Wireless headphones for tv watching

[bifcake]

My dad is looking to get a set of wireless headphones so that he can watch tv without blasting it. He says he doesn't need a high fidelity phone, but I have a feeling that the phones have to be more than standard fare because they have to be comfortable, non fatiguing, with good high frequency response.l

He's not going to be using them for home theater purposes, only to help him hear the tv at night.

Any recommendations, especially in the sub $100 range are greatly appreciated.

 

[bifcake]

Anyone with suggestions??? Anyone at all?

 

[Takashi]

Maybe this?

http://www5.head-fi.org/forums/showt...threadid=66311

 

[bifcake]

Hi Takashi,

That thread is ok, but I'm not sure that this is practical because a receiver has to be fitted on an existing pair of phones. The phones may be unbalanced and heavy. Furthermore, no one mentioned how it sounds, what type of loss and in what frequencies occurs. It also doesn't say how far you can be from the tv set (infrared implies line of sight, but the distance is unclear) I would very much like to know how this solution compares to dedicated wireless phones.

Thanks for the link.

 

[Takashi]

I don't think Koss unit directly attaches to your headphone but you will plug into receiver unit. But it could be annoying to keep this rather small (and probably light) unit always properly facing square to transmitter. And Koss.com saids it covers 250 sq feet, I assume this equals up to 17 feet in distance, which is not so impressive.

Only thing I can recommend then is Pioneer SE-DIR800C, but it's clearly overkill and overbudget per your criteria.

I'd probably pick up $100-ish Sony IR wireless phone if I were you, but I can't really comment on those. Sorry.

 

[kartik]

I've used RF headphones. TERRIBLE idea! If you must insist on wireless, go with any IR phones. Ultimately the decision will boil down to drivers, although I think they are all much the same throughout the pricerange.
Extension cable is much better idea. Don't waste money on WL.
If you have to go WL, please avoid Amphony headphones at all costs. Don't believe the garbage on the ads, they suck beyond belief. Goodcans, headroom and stereoheadphones.net all list them as "audiophile". They don't work well at all. The production quality and QA is horrible.

 

[bifcake]

Thanks. Do you have any specific recommendations? I don't think the extension cord is viable for my dad.

When you say that RF is a bad idea, is it because of interference? HOw bad is it?

Thanks

 

[Notorious P.I.G.]

amphony is not bad. but, the sound quality is something to be desired.

 

[kartik]

P.I.G., maybe you live in an area with no cell phones, cordless phones , computers and microwaves. I tried using the Amphony H2000s in my NYC apartment and even at 1AM it had unbearable static interference with ridiculously low range. I've posted a detailed review of this on Headwize. I currently have used the Grado 25 ft extension cable and think that this would be the way to go although several other options exist. Just avoid wireless, if you value sound quality.

 

[Notorious P.I.G.]

I've observed the same thing. But, I think that it is a power issue, not an interference issue.

 

[wallijonn]

I loved my Nintendo N64 wireless headphones for gaming. But as it is a 900 MHz unit it had a lot of hiss. But I never cared as it had the best "snick" of a gun I have ever heard. I paid $39 for it, but they are no longer made.

I used other wireless headphones, those with little tuning wheels on the transmitters, but they all sounded like garbage compared to that Nintendo unit.

I laugh at people who pay $150 for Advent 900 MHz units.

Now if the Senn RS65 was a 2.6 GHz unit, I would defintely audition it.

I say search for a $15 RCA unit. Any more and you're probably throwing your money away.

 

[bozebuttons]

Try Bestbuy, ciurcuit city and radioshack, I believe they all cary wireless headphones ,don't know how good they are but at least you can listen to them.

 

[bifcake]

Those stores are so noisy, that it's hard to gauge anything. You're certainly not going to be able to detect hiss or any type of a distortion. I would actually trust the opinions of head-fi members more than I would auditioning the phones in such a noisy environment.

 

[toaster]

I would go senn rs65. Never heard them. but i read about them. i heard they were better than the 85, the next model up. if i were to buy wireless heapdhones for tv, i'd get the 65's.

 

[simplelife]

There is not much you can do with wireless headphones. I tried and tried and end up with an extension cable.

One thing i figure out though. Turn volume on your TV way up and reduce volume on your headphone. It helps a bit on the static matter.