Best TV Headphones For Hearing Impaired 2022
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It’s inevitable that people suffering from hearing loss have difficulties picking up the conversation on TV shows. In such situations, it makes sense to invest in a TV headphone that is designed to help those with impaired hearing.
TV headphones or hearing aids help people with hearing difficulty to have better sound clarity. Instead of picking up muffled voices or incoherent conversations on the show, the TV headphone projects the audio source at close distance, thus making the sound crystal clear.
The frustration of missing out on exciting plots because of hearing loss can be overcome with the right TV headphones. Neither will you keep getting yelled at for turning up the volume and cause a disturbance to others.
TV Headphones For Hearing Impairment Compared
Choosing The RIght TV Headphones For Hearing Impaired
The trick to enable clarity when watching TV is to amplify or to have the sound reproduced at close proximity. There are a few types of headphones or listening devices that can accomplish the goal.
However, you ought to understand the difference between each type of headphones, and more importantly, if they are the right fit for your hearing needs.
Here are a few factors that deserve your attention.
Connection Type (RCA vs Bluetooth)
TV headphones have a charging dock that is fitted with RCA cable. The cable picks up audio from the TV and broadcasts it to the headphone with either RF or Bluetooth connection. While you’ll need to place the charging dock near the TV, you’re able to enjoy watching movies at a distance, thanks to the wireless headphone.
With most modern smart TV supporting Bluetooth connections, using a regular Bluetooth headphone will limit you in terms of range. RF wireless headphone can easily have a range of 100 ft while a Bluetooth headphone usually hits the limit at 33 feet unless it’s using a Class 1 Bluetooth chipset.
Headphone Type
Just like the variety of TV shows, you’ll have the choice of picking the usual over-ear, on-ear, earbuds or the innovative bone-conduction headphone. Over-ear headphones work best for TV, as it is comfortable and gives you the depth of audio. Some people prefer earbuds, as they are less bulky and good natural noise blocker.
With the latest craze of bone conduction earbuds, folks with hearing impairment can benefit from an alternative way of relaying sound. Bone conduction earbuds bypass the eardrums and send the audio pulses through the jaw bone. It’s a better bet if your hearing loss is linked to issues with eardrums.
Comfort
Considering that an average movie lasts for two hours, you’ll expect to be comfortable throughout the entire session. Headphones with ergonomic designs like a padded cushion, adjustable headband, and swiveling earcups will reduce the chances of getting soreness on your ears.
Battery Life
Since TV headphones are wireless, battery life is an important factor. Most TV headphones will last up to 20 hours of use time before a recharge is needed. Avoid getting headphones that only runs for a couple of hours before the battery goes flat.
Features
TV headphones are usually plain and simple. However, sometimes having a volume dial on the headphone is handy. Instead of reaching out for the remote control, you can adjust the volume on the headphone to suit your personal preference.
Best TV Headphones For People With Hearing Impairment
1. Sony RF400 Wireless TV Headphone
Key Features
- RF audio transmission
- 150 feet audio range.
- Up to 20 hours of battery life.
Sony is a distinguished brand renowned for its quality and this RF TV headphone is no different. The headphone operates on the 926 Mhz frequency band to receive TV audio from the charging cradle.
With an impressive sound performance, the headphone offers crystal clear audio across 10 Hz to 22 kHz of the sonic spectrum. Using the headphone will allow you a distance of up to 150 feet from the TV without degradation to the sound quality even with obstacles along the way.
The Sony TV headphone also has a couple of neat features.. A couple of volume and tuning dials built beside the earcup are a great alternative to using the remote control. You’ll also find the voice mode button gives you better clarity for conversation in movies.
The over ear design and the lightweight material used means you’ll feel comfortable when watching TV with the headphone.
You can expect the wireless headphone to last up to 20 hours before recharging the battery. Getting the battery charged is a simple matter of placing the headphone into its cradle.
Pros
- Great audio range of 150 ft.
- Long-lasting battery.
- Voice mode gives you vocal clarity.
Cons
- Reliability issues bugged some units.
2. Artiste Wireless TV Headphone
Key Features
- 2.4 GHz RF
- 20 hours of playtime.
- 100 feet transmission range.
The Artiste Wireless TV headphone is often mistaken as a Bluetooth headphone as it operates on the 2.4 GHz band. However, it is a pure RF headphone with a much higher frequency. Sound waves tend to penetrate solid objects better at a higher frequency and this headphone will give you plenty of distance even with obstacles around.
With support for RCA jacks and audio-out ports, the headphone will pair well with different types of TV. Thanks to its high-frequency transmission, you’ll have crystal-clear audio without distortion on the headphone. Bass is pretty solid without compromising the clarity of the mids and high tones.
People with hearing difficulties, particularly the elderly, will find using the headphone very comfortable. Artiste has padded the headband and earcups with soft, cushion-like material. The headband is also adjustable to fit the size of the wearer. The tightly sealed earcups mean you’ll get to enjoy watching TV without noise creeping in.
Battery life is also a great plus for the Artiste headphone. You’ll get up to 20 hours of playtime on a full charge. To prolong usage, you can turn off the headphone via the on-off switch on the right ear cup. There are also volume button controls located on the left earcup.
Pros
- High-frequency RF transmits through obstacles.
- Up to 20 hours of battery life.
- Good sound quality with deep bass performance.
Cons
- Some units are defective.
3. AfterShokz Air Bone Conduction Headphone
Key Features
- Bone conduction technology.
- Bluetooth 4.2
- 6 hours of continuous playtime.
Bone conduction technology is revolutionizing the headphone industry and people with hearing impairment can benefit from it. AfterShokz is the market leader in creating the best bone conduction headphone and although it’s geared to sports, you can use it for TV.
The AfterShokz Air uses the Bluetooth 4.2 for connecting with an audio source. This means you’ll need to ensure that your TV is capable of supporting Bluetooth connection. The distance of Bluetooth 4.2 is quite limited for TV as you’ll only 33 ft. of working range.
As audio is channeled through your jawbones, AfterShokz Air offers listening enhancement for people with eardrums issues. The audio quality is rather solid compared to over-ear headphones. The bass isn’t overwhelming but you’ll have obvious punctuations in the lower frequency.
Futuristic design aside, AfterShokz is built with bendable material. The frame is almost weightless and it bends comfortably to suit your head contour. It’s also highly robust as it was designed for outdoor purposes.
Because of the low-profile design, there isn’t any space to fit in a large battery. Therefore, the AfterShokz Air will last for 6 hours if you use it for TV shows continuously. It’ll get to full charge in about 2 hours.
Pros
- Bone conduction technology ideal for hearing impairment.
- Clarity in audio quality.
- Very light and comfortable.
Cons
- Short battery duration.
4. Avantree HT4189 Wireless Headphone
Key Features
- Bluetooth Class 1 Technology.
- USB, Optical, Aux and RCA jack.
- 100 ft range.
Besides the RCA and auxiliary audio out jack, Avantree HT4189 supports digital optical audio input. It works well if you have a TV with optical audio output and you want to save on a digital optical to analog audio converter.
The headphone is connected to the multi-input transmitter with Bluetooth technology. Unlike conventional Bluetooth, the Avantree wireless headphone gives you up to 100 feet of transmission range, thanks to its built-in Bluetooth Class 1 chip.
Not only you’ll get to enjoy listening to the TV shows with clarity, but there is also no lag between the visual and sound, thanks to the FastStream codec. The volume and clarity of the reproduced sound are so good that you may not even need to use your existing hearing aid.
The Avantree wireless headphone is also highly comfortable as you can adjust the headband to fit your head. Also, the paddings on the earcups are gentle on the skin, which means you’ll barely notice the presence of the headphone when you’re engrossed in the movie.
Despite operating on Bluetooth, pairing both the transmitter and the headphone is very easy. Just turn on the switch on both devices and they will automatically pair. You’ve got a headphone that will last for a movie marathon as the battery has a duration of 40 hours.
Pros
- Supports digital optical audio input.
- Up to 40 hours of usage.
- Bluetooth Class 1 technology with 100 feet of range.
Cons
- Some units suffer from volume control issues.
5. Avantree HT4186 Wireless Earbuds
Key Features
- Bluetooth Class 1 Technology.
- USB, Optical, Aux and RCA jack.
- 100 ft range.
Besides a full-fledged headphone, Avantree also offers a wireless headphone that pairs with its Bluetooth TV audio transmitter. The transmitter shares the same spec with the HT4189 headphone, which means it’s using Bluetooth Class 1 chip and supports optical audio along with conventional RCA and auxiliary audio out.
You’ll also get the same 100 ft of audio range with this HT4186 Avantree earbuds. However, earbuds provide different listening experience compared to headphones. In terms of sound quality, you don’t get the deep bass performance like the headphone but you can expect good sound quality in general.
The Avantree wireless earbuds are a great fit for people who are not fond of wearing headphones, even if they are relatively lightweight. Wireless earbuds usually have smaller batteries, and this model halves the duration of the Avantree’s wireless headphone with 20 hours of playtime.
Pros
- No lip-sync delay with FastStream codec.
- Bluetooth Class 1 technology covers a great distance.
- Supports optical input without additional accessories.
Cons
- Reliability issues in some earbuds.
6. Williams Sound PockeTalker Sound Amplifier
Key Features
- Personal sound amplifier.
- Mic with 40 dB Amplification.
- Supplied with earbuds and a headphone.
If you don’t want the hassle of plugging a transmitter to your TV, getting a personal sound amplifier is a good alternative to TV headphones. This PockeTalker by Williams Sound has a highly sensitive mic that picks up ambiance sound and greatly magnifies it.
You can use the PockeTalker as you join your family watching the TV. The mic will pick up the TV audio and relay it perfectly on either the earbuds or headphones supplied. You’ll have the flexibility of increasing the volume with the built-in control on the sound amplifier.
Some people have difficulty picking up low frequencies sound while others have trouble listening to higher pitch audio. The PockeTalker’s tone control allows you to get the best hearing experience despite your hearing issues.
The beauty of using a sound amplifier is that it isn’t limited to watching TV. You can bring it along with you to enjoy better conversations with others or getting a better sound experience from nature as you take a stroll in the garden.
Pros
- Picks up TV audio easily with the highly-sensitive mic.
- The mic is extendable with an audio cord for greater range.
- Volume and tone control to adjust audio amplification.
Cons
- Some earbuds may have quality issues.
7. Ansten Wireless TV Headphone
Key Features
- RF audio transmission.
- 20 hours playtime.
- Up to 164 feet transmission range.
Another great way to enjoy your favorite TV show despite hearing impairment is by picking up the Ansten wireless TV headphone. The headphone ticks all the right checkboxes for pairing up with a TV and it’s one of the most affordable ones.
For a start, the Ansten TV headphone supports both RCA and 3.5 mm audio jack. It’ll fit perfectly with your TV with either connection. When the audio signal goes into the transmitter, it is relayed to the headphone with RF transmission.
The headphone will pick up clear sound from the TV for up to 164 feet from the transmitter. There’s no lip-sync delay that will take the joy out of watching movies with this headphone. Also, setting up the headphone is fairly simple as pushing a single button will get it paired to the transmitter.
Battery durability is also a plus point for this headphone. You’ve got a good 20 hours before the headphone needs to be recharged. By placing the headphone back to its transmitter dock, the recharge is automatically started.
People with hearing issues will find wearing the headphone a comfort. The padded earcup goes around the ear and there isn’t excessive strain exerted by the headband.
Pros
- Clear and loud audio from the headphone.
- RF audio with long-distance transmission.
- Flexible and comfortable for long hours.
Cons
- Some units are not durable.
Summary
People with hearing difficulties should not be robbed of the fun of watching TV, especially with their loved ones. Getting a TV headphone is quite affordable even if you’re choosing one from renowned brand like Sony (RF400).
However, Avantree’s option may be more economical if you’re looking for a headphone that supports optical audio. With AfterShokz’s foray into bone conduction headphones, you’ll have wider options particularly if the hearing issues are related to eardrums.
Regardless of your choice, I hope you’re no longer struggling with muffled audio from your favorite TV shows.
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About Author
Kenny Lee
An electronics engineer of 10 years turned copywriter. Headphones have been my best companion whether it's coding or writing. It's as much about blocking off distractions and tuning in to great music. Also a passionate pianist.