Home Theater Headphones

Wireless headphones for home theater focus on comfort

Reviewers say the Sennheiser RS 130 (*Est. $160), which uses an RF link, is a good pair of home-theater wireless headphones for the money. Sound quality is high according to many professional and user reviews, and the headphones are praised for comfort and stability. In his review for The Sunday Times of London, David Price writes that "this is a fine all-round package at a persuasive price."

Reviewers do note, however, that the RS 130 has some low hissing or whistling during quiet passages in movies or music. Amazon.com users recommend you turn the volume up on the source to about 80% of its maximum and turn the headphones' volume down low to minimize the buzz. The virtual surround-sound, which is supposed to mimic 5.1-channel speakers, didn't impress many professional reviewers, although some users love it.

If you don't want to spend so much, some reviewers say the Sennheiser RS 120 (*Est. $70) is not a bad choice. Editors at HeadPhone.com like these wireless headphones for their low cost and good sound quality. Users, however, point to two problems. First, this pair is sensitive to interference from cordless and cell phones -- even when the offending device is in another room in the house. Also, if you want a pair of wireless headphones that you can use while in your garden or on the treadmill, these aren't a good choice as the fit is looser than on the RS 130 headphones.

Sennheiser's more expensive option is the RS 140 headphones (*Est. $220). These wireless headphones differ from the RS 130 model mainly in that they're closed so they completely surround your ears. This makes for a more immersive sound. According to users, the hiss from the RS 130 wireless headphones has improved in this model and there's a voice-enhancement feature that they confirm works well. Whether the increase in cost is worth the improvement in sound quality is more of an open question.

One thing to be aware of in all three Sennheiser models, however, is the location of the controls. Tuning and volume buttons are on the back of the unit and somewhat sensitive, so lying down can trigger one or both. This is a deal breaker for some users but not for others.

The most expensive home theater wireless headphones are the Pioneer SE-DIR800C Cordless Surround Headphones (*Est. $270). Experts say the high price is justified by their excellent audio quality. Reviewers praise the surround-sound experience, which precisely mimics the high and low notes of movie and stereo listening -- from sounds bouncing off of walls to creatures sneaking up behind you. Listeners get the majority of the action, while those in the next room hear nothing. However, these are infrared headphones, so you need to stay within sight of the base unit to keep the connection.