Best Products
> Audio
119
119 people found this article helpful
Bluetooth or RF is the first decision to make as you narrow down your options
By
Jason Schneider
Jason Schneider
Writer
- Northeastern University
Jason has been writing for tech and media companies for nearly ten years. He reviews audio products, including speakers and headphones for Lifewire.
lifewire's editorial guidelines
Updated on March 8, 2024
We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more.
Bluetooth-friendly headphones aren't always friendly with TVs. You'll usually need a separate receiver or a streaming device to make things work. RF-style headphones, however, connect much more quickly to televisions and frequently sound better. They aren't as sleek or full-featured as Bluetooth headphones, though. The Rundown Best Overall: Best for Gaming: in this article Our Picks Or Maybe These? What to look For Pros Clear, powerful sound Customizable sound profiles Stable wireless connection via RF Cons Bulky design Clunky removable rechargeable batteries A little expensive The Sennheiser RS 195 RF headphones are a classic example of a television-friendly pair of wireless headphones. Using a radio-frequency-style connection via 2.4–2.48 GHz line-of-site wireless, the receiver is plugged into your TV to transmit audio to the headphones. The receiver also doubles as a storage base that allows you to adjust to the balance and different sound profiles. These are family-friendly, too: Sound profiles can be user-saved to lock in a preset for the right sound style for you and then recall that specific preset whenever you (or someone else in the household) sit down. You can expect the Sennheiser level of excellence on the sound quality front, with an all-encompassing frequency response of 17 Hz to 22 kHz and less than 0.5% harmonic distortion. But, Sennheiser has also enlisted the help of the IDMT for signal processing (a leading organization in developing hearing aids) to better process the wireless signal for a complete, clear audio response. This latter fact makes these headphones great for those who need help hearing their TV shows. However, this also means that Sennheiser has built much bulkier and heavier headphones than you’d typically expect from modern headphones. The more cumbersome design also means the plush padding is massive and ultra-comfortable. Pros Video game optimized sound Low-latency wireless connectivity (RF) Durable build Cons Bulky design Somewhat limited battery life If you’re looking for a wireless gaming headset that will work for console use with a television, there aren’t many options that truly fit the bill, but the Astro A50 is one of them. It focuses on game effects, music, and dialog, and you can adjust the levels via a knob on the side. If the out-of-the-box sound isn’t suitable for your use, there are equalizer settings you can toggle on the unit to customize the sound further. The other factor that makes these headphones great for console gaming is that they transmit audio via the lower-latency 2.4GHz method instead of the Bluetooth protocol. The attached boom mic provides a crisp way to communicate with your team in online games and will automatically mute when you flip it upward. The 15-hour battery life isn’t the best we’ve seen, but the headphones will always charge when on standby because the receiver base doubles as a charging storage cradle. Another interesting consideration is connecting these headphones via USB to your PC. This allows you to use a slightly better digital-to-analog converter than your PC might have, giving you a better, more optimized in-game audio experience. There are two ways to connect headphones for TV: Bluetooth and RF-style wireless. Bluetooth headphones will only work out of the box if a Bluetooth receiver is connected, whereas RF-style units require the receiver base to transmit audio wirelessly. Low-latency RF connectivity and complete bass response are essential if you want to use your headphones for console gaming. If you're using headphones for some quiet late-night TV watching, a more straightforward sound profile and some latency are okay. This product class has a wide price range (around $40 to above $300). Budget sensitivity is a genuine consideration because these headphones are meant to augment or improve a quiet TV-watching experience.Best Overall
Sennheiser RS 195 RF
Or Maybe These?
What to look For in Wireless TV Headphones
Connectivity
Sound Quality and Latency
Price
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for letting us know!
Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day
Subscribe
Tell us why!