Here are the best wireless headphones for TV that can bring your watching experience to the next level.
| Name | Connection | Form Factor | Passthrough | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sennheiser RS 195 Best Overall | RF | Over-ear | Y | BUY |
| Avantree HT5009 Strong Runner-Up | Bluetooth | Over-ear | Y | BUY |
| Makemate BKM200 Best Budget | Bluetooth | Over-ear | N | BUY |
| TV Ears Dual Digital Best for Seniors | IF | In-ear | N | BUY |
| Sony L600 Best for Movies | RF | Over-ear | N | BUY |
| Avantree Quartet Best for Groups | RF | Over-ear | Y | BUY |
| JVC EXOFIELD XP-EXT1 Best for Home Theater | RF | Over-ear | N | BUY |
| Yamaha YH-L700A Best for Smart TVs | Bluetooth | Over-ear | N | BUY |
| SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless Best for Gaming | Bluetooth | Over-ear | Y | BUY |
| Sony WH-1000XM5 Best for Binge-watching | Bluetooth | Over-ear | Y | BUY |
People want wireless headphones for TV to get great sound, comfort, and no messy wires, all while not disturbing anyone else when watching their TV.
But, there are so many options and potential technical problems like delays in sound and whether they’ll work with your TV. So, finding the right pair is not so straightforward.
To help, we have curated a comprehensive list of the best wireless headphones for TV in the market. Keep reading to learn more.
Sennheiser RS 195
Key features
- Form Factor: Over-ear
- Wireless Tech: RF
- Range: 328ft
- Frequency range: 17 – 22KHz
- Noise Cancellation: Passive
- Passthrough support: Yes
- Battery life: 18 hours
- Additional Features: Personalized sound settings, speech, and listening modes
The Sennheiser RS 195 are our top pick for the best wireless headphones for TV, mainly because they’re specifically designed to improve the TV and music experience for people with hearing loss.
They come with equalizer presets, including a selectable hearing boost with a noise suppression mode so the dialogue can be heard more clearly.
They also include a music listening mode for a more dynamic sound experience that accurately depicts the beats in the music.
Also, unlike typical headphones that might use Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, the RS 195 use a stable, long-range RF transmitter to connect. This makes them a more versatile choice for home entertainment. And, it keeps them away from the typical latency and interference problems of a Bluetooth connection.
For those who value both ease of use and comfort while watching TV or listening to music, the RS 195 are winners. Their design is comfortable for long periods, thanks to the extra padding, and it’s easy for users to switch between different sound modes to suit their hearing due to their onboard controls.
However, the RS 195 do come with a couple of downsides.
The base unit of the headphones is also a bit bulky and light, which might not work well for people who don’t have much space or prefer something that looks sleeker.
Also, there are only two main differences with the previous model, the Sennheiser RS 185.
One, the RS 185 have an open-back design, and the RS 195 do not. Two, the RS195 have more features for people with hearing loss. If that’s not for you, going for the older model can be the better and cheaper option.
Avantree HT5009
Key features
- Form Factor: Over-ear
- Wireless Tech: Bluetooth
- Range: 164ft
- Frequency range: 20Hz-20KHz
- Noise Cancellation: Passive
- Passthrough support: Yes
- Battery life: 40 hours
- Additional Features: Bluetooth 5.0, automatic pairing, Dual-Link
The Avantree HT5009 headphones come in at a close second for their long battery life, which extends up to 40 hours. You can use them all day without having to recharge them.
Also, they are compatible with most of the TVs as they utilize a Bluetooth transmitter that supports optical, AUX, and RCA audio outputs. And, these have a bypass mode, so you can use the headphones and a wired speaker at the same time. This allows you to hear through your headphones while watching your TV with your family.
If you are worried about audio lag, you’ll be happy to know that the transmitter comes with Bluetooth 5.0 and Class 1 Bluetooth range – meaning it experiences less than 40 ms audio latency. At this level, the audio lag is almost unnoticeable.
Plus, the headphones will connect automatically to the transmitter when they’re powered on, so you won’t need to wait for them to pair or walk through extra setup steps.
The transmitter also has Dual-Link Technology, which lets you add a second set of headphones to the connection so you and your friend can both watch TV with your headphones on.
However, the second set of headphones also needs to support the built-in FastStream codec so you can continue enjoying limited audio lag.
They also remain in second place because these headphones do not have any special features for people with hearing loss, like our best overall pick, the Sennheiser RS 195. But, if you’re simply looking for a clear-cut choice, these headphones are a good option.
Makemate BKM200
Key features
- Form Factor: Over-ear
- Wireless Tech: Qualcomm Bluetooth technology
- Range: 165ft
- Frequency range: 20Hz-20KHz
- Noise Cancellation: Passive
- Passthrough support: No
- Battery life: 15 hours
- Additional Features: Hi-res streaming that’s interference-free, minimal lag, auto-off feature
The Makemate BKM200 headphones earn our Best Budget rank for their budget-friendly price while not skimping on several excellent features. One of these is the ingenious technology that makes these headphones almost interference-free. They come with Qualcomm’s Bluetooth technology with CS8670 chips that provide hi-res audio streaming even over sturdy obstacles.
This technology ensures your headphones experience minimal interference or static sound for the best hi-fi stereo surround sound. It also reduces audio lag so you can perfectly synchronize the TV’s images and audio.
The over-ear design comes with a padded neckband and soft memory-foam protein leather earmuffs for a comfortable fit. These earmuffs are fully-sealed to help prevent sound leakage and also contribute to noise cancellation.
Moreover, the headband and ear cups are adjustable, and you can rotate the ear cups by up to 90 degrees for a more secure fit.
The headsets automatically shut down in about 5 minutes when there is no sound, which helps save battery. The best part is that they’re designed with a volume memory feature, so you don’t have to readjust the volume every time you switch them back on.
While the transmitter does support optical coaxial, AUX, and RCA audio outputs, they do not connect to smart TVs automatically. To make your headphones connect to your smart TV, you will have to go to your sound settings and switch to the PCM option.
TV Ears Dual Digital
Key features
- Form Factor: In-ear
- Wireless Tech: IF
- Range: 25ft
- Frequency range: 20Hz-20KHz
- Noise Cancellation: Passive
- Passthrough support: No
- Battery life: 8 hours
- Additional Features: Voice clarifying circuitry, designed for seniors
The TV Ears Dual Digital are voice-clarifying or assistive listening headphones that are designed for seniors. Instead of the typical over-the-head design, these headphones have an under-chin style, making them easier to wear for seniors as they don’t put pressure on the top of the users’ head and won’t interfere with glasses.
As for the performance, the TV Ears Dual Digital utilizes Speed of Light Infrared Technology (SoLIT) for fast audio transmission. This Infrared technology is safe for pacemakers and doesn’t interfere with your telephone.
To help you grasp every detail of whatever you are listening to, they are integrated with Voice-Clarifying Circuitry, which increases the volume of the dialog while decreasing the background sound effects.
These are also compatible with almost all TVs since they can connect via an AUX cord, digital optical, or analog port. This model comes in two headsets per order, so you can either share them with a loved one or extend listening hours with a backup.
However, while the under-chin style can be handy for seniors who wear glasses, the front-positioning can feel awkward.
Sony L600
Key features
- Form Factor: Over-ear
- Wireless Tech: RF
- Range: 98.43 ft
- Frequency range: 20Hz-20KHz
- Noise Cancellation: Passive
- Passthrough support: No
- Battery life: 17 hours
- Additional Features: Dolby Atmos support, theater mode
The Sony L600 headphones have many features designed to give you the best TV and movie-watching experience.
They shine with features like Dolby Atmos support, making you feel like you’re right in the middle of the action with surround sound.
You can also choose between five listening modes based on what you’re watching: theater/cinema, game, sport, voice, or neutral.
The Cinema mode simulates a large theater and is ideal for watching movies, while the game and sport mode adjust the sound signature to fit those activities. The Voice setting, on the other hand, makes dialog significantly easier to understand.
On top of that, these headphones have a decent battery life, coming in at 17 hours. Going so long between charges means you’ll be able to watch your movies and TV shows worry-free.
You can easily charge them when the time comes by simply hanging them on their charging base. They’ll start charging automatically – no further steps necessary.
And, the controls are easy to use, allowing for quick adjustments without having to take the headphones off. They even have a neat feature called the HDMI control switch that conveniently turns off your TV when you turn off the headphones.
However, it’s not all perfect. The Sony L600 headphones assume they’ll be the main way you listen to your TV, which can cause some connectivity headaches.
They’re designed to connect through your TV’s HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC), limiting flexibility if you’re already using ARC for another device, like a soundbar. This makes them less versatile compared to other options that might offer simpler connections.
Avantree Quartet
Key features
- Form Factor: Over-ear
- Wireless Tech: RF
- Range: 328 ft
- Frequency range: 20Hz-20KHz
- Noise Cancellation: Passive
- Passthrough support: Yes
- Battery life: 20 hours
- Additional Features: Can pair with up to 100 headphones for group listening, assistive listening system
If you need to listen in large groups, the Avantree Quartet Wireless Headphones are the best choice. You can pair up to 100 total add-on headphones to one audio source, making them perfect for a backyard movie night or large gathering without waking up the entire neighborhood.
Plus, each headphone set has individual volume control, so everyone can decide the perfect volume level to suit them.
These headphones also have broad compatibility, thanks to their ability to connect with an OPT, RCA, or AUX jack. Their passthrough support allows both non-headphone users and headphone users to enjoy audio at the same time, too.
However, for those looking for the very best sound quality for personal use, the Quartet might not be the ideal choice.
Compared to others like the Sennheiser RS 195, which are known for a more balanced sound, the Quartet focus more on features for group settings than on delivering top-notch audio quality for solo listeners. They also don’t emphasize noise isolation or sound customization as much. So, they’re less suited for users who prioritize a personalized listening experience.
JVC EXOFIELD XP-EXT1
Key features
- Form Factor: Over-ear
- Wireless Tech: RF
- Range: 100 ft
- Frequency range: 12Hz-24KHz
- Noise Cancellation: Passive
- Passthrough support: No
- Battery life: 12 hours
- Additional Features: Dedicated smartphone app, Dolby Atmos support, realistic sound field
The JVC EXOFIELD XP-EXT1 are our favorite home theater headphones. These headphones are in a league of their own – thanks to their realistic multi-channel sound field (7.1.4 channels). This feature makes it seem like you’re listening through speakers instead of headphones and allows you to have an immersive home theater experience like no other.
The headphones also offer Dolby Atmos support that makes for a truly fascinating experience, when combined with the spatial sound features.
On top of that, these headphones have a dedicated smartphone app that you can use to calibrate your headphones to your specific listening characteristics – and achieve the ultimate customized listening experience.
The 12-hour battery life and large, soft ear pads also guarantee comfortable listening through all of your movie marathons.
But, while we think these headphones are fantastic for a thrilling home theater experience, they come at a steep price that may not be within everyone’s budget.
Yamaha YH-L700A
Key features
- Form Factor: Over-ear
- Wireless Tech: Bluetooth
- Range: 33 ft
- Frequency range: 8Hz-40KHz
- Noise Cancellation: Active
- Passthrough support: No
- Battery life: 34 hours
- Additional Features: 3D sound field, ambient sound, intelligent equalization
The Yamaha YH-L700A Wireless Headphones have Bluetooth 5 with aptX Adaptive support that can give you a stable wireless connection with outstanding streaming quality from your TV.
These headphones also utilize a 3D sound field with head tracking that allows you to experience immersive TV and movie viewing. The listening-optimizing ability of these headphones, combined with their ability to equalize your audio intelligently, helps you enjoy your TV audio at its best.
These features optimize sound in real-time and let you enjoy full-range audio even at lower volumes. And, their advanced noise-canceling technology ensures you can enjoy your TV shows and music – at optimum clarity – without distraction from outside noise.
They’re also foldable, which makes them quite portable to be used on the go!
But while the smart features of these headphones offer an optimized TV-watching experience, their unique shape and rough exterior may need some getting used to.
SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless
Key features
- Form Factor: Over-ear
- Wireless Tech: Bluetooth
- Range: 40 ft
- Frequency range: 10Hz – 40KHz
- Noise Cancellation: Active
- Passthrough support: Yes
- Battery life: 22 hours
- Additional Features: Ambient sound, intelligent equalization
The SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless stand out as the best gaming wireless headphones for TV because they focus on delivering high-quality game effects. They come with dual-wireless technology that ensures a stable and high-quality 2.4G wireless connection, guaranteeing an enjoyable gaming experience with your TV.
Their unique ‘ski goggle’ elastic band distributes weight evenly, ensuring comfort even during long gaming sessions.
While other headphones on our list, like the Avantree HT5009 and the Yamaha YH-L700A, may boast longer battery life, the Arctis Pro Wireless offer a smart solution.
They come with two rechargeable batteries, one powering the headset and the other charging in the base station. Each battery provides up to 10 hours of playtime, giving you plenty of gaming time. You can just switch the batteries whenever one dies out.
Their wide frequency range allows them to pick up every detail in the game’s audio, from quiet footsteps to explosive soundtracks. The impressive 40ft transmission range also allows for free movement without compromising on audio quality.
Building upon the success of other older models in the same series, like the SteelSeries Arctis 7 2019 Edition, this upgraded version introduces dual wireless compatibility, which is more convenient.
This combination of top-notch sound, comfort, and stable connection makes the Arctis Pro Wireless the ideal choice for enhancing your TV gaming setup.
However, the headphones do have a few drawbacks. They tend to have lower volume levels, even at their loudest setting, which can disappoint those who prefer their game audio loud. Another issue is the potential slackening of the Ski Google elastic band over time, which may impact comfort and fit over time.
Sony WH-1000XM5
Key features
- Form Factor: Over-ear
- Wireless Tech: Bluetooth
- Range: 33 ft
- Frequency range: 4Hz – 40KHz
- Noise Cancellation: Active
- Passthrough support: Yes
- Battery life: 30 hours
- Additional Features: Ambient sound, Customizable EQ
The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are some of the most comfortable headphones we’ve tried. They are designed with ultra-comfortable, lightweight materials and soft-fit leather and ensure maximum comfort even during prolonged TV marathons.
This comfort, paired with their top-notch active noise cancellation, makes watching TV a more immersive experience. No matter if you’re surrounded by noise or in a quiet spot for your late-night shows, these headphones block out the outside world and pull you into whatever you’re watching.
Also, with a battery life of up to 30 hours, you can binge-watch to your heart’s content. Disabling ANC can extend battery life even further, for up to 20+ hours.
For TV fans, the sound quality of the WH-1000XM5 headphones is a real game-changer. The audio is rich and bass-heavy, perfect for making dialogues clearer and soundtracks more engaging.
I love that you can adjust the sound to fit whatever you’re watching, from dramas to action movies, thanks to their customizable settings via the Sony Headphones Connect App.
However, despite their price, they’re made mostly of plastic, which doesn’t feel as premium as some might expect. They also don’t come with a transmitter so you can only really use them with a Smart TV that has a built-in Bluetooth audio support.
How to Pick the Right Wireless Headphones for Your TV
If privacy is a priority during your TV time, selecting the right wireless headphones is essential.
From transmission range to connectivity options and battery life, we’ll guide you through the key factors to consider when choosing the right headphones to enhance your TV viewing experience.
Can wireless headphones connect to your TV?
It’s a no-brainer that not all TVs are created the same. Case in point, not all TVs come with the ability to connect to any wireless headphones. It can be frustrating to buy a brand-new pair of headphones only to find them incompatible with your TV.
Some TVs have multiple audio output options, including a 3.5mm headphone jack, a digital optical output, an RCA output, a USB audio output, and HDMI. However, some TVs only support the 3.5 mm audio output.
Headphones for TVs usually come with transmitters. So, you’ll need to find those that support your TV’s audio output options.
If the transmitter’s connectors aren’t compatible with any of your TV’s options, you will need to get additional adapters to establish a proper connection – which is another thing you’ll have to spend on.
However, if your TV already has built-in Bluetooth, you don’t have to worry about looking for headphones that come with a transmitter. Regular Bluetooth headphones will do just fine.
RF vs. Bluetooth vs. IF: which is better?
Wireless headphones can use several wireless transmission technologies: Bluetooth, Radio Frequency (RF), and Infrared (IR). Each option has a unique way of working that sets it apart from the rest.
Bluetooth TV headphones are more common on the market since most smart TVs now come with built-in Bluetooth support. They have a wireless range of up to 30 meters. However, they are prone to experience limited lag due to codec mismatch or interference.
RF TV headphones are a solid choice for TVs that don’t support Bluetooth. These typically connect to any TV with an RCA audio output. Also, RF offers a longer range of up to 328 feet and isn’t susceptible to interferences such as walls or ceilings. It also experiences less latency compared to Bluetooth.
Lastly, IR TV headphones offer the best sound quality with almost zero latency due to fast transmission rates. They are a decent option for people who prioritize colorful audio. However, you must be well-aligned and remain close to the transmitter to receive a stable connection.
Sound quality
The sound quality of TV headphones should focus less on the musicality and more on the details and clarity of the audio. This lets you concentrate more on the dialogue to understand and follow what you are watching easily.
A good pair of TV headphones should be able to pick up details like background sound, whispers, or other sound effects that you will typically miss in an open environment.
Here’s what to look out for to determine the overall sound quality of your headphones:
- Sound signature: Headphones come with different sound signatures, adjusting drivers to emphasize or diminish specific frequencies. Aim for a neutral sound for accurate audio reproduction during TV viewing, maintaining the original sound quality. Alternatively, a V-shaped signature enhances highs and lows, suitable for those who prefer a more dynamic and colorful audio experience.
- Frequency range: Frequency range denotes the span of frequencies headphones can emit, measured in Hertz (Hz), from low to high frequencies. Most headphones cover the standard human hearing range of 20 to 20kHz. Some models extend this range, reaching lows as deep as 10Hz, enhancing bass perception with reduced distortion near the upper limit.
Audio latency
Latency is the delay between the point where the audio was played on the TV to the point where the headphones received the sound.
When the connection between the transmitting and receiving device turns bad, you tend to experience latency. So when does this happen?
Well, it can be environmental, such as interfering wireless devices or insufficient line-of-sight coverage with the TV.
The other factor is hardware-related, where factors like transmission range, audio codec, and the quality of the headphones and transmitter come into play.
- Transmission range: Connection quality peaks within the maximum range, yet not all headphones offer the same reach. Bluetooth models typically cover about 164 feet unless equipped with version 5.0 or higher, while RF headphones extend up to 328 feet. Interferences like Wi-Fi speakers and obstacles may diminish advertised range capabilities.
- Audio codec: Codec, specifically for Bluetooth headphones, compresses audio files for efficient transmission due to Bluetooth’s limited bandwidth. Codecs like SBC, AAC, LDAC, and aptX offer varying levels of compression and quality. While SBC is standard, aptX variants deliver higher quality with reduced audio lag, which is ideal for TV viewing.
Comfort
If you’re used to bingeing through Netflix originals for a couple of hours or more, having a pair of comfortable wireless TV headphones will do you wonders.
With this in mind, here are a few guiding factors that will help you find a comfortable set of headphones:
- Form factor: This refers to the general size and shape of the headphones. You can either have on-ear, over-ear, or in-ear (earbuds) headphones. Over-ear headphones are more comfortable for watching TV than the other options.
- Ear cup padding: You want to choose headphones that come with soft and breathable ear cup padding, so you don’t sweat or feel irritated around your ears.
- Clamping force: Choose over-ear headphones with a light clamping force that doesn’t press your temples. However, they shouldn’t be so loose that they slide down.
- Adjustability: You need a headset with an adjustable headband that fits perfectly on your head. The ear cups should also swivel so you can easily adjust them to sit flush and snugly against your ears.
- Ear tip size and material (for in-ears): Choose earbuds with ear tips of various sizes so you can get a comfortable fit. Prioritize foam ear tips as they are comfortable and easily conform to your ear canal for a perfect fit.
Battery life & charging speed
As with all things wireless, battery life is a top concern. The longer the battery life, the less you need to worry about dead headphones in the middle of your show.
Other than having a high-capacity battery, the charging speed is important. Some headphones with fast-charging capability can give you an hour of playtime for just 15 minutes of charging time. You can watch at least a whole episode of Grey’s Anatomy with that!
Additional features
When scouting for headphones, you’ll discover that some options come with a few extra frills that help enhance the user’s listening experience. Let’s have a look at some of those features:
- Passthrough: Some wireless headphones come with a sound pass-through feature that supports the existing wired sound system. So, your wireless headphones can share the same audio with your existing soundbar or stereo. This lets you listen to the TV through the headphones at a comfortable volume while others listen through the home speaker system.
- Multi-device pairing: Headphones with multi-device pairing enable smooth connectivity across devices like smartphones, PCs, and TVs. While connected to multiple devices simultaneously, they switch audio sources effortlessly, ensuring uninterrupted usage. For instance, if a call comes in while watching TV, the headphones easily switch to the paired smartphone, allowing quick and convenient call handling.
- Equalizer options: A fully customizable equalizer will let you play around with the settings to get a sound that’s more to your liking. Some headphones come with both preset and fully customizable equalizer settings.
- Active noise cancellation: This uses advanced technology to keep out background noise so you can only focus on the TV’s audio. Noise-canceling headphones can come in handy if you are the only one in the room who wants to watch something on the TV but doesn’t want to get distracted by the other people around.