With the NTH-100 also RODE, a well-known manufacturer of microphones and more, makes its debut in the world of professional headphones and does so in a particularly crowded market sector, where the Q / P ratio is also very important.
Obviously, all this, as can also be deduced from the RODE website, required maximum attention, even to the smallest difference, characteristic, performance or detail. “The NTH-100 were designed from the ground up and are intended to represent the culmination of decades of passion, immersion and innovation in audio technology. Each component has been meticulously analyzed, created and perfected ".
Le NTH-100 are closed headphones, circumaural, dynamic and with a transducer from 40 mm.
Impedance from 32Ω and a sensitivity of 110dB / V make their handling quite easy. They have a maximum input power of 1700 mW and this should guarantee high volumes without major "effort" / distortion. We remind you that high volumes should always be avoided when listening with headphones, especially if for prolonged times, in order to avoid hearing damage ... ..
This "dictat / advice" is now reported everywhere. For example, on some mobile phones, when these are connected to earphones / headphones, just increase the volume to see the writing appear: attention, listening with earphones / headphones at high volumes, especially if prolonged, can cause permanent damage to the hearing. Therefore, having the possibility and the ability to withstand high volumes does not mean having to use them, but being able to "travel" at a cruising speed (read fair, moderate and appropriate volumes) with greater "comfort" and tranquility, or low distortion, greater precision, less listening fatigue ... ..
The headphones have a modern design and often use innovative materials. We find, asymmetrical / triangular pavilions, adjustable headband with FitLok ™ locking , removable connection cable that can be connected indifferently to both ear cups. Still, four-layer ultra-high voltage aluminum alloy coil, ultra-rigid diaphragm in Mylar® three-layer and neodymium magnet. Under the lining of the Alcantara pads, there is a layer of gel CoolTech ™ which absorbs and dissipates heat. However, it should be noted that all this is not only aimed at the aesthetic aspect but also, and above all, at the functional one, with the main objective of the "quality" of the sound and the duration of the product over time. The components most subject to wear, such as bearings and cables, are also easily replaceable by the user.
Rode states that - the NTH-100 are carefully crafted to deliver exceptional sonic performance for critical listening, from Monitoring al mixing al mastering, with an accurate frequency response and extremely low distortion, resulting in an extraordinarily natural sound. The auricles also participate in the achievement of the final performance, which also allow an attenuation of environmental noise of about 20dBA. -
As I have already had the opportunity to write and here I remember, for each pair of headphones, the shape and material of the "pads" contributes to the achievement of the final sound and therefore, their realization is the result of precise design choices.
Each pair of NTH-100s is designed and manufactured in RØDE's precision manufacturing facilities in Sydney, Australia.
We wear headphones
The headphones are quite comfortable, choosing the right opening of the headband, we can fix the adjustment through the FitLok ™ locking system, for immediate use. I found the possibility of being able to freely insert the connection cable in both the right and left pavilions very useful. In my specific case, in fact, having both the headphone amplifiers and the headphone output of the sound card located on my right, being able to simplify the path of the connection wire by inserting the cable into the right pavilion of the NTH-100 was particularly useful.
At first glance, the asymmetrical / triangular and not excessively large headphone pavilions seem to wrap the ears with just "right" perimeter, but they do it and do it well, comfortably and all in all in a not too invasive way. The doubt, however, is for that rare user who should have particularly large auricles (external ear). Will comfort still be respected in this case? I think so, but it is not a test that I have been able to carry out.
listening
As I always do and as my readers now know, when it comes to electro-dynamic equipment, that is, with moving structures, even the NTH-100s have undergone a good running-in period. In fact, they remained in operation for some time, before use and final listening. I connected the NTH-100 to different devices: Beheringer headphone amp, RME Fireface 400 headphone output, Mixer headphone output, Smartphone, PC… to check their interface flexibility. Their driving was quite easy even if, as you can easily imagine, as well as from the headphones themselves, listening will also depend on the quality of the material reproduced and the equipment used. I turn on the equipment, put on the headphones and hit play.
The first sensation I feel when listening is that of balance, euphonicity. All the frequencies are in their place, nothing prevails in a "winking" way and nothing is left guilty behind.
The words I would use to describe the sensation, in addition to those already written are => balance, warmth, precision, clean attacks, total absence of listening fatigue, warm sound.
Bass section
The Basses, well present (perhaps more than in other monitor headphones) and full-bodied, do not overwhelmly invade the listening, but envelop, involve and provide the necessary warmth for emotional participation, making listening enjoyable, not making you regret too much the bass that they can be heard (but not perceived, as it is physically impossible for any headphones) through speakers.
Medium range
The midrange is not carried forward, as sometimes happens in some headphones with a more "monitor" character, but it is still rightly reproduced, beautiful, precise, dry, with a deep breath and never tiring.
Treble section
The highs are natural, distinct, clean and "silky", without any hint of "glassiness" and do not cause discomfort. At times, the mids may seem slightly behind but this is probably due to their good, natural and distortion-free reproduction.
Comparison with other headphones
Changing headphones for a direct comparison and / or for the specific search for some characteristics, in some cases it happened that, while appreciating the peculiar characteristics of each single product, after a while I felt a certain nostalgia, for that euphonicity, involvement / embrace that the NTH-100 give and that allow you to listen for hours without causing great fatigue. I also noticed a certain propensity of the Rode to give the best with quite sustained volumes, obviously always within the limits of correct listening with headphones (see considerations already expressed previously).
Recently, I happened to try, in a short time, several closed headphones and, although for pure listening and mixing we recommend open headphones (thanks to their more neutral response and a better scenic reconstruction), I must say that in recent years the technological advances made in the closed headphones typology have been truly remarkable, so much so as to challenge the open models also for these applications. Surely RODE, with the NTH-100, has given its contribution.
Useful Information
Official website: RØDE Microphones
Product: RODE NTH-100
Official distributor: Midimusic Srl
Price: 180 Euro
