The German manufacturer Sennheiser has one of the widest wireless headphone palettes. Sennheiser models have been highly rated by users and online reviewers. They probably feature the longest names in the wireless headphones industry. Let's see: Sennheiser RS-120 On Hook Charging Wireless Headphones, Sennheiser RS-30 Ultra-Light Supra-Aural Hi-Fi Stereo Wireless Headphones, these are just two examples to help you make an idea. But we'll try to shorten them to RS-120, RS-30 and so on for ease of talk.
How Do Sennheiser Wireless Headphones Perform?
We've already mentioned these headphones are among the best you can find. The New York Times says it, as well as About.com and even Amazon
The product list from Sennheiser includes only one system that works on infrared signals: Sennheiser IS 380. The other ones can be easily identified by the RS indicative. E.g. Sennheiser RS-30. The company also produces three models of additional wireless sets, that come without a transmitter. These could be useful if, let's say, both of your kids want to watch cartoons while parents want to take a nap. Those models are identified by a HDR indicative: Sennheiser HDR 45, for example. So pay attention when ordering from Amazon or any other on-line retailer.
The Sennheiser product line
If you want a RF transmission based system, you have no less than seven Sennheiser wireless headphone systems to choose from:
- Sennheiser RS 30
- Sennheiser RS 45 (Additional Wireless Headphones HDR 45) - pay max. $130;
- Sennheiser RS 65 (Additional Wireless Headphones HDR 65) - pay max. $210 and another $140 for the additional pair;
- Sennheiser RS 85 (Additional Wireless Headphones HDR 85) pay max. $90 and another $160 for the additional pair;
- Sennheiser RS 100
- Sennheiser RS 110 - pay max. $90, but they say it's worth paying the extra money for the next one:)
- Sennheiser RS 120 - pay max $110, two-year warranty included;
These are their goldies. For the RS 45, RS 65 and RS 85 models you can buy additional headphones (those that come without a transmitter). Those would be the HDR models (HDR 65 is RS 65 compatible and so on).
At the last edition of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Sennheiser presented its newest two babies, the RS 130 and RS 140, that are said to be released in March, 2005. We'll speak about them later.
Finally, probably just so we cannot say they didn't think of it, people at Sennheiser also developed an infrared based system, the IS 380.
Sennheiser RS 120 Wireless Headphones
When you're out hunting for a pair of new headphones, the imminent question is "Will this time wireless mean again a great deal of quality loss?"
Well if you do that, make a stop at a Sennheiser dealer and ask for the RS 120 set. It contains the headphones, base transmitter, batteries and a power cord. We're not sure about the 3.5mm (¼") adapter. Some users say they found it in the box, some say they didn't.
RS 120 operates on RF transmission and has three channels to choose from, the frequencies ranging from 926 to 928 MHz. This helps you avoid interference with other home electronics. The sound quality is still good at 300 ft. from the base, but excellent within that.
The batteries can keep the headphones going for several days of heavy listening without recharging.
The headphones feature an on-off switch volume control. That means the base turns itself off when there's no music in the headphones. This saves some battery life, but you instantly hear annoying static.
Apart from that, audio quality is very good, headphones are highly comfortable even when worn for hours, the transmission range is definitely a winner and last but most important, the price is moderate: $100 to $110. This is less than the RS65s, that do not perform as well.
Sennheiser RS 65 Wireless Headphones
These are basically similarly featured as the RS120s, but still, they were designed as a lower performing model. E.g., their transmitting range is only 100 ft. from the base. The batteries are two rechargeable NiMHs (Nickel Metal Hydrate). Each of them is supposed to keep the headphones going for about three hours and a half, while they have to rest for about 17 hours in a small cavity in the back of the base for recharging. That's quite a phase difference.
For this set, you can also buy the additional HDR 65 headphones. Each HDR pack comes with its own battery.
The prices are a little spicy in our opinion, but that's for you to decide in the end. Prices for SR 65 start at $190 and rarely fall under $150. The additional pairs are available for $100 or so. An extra NiMH battery will cost you $20.
The new kids on the block: RS130 RF & RS140 RF
With the first one, RS130 RF, Sennheiser remains faithful to the open-back circumaural design. You can still tune your system by choosing one of the three available channels, to avoid static interference. The manufacturer advertises that full recharged NiMH batteries will give you up to 22 hours of audition. We suppose this means 11 hours per battery.
The RS130 headphones will be available in March for $169.95.
The Sennheiser RS140 RF are closed-back circumaural designed and sound a bit clearer. Otherwise, they are similar to the RS130, regarding feature-loading and quality of performance. But the retail price will be $219.95, also starting March 2005.