The Best Wireless Headphones for Watching TV in 2024

Publish date: 2024-06-13

Any old pair of headphones simply won’t do for watching TV. Trying to watch a movie with bass-centric earbuds will likely result in muffled dialogue, while you'll let the outside world in if they don’t feature noise cancelation. Whatever your needs, there is an abundance of great wireless headphones for watching TV.

Best Wireless Headphones for Watching TV Overall: Sennheiser RS 195

The Sennheiser RS 195 is an RF wireless headphone system specifically designed for TV viewing. These headphones are an upgraded version of the RS 185s and are superior to their predecessor thanks to a new closed-back design that provides passive noise reduction and minimizes sound leakage.

Moreover, the 195s incorporate a noise-suppression mode that further reduces background noise, while various preset options boost specific frequencies, with a particular emphasis on the midrange. All this enables the RS 195s to deliver dialogues with enhanced clarity and improved comprehension.

Sennheiser RS 195
Best Overall$268 $300 Save $32

The Sennheiser RS 195 Wireless Headphone System offers a closed-back design for passive noise reduction and minimized sound leakage. With enhanced dialogue clarity, a noise-suppression mode, and a music-listening feature for a wider dynamic range, these headphones provide exceptional audio quality for an enjoyable entertainment experience.

ProsCons$279 at Amazon$268 at Walmart$290 at Best Buy

Best Budget Wireless Headphones for Watching TV: Avantree HT5009

The Avantree HT5009 headphones go beyond just reasonable pricing. With a remarkable battery life of up to 40 hours, they provide ample usage time for binge-watching sessions. They also have a reliable wireless range of 50 meters, and with integrated FastStream Bluetooth, they also guarantee latency below 40ms for a perfectly synchronized experience.

Moreover, their ability to connect to soundbars or stereo AV receivers makes them an ideal choice for individuals who are hard of hearing, especially when enjoying TV time with family. You can simply wear the headphones while everyone else listens via speakers.

Avantree HT5009
Best Budget$120 $130 Save $10

The Avantree HT5009 headphones are compatible with all TVs and boast a reliable 50-meter connection range with an impressive battery life of up to 40 hours for extended binge-watching. With their integrated FastStream Bluetooth technology, these headphones also deliver perfectly synchronized audio. 
 

ProsCons$120 at Amazon$120 at Walmart

Best Noise-Canceling Wireless Headphones for Watching TV: Yamaha YH-L700A

If active noise cancelation is your top priority, the Yamaha YH-L700A could be the set of wireless TV cans you’ve been looking for. The ANC continuously adapts to your environment, ensuring a more focused TV experience while maintaining excellent audio quality. Should you need to be more aware of your surroundings, you can activate Ambient Sound Mode to selectively allow specific frequencies—perfect when waiting for important calls or deliveries.

The Yamaha YH-L700As also offer a 3D sound field that emulates the audio quality of a movie theater. Additionally, with head tracking technology, the sound field adjusts to your movements, delivering depth and spatial accuracy, which makes the Yamaha YH-L700As an excellent choice for a captivating home theater experience.

Yamaha YH-L700A
Best Noise Cancelation$323 $500 Save $177

The Yamaha YH-L700A headphones excel in ANC technology, effectively blocking out undesirable noise while maintaining superior audio quality. With their remarkable 3D sound field and head-tracking capabilities, these headphones deliver an unparalleled immersive experience, making them the perfect choice for an enthralling home theater setup.

ProsCons$323 at Amazon

Best Wireless Headphones for TV With Great Battery Life: Jabra Elite 85h

The Jabra Elite 85h Headphones have a remarkable battery life of up to 36 hours. This charge allows you to get through more than 15 movies on average, and using the excellent noise cancelation has little to no effect on its life.

The SmartSound ANC can adapt to various environments, meaning you can enjoy your shows in even the noisiest of households. And, with the HearThrough ambient sound option, you can listen for visitors or even have a conversation without the need to pause the TV. You can even take crystal-clear calls through the headphones when they come.

Jabra Elite 85h
Best Battery Life$285 $325 Save $40

The Jabra Elite 85h Headphones offer an impressive battery life of up to 36 hours, adaptive noise cancelation for immersive audio in any environment, and the option to stay aware of your surroundings with the HearThrough feature. With crystal-clear call quality, customization through the Jabra Sound+ app, and a durable design, these headphones provide a versatile and high-quality audio experience.

ProsCons$285 at Amazon$280 at Walmart

Most Comfortable Wireless Headphones for Watching TV: Sony WH-1000XM5

If you are especially keen on buying the most comfortable wireless headphones for extensive marathon sessions in front of the box, the Sony WH-1000XM5s are an outstanding choice. Your ears will still be cool and comfortable even after binge-watching full seasons of your chosen show.

They have a well-balanced sound profile, delivering deep bass and clear mids. Low frequencies don’t interfere with dialogue, but there is an equalizer you can adjust in-app to customize the sound to your preference.

The advanced ANC tech uses dual noise sensors to block out noise, giving you a more focused TV experience. You can also switch to Ambient Sound Mode with a quick button press, while the Auto NC optimizer enhances noise-canceling according to your surroundings.

Sony WH-1000XM5
Most Comfortable$328 $400 Save $72

The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones deliver exceptional comfort for extended usage and provide a well-balanced sound profile with deep bass and clear mids. With advanced noise-canceling technology and the ability to make crystal-clear calls, these headphones are an excellent choice for TV enthusiasts.

ProsCons$328 at Amazon$400 at Walmart$400 at Best Buy

FAQ

Q: How do I connect wireless headphones to my TV?

Bluetooth is the most common way to wirelessly connect. Simply put your headphones in pairing mode, which usually involves pressing the power button until you get a blinking LED or hear a beep.

Following this, you need to go to your TV settings, followed by sound or audio settings. Go to “sound out” and select “use wireless speaker.” Click on “Bluetooth device,” then find the name of your headphones and connect. Your headphones and TV should now be paired. However, these are general guidelines, and steps may vary from TV to TV.

If your TV is an older model, it may not have a Bluetooth option. In that case, you’ll need to invest in a Bluetooth receiver. Connect it to your TV's audio output, then pair your headphones.

If you have bought a set of headphones with an RF transmitter, you can connect it to your TV’s audio output or 3.5mm headphone jack and then adjust the TV volume to the desired level. Turn on your headphones and adjust their volume, too.

Q: Can I use any pair of wireless headphones with my TV?

If you have headphones and a TV with Bluetooth, then yes. However, older or budget-friendly TVs may not have Bluetooth capability. In that case, you will need a Bluetooth receiver or headphones with an RF transmitter.

Q: What is active noise cancelation?

ANC is a function that blocks out external noise. Headphones that utilize this technology have built-in mics and speakers that work in a sort of “anti-noise” way to block out unwanted sounds. They are effective with low frequencies but less effective with higher ones.

Not all headphones have ANC. Some have passive noise isolation. This usually involves thicker ear cups or snug tips to block external interference. It’s a more straightforward, less effective way that is reflected in the cost of the cans.

Q: How do I fix audio latency with my headphones?

If you are using Bluetooth headphones, you can simply try the old on/off trick. Unpairing and repairing the headphones may well be all you need to do.

If it doesn’t work, check if your TV and headphones use the same Bluetooth codec. You can find this information in the Bluetooth section of your TV’s settings. Your headphones’ manual will have the information on which codecs they support. Adjust accordingly and have the codecs match. Choosing the right codec is important, and you should choose the best low-latency option.

Some TVs also feature audio delay adjustment. Look for options like “audio sync” or “AV delay." You can adjust until the sound and picture match. You can also download apps like "Bluetooth Audio Delay” or “TV Assist,” which might prove helpful if your TV’s settings are of limited use.

Other troubleshooting methods include minimizing the distance between the TV and your headphones, updating any drivers and firmware on both your TV and headphones, and turning off any other Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices you are not currently using.

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