Headphones for TV: characteristics, types and selection rules

About 10 years ago, society did not even assume that a close connection could arise between the TV and headphones. However, today the picture has completely changed. The modern electronic device market offers a huge range of headphones that can be easily connected to home entertainment equipment. Now watching an ordinary film makes a person completely immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the film and even become a part of it.

Headphones for watching TV are a unique breakthrough in technical progress. In the recent past, when TV units had a huge body, there was not even a thought about the possibility of connecting headphones to them. And today, smart technology allows you to make a connection even with wireless headphones. Any consumer wants to have in his arsenal only high-quality headphones, the characteristics of which are indicated on the packaging.

• Frequency. This indicator indicates the range of the reproduced sound.
• Impedance. This indicator indicates the strength of the resistance to the signal at the input cell, which allows you to determine the volume level of the headphones. Devices with high sensitivity and low resistance will help you to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the film.
• SOI. Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) indicates the degree of possible interference in the audio signal. The minimum THD indicator guarantees high-quality sound reproduction.
• Design. This characteristic is most often regarded as the main one. However, the beauty of a sound reproducing device shouldn't come first. Of course, the external data of the device must match the style of the interior, especially wireless models. But the main thing is that you can watch your favorite TV programs in them without feeling any discomfort.
• Additional functions. In this case, we are talking about the presence of a volume control, the ability to adjust the dimensions of the arches to the shape of the head, and much more.

Modern people are used to the fact that headphones are divided into wired and wireless models with a charging base. They differ not only in the connection method, but also in the quality of the sound signal reception. In addition, headphones for a TV are divided by the type of mounts. One device has a vertical bow, the second is made in the likeness of clips, and the third is simply inserted into the ear. From the constructive point of view, headphones are divided into overhead, full-size, vacuum and plug-in. According to their acoustic properties, they can be closed, open and semi-closed.

The design is usually equipped with a wire that connects to the corresponding socket on the TV. but the basic length of the wire reaches a maximum of 2 meters, which necessarily affects the inconvenience of operation. For such headphones, you should immediately purchase an extension cord with a corresponding input connector on one end and a connection plug on the other. Many users are advised to opt for closed-type wired headphones. The lack of perfect sound is compensated by the fact that households will not hear the actions taking place on the screen.

Today, it is almost impossible to find a TV without a headphone output. But if the multimedia device still does not have the appropriate connectors, you can use additional equipment.

Wireless headphones are a device that can be connected to any multimedia device without wires. To date, there are several ways to connect headphones to a TV.

• Wi-fi. The most suitable option for home use. The connection process is carried out using a module that converts the signal on the paired equipment.
• Bluetooth. An interesting way to connect, but not always the case. Some TVs have Bluetooth in the system. For others, it is connected through a special module.
• Infrared connection. Not a very good wireless connection. In the process of using it, a person must constantly be near the infrared port.
• Optical connection. Today this is the highest quality way of transmitting sound from a TV.

Wireless headphones are very comfortable. No need to get tangled in the wire, plug and unplug them all the time. After use, it is enough to put the headphones on the base so that the device recharges and is ready for the next use.

It is extremely difficult to compile the most accurate list of the best headphones for watching TV. But thanks to the reviews of satisfied consumers, it turned out to create TOP-4 headphones that have proven themselves from the best side.

• Sony MDR-XB950AP. A full-size, closed-type corded model with many technical features. The length of the wire is short, only 1.2 meters. The sound range is 3-28 thousand Hertz, which indicates a clear and high-quality sound, 106 dB of sensitivity and 40 Ohm impedance. These indicators reveal the characteristics of the device as fully as possible. Thanks to the 40 mm diaphragm, the reproduced bass gains depth and richness.

• Pioneer SE-MS5T. This is a full-size model of wired headphones featuring a one-way cable connection. The length is similar to the first model - 1.2 meters. Therefore, you should immediately look for a good extension cord. The frequency reproduction range ranges from 9-40 thousand Hertz.

• Sony MDR-RF865RK. This headphone model has a decent weight, namely 320 grams. The reason for this is the built-in battery, thanks to which you can operate the device for 25 hours. Sound transmission from a multimedia device is carried out using a progressive radio method. The pairing range is 100 meters, so you can safely walk around the house. There is a volume control on the headphones themselves.

• Philips SHC8535. Sound transmission in this model takes place using a special radio transmitter. The device is powered by AAA batteries, which is why it is lightweight. The maximum running time is 24 hours. The presented headphones, despite their simple technical characteristics, are ready to boast of excellent sound even at the highest volume. Suppression of extraneous noise occurs due to a specially designed system.

Choosing headphones for your TV, there are several important rules to follow.

• When considering wireless and wired models, it is better to choose the first option. They are more convenient and easier to handle.Such models are suitable even for grandparents who have age-related hearing problems.
• To prevent extraneous sounds from interfering with watching TV, you should choose closed or semi-closed devices.
• When buying wired headphones, you should consider models with a one-way cable.
• In the on-ear headphones, a person feels more comfortable, because the bezel of the device does not press on the top of the head.

The process of connecting wired headphones to any multimedia device is very simple. It is necessary to insert a single plug into the corresponding socket. On the TV, it is located on the back, approximately in the center. But it is best to use the instruction manual in order to understand in which part to look for it. According to the standard, the pin "jack" of the connection has a diameter of 3.5 mm. With other input parameters, you will have to connect an adapter. The same goes for short-length fixed cable. For ease of use, it will have to be connected to a longer wire to reach the TV connector.

If your TV does not have a headphone output, you can connect the device via speakers or a dvd player. However, when connected directly to the TV, the sound in the headphones changes from the device's volume control or changes on the TV itself. Loudspeakers as part of a circuit can behave incorrectly. For example, when the TV volume is turned off, the speakers will still send sound to the headphones.

But connecting wireless headphones will have to tinker a little. And first of all, the problems that arise depend on the manufacturer of the TVs. Take the Samsung brand as an example. When you try to activate the connection with a new device, the system may give an error, and when asked again, carry out normal pairing. To avoid problems of this kind, it is important to adhere to the universal instructions that are suitable for any software.

• The need to go to the settings.
• Go to the "sound" section.
• Select "speaker settings".
• Activate Bluetooth.
• Put the included headphones next to the TV.
• Select the headphone list section on the screen.
• After finding the corresponding model of the device, it is fashionable to pair and enjoy listening to your favorite TV program.

Connecting to an LG brand TV is much more difficult. The main difficulty lies in the quality of the headphones. The system easily recognizes second-rate crafts and does not allow pairing. Therefore, it is important for LG TV owners to be extremely careful when purchasing sound devices. The connection process itself is as follows.

• The "Sound" section is selected in the TV menu.
• Then go to "LG Sound Sync (Wireless)".
• Many owners of LG multimedia TV systems advise using the LG TV Plus mobile app. With it, everyone can control a TV running on the webOS platform.

However, there are other brands of Android TVs. And not always in the operating instructions supplied with them there is a section for connecting headphones. A after all, without a step-by-step explanation of the connection principle, it will not be possible to set up pairing.

• First you need to go to the main menu of the TV.
• Find the "Wired and Wireless Networks" section.
• Activate the module corresponding to the headphones and turn on the search. The headset itself must be in working order.
• After the TV detects the device, you must click "connect".
• The last stage of pairing is determining the type of device.

Each method of connecting headphones should end with testing.After you finish watching the program, the TV is turned off, and the created wireless pairing settings remain unchanged. Wired headphones do not turn off on their own; they must be removed from the TV jacks.

For more on choosing headphones for your TV, see the next video.