The Best Wireless Headphones for TV in 2024

Bluetooth or RF is the first decision to make as you narrow down your options

By

Updated on March 8, 2024

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more.

Audio

Bluetooth-friendly headphones aren't always friendly with TVs. You'll usually need a separate receiver or a streaming device to make things work.

RF-style headphones, however, connect much more quickly to televisions and frequently sound better. They aren't as sleek or full-featured as Bluetooth headphones, though.

The Rundown

Best Overall:

Sennheiser RS 195 RF at Amazon ($267)

Jump to Review

Best for Gaming:

Astro A50 Wireless Gen 3 at Amazon ($248)

Jump to Review

in this article

Our Picks
Or Maybe These?
What to look For

Best Overall

Sennheiser RS 195 RF

Amazon

View On Amazon $267 View On Walmart $266 View On Sennheiser.com

Pros

Clear, powerful sound
Customizable sound profiles
Stable wireless connection via RF

Cons

Bulky design
Clunky removable rechargeable batteries
A little expensive

The Sennheiser RS 195 RF headphones are a classic example of a television-friendly pair of wireless headphones. Using a radio-frequency-style connection via 2.4–2.48 GHz line-of-site wireless, the receiver is plugged into your TV to transmit audio to the headphones.

The receiver also doubles as a storage base that allows you to adjust to the balance and different sound profiles. These are family-friendly, too: Sound profiles can be user-saved to lock in a preset for the right sound style for you and then recall that specific preset whenever you (or someone else in the household) sit down.

You can expect the Sennheiser level of excellence on the sound quality front, with an all-encompassing frequency response of 17 Hz to 22 kHz and less than 0.5% harmonic distortion. But, Sennheiser has also enlisted the help of the IDMT for signal processing (a leading organization in developing hearing aids) to better process the wireless signal for a complete, clear audio response.

This latter fact makes these headphones great for those who need help hearing their TV shows.

However, this also means that Sennheiser has built much bulkier and heavier headphones than you’d typically expect from modern headphones. The more cumbersome design also means the plush padding is massive and ultra-comfortable.

Best for Gaming

Astro A50 Wireless Gen 3

Amazon

View On Amazon $248 View On Gamestop.com

Pros

Video game optimized sound
Low-latency wireless connectivity (RF)
Durable build

Cons

Bulky design
Somewhat limited battery life

If you’re looking for a wireless gaming headset that will work for console use with a television, there aren’t many options that truly fit the bill, but the Astro A50 is one of them. It focuses on game effects, music, and dialog, and you can adjust the levels via a knob on the side.

If the out-of-the-box sound isn’t suitable for your use, there are equalizer settings you can toggle on the unit to customize the sound further.

The other factor that makes these headphones great for console gaming is that they transmit audio via the lower-latency 2.4GHz method instead of the Bluetooth protocol. The attached boom mic provides a crisp way to communicate with your team in online games and will automatically mute when you flip it upward.

The 15-hour battery life isn’t the best we’ve seen, but the headphones will always charge when on standby because the receiver base doubles as a charging storage cradle.

Another interesting consideration is connecting these headphones via USB to your PC. This allows you to use a slightly better digital-to-analog converter than your PC might have, giving you a better, more optimized in-game audio experience.

Or Maybe These?

What's best for a home audio system? The Avantree HT5009 has a Bluetooth-enabled receiver that allows for audio pass-through. You can hook up a soundbar, stereo receiver, or other home audio device.
I want something simple. The Sennheiser RS120 is a no-frills option for people who want wireless TV-friendly headphones with a slim and straightforward design.
What if I'm hard of hearing? The Simolio Hearing Protection headphones are explicitly designed to help people hear what's happening on the TV without blasting the volume.

What to look For in Wireless TV Headphones

Connectivity

There are two ways to connect headphones for TV: Bluetooth and RF-style wireless. Bluetooth headphones will only work out of the box if a Bluetooth receiver is connected, whereas RF-style units require the receiver base to transmit audio wirelessly.

Sound Quality and Latency

Low-latency RF connectivity and complete bass response are essential if you want to use your headphones for console gaming. If you're using headphones for some quiet late-night TV watching, a more straightforward sound profile and some latency are okay.

Price

This product class has a wide price range (around $40 to above $300). Budget sensitivity is a genuine consideration because these headphones are meant to augment or improve a quiet TV-watching experience.

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for letting us know!

Tell us why!