The best wireless headphones for watching TV

Sony certainly has something for every price point and spec. The Sony WH-1000XM5 are pretty much the best all-round headphones but we still opt for the Sony MDR-RF811RK in this category — the ratio of price and performance makes them a sweet-sounding no-brainer. 

They might look a bit cheap and bulky, but they’re very comfortable, and boast a wireless range of up to 100 metres and a competitive battery life.

These aren’t Bluetooth enabled. They use RF technology to seamlessly connect to your TV. This is all thanks to the base station, which doubles as a charging dock too. The RF technology ensures that the latency is pretty much non-existent. You’ll barely notice any sync problems between picture and audio.

The Sony MDR-RF811RK deliver crisp and clear audio plus solid passive noise cancellation, so you can enjoy the latest episode of your Netflix binge with minimal disturbance from the outside world. 

Most appealing of all is the price. The Sony MDRRF811RK headphones are very affordable — proficient cans that won’t dent your bank balance.

The Bowers and Wilkins PX7 2 combine high-quality sound and high-end style. They’re great for everyday, general use with features that include noise cancellation, automatic pause — which stops the music when you take the headphones off your head — and super-quick charging. You'll get a full five hours of juice from just 15 minutes of charging. 

But what makes the Bowers and Wilkins PX7 2 especially good for TV watching is that they support the aptX Adaptive codec. This combats a common problem with Bluetooth connections — irritating lag that knocks the picture and sound out of sync. The aptX Adaptive codec is a clever bit of software with an always-adjusting bitrate, which means the best possible sound at an impressively low latency — in sync and glitch free.  

Another nice touch is customisable noise cancellation with three modes, which includes a transparency mode for letting in ambient sound. That doesn’t mean it’s OK for housemates to keep talking at you through the film, of course.

You’ll also find they're comfortable enough for boxset sessions too, with pleather-covered memory foam on both the ear cups and headband.

The Brooklyn-based Grado might be under the radar for casual listeners, but fans know them for their open-backed wired designs — often the mark of a true audiophile brand — and detailed sound. The Grado GW100x are a step forward for the manufacturer's first wireless model. They’re also a rare example of an open-backed Bluetooth headset. 

The Bluetooth-powered Grado GW100x are recommended almost exclusively for home use as the open-backed ear cups will leak sound both ways. These won’t block out external noise and people around you will be able to hear what sounds you’re a-rocking. 

But these days everyone needs a pair of headphones for around the house. And these will not disappoint. The sound is rich and spacious and when hooked up to your TV, they deliver a more naturalistic cinema soundstage — a different experience to being locked in with a pair of closed back, surround sound headphones. Sound quality and performance is further boosted by aptX codecs.

They're plasticky, so feel cheaper in the hand. But it’s all part of the headset’s stripped-back design, and ensures they’re comfortably lightweight. Other features include a built-in mic, voice control, and a button panel on the ear cup.

The Avantree HT41899 dual set headphones sit in that sweet spot between affordable price and high performance. First and foremost, these are great for couples and two-person households because, well, you get a set of two.

They do, however, have individual controls, so each listener can adjust to their preference. Though the audio into both headsets is perfectly synced. You simply plug the Bluetooth transmitter into your TV’s audio output. And thanks to a selection of cables (Optical, AUX, and RCA), they’re compatible with all TVs. Be warned though, the set only comes with one cable for charging the headphones and you’ll need an extra cable for charging the transmitter itself.

Another bonus is the inclusion of the aptX Low-latency codec, which means a near non-existent lag when streaming. The audio-visual sync is pretty much faultless. Avantree headphones have also been praised for featuring superior high fidelity, with rich lows and clear treble — a great sound that will appeal to audiophiles and novices alike. 

There’s also a range of up to 30 metres plus an impressive battery life — 40 hours is more than any other options on this list. These headphones are made for wearing over long periods of time, with a comfortable over-the-ear design with super-soft ear pads. An ideal choice if you’re about to start a new series.

The Sennheiser RS 120-W are the continuation of a model that's been around for a few years, but there’s a multitude of reasons that they still rank among the best headphones for watching TV: They’re not too pricey, they sound excellent, and they come packed with solid features. 

They connect to your TV wirelessly via a radio charging station, which also doubles as an FM stereo transmitter, making these dual purpose. There are handily placed dials on the ear cups for turning the volume up and down or cycling through frequencies for the best connection.

The 60m range is way more than you need for watching the TV. But that’s where the multi-purpose aspect of these comes in to good use. Hook these up to some tunes and you can wander around the house or into the garden. That doesn’t even mean unhooking the headphones from your TV, as so many smart TVs are now equipped with digital radio and music-playing voice assistants.

They might not be the best choice if you’re always sitting in a room with someone else — someone who doesn’t want to hear your choice of show, at least — as the open-back design does leak some sound.

If you enjoy switching between games and boxsets, you need a solid pair of wireless headphones to make that transition seamless — headphones that excel for both gaming and TV. Look no further than the SteelSeries Arctis 7. They offer very good sound quality for a low price — with very few compromises — and a virtual lag-free latency of 20ms. 

The SteelSeries Arctis 7 headphones hook up to a transmitter dongle, which plugs directly into an audio source (whether it’s a TV, computer, or stereo) via standard aux/3.5mm jacks. The end result is a snappy pair of headphones that rival Bluetooth-enabled models. They're also compatible with PC, Mac, PS4, VR, and mobile devices, including iOS and Android.

As these are built for serious gamers who put in campaign shifts for hours on end, you can rely on how comfortable they are. This comes courtesy of sports-inspired AirWeave ear cushions. The SteelSeries Arctis 7 also feature a built-in mic and surround sound for that immersive home cinema experience. The bass is lacking slightly, but the stereo sound is balanced and clean.