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DJ Tech Reviews

RØDE NTH-50

RØDE's first on-ear headphone: strong isolation, a repairable build and punchy sound; the on-ear clamp tires some ears.

RØDE NTH-50 on-ear headphones from the front right, red marking on the right cup

Photos: RØDE Microphones

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10 of 13 professional reviews recommend it
Best for
DJs and creators who want an isolating, repairable on-ear headphone with a lifetime warranty.
Skip it if
You find on-ear pressure uncomfortable, wear headphones all day, or need them to fold.

The Internet’s Opinion

From 13 professional reviews and 14 owner reviews: a fair amount of evidence.

Ten of thirteen professional reviews recommend it for strong isolation, a solid build with replaceable parts and a lifetime warranty, and a punchy sound that reviewers rate above its price, and most of the 14 owners read at Thomann agree. The repeated reservation is the on-ear fit, which reviewers and owners find tiring over long sessions; it does not fold, and several prefer the over-ear NTH-100.

10 recommend3 mixed0 avoid

What people praise

  • Clear, punchy sound that holds up for DJing, monitoring and production
  • Solid, durable build with aluminium cup plates
  • Strong value for the money
Show 5 more
  • Strong passive isolation for an on-ear headphone
  • Replaceable pads, headband and cable, backed by a lifetime warranty
  • Locking cable that plugs into either earcup
  • Light at 220 g
  • Plays loud without distorting

What to know first

  • On-ear pressure gets uncomfortable over long sessions, more so with glasses
  • Does not fold, and the cups barely swivel
  • Several prefer the over-ear NTH-100 for comfort or sound
Show 5 more
  • Ears get warm under the pads over long wear
  • A soft pouch in the box, no hard case
  • Less clarity and detail than some rivals
  • Bass and mid-bass emphasis can muddy busy mixes or mask hi-hats when beatmatching
  • The coiled cable is heavy and awkward on the move
See the 13 reviews behind this

13 professional reviews (10 recommend, 3 mixed, 0 avoid), 2 of them on YouTube; 14 owner reviews read at Thomann (14 posted across all languages, none under 20 words); Guitar Center lists the product with no reviews yetCompiled 2026-10-17How this is compiled

Prices

Before you buy

Released
May 2025
Status
Current

Works with

  • Laptops and computers3.5 mm plug

    The supplied cable ends in a standard 3.5 mm jack plug for devices with a 3.5 mm output, such as laptops and desktop computers Manufacturer spec sheet (RØDE (NTH-50 user guide)), checked 2026-10-17

  • Mixers and audio interfacesAdaptor in the box

    A 3.5 mm to 1/4-inch adaptor screws onto the cable's gold-plated end for professional audio equipment such as mixers and audio interfaces Manufacturer spec sheet (RØDE (NTH-50 user guide)), checked 2026-10-17

  • Most headphone outputs32 ohm, high sensitivity

    RØDE calls it a low-impedance, high-sensitivity headphone that works with virtually any equipment, and advises turning the volume to zero before plugging in Manufacturer spec sheet (RØDE (NTH-50 user guide)), checked 2026-10-17

  • RØDECaster Series and RØDE ConnectMatching colour rings

    The eight COLORS ID rings in the box match the channel ID colours used by RØDECaster Series interfaces and RØDE Connect Manufacturer spec sheet (RØDE (NTH-50 user guide)), checked 2026-10-17

  • NTH-100 cables and accessoriesShared accessory range

    RØDE says the NTH-50 is fully compatible with the NTH-100 accessory range, including its modular cable options Manufacturer spec sheet (RØDE (launch news)), checked 2026-10-17

You’ll also need

  • NTH-Mic for headset use (optional)Sold separately

    RØDE's NTH-Mic turns the NTH-50 into a headset for podcasting and streaming; it is not in the box Manufacturer spec sheet (RØDE (launch news)), checked 2026-10-17

  • A hard caseNot in the box

    The box holds the headphones, a 1.7 m cable, a 1/4-inch adaptor, a storage pouch and a COLORS ID set; there is no hard case Manufacturer spec sheet (RØDE (NTH-50 datasheet)), checked 2026-10-17

  • Replacement pads and headband in timeFrom RØDE service

    The ear cushions, head cushion and cables are replaceable; RØDE asks owners to contact its service centre for new pads or a headband Manufacturer spec sheet (RØDE (NTH-50 user guide)), checked 2026-10-17

  • Warranty registrationUnlocks lifetime warranty

    The lifetime warranty applies once the headphones are registered with RØDE Manufacturer spec sheet (RØDE (NTH-50 user guide)), checked 2026-10-17

Key specs

Type
Closed-back, on-ear professional headphones; wired
Transducer
Dynamic, 40 mm, custom-built with a resonant chamber
Ear coupling
Supra-aural (on-ear); memory foam ear cushions
Weight
220 g
Impedance
32 Ω
Cable
Detachable; twist-locking plug fits either earcup (dual TRRS sockets)
All 15 specifications
Cable length
1.7 m, coiled
Jack plug
3.5 mm with a screw-on 1/4-inch (6.35 mm) adaptor
Frequency response
5 Hz – 35 kHz
Sensitivity
102 dB SPL at 1 mW / 500 Hz; 117 dB SPL at 1 V RMS / 500 Hz
Max SPL
124 dB SPL; THD under 0.2 % at 100 Hz and under 0.03 % at 500 Hz (1 mW)
Max input power
100 mW short term; 50 mW long term
Ambient noise attenuation
21 dBA (passive)
In the box
Headphones, headphone cable, 3.5 mm to 1/4-inch adaptor, storage pouch, COLORS ID set
Warranty
Lifetime, once the headphones are registered with RØDE

15 of 15 figures sourced; hover one for its source

Our take

Rory TassellWritten from the sources on this page, not from a loan unit.

Ten of thirteen professional reviews recommend it, and most of the 14 owners read at Thomann agree: strong isolation for an on-ear, a solid build with replaceable pads, cable and headband, and a punchy sound that reviewers rate above its price. The reservation that repeats is comfort: on-ear pressure tires some ears over long sessions, and it does not fold. Buy it for DJing and shorter monitoring sessions; for all-day wear, reviewers point to the over-ear NTH-100.

What it is

Status, October 2026: current. RØDE still lists the NTH-50, beside its over-ear NTH-100.

What it is

The NTH-50 is a closed-back, on-ear headphone from RØDE, the Australian microphone maker, and the first on-ear model in its range (RØDE product page). RØDE announced it in May 2025 and pitches it at DJs, sound engineers and content creators (launch news). It sits beside the over-ear NTH-100 and shares that model's accessory range, including its modular cables and the NTH-Mic, which turns either headphone into a headset.

Each cup holds a custom 40 mm dynamic driver with what RØDE calls a resonant chamber. The datasheet gives a 5 Hz to 35 kHz response, 32 ohms, 102 dB SPL at 1 mW, a 124 dB SPL maximum, 21 dBA of passive isolation and a weight of 220 g. The cups have aluminium faceplates and memory foam cushions, the headband has a contoured recess to ease pressure on the top of the head, and the right cup is marked in red. The headphones do not fold.

The detachable 1.7 m coiled cable twists to lock into either earcup and ends in a 3.5 mm plug, with a screw-on 1/4-inch adaptor for mixers and audio interfaces (user guide). The ear cushions, head cushion and cables can be replaced, RØDE services the other parts, and the lifetime warranty applies once the headphones are registered.

The box holds the headphones, the cable, the adaptor, a storage pouch and a COLORS ID set of coloured rings for the plugs, which match the channel colours of RØDECaster interfaces. The headphones are designed and made in Sydney. Among the headphones with pages here, the Sennheiser HD 25 is the on-ear DJ standard that several reviewers compare it with.

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