Rode NTH-100 — Editorial Review

Rode NTH-100 — Editorial Review

The Rode NTH-100 is the audio brand's first over-ear headphone — a closed-back, wired studio monitor aimed at podcasters, producers, and content creators. Per Sound on Sound, Rode leaned on its pro-audio heritage to build a comfortable, well-isolating headphone designed for long sessions at the desk rather than commuting.

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Comfort and a warm, easy tuning

The standout feature is the earpad design: memory foam with Rode's CoolTech gel that absorbs and dissipates heat, which reviewers confirm keeps ears cooler than typical pads. MusicRadar and What Hi-Fi? describe a warm, welcoming, easy-to-listen-to sound profile with moderate bass and controlled highs — forgiving for long editing and tracking sessions. In Buzzsprout's review — featured above — the podcasting platform frames the NTH-100 as a strong pick for podcasters who want comfort and isolation for monitoring.

Honest cons

• Headband comfort fades over very long sessions. Reviewers found the headband can dig in and make the top of the head sore after roughly 4-6 hours of continuous wear.
• Warm, bass-forward tuning isn't perfectly neutral. Some reviewers find the bass boost and midrange forwardness make it sound a touch muddy or veiled in the treble — less analytical than a flat reference headphone.
• Heavy and non-folding. They don't fold flat, so they're built for stationary studio use rather than travel.
• Cable microphonics. The cable transmits some handling noise, noticeable for wired full-size headphones.

Where these headphones fit

• Podcasters and voice creators who want comfortable, isolating closed-back monitoring for tracking and editing.
• Home-studio producers who prefer a warm, fatigue-free tuning for long sessions over clinical neutrality.
• Desk-based creators who value the CoolTech pads and locking cable for stationary work.
• Not mixing engineers needing a dead-flat reference, travelers wanting foldable portability, or listeners sensitive to cable microphonics.

Sources & Citations

1. Sound on Sound, "Rode NTH-100," soundonsound.com (accessed 2026-05-25)
2. MusicRadar, "Røde NTH-100 review," musicradar.com (accessed 2026-05-25)
3. What Hi-Fi?, "Rode NTH-100 review," whathifi.com (accessed 2026-05-25)

Last verified: 2026-05-25