Suggestions please - wireless TV headphones for the hard-of-hearing

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Suggestions please - wireless TV headphones for the hard-of-hearing

littleheaven

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#225679 30-Nov-2017 09:55

My Mum has finally had enough of Dad listening to the TV at ear-splitting volumes because he is partially deaf, and wants to buy him some headphones that he can use to listen to his programmes. I've had a bit of a Google but I'm not really sure where to start. Ideally, I'm looking for some big, comfy over-ear wireless headphones that will connect to their Sony TV or Blu-Ray home theatre system that will allow him to hear the TV properly but won't mute the volume for everyone else also watching. They have Sky and watch it through the home theatre system. What kind of connectivity do I need? If I just buy standard Bluetooth or RF ones, how do I hook them up, and will they still allow everyone else to listen to the TV? Does anyone here have any experience with them or models they could recommend? Do I have to buy specialist assistive listening ones? Many thanks in advance.

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GoranZ

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#1910924 30-Nov-2017 10:15

My father in law got the Sennheiser RS120

https://www.noelleeming.co.nz/shop/audio/portable-audio/headphones/sennheiser-rs120-ii-wireless-headphones/prod136910.html

They work really well, have almost zero delay (which was an issue when watching TV on his old ones as they were a second out) and the stand looks good in the living room and also charges them up.

He now brings them around to other peoples places if they are watching Rugby etc too

noroad

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#1910925 30-Nov-2017 10:17

GoranZ:

My father in law got the Sennheiser RS120

https://www.noelleeming.co.nz/shop/audio/portable-audio/headphones/sennheiser-rs120-ii-wireless-headphones/prod136910.html

They work really well, have almost zero delay (which was an issue when watching TV on his old ones as they were a second out) and the stand looks good in the living room and also charges them up.

He now brings them around to other peoples places if they are watching Rugby etc too

Ive got two of these, they seem to work well enough, a bit of hiss but its ok. One can transmit to as many of these as you want.

littleheaven

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#1910987 30-Nov-2017 11:16

Thanks for the endorsements - that model is very heavily discounted at Harvey Norman today, so I'm going shopping!

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GoranZ

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#1910992 30-Nov-2017 11:20

I should have said .. My F-i-L has them plugged into the TV's 3.5mm Audio jack and his Sony TV supports running through speakers and headphone output at the same time (My LG does not). By connecting to the TV it doesn't matter if he is sourced from Freeview, DVD or SKY etc .. whatever shows up on screen is what he hears.

So maybe check if the TV supports this otherwise you might have to go directly into Sky box or home theater.

littleheaven

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#1911058 30-Nov-2017 12:34

Thanks for the info. I believe they can also plug into RCA outlets, so one way or another we'll sort it out :)

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Sideface

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#1911096 30-Nov-2017 13:14

An alternative approach would be to purchase real hearing aids for daily use.

Many of them - mine included - have built-in Bluetooth, which can connect directly to cellphones, iPads, and TV sets.

Unfortunately, hearing aids are much more expensive than headphones, but they are remarkably effective - I discovered this after (ten) years of gentle persuasion by my wife.

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vexxxboy

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#1911103 30-Nov-2017 13:29

Sideface:

An alternative approach would be to purchase real hearing aids for daily use.

Many of them - mine included - have built-in Bluetooth, which can connect directly to cellphones, iPads, and TV sets.

Unfortunately, hearing aids are much more expensive than headphones, but they are remarkably effective - I discovered this after (ten) years of gentle persuasion by my wife.

i had the same problem but i was also shouting at the family so i got hearing aids, big difference. volume on tv went down 15 clicks and i can hear the wife again, not sure thats a plus though.

Common sense is not as common as you think.

MikeB4

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#1911111 30-Nov-2017 13:37

If the hearing loss I as not equilateral using headphones would be rather unpleasant and will cause some side affects. It maybe better to have your Dads hearing assessed with the view to getting hearing aides.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

littleheaven

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#1911210 30-Nov-2017 16:53

Unfortunately, Mum has spent decades trying to get Dad to get a hearing aid and he refuses point blank to even consider it. While it would be a much better solution, it's not going to happen any time soon. He has, however, shown interest in the headphones so it's better than nothing :) I've checked the audio out on their TV with a normal pair of headphones and they worked great, so we can easily position the charging stand/transmitter station beside it. Hopefully this will mean no more shouting over the TV whenever my sister and I visit for dinner.

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vexxxboy

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#1911216 30-Nov-2017 17:29

littleheaven:

Unfortunately, Mum has spent decades trying to get Dad to get a hearing aid and he refuses point blank to even consider it. While it would be a much better solution, it's not going to happen any time soon. He has, however, shown interest in the headphones so it's better than nothing :) I've checked the audio out on their TV with a normal pair of headphones and they worked great, so we can easily position the charging stand/transmitter station beside it. Hopefully this will mean no more shouting over the TV whenever my sister and I visit for dinner.

keep at him it is worth it ,i was only 50 when i got a hearing aid in my right ear and my wife just about had to threaten divorce before i did something. Now i wish i had done it earlier, no one can see it it as it is fitted to my ear, i forget it's even in my ear.

Common sense is not as common as you think.

Rikkitic

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#1911257 30-Nov-2017 18:27

My hearing has also deteriorated with age, and I am aware of it, but I don't use a hearing aid as it is still adequate for most things. I have a very old pair of inexpensive wireless headphones I brought from Europe many years ago that I use when other activity, like people talking, interferes with my ability to hear the TV. They work fine from the headphone jack of the TV, but surprisingly, I have been unable to find any audio monitor output on the home theatre receiver, and the headphone jack disconnects the speakers if plugged into. Not very good design for what at the time was a fairly expensive system.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

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littleheaven

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#1911294 30-Nov-2017 19:02

vexxxboy:

littleheaven:

Unfortunately, Mum has spent decades trying to get Dad to get a hearing aid and he refuses point blank to even consider it. While it would be a much better solution, it's not going to happen any time soon. He has, however, shown interest in the headphones so it's better than nothing :) I've checked the audio out on their TV with a normal pair of headphones and they worked great, so we can easily position the charging stand/transmitter station beside it. Hopefully this will mean no more shouting over the TV whenever my sister and I visit for dinner.

keep at him it is worth it ,i was only 50 when i got a hearing aid in my right ear and my wife just about had to threaten divorce before i did something. Now i wish i had done it earlier, no one can see it it as it is fitted to my ear, i forget it's even in my ear.

We will! He's almost 80, so it might be an impossible task at this point. He's a little bit stubborn :)

Rikkitic:

My hearing has also deteriorated with age, and I am aware of it, but I don't use a hearing aid as it is still adequate for most things. I have a very old pair of inexpensive wireless headphones I brought from Europe many years ago that I use when other activity, like people talking, interferes with my ability to hear the TV. They work fine from the headphone jack of the TV, but surprisingly, I have been unable to find any audio monitor output on the home theatre receiver, and the headphone jack disconnects the speakers if plugged into. Not very good design for what at the time was a fairly expensive system.

Yeah, I went to their house and inspected their home theatre system and there were no headphone outputs at all. Seems to be a common problem. But I popped my iPhone headphones into the TV and they worked a treat and didn't turn off the home theatre speakers, so that bodes well. I might need a 3.5mm to 6.3mm extension cord, though. The position of the headphone jack leaves very little room for a standard adapter. Easily fixed, though.

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kiwiace

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#1911788 1-Dec-2017 19:45

I switched from cabled headphones with our old tv to bluetooth with our new samsung - fantastic, and only about $80 on sale.

But I think only some fairly recent tvs support bluetooth headphones?

littleheaven

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#1912069 2-Dec-2017 19:25

The ones I bought have a transmitting station that plugs into the TV headphone jackpoint - it also acts as a stand when you’re not using them :)

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