Your house is quiet. Kids are asleep, your spouse has her nose in a book, and you are finally ready to dive into that blockbuster movie you have been anticipating. You want the full movie watching experience with booming blasts, rich sound, and soaring scores. But, the issue is that you cannot turn up the volume. Enter: the magic of wireless TV headphones that make a sound bubble solely for you. But if you are looking at your time-honored non-smart TV, you might be questioning if this is even possible.
The good news is that yes, you can connect headphones for TV, bluetooth or no bluetooth, it doesn’t really matter. Your old TV is not outdated and can be transformed into the wireless world with the right additions. This guide provides you with all the necessary information from locating the right ports to the right connection strategy. Say goodbye to your tin, TV speakers and hello to rich and private audio with utmost convenience.
Why Consider Wireless Headphones When Watching TV? The Unnoticed Improvement
Just like in the previous part, let us first analyze the “why” before the “how.” Using wireless headphones to listen to the TV is a lot more convenient and easier than setting the sound to the TV speakers and in fact, an improvement on the complete home entertainment system. The improvement and benefits are instant and improvement is commendable.
Firstly, one is in the position to control the volume completely. I recall feeling a bit annoyed while watching a tense drama because I wanted to hear the dialogues but my family members in the other room would not stop talking. Using the headphones allows the user to set the volume at any desired level without any disruptions to the other people. It is a win-win situation where people who are hard of hearing tend to overshoot the volume while the other people are in the room.
Another important factor is the lack of physical boundaries. The cable no longer restricts you to a location. Want to step out of a dinner party you’re hosting to refill your glass without losing track of the story? Bend the headphones and the sound continues to you. It also offers a remarkable degree of involvement. Actors come to life and competitions become gripping as the headphones eliminate all outside sound. It’s a fantastic personal cinema whenever you feel like it.
To Start, Examine the Available Audio Outputs of the TV: The Initial Phase of Establishing Wireless Communication
Each TV is different, and the first step to wireless headsets is the tv itself which is the most important. Depending on the make, headphones can be connected masterfully or be a hassle. You do not have to upload a tutorial on the entire process, therefore let’s go through some of the most common connections step by step as some devices can make it difficult for the user.
The 3.5mm Headphone Jack (The Easiest Route)
This is the port most people know. It has the same shape and size as the headphone port on older smartphones and laptops. If your TV has one, you’re lucky, because this is usually the easiest connection point. It is a small, round port labelled “Audio Out” or has a headphone icon. It gives a solid, analog audio signal suitable for this purpose.
RCA Audio Out (The Red and White Ports)
For decades, these have been a part of home audio systems. They are the well-known red and white round ports. It is important to find a pair marked “OUT” or “AUDIO OUT.” Many TVs come with RCA ports marked “IN” that are used to bring audio to the TV (from a DVD player, for instance). Those will not work with the headphones. These ports provide a left (white) and right (red) stereo analog signal.
Digital Optical Audio Out (TOSLINK)
Of the three options, this one has the best audio quality. It has the appearance of a small, square, plastic door, often with a “Digital Audio Out” or “Optical” label. When the TV is on, you may notice a red light glowing. TOSLINK or S/PDIF is a port that transmits the digital audio signal using a fibre optic cable to guarantee a digital audio signal free of interference that is wireless.
The Three Main Ways to Connect Your Wireless TV Headphones
Depending on the audio output options on your TV, you can choose the appropriate equipment to connect your wireless headphones. There are three ways to do this, with each having its unique features.
Method 1: The Bluetooth Transmitter – Making Any TV Bluetooth-Ready
This is arguably the most versatile and popular solution. A Bluetooth transmitter is a compact device that plugs into one of your TV’s audio output ports (3.5mm, RCA, or Optical) and then broadcasts that audio as a Bluetooth signal. This means you can use your existing Bluetooth headphones, such as AirPods, or headphones by Bose and Sony.
Think of it like giving your television another feature it came without from the factory. The process is simple. The transmitter is connected to the television via the proper cable and is powered on, commonly through a USB socket of the TV or a distinct power unit. Then both the transmitter and your wireless TV headphones are set to pair mode. In less than a minute, they will recognize each other and pair.
A feature that is critical to have is the support of aptX Low Latency. A standard Bluetooth connection is able to produce audio with slight delay, the faintest delay the audio plays will cause the video to ‘lip sync’. With a transmitter and headphones that support aptX Low Latency, that delay is virtually nonexistent, the audio and video will stay perfectly in sync.
Method 2: Self contained RF (Radio Frequency) Wireless Headphones
If you need the most straightforward solution aimed only at television use, the Self contained Radio Frequency (RF) headphone system is perfect for you. Systems such as the Sennheiser RS series are a complete set, with high quality headphones and a transmitter base that acts as the charging dock.
Compared to Bluetooth, RF systems use radio waves and have a much longer range—often you can walk throughout your entire home without losing the signal. Using a dedicated radio link, there’s zero perceivable latency meaning the audio and video are always perfectly synced. No complex pairing is required, you just plug the base station into the audio output of your TV, turn the headphones on, and it just works. The convenience of just placing the headphones back on the dock to charge makes them a great choice for a dedicated TV listening setup. The only minor downside is that other electronic devices can cause interference, although most models have channel-switching features to resolve this.
Method 3: IR Headphones: An Older But Usable Option
Infrared (IR) headphones are an older technology but one that you may still run into. They work based on the same technology that your TV remote control works, sending an audio signal through a beam of infrared light. The transmitter connects to the TV, and the headphones have a sensor that receives the signal.
An important constraint of IR technology is that it only works when there is an unobstructed line of sight from the transmitter to the headphones. The moment you turn your head the wrong way, or someone crosses in front of you and the transmitter, the sound will cut out. These headphones, which are indeed quite inexpensive and quite clear, do still have the sight line issue, which makes them quite inferior to the other available modern Bluetooth or RF options. These types of headphones are not worth (much) unless you do not have a budget and want to stay stationary in front of the TV.
How to Choose Wireless Headphones to Pair With Your Television
So, which way do you take? It all depends on what you want to achieve.
If you still appreciate the freedom of movement, and you happen to already have a wonderful pair of Bluetooth headphones used with your phone and laptop, then the most straightforward and cheapest option is to buy a Bluetooth transmitter. It makes the headphones you already have the most suitable styled headphones for TV usage.
Headphones that are plugged into separate receivers are the best choice for a home TV setup, provided that ease of use, range, and excellent quality are your main concerns. With zero lag audio, the charging feature, and plug and play ease, it is the most accommodating system for home theater use.
Always, regardless of the technology, choose the most comfortable option. You will be spending anywhere between two hours for a single movie or to binge watch for several hours. Generally, the most comfortable for overlong use are the over ear styles that are very well padded.
Common Troubleshooting Mistakes
Even with the best setup, you might run into a small snag. Here are a few common issues and their quick fixes.
In case there’s no sound, make sure to check that all cables are correctly plugged into the OUT ports on the TV. The most common issue, though, is within the audio settings of the TV. You might need to change the audio setting from Internal Speakers to Headphones or Audio Out manually.
If you’re using Bluetooth and experience that annoying lip sync delay, then it is a latency problem. Check if the transmitter and headphones both support a low latency codec like aptX LL. If they don’t, then the best option is to change to an RF headphone system, which is designed to have no latency.
If you are using an RF system and encounter static or interference, you are most likely picking up a signal from an electronic device and a cordless phone or microwave is the most likely culprit. Try relocating the transmitter base station to a different position or, if the model permits, change the transmission channel.
Conclusion
Your non-smart TV still has the potential for a modern private listening experience. Bluetooth transmitters can transform headphones into wireless ones and RF wireless TV headphones systems can provide dedicated non Bluetooth headphones. By identifying their TV’s audio outputs and using the proper equipment paired devices, a personal TV won is easily constructed. Emitting devices like Bluetooth transmitters and RF TV headphones systems provide clarity and volume, unleashing the full potential of television and watching without disturbing anybody.
FAQs
Can I connect more than two wireless headphones to one TV at the same time?
Yes, that shallow and flimsy is achievable as long as the right equipment is used. Some advanced Bluetooth transmitters are designed to duel audio to two or more headphones at the same time. Some RF headphone systems offer additional headsets that connect to the same base. With this feature, look for terms like “dual link” and “multi-headset support” to make the right purchase.
Will connecting headphones to my TV mute the speakers?
This entirely depends on your specific model of the television. Usually plugging in the 3.5mm headphone jack will auto mute the TV’s internal speakers. With other RCA or Digital Optical outputs, many TVs now allow the speakers and audio outputs to work simultaneously. This feature satisfies both the listener still, and the user of the headphones, enabling one to listen at a normal speaker volume while the other utilizes headphones on a much louder volume. This option is usually found in the audio settings of the TV.
What’s the difference between a Bluetooth transmitter and a receiver?
This is a common point of confusion. A transmitter sends audio signals, and for this purpose, you need a transmitter to send the sound from the TV to the headphones. A receiver accepts audio signals, for instance to stream music from a phone to a non Bluetooth stereo system. Small devices called Transceivers can perform both functions, but they usually need to be set to a specific mode. With TVs, they need to be set to transmitter mode, or a mode often labeled “TX.”
Do I Have To Charge The Wireless TV Headphones?
Every wireless audio device needs to be powered up at some point, so YES, wireless audio devices need to be charged as well. Like smartphones, standard bluetooth headphones are charged with the use of a USB cable. One of the major conveniences of dedicated RF headphone systems is that the transmitter base station often serves as a charging cradle. The moment you are done watching the film, you put the headphones back on the stand, and they will be ready to use during your next session.
Is The Range Of A Bluetooth Transmitter Greater Than A Dedicated RF Headphone System?
Neither option is universally better, they simply “serve different needs.” There is more flexibility with Bluetooth transmitters because they allow you to use whatever Bluetooth headphones you have for different purposes. For TV use, a dedicated RF headset system offers better performance and convenience. Other features include range, no audio delay, and an all-in-one system with integrated charging. What best suits you will depend on your budget and the way you plan to use them.
