The 6 Best TV Headphones - Summer 2022 Reviews

The best wireless headphones for TV that 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 lets you use them wirelessly with low audio latency. Their control scheme also sets them apart from most other picks on this list. They have a few buttons on their ear cup that allow you to easily adjust their volume and toggle between music and speech modes to help improve audio quality. They also have 'Personal Hearing' profiles that the manufacturer advertises to enhance your listening experience by matching your personal preferences. Although some users may find their sound profile is a bit bass-heavy by default, it doesn't completely overwhelm dialogue. Their extra thump and rumble can also help make sound effects in action sequences seem more immersive. 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 they don't distribute pressure well, which can cause parts of your head, like below your earlobe, to get slightly sore. On the upside, they're well-built, and their stand acts as a charger when you're not using these headphones. They last around 19 hours continuously, and they use rechargeable AAA batteries. However, they take more than eight hours to charge fully, which can be a deal-breaker if you want to use the headphones again after a few hours. 

The best TV headphones in the upper mid-range we've tested are the Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019. While it may be unusual to see a pair of gaming headphones on a list like this, these kinds of over-ears can offer a low latency performance similar to dedicated home theater headphones like our top pick. They come with a wireless base station that you can connect to your TV, and thanks to this connection, your audio and visuals stay in sync during your favorite movies or shows. Their boom mic isn't detachable, and they're a bit more unwieldy than other headphones on this list. However, Even if you're wearing them for hours at a time, their headband does a great job distributing their weight, making them more comfortable than our top pick.

Thanks to their over 17 hours of continuous playback time, you don't need to worry about recharging them during a long movie marathon. Their well-balanced sound profile is suitable for a variety of audio content too. If you prefer a different sound, their companion software offers customization features you can save to the EQ preset button. They have a fairly open and natural passive soundstage, but sound seems like it's coming from inside your head rather than from speakers placed in the room around you. That said, they won't block background sound, so if you're watching TV near an open window or in a shared space, you'll hear noise around you.

The best mid-range TV headphones we've tested are the Sennheiser RS 175 RF Wireless. These headphones are part of the same lineup as the Sennheiser RS 195 RF Wireless but offer similar performance at a lower price point. Like their sibling model, they have a bass-heavy sound profile well-suited for watching action-packed movies and TV shows. They also come with a receiver dock that you can easily plug into your TV, which ensures that your audio and visuals stay in sync. However, the trade-off is that they aren't as well-built and lack extra features like 'Personal Hearing' profiles. Instead, they have a physical button for adding more bass or activating surround sound.

While they have a sub-par overall noise isolation performance, they still do a decent job of cutting down ambient chatter and the hum of AC units around you. Thanks to their two rechargeable AAA batteries, they also last roughly 24 hours continuously. Unfortunately, replenishing their battery can take more than eight hours, and unlike our upper mid-range pick, you can't use them wired in a pinch. They're also prone to a lot more inconsistencies in audio delivery than the Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019, and you may especially notice a drop in bass if you have thick hair or wear glasses.

The best lower mid-range TV headphones we've tested are the Sony WH-CH710N Wireless. If you have a compatible TV, these Bluetooth headphones are a solid choice if you don't want to sacrifice wireless compatibility for price. They won't offer better performance than our top Bluetooth pick, though, since they only support SBC codec, which is the default Bluetooth codec. Their latency is high and worse than the Sennheiser RS 175 RF Wireless, which use a wireless transmitter base to help lower lip sync issues.

Out of the box, these over-ears have a bass-heavy sound profile that delivers extra thump, rumble, and boom to audio, which can help immerse you in content with lots of action scenes. That said, if you're a fan of dramas or other genres with lots of dialogue and instruments, these sounds are still clear and present throughout the audio. They have a comfortable fit suitable for long movie marathons and last over 29 hours continuously. You can also use them wired in a pinch, thanks to their 1/8" TRS cable, but the cable isn't very long if you want to sit on the couch while watching TV.

The best headphones for watching TV under $100 that we've tested is the Logitech G433 Gaming Headset. These gaming headphones have a gamer-centric design out of the box, but you can detach their boom mic to make them look more casual. Unlike our lower mid pick, you can only use them wired, but this design eliminates audio latency, so you don't experience your audio and visuals falling out of sync. However, since they're budget headphones, their low price point is reflected in their very limited control scheme as they only have an inline volume wheel. Their ear cup padding is also prone to wear and tear over time, but luckily, they come with another set of pads that you can swap in.

These headphones have a significantly more neutral sound profile than the Sennheiser RS 175 RF Wireless, and although they lack a thumpy low-bass, there's a bump in high-bass to add warmth to your audio. The mid-range is exceptionally neutral, so dialogue and instruments sound present and natural. Unfortunately, they're very prone to inconsistencies in bass and treble delivery, so it's important to take the time to adjust their fit, positioning, and seal each time you wear them.

The Sennheiser PXC 550-II Wireless are the best Bluetooth headphones for TV we've tested. Although Bluetooth headphones like the Sony WH-CH710N Wireless tend to have high audio lag, one way of countering this issue is using a different Bluetooth codec than the standard SBC. Not all headphones have additional codec support, though. Enter the PXC 550-II: they support aptX-LL, a low latency codec that helps ensure that your audio and visuals stay in sync while watching your favorite shows. However, you'll need to ensure you have a Bluetooth adapter or transmitter that supports this codec. They have over 21 hours of continuous battery life, and you can use them while charging, which is handy in a pinch.

These comfortable over-ears support multi-device pairing, so you can have them connected to your TV and smartphone at the same time. Thanks to their ANC system, you can also block ambient sound, like chatty roommates for those living in a shared space. Their bright sound profile is well-suited for vocal-centric and dialogue-heavy content too. Their treble delivery is sensitive to the headphones' position and fit on your head. Since they also have a closed-back design, their passive soundstage doesn't seem very immersive or spacious.