Comparing The Three Types Of Wireless Headphones For TV

Odds are pretty good that anything radio, RF wireless TV headphones not excluded, will pick up something else radio in today's technologically active world. It could be anything from the electromagnetic field that some equipment puts out on its own to your neighbor's conversation on their cordless phone, but you can bet that something will cause RF to be the least clear of the group of choices here. However, it's also the only type that will allow you to walk around the full range of your home and never lose connection. Infrared will likely give you the best sound quality, but cannot be used outdoors as sunlight will disrupt its signal, and the receiver must remain within line of sight of the transmitter at all times so that it can "see" the transmitter.

Different Types Of Wireless TV Headphones

Wireless TV headphones come in three different flavors, though two of them are very similar. There is RF (radio frequency) and Bluetooth, which work off the same principals but in slightly different ways, and infrared which works off of light pulses instead of sound waves. The main difference between RF and Bluetooth is range. RF has a range of sometimes over 300 feet, while Bluetooth has a range of about 30 feet. Although the shorter range may seem like a disadvantage, this also means that Bluetooth will be picking up far less interference than regular RF, which may increase audio quality, but only as long as you never plan to use your wireless TV headphones from more than 30 feet away. Infrared pulses light from the transmitter to the receiver, sort of like morse code, only with light flashes that are beyond human eyesight instead of dots and dashes of sound.

To Some, A Wireless TV Headphone Set May Increase Audio Quality

Sound optimization is another important consideration. Although you may lose some sound quality, the sound coming from wireless TV headphones will be optimized for one person's ears. Keep in mind, when your TV was created, it was not with one person in mind, but rather an entire room full of people. Wireless headphones for TV will change that, optimizing the sound for one person's ears only. Stereo and surround sound effects are often more pronounced, and you'll hear some things that you never heard before using your TV's regular speakers. Headphones can also produce the same effect as a lot more sound with a lot less power and a much smaller speaker due to the proximity to your ear. This means that high quality speakers can be had for a lot less because they're much smaller.

Convenience Of Wireless Headphones For TV

If you're not an audiophile, which is someone who is abnormally sensitive to sound quality, then you'll likely be fine with wireless headphones. Did you notice a difference in sound quality when your buddy upgraded his car stereo, or did it just get louder and the bass deeper to your ears? If you didn't notice a difference, then you'll probably not notice a difference between wired and wireless headphones, although you will notice the lack of wire to be sure. A wireless TV headphone set comes in especially handy when you or someone else wants to watch television, but other people in the room do not. Many people, myself included, find the noise from a TV to be rather distracting, and a set of wireless headphones for TV will allow the room to be shared.

Choosing Your Wireless TV Headphones

It's pretty obvious why someone would want wireless TV headphones. No one wants to be attached to their television with wires, so the choice of wireless over wired headphones is a no brainer as long as you're not an audiophile. After all, isn't that why the remote control was created in the first place? So you wouldn't have to physically be in contact with your TV to get the most out of it? If you are, and if you do notice every little sound discrepancy, then wireless is simply not for you, and you need a good wired set of headphones. If, however, you're like the rest of us, and FM radio sounds about like a CD to you, then you'll be just fine with wireless TV headphones.