Short answer: the RODE NTH-100. It ranks #105 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.7/5, at $129; the Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus ranks #140, rated 3.4/5, and costs $129.95, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The RODE NTH-100 is the better-sounding choice. 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 catch: 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.
The case for the Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus: A 50 hour battery, active noise cancelling and a light 0.5 lbs (227 g) body make this an easy all day travel headphone. The catch: The bass boost runs about 7.4 dB in the sub-bass and 3.8 dB in the upper bass, which can thicken vocals and mask detail.
Buy the RODE NTH-100. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| RODE NTH-100 | Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129.00 | $129.95 |
| Ranked | #105 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #140 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 76 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 68 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.10 dB standard deviation | 2.36 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.80 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -1.07 (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 (+6.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wireless and wired |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic | 1 x 37mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 32 ohms | - |
| Sensitivity | 110 dB/V | 106 dB SPL |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (350 g) | 0.5 lbs (227 g) |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 35kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 10Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Active Noise Cancelling | - | Yes |
| Battery Life | - | 50 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.2 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
| IP Rating | - | None |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More top alternatives to RODE NTH-100:
- AKG K240 MKII vs RODE NTH-100
- RODE NTH-100 vs AKG K361
- Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus vs HIFIMAN Sundara Closed-Back
- AKG K361 vs Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus
- Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus vs Austrian Audio Hi-X15
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
Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus: $129.95 Wireless Amazon eBay
Pros: A 50 hour battery, active noise cancelling and a light 227 g body make this an easy all day travel headphone. Bluetooth 5.2 with SBC, AAC, aptX and aptX Adaptive covers most phones, and a built-in microphone handles calls. Bass is strong, with sub-bass about 7.4 dB above target, so electronic and pop tracks have plenty of weight.
Cons: The bass boost runs about 7.4 dB in the sub-bass and 3.8 dB in the upper bass, which can thicken vocals and mask detail. A 4.1 dB peak near 11.4 kHz adds some treble sizzle, and a 6.5 dB dip near 4.4 kHz pulls back vocal clarity. It has no weather rating, and the AKG K361 has a higher rating for less money if wireless is not needed.
Full Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus review and specifications →
| Released | Feb 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes |
| Back | Closed |
| Battery Life | 50 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | Wireless and wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.36 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 37mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 68 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Sensitivity | 106 dB SPL |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+6.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.07 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (227 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -4.3 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 | -6.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 245 Hz | -1.8 dB | 1.27 |
| Peak | 1,884 Hz | +3.4 dB | 1.83 |
| Peak | 4,135 Hz | +4.7 dB | 4.12 |
| Peak | 2,934 Hz | -3.2 dB | 3.46 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -4.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 87 Hz | +2.3 dB | 2.24 |
| Peak | 146 Hz | -1.2 dB | 2.10 |
| Peak | 817 Hz | +0.8 dB | 3.06 |
| Peak | 5,714 Hz | -1.3 dB | 5.18 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons