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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If noise isolation and portability for exercise or travel are priorities, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, with their excellent noise cancellation and sweatproof design, are ideal despite the higher cost. They also have better overall sound quality and are more suitable for wireless use with a battery life adequate for many activities. However, if call quality and gaming are more important to you, consider the Rode NTH-100M which has an outstanding built-in boom microphone and is optimized for these purposes. While they lack active noise cancellation and are less portable, Rode's headphones are more affordable and include a detachable cable, which could be beneficial for wired use scenarios. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
- Very good for TV and video
- Very good for exercise
- Very good for air travel
Advantages of the Rode NTH-100M
- Best in class for phone calls
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Phone Calls
5.1
9.5
The Rode NTH-100M is best in class for phone calls, while the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.0
7.6
The Rode NTH-100M is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is only fair.
Noise Reduction
8.9
5.3
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is very good for noise reduction, while the Rode NTH-100M is poor.
Battery
6.5 Hours
N/A
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Rode NTH-100M does not have a battery.
Cost
$249
$189
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds has a price of $249 and the Rode NTH-100M costs $189.
Build Quality
9.0
8.5
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds has excellent build quality, while the Rode NTH-100M has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Music
8.6
8.2
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and Rode NTH-100M are both very good for music.
Gaming
8.8
8.9
The Rode NTH-100M and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are both very good for gaming.
TV and Video
8.1
7.7
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds to be very good for TV and video, while the Rode NTH-100M is good.
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How the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and the Rode NTH-100M compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds | Rode NTH-100M |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$249 | $189 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | Rode | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2023 | January 1, 2023 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.7/10 | 8.2/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.1/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 8.8/10 | 9/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.2/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 8.4/10 | 4.2/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 6.5 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | N/A | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 21 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 8.9/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | Yes | N/A | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 6.2/10 | 10/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Medium | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 7.7 Grams | 349.2 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Boom | |
Shopping
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
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Dig into reviews and images
Soundguys
Christian Thomas | October 2023
"Bose put the time in to fix the major issues with the previous earbuds, and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are very befitting of its price point. While you might be tempted to save a few bucks and go with the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II on sale, fight the urge. There are enough upgrades here to justify the newer model."
Rode NTH-100M
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Dig into reviews and images
PC Gamer
Kizito Katawonga | March 2023
"The NTH-100M is a closed-back headset aimed at professional audiophiles—streamers, podcasters and content creators included—looking for masterful audio and a detachable 'broadcast-grade' microphone."
Get a great deal on the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds or the Rode NTH-100M
About Bose
Bose is an American audio equipment manufacturer based out of Framingham, Massachusetts. Founded in 1964 by Amar Bose with the goal of creating a speaker system that could accurately recreate the sound of a concert hall, Bose has become one of the most prominent players in the modern consumer audio market due to the premium feel of their products and their wide brand recognition.
About Rode
Rode is an Australian audio equipment manufacturer. Rode was founded in 1967 as Freedman Electronics, transitioning into its modern brand in 1990, and it’s mainly known for their high-end microphones and audio production equipment. In 2022 they entered into the headphone market with their NTH-100 closed back headphone which was received with very good reviews from the community.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.
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