The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
Let's focus on the key differences to guide your decision. JBL Live Pro 2 earbuds are generally more portable and offer the convenience of wireless use, making them suitable for on-the-go listening and activities like exercise. Meanwhile, the Rode NTH-100s are over-ear headphones, likely providing better sound isolation and potentially offering higher sound quality, which could be important if you prioritize immersive listening experiences at home or in a studio. The Rode set is also more tailored for professional use, such as monitoring in a recording environment. However, the JBL earbuds come in handy for those who need something more compact and versatile for everyday use. Consider where and how you plan to use them most frequently when making your choice. 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 JBL Live Pro 2
Very good for exercise
Very good for air travel
Advantages of the Rode NTH-100
Very good for music
Good for TV and video
Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
5.9/10
8.2/10
The Rode NTH-100 is very good for music, while the JBL Live Pro 2 is poor.
Gaming
5.3/10
6.5/10
The Rode NTH-100 is only fair for gaming, while the JBL Live Pro 2 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.8/10
7.6/10
The Rode NTH-100 is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JBL Live Pro 2 is poor.
TV and Video
5.5/10
7.7/10
The Rode NTH-100 is good for TV and video, while the JBL Live Pro 2 is poor.
Noise Reduction
9.1/10
5.3/10
The JBL Live Pro 2 is excellent for noise reduction, while the Rode NTH-100 is poor.
Battery
8.3 Hours
N/A
The JBL Live Pro 2 has 8.3 hours of battery life. The Rode NTH-100 does not have a battery.
Cost
$90
$149
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The JBL Live Pro 2 has a price of $90 and the Rode NTH-100 costs $149.
Build Quality
7.0/10
8.5/10
The Rode NTH-100 has very good build quality, while the JBL Live Pro 2 has good build quality.
"The JBL Live Pro 2 TWS occupy an interesting space in the wireless earbuds market. They’re a step up from cheap wireless earbuds and allow you to access better sound quality without having to make the jump to more premium options from the likes of Bose, Sony and Sennheiser. They’re an entertaining listen, easy to use and manage to pack in a lot of useful features. We think they’re well worth a listen."
"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 JBL Live Pro 2 or the Rode NTH-100
About JBL
JBL is an American audio equipment manufacturer. Owned by Harman International which is, itself, owned by Samsung Electronics. JBL markets a wide array of monitoring speakers, professional headphones and consumer market headphones and earbuds. It was founded in 1946 by James Bullough Lansing (whose initials give the company its name) and has become one of the most prolific audio companies ever. Their products were responsible for audio during the 1969 Woodstock Festival.
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
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Luis Torres
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.