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Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Focal Bathys offers superior sound quality, comfort, and active noise cancelling for precision listening experiences, including high scores for music, gaming, and TV. The downside is a premium cost and less suitability for exercise or high-impact activities. Conversely, the Rode NTH-100 is more affordable and also features a closed-back design with decent sound quality, but lacks wireless capabilities, active noise cancellation, and scores lower in comfort. It may not be as immersive for critical listening but is a solid choice for the budget-conscious consumer looking for reliable wired headphones. 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 Focal Bathys
- Excellent for gaming
- Best in class for TV and video
- Very good for air travel
Advantages of the Rode NTH-100
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Gaming
9.3
6.5
The Focal Bathys is excellent for gaming, while the Rode NTH-100 is only fair.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.2
7.6
The Rode NTH-100 is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Focal Bathys is only fair.
TV and Video
10.0
7.7
The Focal Bathys is best in class for TV and video, while the Rode NTH-100 is good.
Noise Reduction
8.3
5.3
The Focal Bathys is very good for noise reduction, while the Rode NTH-100 is poor.
Battery
31.0 Hours
N/A
The Focal Bathys has 31 hours of battery life. The Rode NTH-100 does not have a battery.
Cost
$699
$149
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Focal Bathys has a price of $699 and the Rode NTH-100 costs $149.
Build Quality
9.0
8.5
The Focal Bathys has excellent build quality, while the Rode NTH-100 has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Music
8.0
8.2
The Rode NTH-100 and Focal Bathys are both very good for music.
Phone Calls
5.2
4.8
The Focal Bathys and Rode NTH-100 are both poor for phone calls.
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How the Focal Bathys and the Rode NTH-100 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Focal Bathys | Rode NTH-100 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$699 | $149 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Focal | Rode | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2022 | March 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.1/10 | 8.2/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.3/10 | 4.8/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 9.4/10 | 6.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 10/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.6/10 | 4.2/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 31 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 1.5 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.1 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 8.4/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | N/A | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 6.5/10 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 350 Grams | 349.2 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | N/A | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Focal Bathys
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Dig into reviews and images
Soundguys
Christian Thomas | May 2023
"As much as I hesitate to recommend a headphone that sells for $800 USD, if you’re looking for the best sound quality you can find in the ANC space: it’s the Focal Bathys."
Rode NTH-100
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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 Focal Bathys or the Rode NTH-100
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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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
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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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Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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Earbuds and Headphones Expert
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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