Rode NTH-100 headphones. | Engadget

You might mistakenly think that Rode made the headphones. And that’s fair enough, it seems like something the company has been doing. However, we are here with the first set from the Australian brand, the NTH-100. The $150 over-ear headphones may be a long way from coming, but if you’ve followed the company over the past few years, you’ll know it’s making a conscious effort to dominate the audio file and streaming world, and that’s what these headphones are aimed at.

At first glance, the NTH-100 seems pretty simple. A pair of all-black studio headphones with no Bluetooth or noise cancellation. Just a set of comfortable corded cans designed for use in the home studio. And for the most part, that’s exactly what they are, but Rode managed to add enough detail here to make them stand out in an otherwise busy niche.

Rode says that the drivers in the NTH-100 have been engineered for precise frequency response, which makes sense if you’re recommending them to streamers and creators. They certainly don’t sound too overwhelming on the lower end, and the mids don’t stand out artificially, which is often the case in this genre.

In fact, the NTH-100 sounds surprisingly neutral. I was expecting them to have weight on…something, but they don’t seem to have much effect on the source material. I’ve worn them for everything from Zoom calls to Podcast recording and of course endless music listening, and they serve each of these purposes well. I especially like them for tracking. I’m not sure why, but my dull voice seemed to turn dull as I listened to these passages and I appreciated their honesty (it allowed me to spice things up better at the editing stage). edit, that’s the whole point).

They’re also not distracting to look at, and that’s not a bad thing. On the small circular gold Rode logo, the only other aesthetic detail is the overly large “Ø” embossed on the side of each matte (glossy) earcup. It’s a bit too large for my liking and feels a bit conspicuous in an otherwise subtle design but with the black color, it doesn’t spoil their discreet look too much.

Neutral and discreet are cool and all but surely there’s a bit of spice here to make them interesting? And yes, mostly in their comfort. The Alcantara coating on the earpads feels luxurious, but the “CoolTech” gel underneath is the real thing. Rode says this makes them cooler on the ears and therefore reduces wear fatigue. I was skeptical, but when I put them on, they really do feel noticeably cold and that makes a big difference. Since these are aimed at editors, creators, and streamers, you can absolutely wear them for longer periods of time so details like this can make all the difference.

Likewise, a clever detail called “FitLock” eliminates the need to adjust them every time you put them on. Once you’ve placed them just right, there’s a locking clip that will prevent them from accidentally re-adjusting every time you handle them. It really took me a while to get used to the idea that I might not have to check if they were in place every time I put them on.

Given that you’ll likely be wearing these at your desk, Rode found the right fit to ensure you can attach cables on both sides. It’s a small detail, but can quickly leave buyers regretting if you have to decide between reorganizing your desk to get the audio interface on the other side or dealing with a sprinkling of spaghetti. tangled.

What’s less surprising is that Rode designed the NTH-100 to fit right into its existing creator ecosystem. If you own a Rodecaster Pro or use Rode Connect or maybe just buy”Color“Accessories for your NT-USB Mini. You’ll know that the company is heavily focusing its products on multiplayer streaming and podcasting, and includes colorful ways to mark which microphone (or headset) belongs to the audio channel and/ or host . The NTH-100 is no exception with the color cards that come in the box.

If you want to take it a step further, or just want to customize them a bit so they aren’t all black, you’ll also be able to purchase replacement cables in each of Rode’s four bright select colors. It’s an additional expense, of course.

All for $150, everything feels so much more expensive. The plastic on the earcups may not be the most luxurious, but the overall construction and sound quality will make them an attractive option for those looking for something comfortable while being done. Work.

The NTH-100 is available starting today.