The 6 Best TV Headphones - Fall 2024

The best wireless headphones for TV we've tested are the Sennheiser RS 195 RF Wireless. These dedicated home theater headphones have a specialized receiver dock that directly plugs into most TVs and provides a low-latency wireless connection. The buttons on each ear cup let you adjust the volume without reaching for the remote or toggle between music and speech modes to help improve audio quality. They have 'Personal Hearing' profiles that the manufacturer claims enhance your listening experience by matching the EQ to your personal preferences. Their bass-heavy sound profile provides extra thump and rumble, making sound effects in action sequences feel more immersive without drowning out the dialogue. They're prone to inconsistencies in audio delivery, though, and you may experience a drop in bass if you wear glasses or have thick hair.

These over-ears have a comfortable fit but don't distribute pressure well, so some places where they contact your head, like below the earlobe and on top of the head, can get sore after a while. On the upside, they're well-built, and their stand acts as a charger when you're not using them. They last around 19 hours continuously and use rechargeable AAA batteries. However, they take more than eight hours to charge fully, so you'll want to make sure to plug them in overnight if you're planning a movie marathon.

In the upper mid-range price point, the Sennheiser RS 175 RF Wireless are the best wireless headphones for TV. They're part of the same lineup as the Sennheiser RS 195 RF Wireless and offer similar performance at a lower price. Like the RS 195 RF headphones, their bass-heavy sound profile makes action-packed scenes more immersive. Their receiver dock easily connects to your TV and provides a low latency connection, so your audio and visuals don't fall out of sync. Compared to their pricier sibling, they aren't as sturdy and are missing a few extra features, including the RS 195 RF's 'Personal Hearing' profiles, so they aren't quite as customizable. Fortunately, their control scheme is easy to use, and they have a physical button on one ear cup that you can use to add more bass or activate surround sound.

While they can't passively isolate you from the level of ambient noise found during a commute, they can cut out a fair amount of noise at home, like background conversation or an A/C unit, which is nice when you're watching a movie in a shared space. Their rechargeable AAA batteries provide about 24 hours of continuous playback but take more than eight hours to recharge, which can be a problem if you forget to charge them overnight. You don't have the option of using them wired if the battery is dead. Their sound depends more on their fit and positioning on your head than the RS 195 RF, so adjusting them is important to get a consistent sound, and you may notice a drop in bass if you have thick hair or wear glasses.

Although the Avantree HT5009 Wireless are less comfortable and well-built than the Sennheiser RS 175 RF Wireless, they're still worth considering if you want something easier on the wallet. Their sound profile is designed with TV and movie content in mind, as they deliver serious bass that'll make explosions in action-packed scenes feel exciting. At the same time, vocals and instruments are crisp and present, so they stand out from the extra thump, rumble, and boom, but sibilants like S and T sounds are piercing. Unlike the previous picks, these headphones don't have any sound customization features to help you adjust their sound. They're also very prone to inconsistencies in audio delivery, so it's important to take the time to adjust their fit, positioning, and seal each time you use them.

These over-ears have over 34 hours of continuous battery life, so you don't have to recharge them often even if you use them every day, and if you forget to turn them off, they go into standby mode to help conserve battery life. Their wireless transmitter also has low enough latency to ensure minimal lip-sync disruption. The transmitter also allows you to connect another pair of Bluetooth headphones to your TV if you want to watch a movie with someone else. Unusually, they have an integrated mic, which is handy if you want to use them to make the occasional call. However, the mic offers a disappointing overall performance, and it can be challenging for others to hear you well.

If you want the best headphones for TV at the lowest price, the Logitech G433 are worth considering. These budget-friendly gaming headphones are well-suited for TV watching as well. They're wired, which might be a concern if your TV is far from your couch. However, this analog connection eliminates latency, so your audio and video stay in sync. Their sound profile lacks some low- and mid-bass, meaning they won't add extra thump and punch to action scenes. However, your audio has warmth and fullness, and instruments and voices are clear and detailed.

Their companion software includes a graphic EQ and presets, so you can customize their sound to suit your taste. You can also customize the surround sound feature, which can help make movies and TV feel more immersive. Unfortunately, the headphones are prone to inconsistent audio delivery, so you need to take the time to adjust their fit and positioning to get the same sound every time you wear them. The ear cup padding seems prone to wear and tear, but the headphones come with two pairs of padding. Their boom mic is also detachable, which is nice if you just use them to watch TV.

The Shure AONIC 50 Wireless are the best Bluetooth headphones for TV use we've tested. Although Bluetooth headphones tend to have high audio lag, one way to counter this issue is using a Bluetooth codec that's different from the standard SBC. Not all headphones have additional codec support, though. Enter the Shure: they support aptX-LL, a low latency codec that helps ensure your audio and visuals stay in sync while watching your favorite shows. However, you'll need a Bluetooth adapter or transmitter that supports it. Some TVs have built-in support for this codec, but it's rare.

These over-ears have a great build and are comfortable enough for binge-watching your favorite shows, especially since they last for 17 hours off a single charge. Their excited sound profile adds extra boom to TV shows and movies while dialogue is bright and present. Unlike other picks on this list, they also have an active noise cancelling (ANC) system. While it offers a passable overall performance, it can still help reduce sounds like ambient chatter and the hum of an A/C unit so that you can focus on your media. If you want better noise isolation performance, try the Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless. Although the next-generation model has replaced them, they're still around and block out even more ambient noise than the Shure. However, even if you're using them wired, they need the battery, so you're out of luck if you forget to charge them.

The Astro A50 X Wireless are wireless gaming headphones that come with an array of connectivity options via their base station. They stand out from other wireless headphones in that their dock offers super low latency HDMI 2.1 passthrough capabilities. Although they support Bluetooth, they have high latency via this connection, and their base station offers its own wireless connection with very low latency. They're also more expensive than the Sennheiser RS 195 RF Wireless and don't offer dedicated controls that are geared towards watching TV.

They have a balanced sound profile that's well-suited for movies, with plenty of rumble and thump for action-packed sequences, as well as a detailed mid-range that brings out dialogue. There's also 26 hours of continuous battery life, which will get you through movie marathons without needing a recharge. While they lack a wide, natural soundstage, their Dolby Atmos compatibility can compensate for this by providing a more immersive, virtual listening experience. However, you'll need to be connected to your PC to access this feature, as it's incompatible with TVs. If you use streaming services, you can even stream content with virtual surround sound from your console. They also lack an ANC feature and offer very little passive attenuation against ambient noise, so you'll want to use these in a quiet environment, like your living room.