Best Headphones for TV

What are the Best Headphones for TV?

Fans of TV series, sports, and music shows know how loud TV sound annoys their housemates and neighbors. If you often face this problem, buy headphones. With them you can immerse into your favorite programs without disturbing those around you. How to choose the right headphones for watching TV? What features should the best "ears" in the segment have? Which type of headphones to choose? The following post gives clear answers to these and other questions that arise when you decide to buy this accessory for your TV.

10 Best Headphones for TV

Detailed Overview

To make it easier for you to choose the right accessory, we have made a selection of headphones for TV with different technical characteristics which we are going to review in detail below.

Author’s Choice

The headphones look discreet and stylish. The plastic headband doesn't cause pressure or rubbing, the oval cups with soft ear cushions rotate 90 degrees and fold into the headband. The cup padding is air permeable and does not get hot, even when worn for a long time.

The outside of the left ear cup has raised control buttons and connectors for cable and charging. Phone calls can be answered hands-free by tapping the touchpad on the right earpiece twice.

To connect to a TV, it has to support bluetooth audio output. Otherwise, you will need to purchase an additional transmitter.

The 360 Reality Audio technology built into the headset delivers realistic sound, making music natural and alive. The battery charges quickly and allows the headphones to work autonomously for up to 30 hours.

Pay attention that headphones are from the EXTRA BASS™ line so they are designed for people who want to listen to sound with bass. Some users complained that there’s too much bass.

People’s Choice

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless is an interesting model with nice functionality: possibility to connect through a radio channel, wire or Bluetooth, a high-quality sound, comfortable fit, sleek design and a good microphone.

The headphones look great. The oval cups, the interesting attachment of the headband to them, the universal black color (this headset is not available in other colors). The design is stylish and universal. No lights, weird cup shapes and other gamer stuff that many gamers find excessive.

The SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless has plastic ear cups, fabric ear cushions, the headband is made of metal (base) and fabric (strap). The plastic of the cups is high quality, looks hard-wearing. However, on the front side it is very marky. Fingerprints remain instantly, and it is not easy to wipe them off.

The SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless headphones are comfortable, suitable for long periods of use. The fabric ear cushions don't strain, they don't make your ears feel too hot even after a couple of hours. Weight distribution is well thought out: you don't feel that the headphones are not the lightest. Excellent system with self-adjusting headband strap.

Another perk is the fact that the headset can also be used while charging. The included cable is quite long, you can make the headset wired for a while if necessary.

Of course, the microUSB is an upsetting detail as it is definitely outdated, as well as the absence of an audio cable. And this is despite the fact that there’s a possibility of such a connection. The headset is not cheap, but if you want to connect it by wire, you’ll have to buy it separately.

Best Budget

The headset comes with a dock station for charging which is very convenient. Both are made of a glossy plastic, that has a premium look and will fit in any decor. The drawback here is that fingerprints and scratches will be visible enough.

The ear cushions are made of breathable velvet so they not only provide a very soft touch, but also compensate for the pressure on ears and distribute warmth. The headphones are light enough and automatically regulated. All of that contributes to a comfortable fit in case of prolonged use.

The headphones are wireless but not in the way we are used to in everyday life. The thing is that they only connect to the dock station, so you can’t connect them directly to your smartphone or a laptop via Bluetooth, but you can easily do it with an audio cable, which makes them wired though. The dock station is connected to TV via an optical or an analog cable. As for the wireless connection, the producer promises a radius up to 30 meters, so you can move around without taking them off. By the way, they automatically turn on when you put them on and turn off if you stay motionless for a while or when you take them off.

Premium Choice

The design is stylish and futuristic. It is compact in size with smooth lines. The plastic, metal and leatherette are of high quality. The headphones look much more interesting than their analogues. The construction is not foldable.

The headphones are light and comfortable. You can spend 3 hours or more in them without feeling any discomfort.

The sound is balanced and moderately authentic without obvious accents and distortion. It is versatile and high quality.

The noise reduction and transparency modes are truly amazing with excellent cut off of monotonous low-frequency and mid-frequency noise, easy adjustment and no effect on the sound. With the transparency option you can talk comfortably without removing the headphones. No automatic modes like Sony's.

The control is hybrid: partly sensor - convenient and working - and partly push-button, everything at your fingertips, too. There is no smart pause.

Best Compact

Marshall Major IV is a good option if you are looking for Bluetooth earphones for TV with a stable connection. The headphones work in two ways: wirelessly or via cable. All in all, the headphones have a pretty sturdy design and a comfortable fit. Both the headband and the ear cushions are covered with the same eco leather. The only visible element made of plastic is the cups, but parts of them are covered with leather too. The ear cushions are removable and easy to clean.

The headphones deliver decent sound quality. Although there’s no noise cancellation, the construction helps to suppress loud sounds. They are controlled by a special joystick on the cup.

The battery life lasts up to 30 hours with a full charge in 3 hours. For transportation the device can be folded with the cups inside and packed into a special case.

Best Active Noise Cancellation

Almost no review can do without the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones, whether it's about the best wireless headphones or the best active noise cancelling headphones. We couldn't help but include them in our ranking of the best headphones for TV, too.

These comfortable, well-designed over-the-ear headphones offer a great look and high performance. You can wear them easily during a whole movie, plus they automatically activate the pass-through mode, as soon as you begin talking, so you can do it without taking them off. You can also simultaneously connect to a second device, like your phone, to pause and answer an incoming call without removing your headphones. Call quality is excellent, thanks to Sony Precise Voice Pick Up and Speak to Chat, which optimize sound and volume during conversations.

Their main advantage is the sound quality. Woofers have been slightly improved compared to the XM3 model. The headphones have a fairly low delay, so conversations won't be off-sync with the speakers' lips. The device features active noise cancellation, a unique Sony QN1 processor, and a dual noise sensor. All of these elements work perfectly together to remove background noise and immerse the user as much as possible. There's also a great way to adjust the sound thanks to the equalizer in the Sony Connect app. To get the extra effect of explosions or different soundtracks in any movie or TV series, try playing with the "Clear Bass" slider.

The battery life is really good - up to 32 hours on a single charge. There's also fast charging technology. However, it's worth noting that you can't use the headset while it's charging. Since the WH-1000XM4 was the flagship model, the previous one, the WH-1000XM3, might end up dropping in price. Keep that in mind.

Cool Design

Wireless headphones from Sennheiser, the world famous brand in the field of sound, offers its third generation of Momentum headphones. Three noise-canceling modes give you plenty of choice, and there are plenty of features you can experiment with (with the app Tile).

Performance is better than ever, given the Momentum level - the clarity and rhythm is off the charts, and all-day comfort makes them a great choice of headphones for TV.

This is just a great model in every way. Great sound for music (probably the best among wireless models), which is also good for watching movies, no loss of sync between picture and sound, noise reduction and transparency mode. Plus, the ability to connect via cable is available too.

The headphones look sturdy and durable. Natural leather, metal and quality plastic guarantee good durability. Yes, it's natural leather. Eco-activists will be upset. But experienced users, on the contrary, will be happy with the detail. By the way, it's very good quality: firm and textured.

It’s a foldable design. The ear cushions (obviously for convenience) are quite deep and large. Accordingly, the headphones look quite big on your head. This is the problem of all full-size models. Because of this, it is also uncomfortable to wear them on the neck - the cups do not rotate.

Best Boosted Bass

To be honest, we like JBL Live 650BTNC for everything, even the design, and for us this parameter is on the level with the sound. Who wants headphones with ugly appearance? That's right - no one, so JBL has decided not to abandon the idea and has created one of the most attractive models in this price range.

They are full size headphones of closed type. The material for the ear cushions is eco leather, which is not a good choice because it does not let the air in and it will be too hot for your ears in summer. Meanwhile, the headband is covered with mesh fabric, which is nice. It's soft and comfortable and has cushioning between the frame and the head.

JBL Live 650BTNC fit comfortably on your head, do not squeeze and do not fall off when you turn your head heavily, the only thing is that after a whole day in headphones, it feels that they weigh quite a lot.Also, the headphones have rotatable cups and a folding design that allows you to wear them around your neck or carry them in a bag.

The headphones have a hybrid control system: sensor and classic keys. The controls are intuitive, it will take you a couple of hours to do everything blindly.

The sound is clear and natural, there’s bass, but it doesn’t prevail, music sounds pleasant even at the maximum volume. The noise cancellation is good enough to let you enjoy the TV no matter what is going on around you.

Easy Charging

The wireless headphones for TV that are specially designed for this purpose are the Sennheiser RS 175 RF. They have a specialized docking station that connects directly to most televisions and allows you to use them wirelessly with minimal sound latency. Yes, there may be a slight latency, which is not critical for movies, but will not be suitable for musicians.

The station takes up little space and is simultaneously a charger, radio transmitter and a headphone stand. There are control buttons on its front panel, digital optical connectors on the back panel and an analog jack for connecting to the TV. It transmits radio signals to a distance of 100 m (with obstacles - up to 30). A second pair of Sennheiser HDR 175 can be connected to the transmitter to watch movies together. The station can block the signal from Wi-Fi, but this aspect doesn't occur to all users.

Thanks to the efficient control layout located on the comfortable ear cushions, you don't have to get off the couch to adjust the volume or activate features such as extra bass or surround sound. While some users may find that their default sound profile is a bit overpowering with bass, it doesn't subdue dialogues.

Best Set

The set consists of the Avantree AS9S wireless Bluetooth headphones and the Avantree Audikast TC418 Bluetooth transmitter, so you can use them together or separately, depending on your needs.

There are great connectivity options with a variety of outputs: analog audio (AUX 3.5mm), RCA, and digital optical output (Optical), which means you can connect almost any device to the transmitter via Bluetooth wireless technology, even older models.

It's perfect for watching TV, movies, playing video games and listening to music, thanks to the support of audio codecs, which will ensure the lowest audio latency, unnoticeable to you.

Due to the clear sound and easy controls the set can be used by elderly people with hearing problems.

Thanks to a class 1 Bluetooth chip, the range of the transmitter is up to 30 meters, and the built-in battery in the Avantree AS9S headphones will last up to 40 hours of continuous operation.

The Audikast transmitter included in this set has a digital USB output, which allows it to connect to a computer or laptop without additional audio cables, and thanks to the support of the FS audio codec, you can receive audio calls without muting background music.

Best Headphones for TV — Buyer’s Guide

How to Choose Headphones for TV?

It is quite easy to determine which headphones to buy for watching TV by several criteria. Pay attention to whether the headset is wired or wireless, what method of signal transmission is supported. It is also important to consider factors such as sound latency and playback quality, as well as the comfort of use.

Wired or wireless. The first parameter to pay attention to is whether the headset is wired or wireless. Using wireless headphones for TV is more preferable today, since it is extremely difficult to find devices with the right cable length and even if you find it, nobody wants a long cable across the living room. The only disadvantage of wireless gadgets is that they are compatible with those TVs that have Bluetooth support.

Signal transmission method. The next parameter that is important to consider before buying is how the signal is transmitted from the TV to the headset. It can be:

• radio channel - it is a great coverage range up to 100 m, but the probability of interference in some places in the rooms (switching to another channel will help, they can be offered from 2 to 27);
• infrared transmitter - the source and the receiver must be in the line of sight, usually the range does not exceed 10 m, despite this small figure, the clarity of playback is much higher than the previous case;
• Bluetooth - wireless technology, functioning at a distance of 10 m, the risks of interference are minimized, but not every TV comes with this module.

Which of these to choose depends on personal preferences, the functionality of the TV set, as well as financial capabilities.

Audio Latency. Audio latency is the amount of time for audio data to transfer from the source to the headset. At best, the duration is a few milliseconds to process the digital data and convert it into an audio signal. Wired devices have a latency of 5-10 ms, while wireless devices have a latency of 30 ms or more.

Sound quality. This parameter can be determined by 3 indicators: sensitivity - responsible for the volume, the level of its regulation, the normal range should be 95-100 dB; impedance - responsible not only for the volume, but also the quality of playback, 16-32 ohms will be quite enough for portable equipment, over 32 ohms for stationary one; frequency - determines the spectrum of played sounds, the normal range is from 20 to 20 000 Hz. Only a comprehensive approach to studying all of these characteristics will help you choose the best headset option.

Type of battery and battery life. There are removable batteries and docking stations for recharging headphones. It is easier to choose a built-in battery. Battery life is important if the user often goes on business trips or watches TV on the go.

Availability of control buttons. When watching TV or playing computer games, it is convenient when there is a volume control or other functions on the headphones. However, this is only possible if you choose Bluetooth earphones for tv.

Comfort of use. After choosing the model, it would be good if you could try on the options you are considering. This will not only allow you to experience the comfort, but also roughly estimate how long you will be able to use them. Pay attention to the material of the headrest, the shape of the cups, the softness of the ear cushions, and the overall weight of the construction.

Summary

Now it's time to summarize all of the above. As you can see, the choice of headphones for TV should be treated responsibly, meanwhile you can try to save money on some parameters. For example, if you plan to listen to only TV with the device, it doesn’t have to be able to play a wide range of frequencies. This is due to the fact that most TV programs are broadcast with the lowest quality sound, which even the most expensive "ears" will not help to improve. Good headphones should provide you with comfort, brighten up your leisure time, and provide decent sound.

Best Headphones for TV— FAQ

How to Connect Wireless Headphones to TV?

It is obvious that the TV must have a built-in Bluetooth adapter. However, it’s not enough. Turns out, only TVs running on the Android TV system allow you to connect Bluetooth headsets and transmit sound to them without any problems. But you probably know that almost all TVs only work with original devices (cameras, adapters, remotes, etc.). It's about the same with headphones. LG and Samsung TVs have no problem connecting the original Bluetooth stereo headsets. But regular headphones are unlikely to be connected. Although, there are certain series and models that have the function of connecting Bluetooth headphones. LG still can' t give users the opportunity to choose which Bluetooth devices they want to connect to their televisions instead of limiting them to just original accessories.

What if the TV doesn’t have Bluetooth Support?

There are devices called Bluetooth transmitters. They can be used not only with TVs, but also with other devices. Their function is to take sound from the TV via cable (3.5mm, RCA, or optical output) and send it via Bluetooth to any wireless headphones.

It's a universal solution for almost any TV, even older ones. All you have to do is plug the cable from the transmitter into the headphone output of your TV, and connect your headset to the transmitter. These adapters are usually powered by a built-in battery. A USB cable for power/charging usually comes with it. If your TV has a USB port, you can connect the adapter to it.