE’s state-of-the-art Sydney facilities.
It comes as no real surprise but accuracy is key when editing any audio. Having trust in your equipment to deliver the balanced sound you require in post-production is something that any audio head understands – professional or amateur. It’s also something that RODE knows all too well, and they’ve created a pair of headphones targeted straight toward content creators, who produce at home or on the go. Podcasting, live streaming, location recording, or simply video production and editing.
Image: RODE
Focus on Two Key Areas
Technical Prowess
The NTH-100s feature matched 40mm drivers with accurate frequency response and clarity.
Design is based around a custom voice coil with a four-layer ultra-high-tension aluminium alloy as its core, which is then coupled to an ultra-stiff triple-layer Mylar diaphragm. Magnets are rare-earth neodymium to deliver low levels of distortion across a broad frequency range. In simple terms, they’re designed to perform. Our full review is on the way, however, in early tests, they deliver a perfectly neutral tone with crisp details. They sound premium and professional, and we can’t wait to edit some audio on them.
Comfort
One thing that didn’t need much time for testing is the comfort factor. Wearing these headphones for 5-mins yields obvious levels of comfort – thanks to memory foam cups – however, leaving them on for extended periods of time offers next-level comfort and noise isolation. Editing audio can be time-consuming and comfortability can be an absolute deal-breaker.
We automatically love the edition of Alcantara (the same material found on the best sportscars) and here it’s soft and complements the memory foam. Underneath the Alcantara is a layer of our revolutionary CoolTech gel, which absorbs and dissipates heat, actively cooling the head and ears to significantly reduce wearing fatigue.
Image: RODE
Other Things You Need to Know
Function is clearly key here, and this includes cable attachments on both earcups so the cable can be positioned wherever it’s most convenient. Locking connectors feel very high-quality and won’t fall out as they’re secured and locked in place.
Each pair comes with a high-quality 2.4m (7’10”) straight black cable, with 1.2m (3’11”) and coloured variants (pink, green, orange and blue) available separately. Also included are a storage pouch, a 3.5mm to 1/4″ adaptor for use with professional audio equipment, and a set of coloured ID rings for easy cable identification (these are matched to the channel colours of the RØDECaster Pro and RØDE Connect).
The RODE NTH-100 is priced from $239 AUD but pricing can vary between retailers. More information about the NTH-100 can be found below, with our full review to come.
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