Television Headphones: A Comparative Review
We’ve rigorously tested numerous wireless headphone systems designed for television viewing. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most recent models, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses to help you choose the best Television Headphones for your needs.
The Avantree HT41899 system offers two comfortable headphones and a user-friendly transmitter. However, at around $160, it’s a significant investment. While the sound quality is generally good for Bluetooth, we observed a higher latency (35 ms) and a noticeable drop in the upper low frequencies. Additionally, the transmitter lacks a power brick, relying solely on a USB cord, and the stand doesn’t charge the headphones, requiring separate charging and storage.
The Avantree Ensemble 5150 features a convenient charging base that doubles as the Bluetooth transmitter. However, it also lacks a power brick and exhibited audio spikes resulting in hissing sounds during dialogue. The headphones themselves felt less durable and were tighter on larger heads. Shorter cables compared to other models made transmitter placement around the TV more challenging.
The Avantree Opera boasts a similar all-in-one transmitter and charging dock design, with more comfortable and higher-quality headphones. However, an echo-like quality persisted throughout our listening tests due to elevated upper-low frequencies, impacting dialogue clarity.
The MEE Audio Matrix Cinema Bluetooth headphones operate without a hub. While exhibiting lower latency than other Bluetooth options, the delay was still noticeable during movie watching. Sound quality, particularly in the low end, fell short compared to similarly priced Bluetooth headphones.
The Sennheiser RS 120-W includes one pair of headphones, a Bluetooth transmitter, and the option to add more headphones (though requiring purchasing another full kit due to discontinued individual headset sales). Sound quality is decent, and the docking station provides convenient recharging. However, these headphones are less comfortable for extended viewing compared to other models due to their heavier weight. A latency of 39 ms, while not excessive, might be noticeable to those sensitive to lip-sync issues.
The Sennheiser RS 175, despite its higher price, significantly underperformed in our tests. The overall sound was thin, lacking depth and vibrancy. The low-end lacked definition, diminishing the impact of action sequences and musical scores. High frequencies exhibited a harsh quality at higher volumes.
The Sennheiser TV Clear earbuds offer a unique alternative to over-ear headphones, including a Bluetooth transmitter for TV connection. However, we experienced issues with sound only transmitting to one earbud, accompanied by significant static. The high price point makes other combined options more financially viable.
The Sony WHRF400 provides a more budget-friendly option but compromises on quality. The build feels less durable, comfort is reduced, and boosted upper mids and uneven highs introduce hissing in dialogue.
