Aussie company Rode is well known in the audio industry, and the Rode NTH-100M is its first foray into the headset arena. With that in mind, this is a good product: the NTH-100M is a $199/215-pound closed-back headset targeted at professional audiophiles (streamers, podcasters, content creators, etc.) who are looking for exceptional audio and a removable broadcast-grade" microphone.

The design of the NTH-100M is sleek, elegant, and professional. The headset is made of high-grade materials such as stainless steel, Alcantara fabric, and durable plastic. At this time, they are only available in black, but a gaming-oriented design may be introduced in the future from Rode's new gaming division. Combine the wonderfully soft Alcantara fabric with the ultra-plush memory foam ear cushions, and I was in heaven sliding this headset on.

Let's just say, however, that the ear cups are lint magnets.

The headband fit-lock adjustment system is one of the most unique features, with locks on both sides that can be twisted off, allowing you to adjust the sliders to your preferred fit. Twist counterclockwise to lock in place and you won't have to worry about the band loosening over time. Each ear cup has a 3.5mm jack port that can be interchanged to suit your setup. The included cable is very long, 2.4 meters to be exact, and features a locking mechanism to prevent it from being pulled when the gamer jumps up in anger.

The NTH-100M provides limited passive sound isolation and helps to drown out some of the background noise, but will not be very effective in noisy environments. Nevertheless, this is a headset for content production, so the space in which recordings are made must be quiet anyway. Basically, Rode has not inflated the price with unnecessary features.

As for sound quality, it has a surprisingly wide soundstage and excellent imaging. The sound is warm, with powerful bass, warm mids, and clear highs skillfully balanced. Frequency response is 5Hz-35KHz, wider than most gaming headsets, which tend to stay in the 20Hz-20KHz range; requiring only 32 ohms, it is also suitable for console use.

In games like Call of Duty: Warzone (opens in new tab), the NTH-100M provides an excellent sound spectrum with excellent positioning and clarity; in open-world titles like Horizon Forbidden West, the NTH-100M allows the listener to hear even the smallest of sounds, such as the cries of animals prowling in the bushes or the distant rumble of a tall-necked animal patrolling the area. Explosions and gunshots are suitably loud thanks to the bass, but they do not overwhelm subtle audio cues such as reloads and footsteps.

When listening to music, the NTH-100M was a great choice among my many headsets. From huge orchestral sets to hip-hop and even the odd trap, everything sounds smooth and without exaggeration or distortion. It's clean audio all the way through, and one of the best sounding headphones available.

The NTH-100M's removable microphone is a sturdy, slim plastic attachment that fits into the right ear cup, which Rode claims is the optimal position closest to the mouth. Because of its design, the microphone only fits on the right ear cup, which may be difficult to adjust for some face shapes. The microphone uses the same twist and lock mechanism as the cable. It is also securely fastened to the headset, so there is no need to worry.

As for the quality of the microphone input, it is shockingly good, especially when you look at how small the microphone is compared to, for example, the Epos H6PRO (open in new tab). This attachment produces excellent sound quality without any of the compression or noise that is common with detachable microphones.

Audio reproduction is natural and clean, without the typical compression or background hiss. Frankly, this is the best detachable mic I have used. I would even say it rivals some USB mics. It will definitely sound great in stream and game chats.

With incredible input and output, and a very comfortable feel, the Rode NTH-100M could rival the best gaming headsets (open in new tab). Now that the Beyerdynamic MMX 100 (opens in new tab) with an equally great microphone can be had for under $100, you have to ask yourself what the extra $99+ for the Rode NTH-100M is being spent on.

There is no doubt that this is a truly professionally designed, well-made, high-end headset, and as Rode's debut headset, it is certainly worthy of praise. The only compromise here is between you and your wallet.