If you want a foldable, closed-back headphone with a wide stated frequency range for exercise, choose Austrian Audio Hi-X20; if you need cushioned comfort and flexible cable placement for long recording or editing sessions, choose Rode RØDE NTH-100. For exercise, neither is wireless: both are wired over-ear headphones, so your setup needs to accommodate a cable.
Austrian Audio Hi-X20 vs Rode RØDE NTH-100 at a Glance
• Austrian Audio Hi-X20 strength: Foldable, swiveling earcups, a detachable cable and replaceable memory foam earpads. Trade-off: It is wired, and the listed weight is 400 g.
• Rode RØDE NTH-100 strength: CoolTech gel earpads, Alcantara cushions, a FitLok headband and dual-sided cable attachment. Trade-off: It is also wired, and the listed frequency range is narrower than the Hi-X20’s.
• Choose the Hi-X20 if you want a folding closed-back design and a stated frequency range of 12 Hz to 24 kHz.
• Choose the NTH-100 if long sessions and cable placement flexibility are your main priorities.
• For exercise: Either can be considered if your activity and cable setup suit wired over-ear headphones; neither sheet describes a wireless connection.
The Hi-X20 is a closed-back, over-ear wired headphone built around a 44 mm Hi-X driver. Its listed frequency range runs from 12 Hz to 24 kHz, and its sound is described as having balanced mids and highs with clear bass. Those details make it a candidate for someone who wants a straightforward wired option for listening, home applications or studio work—not a wireless workout headset.
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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-09 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
The limitation for exercise is just as clear: it is wired, and its listed weight is 400 g. I would skip it if you specifically need wireless freedom or a lighter setup for movement. But if you want a closed-back headphone that can fold away and use a detachable cable, the Hi-X20 is the more travel-friendly design of these two.
The NTH-100 is a wired, over-ear headphone aimed at content creation, music production, mixing, audio editing, podcasting and location recording. Its custom-matched drivers are described as tuned for accurate response, detail and clarity. The listed frequency range is 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, compared with 12 Hz to 24 kHz for the Hi-X20; those figures describe different ranges, but they don’t by themselves establish which headphone sounds better.
Comfort features are the NTH-100’s clearest distinction. Its earpads use CoolTech gel with memory foam and are covered in breathable Alcantara. The FitLok system is designed to hold a chosen headband adjustment, and the removable cable has a locking connector with attachments on both earcups. That makes cable routing more adaptable for a desk, recording position or shared work area.
For exercise, the NTH-100 still has the central limitation of a wired over-ear design. Its listed features offer no wireless connection, and the sheet does not describe water or sweat resistance. I would choose it for seated or relatively stationary work where cushion design and flexible cable placement matter more than folding the headphones for storage.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best fit for a folding design → Austrian Audio Hi-X20. Its earcups fold and swivel, which gives it a clear advantage when compact storage matters.
• Best for replaceable earpads → Austrian Audio Hi-X20. The Hi-X20 specifically lists replaceable memory foam pads.
• Best for cooling-focused cushion features → Rode RØDE NTH-100. Its memory foam earpads include CoolTech gel and Alcantara covering.
• Best for a stated 12 Hz to 24 kHz range → Austrian Audio Hi-X20. The NTH-100 lists 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz; frequency-range figures alone do not settle sound quality.
• Best for exercise if you need a wireless connection → Neither. Both are described as wired headphones, so neither matches a request for wireless earbuds or a wireless headset.
• Best for carrying accessories included in the listed package → Austrian Audio Hi-X20. It includes a carry bag and 1/4-inch adapter; the NTH-100 includes a storage pouch, adapter, cable and ID set.
• Best for a stated long-term manufacturer warranty → Rode RØDE NTH-100. Its sheet lists a lifetime manufacturer warranty once registered, while the Hi-X20 lists a limited two-year manufacturer warranty.
The exercise-related search terms can create a mismatch here. Someone looking for the best volume limiting open ear earbuds for exercise, the best spatial audio wireless earbuds for exercise, or a hi res wireless headset for exercise is not describing either product’s listed design. Both are wired, closed or over-ear headphones; neither sheet specifies volume limiting, spatial audio, or a wireless high-resolution format.
I would choose the Austrian Audio Hi-X20 if I had to pick one for exercise and general portability. Its folding, swiveling earcups, detachable cable and carry bag give it the more convenient package to store and move, though the wired connection remains a real constraint during activity.
For long editing or recording sessions at a desk, I’d lean toward the Rode RØDE NTH-100 instead. Its cooling cushion design and dual-sided locking cable address comfort and setup flexibility more directly.
FAQ
No. Both are presented as wired headphones with detachable cables. The NTH-100 sheet also lists Bluetooth under connectivity, but its described listening setup is a removable wired cable; it does not provide wireless-headphone details such as battery life.
Neither is an obvious choice if you want wireless freedom. The Hi-X20 folds and includes a carry bag, while the NTH-100 has cooling-focused cushions and flexible cable placement, but both are wired over-ear models. Your activity and tolerance for a cable should guide the decision.
The Hi-X20 is listed at 12 Hz to 24 kHz; the NTH-100 is listed at 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. A wider stated range does not, on its own, prove better sound or guarantee that a listener will hear a difference.
The NTH-100 is the more explicitly comfort-focused option on paper, with CoolTech gel, memory foam, breathable Alcantara and a FitLok headband. The Hi-X20 offers replaceable memory foam earpads and a folding design, which may suit someone who values storage and portability more.
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