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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 10, 2024·
If you're on a tight budget, Creative Labs Zen Air earbuds might be more appealing, but if call quality is a priority, the Rode NTH-100M headphones with their best-in-class mic would suit you better. For long listening sessions, the Creative’s good comfort and excellent battery life shine, yet the Rode’s superior sound quality and built-in boom mic provide a better experience for music enthusiasts and professionals. The Zen Airs offer portability and are sweatproof, making them suitable for exercise, while the Rode’s over-ear design and noise isolation lend themselves to focused listening environments. Keep in mind the Zen Airs are wireless, handy for on-the-go use, whereas the Rodes are wired, which may limit mobility but can benefit high-fidelity audio listening. 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 Creative Labs Zen Air
- Very good for air travel
Advantages of the Rode NTH-100M
- Very good for music
- Best in class for phone calls
- Very good for gaming
- Good for TV and video
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
6.8
8.2
The Rode NTH-100M is very good for music, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is only fair.
Gaming
5.1
8.9
The Rode NTH-100M is very good for gaming, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is poor.
Phone Calls
5.1
9.5
The Rode NTH-100M is best in class for phone calls, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.4
7.6
The Rode NTH-100M is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is poor.
TV and Video
5.6
7.7
The Rode NTH-100M is good for TV and video, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is poor.
Noise Reduction
7.0
5.3
The Creative Labs Zen Air is good for noise reduction, while the Rode NTH-100M is poor.
Battery
5.0 Hours
N/A
The Creative Labs Zen Air has 5 hours of battery life. The Rode NTH-100M does not have a battery.
Cost
$30
$189
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
The Creative Labs Zen Air has a price of $30 and the Rode NTH-100M costs $189.
Build Quality
9.0
8.5
The Creative Labs Zen Air has excellent build quality, while the Rode NTH-100M has very good build quality.
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How the Creative Labs Zen Air and the Rode NTH-100M compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Creative Labs Zen Air | Rode NTH-100M |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$30 | $189 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Creative Labs | Rode | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2022 | January 1, 2023 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 6.9/10 | 8.2/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.1/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.1/10 | 9/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.7/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.9/10 | 4.2/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 5 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5 | N/A | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 12 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 7/10 | 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 | 7/10 | 10/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Medium | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 5 Grams | 349.2 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Boom | |
Shopping
Creative Labs Zen Air
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphone Check
Maike Paeßens | February 2023
"The Creative Zen Air’s weak points are its low battery life and rather short Bluetooth range. On the other hand, the strengths of these weatherproof True Wireless in-Ears are the sound and the wide attenuation of the Active Noise Cancellation. Considering the price range, the speech intelligibility during calls is also exceptionally good."
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 Creative Labs Zen Air or the Rode NTH-100M
About Creative Labs
Creative Labs is a Singaporean technology company specialized in the manufacture of multimedia products. They created the world-famous Soundblaster soundcard back in 1989 which was a staple of the gaming community for a long time. Nowadays, besides still marketing their discrete audio systems, they offer a wide array of headphones, gaming headsets and speakers that still preserve that same heritage.
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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