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NTH-100
Company ProductName Specs




MDR-ZX110
Company ProductName Specs




What we think

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The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 10, 2024·

If sound quality is a high priority, the Rode NTH-100 has good overall sound and very good music performance, which may justify its higher cost. However, if budget is a concern, the Sony MDR-ZX110 offers fair sound quality at a lower price point. For comfort during extended use, the Rode NTH-100 offers a more comfortable experience. On the other hand, if portability is crucial, the Sony's foldable design could be more convenient. Neither model is wireless or has active noise cancelling, so if those features are important to you, you might want to consider other options. The Rode has a better build quality and a detachable cable, which can be beneficial for longevity and ease of use. The Sony may suit casual or infrequent use where cost and compactness are major deciding factors. 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 Rode NTH-100
  • Very good for music
  • Good for TV and video
  • Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Sony MDR-ZX110
  • The Sony MDR-ZX110 has no clear advantages over the Rode NTH-100.

Key differences

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Music

8.2
NTH-100
MDR-ZX110
7.6
The Rode NTH-100 is very good for music, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 is good.

Gaming

6.5
NTH-100
MDR-ZX110
5.9
The Rode NTH-100 is only fair for gaming, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 is poor.

Phone Calls

4.8
NTH-100
MDR-ZX110
3.0
The Rode NTH-100 and Sony MDR-ZX110 are both poor for phone calls, though the Rode NTH-100 is somewhat better.

Podcasts and Audiobooks

7.6
NTH-100
MDR-ZX110
4.3
The Rode NTH-100 is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 is poor.

TV and Video

7.7
NTH-100
MDR-ZX110
6.9
The Rode NTH-100 is good for TV and video, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 is only fair.

Cost

$149
NTH-100
MDR-ZX110
$10
Product image
Product image

$0

$50

$100

$150

$200

The Rode NTH-100 has a price of $149 and the Sony MDR-ZX110 costs $10.

Build Quality

8.5
NTH-100
MDR-ZX110
6.0
The Rode NTH-100 has very good build quality, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 has only fair build quality.
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Key similarities

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Noise Reduction

5.3
NTH-100
MDR-ZX110
5.3
The Rode NTH-100 and Sony MDR-ZX110 are both poor for noise reduction.

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How the Rode NTH-100 and the Sony MDR-ZX110 compare to other earbuds and headphones

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Spec Comparison

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Rode NTH-100Sony MDR-ZX110
Rode NTH-100Sony MDR-ZX110

GENERAL

Price
$149
$10
Brand
RodeSony
Release Date
March 1, 2022July 1, 2015
Form Factor
HeadphonesHeadphones
Connectivity
WiredWired

SOUND

Music Score
8.2/107.7/10
Phone Calls Score
4.8/103/10
Gaming Score
6.6/105.9/10
TV and Video Score
7.8/107/10
Exercise Score
4.2/103.9/10

FEATURES

Active Noise Cancelling
NoNo
Noise Reduction Score
5.3/105.3/10

BUILD AND DESIGN

Build Quality
8.5/106/10
Comfort score
7.6/105.5/10
Weight (headset or single earbud)
349.2 Grams119.9 Grams
Waterproof Rating
00
Dustproof Rating
00

Shopping

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Rode NTH-100

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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."

Sony MDR-ZX110

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Dig into reviews and images

Audio.org

Audio.org | December 2022
"My opinion about Sony MDR ZX110 is they are the best budget headphones of Sony with top-class sound. Clear vocals, great bass, and balanced sound with low sound distortion. The treble could be sharper, but it's ok. 30 mm neodymium dynamic drivers give clear and precise audio, and an inline remote with a mic give decent call quality. Closed-Back Design also helps to improve sound performance."

Get a great deal on the Rode NTH-100 or the Sony MDR-ZX110

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.

About Sony

Sony is a multinational corporation, based out of Japan, with over 75 years of experience in the consumer electronics industry. In the audio market, Sony has been a trendsetter several times throughout its history. In 1979 they released the first-ever portable music player, the Sony Walkman, followed by the Discman 20 years later. Today, Sony is one of the leaders in the wireless headphone and earbud market, especially in terms of Active Noise Cancellation technology.

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Why trust us

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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.

By the numbers

108
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11,340
Earbuds and headphones stats compiled
15
Proprietary Earbuds and headphones ratings developed
122,900
Recommendations made
18,435
Consumer hours saved

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
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.

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.

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