[MSMS]

Hello,
I've been looking at wireless headphones for quite some time now and after more or less settling for Sennheiser RS 175, I still have some questions I would like to get answers to. I am planning to use wireless headphones mainly for one thing, and that is watching movies. I am planning to connect headphones base station to my TV optical audio output. Questions I have are as follows:

• Can I expect delay/lag issues (lip sync issues) between sound through headphones and picture on TV? My TV has delay adjustment for optical audio output up to 200 ms in 10 ms increments. In case I can expect issues, should that range be enough to cover possible scenarios?
  
• I've seem to remember information from thread on some forum that stated that if you connect two headphones to one base station, you can't use bass boost functionality on both headphones. I might've misunderstood something, but I would still like to know whether it will be possible to use bass boost on both headphones when connected to one base station
  
  

 

[Sennheiser]

  Hello,
I've been looking at wireless headphones for quite some time now and after more or less settling for Sennheiser RS 175, I still have some questions I would like to get answers to. I am planning to use wireless headphones mainly for one thing, and that is watching movies. I am planning to connect headphones base station to my TV optical audio output. Questions I have are as follows:

• Can I expect delay/lag issues (lip sync issues) between sound through headphones and picture on TV? My TV has delay adjustment for optical audio output up to 200 ms in 10 ms increments. In case I can expect issues, should that range be enough to cover possible scenarios?
  
• I've seem to remember information from thread on some forum that stated that if you connect two headphones to one base station, you can't use bass boost functionality on both headphones. I might've misunderstood something, but I would still like to know whether it will be possible to use bass boost on both headphones when connected to one base station
  
  

1. There should not be any lip sync issues originating from our RS 175 system. I assume your TV delay adjustment is for audio? That setting should be set to 0 then.
 
2.  If you use a RS 175 transmitter, both connected headphones can have the bass boost feature. If you use a RS 175 headphone, you have the remote functionality directly on your head.

 

[MSMS]

Hello Rosmadi,
 
Thank you for your quick reply. It' nice to hear it that I should not expect any lag from RS 175. As for second question, reason I asked in the first place was that I've read it on thread (post #2) at another forum http://www.avsforum.com/forum/378-headphones/1902929-sennheiser-rs-175-a.html . Fella there wrote that he communicated with Sennheiser US customer service and found out (quoting) " bear in mind, though, that as soon as you pair a second set to whichever transmitter, you lose the extra functionality. In other words, pair up 2 175s and you will not be able to make use of the bass or surround sound options if both headsets are in use simultaneously. You can only increase and decrease the volume."
 
Thanks, MSMS

 

[AtrafCreez]

Hello Rosmadi Moodi
In your opinion,
what is a better wireless Sennheiser  headphone for audio quality , usually i listen to films or music and i like bass
either :
RS220  or
RS195  the new line.
Thank You

 

[ofrex]

Hi Rosmadi  
Thanks for the advice etc. it really is appreciated as it prompts me to apply more thought in an effort to understand and find ways to overcome the echo. The good news is that I've found a workaround, which I'll come to later.
 
As background, I spent over 30 years working for BT and for a large proportion of that time I was involved in analogue multiplexing (FDM) and digital multiplexing  (TDM), I'm therefore familiar with sampling rates (Nyquists theorem) and the delays inherent in the conversion of analogue signals to digital and then back to analogue.  So we speak the same language.
 
Regarding your last reply and the tips from your Product Management Team:
 
1.   I tried switching off the hearing programs, but couldn't discern any difference.  I suspect that the 'programs' are likely to employ analogue filters, which selectively attenuate different segments of the audio spectrum.  If this is so then I can't see that switching them off would make a difference.  However if this is done after digitalisation then I can see that they may well be responsible for a small part of the delay.
 
2.  Our Panasonic TV however does not provide a means of altering the audio delay.
 
3.  I assure you that my wife's reaction to any suggesting that she also wears headphones, would fall on very stony ground.
 
So to the workaround:
 
The set up is, a Panasonic TX-P50VT30B,  which has a built-in FreeSat receiver, which we don't use, and a built-in FreeView receiver, which we do use.  It is also connected via HDMI to a Sky HD+ 2 TB and a BT YouView receiver.
 
I had assumed that the problem was associated with the new RS195 headphones, as the analogue RS 140 headphones and a pair of wired headphones exhibited no delay.
 
However I did another test using the 195s and discovered something which I cannot explain.  It is that the problem only occurs when using the TV's in-built FreeView receiver.  If either of the HDMI connected devices, i.e. Sky or BT, are used the problem, as far as I can discern, disappears.
 
I still can't see how the 140s, when connected via the headphone socket exhibit no audio delay, no matter which source is used.  Yet the 195s, when connected to the headphone socket exhibit a noticeable delay, but only when the TV's internal Freeview tuner is selected.
 
Surely it must be accepted that the 'headphone' audio output from the TV is identical in both cases, if this is the case the delay must be being caused by the 195s A to D/D to A conversion.  But then why do the 195s only exhibit the delay when the audio source is from the TVs internal Freeview receiver?  It beats me .....
 
Fortunately the workaround is simple, if I want to use the 195s, I will have to switch the TV to an HDMI source.
 
If you could pass my observations to your Product Management Team I would be very grateful.
 
Kind regards Noel

 

[Coldsnap]

If anyone is shopping around for the RS 185. I just put up my extra testing pair for sale finally on the Marketplace.
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/770090/2015-sennheiser-rs-185-wireless-headphones-70-best-buy-protection-plan

 

[Sennheiser]

 Hello Rosmadi,
 
Thank you for your quick reply. It' nice to hear it that I should not expect any lag from RS 175. As for second question, reason I asked in the first place was that I've read it on thread (post #2) at another forum http://www.avsforum.com/forum/378-headphones/1902929-sennheiser-rs-175-a.html . Fella there wrote that he communicated with Sennheiser US customer service and found out (quoting) " bear in mind, though, that as soon as you pair a second set to whichever transmitter, you lose the extra functionality. In other words, pair up 2 175s and you will not be able to make use of the bass or surround sound options if both headsets are in use simultaneously. You can only increase and decrease the volume."
 
Thanks, MSMS

 
Hi MSMS,
 
That is not fully correct. You may pair up to 2 pairs of headphones simultaneously to a transmitter and still enjoy the features (dependent on model - click here for a discussion on this earlier in the thread). In the mentioned scenario, you will still enjoy the bass and surround sound features on both paired RS 175 headphones.
 
However, when 2 headphones are paired to the RS 195 transmitter, the personal hearing enhancement function  will be switched off automatically.
 

 Hello Rosmadi Moodi
In your opinion,
what is a better wireless Sennheiser  headphone for audio quality , usually i listen to films or music and i like bass
either :
RS220  or
RS195  the new line.
Thank You

Hi AtrafCreez,
 
In terms of audio quality, I'd say the RS 220 is still a step higher compared to the new RS models. Personally, I've been using the RS 220 to watch movies in my living room but lately, I've been using the RS 185 and enjoying it as well.  
 
The RS 195 differs slightly from its RS siblings as it comes with a choice of pre-sets and hearing programs. 

 

[Sennheiser]

  Hi Rosmadi  
Thanks for the advice etc. it really is appreciated as it prompts me to apply more thought in an effort to understand and find ways to overcome the echo. The good news is that I've found a workaround, which I'll come to later.
 
As background, I spent over 30 years working for BT and for a large proportion of that time I was involved in analogue multiplexing (FDM) and digital multiplexing  (TDM), I'm therefore familiar with sampling rates (Nyquists theorem) and the delays inherent in the conversion of analogue signals to digital and then back to analogue.  So we speak the same language.
 
Regarding your last reply and the tips from your Product Management Team:
 
1.   I tried switching off the hearing programs, but couldn't discern any difference.  I suspect that the 'programs' are likely to employ analogue filters, which selectively attenuate different segments of the audio spectrum.  If this is so then I can't see that switching them off would make a difference.  However if this is done after digitalisation then I can see that they may well be responsible for a small part of the delay.
 
2.  Our Panasonic TV however does not provide a means of altering the audio delay.
 
3.  I assure you that my wife's reaction to any suggesting that she also wears headphones, would fall on very stony ground.
 
So to the workaround:
 
The set up is, a Panasonic TX-P50VT30B,  which has a built-in FreeSat receiver, which we don't use, and a built-in FreeView receiver, which we do use.  It is also connected via HDMI to a Sky HD+ 2 TB and a BT YouView receiver.
 
I had assumed that the problem was associated with the new RS195 headphones, as the analogue RS 140 headphones and a pair of wired headphones exhibited no delay.
 
However I did another test using the 195s and discovered something which I cannot explain.  It is that the problem only occurs when using the TV's in-built FreeView receiver.  If either of the HDMI connected devices, i.e. Sky or BT, are used the problem, as far as I can discern, disappears.
 
I still can't see how the 140s, when connected via the headphone socket exhibit no audio delay, no matter which source is used.  Yet the 195s, when connected to the headphone socket exhibit a noticeable delay, but only when the TV's internal Freeview tuner is selected.
 
Surely it must be accepted that the 'headphone' audio output from the TV is identical in both cases, if this is the case the delay must be being caused by the 195s A to D/D to A conversion.  But then why do the 195s only exhibit the delay when the audio source is from the TVs internal Freeview receiver?  It beats me .....
 
Fortunately the workaround is simple, if I want to use the 195s, I will have to switch the TV to an HDMI source.
 
If you could pass my observations to your Product Management Team I would be very grateful.
 
Kind regards Noel

Hi Noel,
 
Glad to know you've found this workaround. I'll be sure to forward your observations to the team. 
 
Thanks and regards,
Rosmadi

 

[AtrafCreez]

Thanks for the reply !

 

[Sennheiser]

"The RS 175 system demonstrates how far, literally, high-end wireless performance has come." Read and watch the full review from CNET - http://www.cnet.com/products/sennheiser-rs-175-rf-wireless-headphone-system/​
 

 

[Steven Seagal]

Hey,

those RS 185 looks really promising.
Afaik the discontinued RS 220 were based on HD 650 and sounded a lot like them.
How can I compare the new RS 185?
On which Sennheiser headphone are they based?

Can someone compare them with DT 990, HD 598, HD 650?

 

[ofrex]

  Hi Noel,
 
Glad to know you've found this workaround. I'll be sure to forward your observations to the team. 
 
Thanks and regards,
Rosmadi

Hi Rosmadi
 
Have the 'Team' had a chance to have a look at the problem?
 
Thanks Noel

 

[j82k]

Hi,
can someone tell me how good the RS 175 is at isolating sound coming from the outside?
The reason is i'm watching movies on a beamer. It is mounted on the ceiling above my head and during quiet scenes the buzzing/humming noise of the beamer can be annoying.
Also how good is the audio quality of the RS 175 compared to my RS 130? Can i expect an improvement? 

 

[Sennheiser]

  Hi Rosmadi
 
Have the 'Team' had a chance to have a look at the problem?
 
Thanks Noel

 
Hi Noel,
 
Apologies for this late reply. Just got back from a family vacation
 
As mentioned, our team appreciates the information which you've shared but without having the same set-up or knowing the mentioned devices well, it's not easy to explain the delay/echo that you've experienced.
 
However, in general, the RS 195 has a certain internal delay which may not be discernible. If the device it's connected to (e.g. TV with inbuilt FreeView receiver) adds on to this delay, then the total delay might be too high and therefore becomes apparent. Hence, connecting to a different source or set-up with less/ no delay might be the solution. 
 
Hope this helps! 

 

[Sennheiser]

I just want to share that we've uploaded some frequently asked questions (FAQs) for the new RS models on the product pages. You'll be able to find the banners on the right side of each page (see screen shot below).
 

 
 
Here are the direct links to the FAQs:
 
RS 165 - http://en-de.sennheiser.com/rs-165-faq
RS 175 - http://en-de.sennheiser.com/rs-175-faq
RS 185 - http://en-de.sennheiser.com/rs-185-faq
RS 195 - http://en-de.sennheiser.com/rs-195-faq