Short answer: the RODE NTH-100. It ranks #105 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.7/5, at $129. The AKG K361 ranks #122, rated 3.5/5, at $123.04, $5.96 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
What the RODE NTH-100 does well: Bass from 60 to 200 Hz and the low mids are lifted about 2 dB, giving a warm, full sound with body in voices and guitars. The tradeoff: Treble from 6 to 10 kHz is about 3.4 dB under target, with a 5.6 dB dip near 7.8 kHz, so cymbals and sibilance sound muted.
What the AKG K361 does well: Bass is a little above target, about 2.6 dB in the sub-bass and 2.1 dB in the bass, so kick drums and bass lines have solid weight. Watch for: Presence is about 3.8 dB low between 3 and 6 kHz and a 7.4 dB dip near 3.9 kHz pulls back vocal clarity and the bite of snares and guitars.
Buy the RODE NTH-100. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $5.96 saving on the AKG K361 is not enough to make up the difference.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| RODE NTH-100 | AKG K361 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129.00 | $123.04 |
| Ranked | #105 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #122 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 76 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 71 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.10 dB standard deviation | 2.19 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.80 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.99 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 27 Hz (-5.6 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+3.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic | 1 x 50mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 32 ohms | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 110 dB/V | 114 dB SPL/V |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (350 g) | 0.5 lbs (219 g) |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 35kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 15Hz - 28kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How RODE NTH-100 compares with other leading options:
- AKG K240 MKII vs RODE NTH-100
- RODE NTH-100 vs Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus
- AKG K361 vs HIFIMAN Sundara Closed-Back
- AKG K361 vs Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus
- Cooler Master MH752 vs Shure SRH840A
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
RODE NTH-100: $129.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: Bass from 60 to 200 Hz and the low mids are lifted about 2 dB, giving a warm, full sound with body in voices and guitars. The deviation of 2.1 dB is smooth, and 32 ohm impedance with high sensitivity runs from a laptop or audio interface. The closed back and 350 g weight suit studio and podcast monitoring.
Cons: Treble from 6 to 10 kHz is about 3.4 dB under target, with a 5.6 dB dip near 7.8 kHz, so cymbals and sibilance sound muted. Sub-bass is about 3 dB light, so the lowest notes lack rumble. The Audio-Technica ATH-M40x holds a higher rating for a lower price.
Full RODE NTH-100 review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.10 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 35kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 76 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 110 dB/V |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 27 Hz (-5.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.80 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (350 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.9 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +13.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 52 Hz | -10.9 dB | 0.36 |
| Peak | 7,684 Hz | +4.2 dB | 1.34 |
| Peak | 1,613 Hz | +2.6 dB | 1.65 |
| Peak | 5,510 Hz | -2.7 dB | 2.80 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +2.3 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 411 Hz | -1.4 dB | 1.68 |
| Peak | 198 Hz | +1.1 dB | 1.96 |
| Peak | 3,013 Hz | -1.2 dB | 4.00 |
| Peak | 828 Hz | +0.7 dB | 2.42 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
AKG K361: $123.04 Amazon eBay
Pros: Bass is a little above target, about 2.6 dB in the sub-bass and 2.1 dB in the bass, so kick drums and bass lines have solid weight. Midrange from 200 Hz to 3 kHz tracks the target within a fraction of a dB, which keeps vocals natural. A 32 ohm impedance and 114 dB sensitivity let it run loudly from a phone, and the closed 219 g design isolates somewhat from surroundings.
Cons: Presence is about 3.8 dB low between 3 and 6 kHz and a 7.4 dB dip near 3.9 kHz pulls back vocal clarity and the bite of snares and guitars. A 2.4 dB peak near 8.8 kHz adds a touch of sharpness on top of the dull presence region. Treble overall is a bit soft, about 1.7 dB under target from 6 to 10 kHz.
Full AKG K361 review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.19 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 50mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 15Hz - 28kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 71 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 114 dB SPL/V |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+3.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.99 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (219 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -5.8 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -2.3 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 149 Hz | -3.3 dB | 1.47 |
| Peak | 4,019 Hz | +5.9 dB | 2.87 |
| Peak | 75 Hz | +1.3 dB | 2.02 |
| Peak | 42 Hz | -1.4 dB | 1.64 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -1.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 2,560 Hz | -1.0 dB | 2.54 |
| Peak | 378 Hz | +0.7 dB | 1.79 |
| Peak | 7,330 Hz | +2.4 dB | 5.94 |
| Peak | 1,338 Hz | -1.0 dB | 2.72 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons