Electronics

[Moonchilde]

I had hoped to buy a TV that included Bluetooth, but in the end I didn't as it was about $150 more. It is wifi/smart though.

If I buy the old-fashioned RF headphones to use, I have read that every time I want to use the headphones I'll need to be plugging and unplugging the headphones, because while they're plugged in no sound will come out of the TV speakers. Not a fan of that scenario.

I have also read (this was a CNET article I think) that you can buy a BT transmitter and plug it into a USB port on the TV and then use a BT headset - and again undo it when not being used - I think (that's unclear to me). I've read where you need to use the 3.5 audio jacks for the transmitter and I've read you can use a USB port. Does anyone have any knowledge of or experience with this? TV will be on the wall, so not wanting to mess with it a lot if possible. 

I was planning to ask at Radio Shack but ALL of ours are gone. I will ask at Best Buy, but it's a kwap shoot whether I'll find someone there who actually knows.

One last question/thought - if I have headphones that are wi-fi enabled and the TV has wifi, is that enough in itself? Will they connect with each other via the house wi-fi? Yes, I know, that may be a very dumb question, but I've never dealt with trying to use headphones for TV before.

Sharper Image has a device that lets you put a movable rechargeable speaker right next to you, but AFAIC it's a ridiculous price, so..I don't think so. And it might have the same plugging/unplugging issue.

Thanks for any info.

[Lilysmom]

@Moonchilde, I don't have an answer for you but @hckynutjohn@hckynut might be able to help.  I will be interested to hear the reply as well.  Good luck!  LM

[Moonchilde]

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@Lilysmom wrote:

@Moonchilde, I don't have an answer for you but @hckynutjohn@hckynut might be able to help.  I will be interested to hear the reply as well.  Good luck!  LM

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@Lilysmom, I think @gardenman has weighed in on electronics too, but I might be wrong about that.

[Lilysmom]

@Moonchilde, yes I think you are right.  Both of them are quite knowledgeable I think.  LM

[glb613]

If you do a Google search for wireless headphones for TV, you'll find several sites.  I'd post the link but I think that's a no no and the post would be deleted. 

[phoenixbrd]

@Moonchilde  I'm using the new Apple air pods and love them.  They are so light and unobtrusive, the sound is great, and it doesn't disturb anyone if I watch tv, listen to the computer, or meetings on the IPhone.  I also have Bose 35s wireless headphones, the noise cancelling is the best I have ever used and are really great on long flights as well as bluetooth capability at home.  

[Moonchilde]

Thank you, @phoenixbrd and @glb613. I know where and what my choices of buying are, both BT and wireless, and I actually have BT headphones I could use.

My question is more about the specifics of the way they need to connect to the TV, since the TV does not have BT and I'd have to get a transmitter if I went that route.

Specifically, my question is would I have to be constantly switching out the 3.5 cables back and forth between DirecTV and the headset connection or BT transmitter - is there any way around that. That's what I actually need to know. Because, if that's true no matter what headphones I use, I'd probably just give up the idea. I don't want to have to be switching connectors back and forth every night between TV sound and headphones sound. 

[Lilysmom]

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@phoenixbrd wrote:

@Moonchilde  I'm using the new Apple air pods and love them.  They are so light and unobtrusive, the sound is great, and it doesn't disturb anyone if I watch tv, listen to the computer, or meetings on the IPhone.  I also have Bose 35s wireless headphones, the noise cancelling is the best I have ever used and are really great on long flights as well as bluetooth capability at home.  

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@phoenixbrd, I almost bought the air pods but was afraid I would lose one as I use them outside walking.  White EarPods in the snow...yikes!  I caved and bought BeatsX BT Not overly impressed with those.  I also bought Sony BT which has a lovely sound.  I didn't realize I could use them to watch tv.  Following this with interest!  LM

[pachutabelle]

@Moonchilde, I may not be answering the specific question you asked but Hubby uses a set of Sony wireless headphones that we purchased from Amazon a few years ago.  They were not expensive. The transmitter plugs into the audio jack in back of the tv and the headphones sit on it and charge when not in use. The unit sits next to the tv on my mantel.  There is no unplugging and plugging and the room  sound from the tv is not muted at all.

I hope I helped some.

Forgot to say no wifi involved with these.

[Moonchilde]

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@pachutabelle wrote:

@Moonchilde, I may not be answering the specific question you asked but Hubby uses a set of Sony wireless headphones that we purchased from Amazon a few years ago.  They were not expensive. The transmitter plugs into the audio jack in back of the tv and the headphones sit on it and charge when not in use. The unit sits next to the tv on my mantel.  There is no unplugging and plugging and the room  sound from the tv is not muted at all.

I hope I helped some.

Forgot to say no wifi involved with these.

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Thanks, @pachutabelle

You are, actually, contributing to what I need - thanks :-)

I was surprised that the CNET article I read said that unless you have an outside source like a sound bar, you have to keep switching the audio jacks back and forth between your cable/dish connection and the headphone receiver's connection. There is a several year old TV in our house in another room, and they don't have to do any switching when they use the RFID (non-wireless) headphones. So that didn't make sense to me that CNET would be wrong, but I know that's not the case with our other TV, so I've been just puzzled & confused about that.  If there is no issue, I'll be good to go. I'll just have to find out - hopefully I can get a definitive answer before I go ahead and buy some 😜