Buying a pair of headphones to use while watching TV can be stressful. You’re going to be using them a lot, so most consumers feel an incredible amount of pressure to “get it right” and buy the perfect pair of headphones. Then they start shopping around and see the huge number of manufacturers with their long lines of products that have all sorts of confusing technology in them and they give up. Never fear, we’re going to help you sift through that information and make an informed decision.
First let’s reach an understanding about what the most important components of a pair of headphones are and what makes them good for TV watching.
- Form Factor: Headphones come in a variety of form factors. Everybody is familiar with the ultra-popular earbuds and the classic headphones that go over the top of your head. There are other varieties, too, but for TV watching you’re going to want the most comfortable form factor you can get: the over-ear can-style headphones that go around your entire ear.
- Comfort: You need a pair of headphones that are comfortable, which is why we recommend the over-ear can headphones. Within that style of headphone, though, you want to look for a pair that has plenty of padding around the ears and on the top of the head. Ideally, you want these headphones to be so comfortable that you forget you’re wearing them (a pretty easy goal to achieve!).
- Wired or Wireless: We’re obviously biased, but wireless headphones are a far superior option to wired, especially for TV-watching. Modern radio frequency (RF) and digital technologies make wireless audio transmission quality on par with wired headphones. Wireless headphones are more portable than their wired counterparts, meaning that you can take your TV audio with you if you choose to run out of the room for a minute or two. Wireless headphones also lack annoying cords that stretch from your TV to your couch, meaning that there is no tripping hazard and nothing to clean up when you’re done. Just place the headphones on their charging dock and you’re done!
- Rechargeable batteries: This is a must-have. Most (almost all) wireless headphones have chargers built into their base stations so that the minute you place the headphones on the stand, they begin to charge. Be wary of headphones that don’t have this feature, changing batteries can get really, really annoying!
- Dolby Digital and Surround Sound Technology: There is lots of fancy technology out there for wireless headphones and you can find everything from noise cancellation to 7.1 surround sound. The question you need to ask yourself, however, is “do I really need this?” These technologies are often expensive and drive the price of your headphones up significantly.
Now that you have a basic idea of the technology and the terminology behind what makes a great pair of TV wireless headphones, it’s time to review a few of our favorite options:
Sennheiser RS180
Sennheiser is one of the best-known high-quality headphone manufacturers in the country. Their headphones are fashionable, loaded with the best technology, and extremely comfortable. It shouldn’t surprise you then, that their RS180 headphones are our #1 recommendation. They boast Sennheiser’s patented KLEER audio transmission for crystal-clear audio. They have dynamic and powerful audio reproduction capabilities and they feature a charger that doubles as a base station.
You can read our review or buy the Sennheiser RS180 headphones on Amazon.com now and get free shipping!
Sony MDR-DS3000
Comfortable and cordless, these digital wireless headphones have a 23’ range and can process Dolby Digital, Dolby Surround, and Dolby DTS sound-encoding with ease. These are far and away the best Sony headphones on the market today.
Read our full review or buy the Sony MDR-DS3000 headphones today!
Pioneer SE-DIR800C
These are some of the most advanced headphones ever produced by Pioneer. They can emulate 5.1 digital surround sound, have advanced power management, and some of the best range we’ve ever tested and make an excellent consumer choice. These were some of the most comfortable headphones we’ve ever tested.
Read our full review or buy now and save with FREE shipping
Don’t be afraid to browse ALL of our products, too!
