An Objective Comparison of Two Popular Wireless TV Headsets
If you don’t already know, there is a great product out there that allows you to watch television or listen to your stereo directly through wireless headphones. From the “why didn’t I think of that” category the advantages of wireless TV headphones are obvious. Most notably, sound only travels to those who want to hear it. The following is a comparison of two more popular wireless TV headphone sets, the Sony MDR-IF240RK Wireless Headphone System and the Sennheiser RS120 926 MHz Wireless RF Headphones with Charging Cradle.
Let’s start with sound quality. As with most wireless headphone sets, both the Sony and the Sennheiser are more than adequate for TV watching when within range. At around 20 to 30ft both products have comparable range. However, the Sennheiser seems to be able to perform beyond the stated range better than the Sony. Furthermore, while neither is fantastic for providing concert quality music, the Sennheiser performs much better than the Sony in the music department.
Aesthetically both units look pretty similar from a distance. When studied closer, the Sony’s look and feel a bit cheap. The Sennheiser headphones are well made, with a sleek design, and the wall hanging unit certainly brings in some style points.
Both units utilize and open ear design. Some people think that open ear designs get uncomfortable during elongated use. This seems to be true of the Sony’s. Many users claim that they need to change the position of the headset in order to achieve a mediocre standard of comfort. Sennheiser users generally report that the set is very comfortable even after several hours of use. If you are an avid watcher of television, this alone may be enough to sway you.
The Sony and the Sennheiser both have outstanding battery life. The Sony may have a slight edge in this department, but it is unlikely that anyone will be using their wireless TV headphones for more than 30 hours. So, as long as you remember to charge the headset, there is little difference in battery life. Also, Sennheiser’s battery charger has a superior design.
The Sennheiser battery charge unit is a simple wall-mounted charger. The system charges when the headset touches a metal tube, meaning that when there is contact, there is a charge. Sony users complain that it is easy to misconnect the headset and the charger, leaving an uncharged headset when you thought it was charging.
This all factors into the ease of use category. Wireless TV headphones don’t require a PHD to use. They are both pretty straightforward. Sennheiser has the advantage on the charger, whereas Sony has easier volume control.
Finally, the prices of these two products are pretty different. A Sennheiser will run about $73 while the Sony is only about $40. It comes down to a question of values. The Sennheiser most definitely gives more bang for the buck, because it has superior sound quality and craftsmanship. If you are only a casual watcher of TV, you may be best served to save the money and use the Sony headphones as they will more than do the job for you.