The best headphones for watching TV connect easily to your set and offer comfort and good sound quality.
After research and hands-on testing with watching content, play video games, etc, here are our overall winners.
Note: Prices are subject to change.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/sony-rf400-lw-ec-cf3dfebf2bf44c1da75e196dc2d4f6ef.jpg)
TL;DR: Sony’s RF-connected headphones make a worthy top choice because of their ease of connectivity, solid price point, and wearability/comfort.
Why We Recommend It
The whole category of TV-connected headphones sort of begins and ends with Sony and Sennheiser. Both companies offer a competitive line of headphones that use a charging stand to connect to your TV.
I’ve been using the MDR-RF995K for years now to give myself the option to watch TV while my family is doing other things in the same room.
Best I can tell, Sony has rebranded these same headphones as the RF400s, so even though my experience is with my tried-and-true pair of RF995Ks, the feature set remains virtually the same.
The RF995Ks deliver an impressive trio of features for watching TV, including 150 feet of wireless connectivity to the receiver base and 20 hours of battery life on a single charge.
This headset also delivers detailed, dynamic sound that represents sound as low as 10 hertz in the sub-bass all the way up to 22 kilohertz (well above the highest frequency humans can hear).
The sound quality is what I like most, as it takes a balanced approach. Whether I’m watching a sitcom or a particularly dynamic action movie, the headphones deliver the best possible balance of dialog, music, and sound effects.
Though admittedly plasticky without the premium bells and whistles of some other wireless headphones, the build quality is perfect for watching TV.
Lifewire / Jason Schneider
That’s because they’re light, they have plenty of room inside each ear cup for my big ears, and when they stow away on their hanging charge stand, they look great in the corner of the living room.
This all amounts to an excellent package for less than $140 (and if you pick up the older-named model as I have, you can find them for even less).
- Who else recommends it? Though none of the big outlets name this headset as a top pick, loyal customers across online retailers, including Amazon and Best Buy, stand by it for TV viewing.
- What do buyers think? Amazon reviewers praise the WH-RF400’s comfort and ease of connectivity, with some dings for build quality and dated design. Over 60 percent of shoppers rate the headset 5 out of 5 stars.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/SennheiserMomentum4_6-def81879d86a442ba71abea1fbb3aed5.jpg)
TL;DR: If your TV or streaming device has Bluetooth as an option, you can’t go wrong with the full-featured Sennheiser Momentum 4 and its excellent sound quality.
Why We Recommend It
TVs haven’t historically offered modern Bluetooth connectivity, but that’s been changing a bit in recent years.
If this option is available to you, I highly recommend the Momentum 4 headphones, which are ultra-plush, roomy, and easy to wear for long periods—and are equally game for using with a laptop or smartphone too.
On top of comfort and quality, the life-like Sennheiser sound, impressive battery life, and top-tier noise cancellation make the headset immersive, premium, and a true joy to use.
Pros
Rich, well-rounded sound
Excellent noise cancellation for an immersive listening experience
Modern codec compatibility
Comfortable, premium build
But how do they fare with my modern TV?
My primary streaming device is my Apple TV, and I use these headphones with that most often, but I do have a Samsung TV that would accept these headphones in Bluetooth mode as well.
Lifewire / Jason Schneider
What’s great about the Momentum 4 is the compatibility with the modern Qualcomm aptX codec, which keeps the audio quality and response time top-tier when transferring audio wirelessly.
Many TVs don’t support this codec just yet, but it’s essential to future-proof the headphones for this use case, and that’s a big reason I’ve chosen them.
The Momentum 4 sounded best among all the other options I tried for this use case. I went from watching a Bruins game to firing up one of the Lord of the Rings movies, and the headphones took it all with stride, maintaining the detail and energy of the sound.
Bluetooth connectivity with TVs isn’t as seamless as with other more mobile-friendly devices, so a plugged-in RF-style option will be easier to connect.
But it’s hard to beat these on the immersive listening experience and sound quality alone.
- Who else recommends it? The Momentum 4 earns top marks across the internet from tech publications like Headphones.com, RTINGS, and SoundGuys.
- What do buyers think? Over 9,000 Amazon buyers have rated these headphones, which earn an average 4.1-star review. Most shoppers like the performance and quality.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/avantree-ht5009-40hrs-wireless-bluetooth-headphones-0dacfdcd1a5e4daf8c1e390b25ec790b.jpg)
TL;DR: This budget-conscious pick from Avantree uses a transmitter that doubles as a charger.
Why We Recommend It
Avantree offers several cost-conscious options for shoppers, and the Avantree HT5009 is a prime example.
While we haven’t had hands-on time with this model, and it’s not decked out with loads of bells and whistles, these TV-tuned headphones check the most important boxes.
Pros
Budget-friendly price point
Transmitter doubles as charging stand
Up to 60 hours of viewing on one charge
The HT5009 rely on an included transmitter (and charging base) for connection to a TV. Setup is as simple as plugging and watching.
This headset is tuned especially for TV and movies and supports Qualcomm aptX Adaptive to reduce any perceivable lag with lip-syncing. For folks who struggle with catching all the back-and-forth, Clear Voice mode enhances dialog.
The HT5009 have slightly less extensive range (100 feet) than our other picks, but overall, this model is an effective, hassle-free option for private TV viewing.
- Who else recommends it? RTINGS also recommends the HT5009 as its budget pick for TV watching, noting the longer battery life and “minimal lip-sync disruption.”
- What do buyers think? The over 9,600 Amazon buyers that have weighed in give this headset an overall 4.4-star gloabel rating.
How We Tested
Many of the same categories are on my TV headphones rubric as my standard headphones rubric—including connectivity and inputs/outputs. Here’s what to consider:
- Sound quality for both complex movie mixes and TV shows
- Comfort and durability for long wearing sessions
- Connectivity—with a receiver or without
Lifewire / Jason Schneider
While admittedly a niche category, the market for TV-centered headphones is highly variable in build quality, price, and performance. But what are headphones made for TV, and how are they different from standard Bluetooth headphones?
One key factor to consider is that many TVs haven’t historically offered Bluetooth or wireless connectivity as part of the package, meaning you need to hardwire any external audio device.
A pair of headphones marketed for use with TVs typically come with a receiver (that uses RF-style wireless or even Bluetooth) that can be plugged into your TV and pass that signal on to your headphones. This helps to get around the “no Bluetooth” problem.
However, as TVs and streaming devices become more modern, they’re introducing Bluetooth as an audio device option.
What to Look For
If you’re in the market for TV headphones, focus on three key things: the sound quality, how comfortable the headphones are to wear, and how they connect to your TV.
For sound quality, look for full frequency spectrum coverage, ensuring that the headphones provide detail, power, and fullness.
For wearability, it’s paramount that the headphones are light, have plush ear cups, and provide enough room for your ears to help them stay comfortable for even hours-long films.
Finally, connectivity is crucial, as are these questions:
- Does your TV or streaming device have Bluetooth functionality that allows you to connect standard Bluetooth headphones?
- Would you rather plug a receiver into your TV and let the headphones’ built-in RF connection take over?
- Does that receiver offer digital optical output or just aux/RCA? Be sure you know your connection needs before you pull the trigger.
For more advice, see our headphone buying guide.
Thanks for letting us know!
Tell us why!
