To help you find the best headphones for use with a television, we combed through dozens of models, testing them for sound reproduction quality, maximum RF signal distance with the ability to transmit through obstacles, and outstanding battery performance, with hours of use on a single charge. We also took a look at warranties and additional features. This is the same system we use to rate the best Bluetooth headsets. And, when you’re ready for more great product recommendations, then read our best headphones guide.
The best dedicated wireless headphones vs speakers for TV were easily the Sennheiser RS120 On-Ear Wireless RF Headphones, which come with a charging cradle that allows for 20 hours of continuous use, a radio frequency transmitter that allows you to pick from a variety of interference-free channels, and wireless reception of up to 300 feet, even through obstacles. Keep reading to learn more about the Sennheiser RS120 On-Ear Wireless RF Headphones and the other products on this list.
Top 7 Best Headphones for TV Compared
#1 Sennheiser RS120 On-Ear Wireless RF Headphones
Award: Top Pick
WHY WE LIKE IT: Comes with a state-of-the-art charging cradle, that allows for 20 hours of continuous use on a single charge, and boasts a maximum wireless range of around 300 feet, the longest on this list. The extremely comfortable on-ear design also adds to this product’s rating as our top pick.
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- 300 foot range
- 20 hour battery
- Extremely comfortable design
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- Set up instructions are confusing
- Manual tuning wheel
- Replacement parts difficult to find
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These Sennheiser RS120 On-Ear Wireless RF Headphones pack quite a punch, delivering natural sound that perfectly reproduces what you are watching on television. These headphones offer HiFi sound quality. And this package includes the Sennheiser RS120 wireless headphones, a wireless transmitter that is also the charging dock, and 2 AAA rechargeable batteries. The included charging cradle allows for 20 hours of continuous use on a single charge and the RF receiver transmits signals up to 300 feet, even through obstacles. The on-ear design on this Sennheiser model is extremely comfortable, has a good build quality created with long viewing sessions in mind, and the two-year warranty is on point. These ultra-comfortable headphones are ideal for watching late-night TV when your roommates or family are asleep.
Though the Sennheiser’s RF receiver does allow you to swap to different frequencies in order to find a channel without interference, so as to get the best sound quality, it does so via a manual knob, and some other products on this list automatically find the best frequency. We also found the wording in the included instructions to be somewhat confusing during setup. All in all, if you’re looking for the best headphones for TV, look no further than the Sennheiser RS120, and although it is currently unavailable on Amazon it should be back soon. For more choices read about the best over-ear headphones.
#2 ARTISTE Wireless TV Headphones
We’re sorry, this product is temporarily out of stock
Award: Honorable Mention
WHY WE LIKE IT: Features a cradle that charges the headphones and gets up to 20 hours of continuous use, a suite of audio drivers that reduce distortion, and a padded ear design that is extremely comfortable. This is a great product for those fearful of distorted audio signals during TV watching, particularly during action movies.
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- Minimal signal distortion
- 20 hours of use on single charge
- Padded ears are comfortable
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- 1 year warranty (top pick gets 2 yrs)
- 100 feet max wireless range (top pick gets near 300)
- Instructions are poorly written
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These ARTISTE Wireless TV Headphones are fantastic, with a charging cradle in line with our top pick (Sennheiser RS120), getting 20 hours of continuous use on a single charge, and a suite of audio drivers that work to reduce audio distortion, which truly lets the dialog and action of your favorite TV shows shine. It’s got brilliant sound quality with a frequency response of 25Hz-20kHz. That is HiFi sound quality with extra bass without distortion. And getting 20 hours of continuous use on a single charge makes it almost 3 times what you get from common Bluetooth headphones. Plus, the soft-padded headband as well as padded ear cups are extremely comfortable and intended for long sessions of use, and the product does well to transmit signals through obstacles, such as walls or furniture.
Though the RF receiver does fantastic work in transmitting signals through obstacles, it does max out at around 100 feet, which is less than our top pick. But keep in mind that this is more than three times the traditional wireless range of Bluetooth headphones. Also, you may find it difficult to fit the ear cups comfortably around your ears if you have larger than average ears. Additionally, the company throws in a one-year warranty, which is less than our top pick, which gets two years, but it is readily available at Amazon.com. Also, check out the best lightning cable headphones for Apple products and the top-rated headphones for iPhone.
#3 Avantree HT4189 Wireless Headphones
Award: Most Connection Options
WHY WE LIKE IT: Features a bevy of connection options, including optical, RCA, USB, and aux, and a long-lasting battery that gets around 30 hours of use on a single charge. This is just a fantastic product if you are looking for something versatile with a variety of connections, particularly if you have an older television.
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- 30 hour battery life
- 2 year warranty once registered
- No audio lag
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- Price on higher end, compared to top picks
- 100 feet max range (top pick gets 300)
- Volume buttons on headphones are somewhat finicky
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These Avantree HT4189 Wireless Headphones boast a radio frequency transmitter that comes equipped with a bevy of connection options, including ports for RCA, USB, AUX, and digital optical connections, so you can use this with many different types of gadgets, in addition to televisions. It’s got a Bluetooth transmitter that will pair automatically with your TV as long as it’s turned on. It’s ideal these are Bluetooth capable, since wrapping your headphone cables in embroidery floss seems pointless.
Also, these headphones have a flexible use because they can be used with any Bluetooth transmitting device such as your PC or smartphone, thanks to Audikast’s Bluetooth Class I technology. So the recommended use of these headphones includes; a Bluetooth-enabled TV/DVD with RCA or AUX audio output, a Bluetooth-enabled PC or PS4 with audio out, or a Bluetooth-enabled AV receiver and other audio devices. So apart from watching TV, this is also ideally a gaming headset, and although it does not feature surround sound, it is pretty good at external noise-canceling. The built-in lithium battery gets a lot of use before needing to be charged, around 30 hours, and the Qualcomm chipset ensures minimal audio lag during use.
These earphones exhibit extended use comfort too, with an adjustable headband, and super-soft earpads for a comfortable customized fit. They could be great audiophile headphones, but you’ll want to compare studio vs audiophile headphones to make sure. Yet, they’re ideal for extended periods of time on your favorite TV shows and series in your living room. Could they be used as stellar headphones for a guitar amp? Only a musician would know.
Though the RF transmitter did great with cutting through common household obstacles, it does max out at around 100 feet, while our top pick gets three times that. Additionally, this is a bit pricier than our top two picks. It is also readily available at Amazon.com. You may also like the best kid headphones.
#4 Avantree HT280 Wireless Headphones
Award: Most Volume
WHY WE LIKE IT: Boasts customized volume controls that get louder than other picks on this list, up to 30 percent in some cases, with audio drivers that minimize audio delay and a two-year warranty, once the product is registered. This is a great set of headphones for those hard of hearing.
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- Very comfortable
- Minimal audio delay
- 2 year warranty, with registration
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- 12 hours of battery life
- 100 feet max wireless range (top pick gets 300)
- Price higher than top picks
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These Avantree HT280 Wireless Headphones feature a suite of advanced volume controls, that get 30 percent louder than the other picks on this list. Note that these headphones are only for use with RF wireless devices and are not compatible with Bluetooth devices. Although, the Avantree Oasis Plus transmitter has a bypass feature that enables sharing of TV audio with an external speaker and Bluetooth headphones. The product also boasts a suite of audio drivers that work together to deliver minimal audio delay that is noticeable by the human ear. And even though the audio controls don’t have a left/right balance, the audio quality is still something to smile about. The company also throws in a two-year warranty, which is nice, once the product is registered.
Though this product does feature a charging cradle in line with our top picks, we found the battery life to be somewhat lessened, getting around 12 hours of continuous use, as opposed to 20 in our top pick. Additionally, the price is somewhat higher than our top picks. It is readily available at Amazon.com. Be sure to check out the Sennheiser RS 2000 as well, which is one of the best wireless earbuds for TV use. Also, take a look at the best headphones for running.
#5 Avantree HT5009 Wireless Headphones
Award: Best Battery
WHY WE LIKE IT: Boasts a rechargeable lithium battery that gets 40 hours of continuous use on a single charge, which is 20 hours longer than our top pick. They have a decent wireless range at 165 feet and a trio of outputs, including RCA, AUX, and optical. This is a great product that truly maximizes battery life.
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- 2 year warranty
- Trio of outputs
- Decent wireless range (165 feet)
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- Most expensive item on list
- Mutes some TV speakers
- Bass not as pronounced as some other picks
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These Avantree HT5009 Wireless Headphones features a rechargeable lithium battery that gets 40 hours of continuous use before needing to recharge, along with 20 days of standby time. It also boasts a decent wireless range, 165 feet, which is only second to our top pick. Plus, it features Bluetooth Class I technology, although, with Bluetooth functionality, the range is dependent upon physical interference. It has a Bluetooth transmitter and if you have a smart TV with Bluetooth functionality then all you need to do is turn on the headphones and the Bluetooth button and they will pair automatically. It also comes with a two-year warranty, once the product is registered, and features an extremely comfortable padded design. The trio of outputs is also handy. And apart from watching TV, this is also ideally a gaming headset, although it does not feature surround sound.
This is the most expensive item on the list, though not by a large margin. Additionally, this product muted some TV speakers that we tried with it, a common occurrence with these products, though we were able to resolve the issue by going into the settings. If noise is important to you, check out the best noise-cancelling headphones. One example is the BackBeat Pro 2, one of the best wireless headphones that are not only noise-cancelling, but also have enough low latency to be suitable for a home theater.
#6 RCA HP3090 Wireless TV Headphones
Award: Best Budget
WHY WE LIKE IT: Great features to price ratio, with fantastic audio drivers intended to minimize latency, a decent wireless range, 150 feet, and a radio frequency transmitter that autotunes to find interference-free channels. This is a high-end product at a lower than average price.
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- Great audio drivers
- Decent wireless range at 150 feet
- Autotunes radio frequencies
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- Battery life only 8 hours
- 1 year warranty (top pick has 2)
- Cannot purchase extra headsets for joint viewing
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These RCA HP3090 Wireless TV Headphones are great for the price, with many high-end features found in costlier models. It boasts a decent wireless range, offering a maximum distance of around 150 feet, a comfortable padded design, and a radio frequency transmitter with autotune capabilities, to find available channels free of interference.
Though this product does boast a charging cradle in line with our top picks, it only gets around eight hours of continuous use on a single charge, whereas our top pick gets more than twice that. Additionally, RCA doesn’t make single headsets available for purchase, for joint listening, forcing you to buy the combo pack with the RF transmitter. Check out the Power Acoustic HP902R Wireless Headphones as well, which is another great pair of wireless headphones for watching TV any time you want without disturbing your roommates or neighbors. For something waterproof, read the best waterproof earbud.
#7 RCA DHP780 Wireless TV Headphones
Award: Best Value
WHY WE LIKE IT: Boasts high-end features at a relatively low price point, with audio drivers that create a fantastic bass and midrange response, not to mention minimal latency, and super soft earpads that are perfect for lengthy viewing sessions. This is a great product for those looking for value.
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- Super soft earpads
- Minimal audio latency
- Good bass and midrange response
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- 8 hours of battery life
- 100 feet max wireless distance
- 1 year warranty
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These RCA DHP780 Wireless TV Headphones are reasonably priced, despite an advanced feature set in line with more expensive models. They boast super soft earpads, which are perfect for extended viewing sessions, and a suite of audio drivers that minimize latency and work together to create fantastic bass and midrange responses for good sound quality and a well-balanced sound profile.
Though it does come with a charging cradle, which is extremely easy to use, the battery life on offer is on the lower end, maxing out at around eight hours of continuous use from a single charge. Much lower than the Sennheiser RS120 or ARTISTE Wireless TV Headphones, our #1 and #2 picks boast 20 hours of continuous use on a single charge. Additionally, the 100-foot maximum wireless distance is lower than our top pick, though in line with many other items on this list. Still, the 2.4Ghz wireless technology gives a longer range than traditional Bluetooth transmission. The best on-ear headphones also have a lot to offer. Our headphones list has many as well.
How We Decided
To help you find the best headphones for TV, we tested products for sound quality, favoring headsets with audio drivers that reduce or eliminate latency and create fantastic stereo images. We also tended to pick products with extremely comfortable soft earpads, which are great for extended viewing sessions, that are designed to reduce audio leakage.
We also took a serious look at the maximum wireless range, with our top pick boasting an astounding maximum distance of around 300 feet, with a minimum threshold of 100 feet, which all of the above products meet or surpass. Additionally, we looked for products that offered many hours of continuous use on a single charge, with a minimum of eight hours and a maximum of 40 hours, in the case of one pick.
On the warranty end, we made sure each and every product on the above list had at least a one-year warranty, with some products ascending to 18 months or two years. Finally, we made sure these headphones were easy to use and compatible with most televisions, old or new.
TV Headphones Buying Guide
The Most Important Features to Consider
- RF Transmitter
These headphones operate via radio frequency (RF) transmitter, allowing for much longer maximum wireless ranges than Bluetooth-enabled products, with distances more in line with WiFi signals. The common Bluetooth range is about 33 feet. On average, these transmitters boast maximum wireless ranges of around 100 feet, with some ascending to 150 feet and, as is the case with our top pick, 300 feet. Due to the nature of RF signals, they tend to also excel at cutting through common household obstacles, such as furniture or walls. - Battery Life
Most of these products feature cradles that allow the headphones to charge while not in use. Look for units that maximize battery life, allowing for multiple hours of continuous use on a single charge. For instance, our top pick gets 20 hours of use on a single charge, while other products that we featured ascend to 40 hours. Many of these products also offer lengthy standby times, so the headphones will keep a charge while not in use. - Sound Quality and Latency
Look for products with advanced audio drivers that are intended to minimize or eliminate audio latency, as even a slight degree of latency with a television signal can disrupt viewing. Additionally, these same drivers work together to create a natural bass response and exciting midrange and high end. Many of the headphones we featured also minimize audio leakage, so nobody else in the room will be able to hear what you are watching. And the less the sound leakage, the better the sound quality and balance you receive. As you can see, there is a lot of thought that goes into which headphones are perfect for the best TVs.
