If your household’s TV-viewing habits are out of sync—maybe late-night gamers are keeping early risers awake, or movies are disrupting work-from-home time—there is a solution that can bring some peace. Wireless TV headphones allow you to enjoy TV shows, movies, and video games without disturbing people around you.
If you already own Bluetooth headphones, you may have an easier, better-sounding way to accomplish the same task. But if you’re looking for a complete package that includes headphones and a wireless transmitter, we recommend the Insignia NS-HAWHP2.
Our pick
These over-ear headphones are comfortable, with no audio lag and solid sound. The transmitter doubles as a charging base, but the system supports only a single pair of headphones.
The Insignia NS-HAWHP2 system is easy to use, sounds good, and delivers a comfortable fit so you can enjoy marathon binge-watching and gaming sessions. The package includes a single pair of headphones and a wireless transmitter that doubles as a docking station for storing and charging the headphones when you aren’t using them. Insignia promises 10 hours of battery life, but we got more than 11 hours on a charge, so you could easily binge an entire eight-episode season of Stranger Things in one sitting.
The NS-HAWHP2 uses radio frequency (RF) transmission, and we didn’t notice significant lag between the audio and video, which can be a problem for Bluetooth-based systems. These headphones delivered the most consistent, balanced sound in our latest round of tests, and they’re also lighter and more comfortable than many competitors. The downside is that the system comes with only one pair of headphones, and you can’t add more.
Also great
This set comes with two pairs of headphones and produces no audio lag, but it lacks a recharging base.
If you need multiple pairs of headphones—say, for sibling gamers or people who like to watch TV at different volume levels—the Power Acoustik HP-902RFT system is a good alternative. The package includes a wireless RF transmitter and two pairs of headphones, and supports the addition of two more headphone pairs (sold separately).
The HP-902RFT is easy to set up and use, and the sound quality is decent, albeit a little compressed. We didn’t detect substantial lag between the audio and video, either. However, the headphones feel somewhat cheaply constructed, and you have to purchase a separate AC adapter and at least four rechargeable AAA batteries because the system doesn’t include a charging base.
