Wireless Headphones




    Have you ever wished you had access to all 200 CDs in your CD changer while you were working in the yard?  What about being able to listen to those CDs while you took care of chores around the house?  Those are exactly the options that wireless headphones provide.  Without the tether of a cord, you are able to freely roam about your home or yard while listening to your favorite CDs. 
    While they are typically more expensive than conventional headphones, you are paying to the added freedom that wireless provides. Keep in mind that corded headphones will have superior sound quality.  It's a trade-off between sound quality and free mobility.  That's just the nature of the beast.  If you are planning on using your headphones to watch movies on your home theater system or listen to music without disturbing others, you should go with a pair of surround sound headphones.  A set of these will give you a level of sound quality wireless headphones are not yet able to provide.
Wireless Headphones

Wireless Headphone Features

    When choosing which wireless headphones to buy, take into consideration what tasks you will be engaging in during their use.  If you are planning on using the wireless headphones during particularly noisy jobs, sealed earpieces are the way to go.  Sealed earpieces will provide auditory isolation from the outside world which will come in handy if you plan to use your headphones while mowing the lawn or working in your home workshop.  Comfort should be your next consideration.  You will be wearing your wireless headphones while working so make sure there is plenty of padding to keep your ears comfortable.  One-size-fits-all flexing headbands will only cause problems down the road so make sure the headphones come equipped with an adjustable headband to accommodate you or anyone else that may use them.  It seems like a small detail but you will be happy you addressed it.  Choose wireless headphones that come with swivel earpieces.  These will provide an extra level of adjustment that immobile ones are unable to produce. 
    Many wireless headphones on the market include rechargeable batteries.  Take note of how many hours of use you will be able to squeeze out of the provided batteries before making your decision.  Also check to see how long the charge time is after the batteries have been depleted.  It goes without saying that a shorter charge time is going to be more convenient for you.  The range of hearing for the average person is 20 Hz - 20 kHz, so make sure that the wireless headphones you choose cover those frequencies. 


Transmitter

    You need to know how the wireless headphones interface with your home theater equipment.  Some make their connection through a minijack port, while others use an RCA connector and still some connect into preamp outputs.  Knowledge of this information is crucial for making sure that the set you choose will work with your existing home theater set up. 
    Elect for wireless headphones that employ a radio frequency (RF) transmission over an infrared (IR) transmission.  IR wireless headphones have a limited range, sometimes no more than 30 feet, due to the nature of its transmission.  IR transmissions are the same as those used for most remote controls.  In order to transmit information, the IR beam has to be sent from the IR transmitter to the IR receiver.  Any obstructions between the two points can cause a loss of signal.  RF transmissions can travel through most obstructions; this is why you can receive radio stations inside your house.  RF will also provide you with a greater range of mobility, sometimes as much as 300 feet.
    It is a good idea to go with a pair of wireless headphones that features automatic tuning.  This will eliminate the need for you to try to adjust the tuning for the best reception while you move about your house or yard.  A built-in noise filter will help to eliminate the electromagnetic interference caused by the electrical devices you have around the house.   

Wireless Headphones: Final Thoughts

    With this information, you are more than ready to make an informed decision on which wireless headphones will suit your needs.  The freedom that wireless gives you will definitely make chores around the house and yard far more enjoyable.  Who knows, you may actually start to like mowing the lawn.  It could happen!
   I've looked for wireless headphones and it seems that the Sennheiser RS140 RF Wireless Headphones with Virtual Surround are a pretty good set for the price.  They come with batteries that are rated for about 22 hours of operating time and recharge by simply placing the headphones on the base.  Sennheiser says that the range on these headphones is 450 ft but this depends on the frequency you have set as well as the environment you are in.  The RS140s also feature the volume and tuning controls on the ear piece for easy access.  There is a known issue of low-level hissing during quiet moments in movies and music but you'll be hard pressed to find a better set of wireless headphones in this price range.  In fact, if you do I'd appreciate it if you would let me know.