People´s review
An excellent set of wireless headphones, November 13, 2004
By Hi Ho
This review is from: Sennheiser RS120 926 MHz Wireless RF Headphones with Charging Cradle (Electronics)
After researching Sony, RCA, and Sennheiser wireless headphones I settled on the Sennheiser RS-120's and I have no regrets. These are excellent headphones. I ended up buying them at GoogGuys. When I asked the associate if I could try them he connected them to a DVD player and they came to life. I walked all the way accross the store filled with electronics and heard no interference what-so-ever. I was nothing short of impressed and bought them right then and there.
Now that I have been using them for several weeks I am still amazed by them. I didn't know wireless headphones could be this good. There is no interference around my house. The 300ft range claim is about right. Maybe a bit conservative. I can mow my rental house lawn accross the street and even go next door and still get a good signal.
Sound quality is excellent. Bass is strong, mids are prominent, and highs are crisp. These phones work great for music, TV, and movies. I couldn't be happier with the sound. There is some spotty static in a couple places upstairs but it is practically inaudible when listening to something.
I don't know how long the batteries last because they have never run out. I have worn them for almost 10 hours straight and they were still going strong. I put them on the charger after each use and they have never shown any signs of a low battery.
That brings me to the charging system. It is simply superb. Unlike most other wireless phone charging systems this one is very simple. Just set the headphones on the metal "tube" that sticks out of the base and it charges. No messing around to get them just right so the contacts will contact (AKA Sony).
Build quality is very good. They are light weight, yet sturdy. The RS-120's are much sturdier than any of the other Sennheiser RS phones. They are very comfortable as well. I was worried that, due to their open air, on the ear design that they would get uncomfortable after wearing them for a few hours. I was proven wrong. They have never become uncomfortable.
I have read some reviews where people complain that the base turns off whenever it wants. It has an auto-off features so that it shuts off if it gets not signal for a few minutes. I see no problem with that and it has never bothered me since I'm usually listening to something when I'm wearing them. :)
I have the base connected to my home theater receiver to which I have a TV, DVD player, and my PC connected. The phones work well with all of those sources. Games, music, movies, TV, everything sounds great and I recommend these phones whole heartedly. You would be hard pressed to find a better deal in this price range.
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Super form, functionality -- and cool, too!, February 5, 2005
By Kevin Woodward (Soquel, CA United States) -
This review is from: Sennheiser RS120 926 MHz Wireless RF Headphones with Charging Cradle (Electronics)
When I first noticed this product on an Amazon best-seller list, my initial response was "what a great idea." My second was "sounds too good to be true." My third, after receiving my order and slipping these headphones on for the first time, was simply "WOW!"
From the elegant, ergonamic design to the superb sound, the Sennheiser RS-120s can't be beat.
The headphones come with three connection adapters, so they'll work with just about any TV, radio, stereo, DVD or game system. The base unit is small, inobtrusive and leaves a small enough footprint that you can find a spot for it just about anywhere.
But the bottom line is they work -- and they work well. I have them set up in my bedroom and connected to my TV so I can unwind late at night without keeping my spouse awake. And on Saturday afternoons I can have the game on with the volume pumped up without a peep of complaint from her or the kids (and even if they did, I'd never hear them anyway :-) Of course, I can walk around and do chores, work at my desk, whatever, without missing a second of the action.
The rechargable batteries are a great idea, too. No need to plug a cord in, simply place the headphones on the base unit metal rack to connect and charge effortlessly.
My personal standard for consumer testing is whether or not I can rip open the package and get the product working without having to reference the instructions or manual. No worries there ... just plug and play ... and so intuitive it can't get any easier.
Form, functionality and unbelievably cool, too. An unbeatable combination.
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Good but not great, August 2, 2005
By James Sweet (Upstate NY) -
This review is from: Sennheiser RS120 926 MHz Wireless RF Headphones with Charging Cradle (Electronics)
This is the first product review I've written on Amazon, but I really felt the need, because I felt somewhat deceived by the huge amount of 5 star reviews for these headphones.
Don't get me wrong, these are decent headphones. I am satisfied with them and I will not be returning them. But there are significant problems, the biggest of which is the ubiquitous hiss. Contrary to many of the other reviews, I found this hiss to be *quite* noticeable. I suppose that is just a fact of life with wireless headphones, but it really is quite annoying, particularly during quiet passages or when stretching the limits of the range.
Speaking of range, it is true as other reviewers said that you can still get a "reasonable" signal at a remarkable distance (it beats my wi-fi network in terms of range). But I find that if I stray more than 15 feet or so from the base, I can notice a gradual reduction in quality, an increase in the volume of the hiss, and occasional whisps of static. I have fiddled with the channel setting and tuning knob quite extensively, and these issues still remain. I am probably a little pickier than the average person, but I do not consider myself an audiophile by any means -- so if *I'm* noticing the quality loss, it's pretty significant.
Now the good news: When you are in the same room as the base and the music is loud enough to drown out the hiss, these headphones sound pretty darn good, at least to my untrained ears. All frequencies are filled out nicely (I did not find it lacking in bass at all) and I don't get that headache-y too-much-treble feeling that I get from extended listening on lousy earbuds.
As other reviewers mentioned, it was a poor choice to put the volume knob and tuning knob right next to each other, but this is very manageable with practice.
In summary, these ain't bad for wireless headphones -- but don't let all those 5-star reviews fool you into thinking you aren't going to pay a significant price for that freedom.
Edit: Since writing the initial review, I figured out what the deal is with these. Whether as a side effect of FM transmission or by design, somewhere along the way this device is causing a pretty aggressive automatic gain control on the signal. A loud signal will cause the headphones to immediately adjust quieter, while they will adjust more gradually to a quiet signal, slowly bringing the level up.
This more or less ruins music that has a lot of dynamics, though *most* modern music will sound more or less okay because of the way it is mastered. The AGC is also the cause of the infamous "hiss" that you hear when your signal is low (it keeps boosting the signal level until you hear noise). I find that keeping the input volume really high diminishes these problems somewhat, but of course then you have to be careful you aren't getting clipping. And it doesn't eliminate the problems altogether.
It's a pity, because the headphones themselves sound great. But the automatic gain control really interferes with certain music, and as a result my review stays at 3 stars.
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Nice headphones... when set up properly., January 12, 2005
By slackerla -
This review is from: Sennheiser RS120 926 MHz Wireless RF Headphones with Charging Cradle (Electronics)
These headphones work great. They're Sennheisers and you usually can't go wrong with this brand.
The headphone reproduces the full range of sounds very clearly and without distortion, if set up properly (I'll get to that).
I've been able to walk around my home without experiencing too much distortion. Within the same room as the transmitter, the sound is really clear and robust. It's great not being tethered to one location or having to deal with accidentally yanking the cord out when moving around.
Also, unlike my other enclosed-type headphones, the design allow for air to circulate freely. So your ears won't become uncomfortable warm during use. These headphones are very comfortable.
As far as specs, you can get a good assessment of the product from reading the Amazon description so I won't go into that.
For portable devices with a headphone jack, you simply have to purchase a "2-RCA (female) to headphone jack (male 3.5mm plug) adapter". Make sure the adapter is a "stereo" adapter versus a "mono" adapter. They look exactly the same, so beware. These adapters are pretty inexpensive.
I was a little concerned about getting wireless headphones because of all the negative reviews I've read regarding sound quality, interference, etc.
Sound quality and hissing can be minimized if you set up properly. Here's a quick "What to do":
Portable Players (i.e. CD, MP3, Walkman, etc):
1) If the device comes with an output other than the headphone jack, use it. This other output (line-out) is usually a jack that delivers a constant, high (i.e. loud) signal. Regardless of your headphone volume level, this jack will output at a constant, strong, loud signal. These line-out jacks are usually found on the back of some CD players.
2) If the device only comes with a headphone jack, set the volume to max or near max. This is the setup I'm using. These headphones were bought primarily to be use at work, so I can listen to my iPod wirelessly.
NOTE!!! If you're connected to a dedicated home amp/receivers/etc... DO NOT crank the volume all the way up or even remotely close to it. (The line out on your home amp/receiver will transmit a strong, clear signal regardless of the volume setting, if you're connected to the receiver/amp's line-out)
The volume should be set high ONLY for smaller, portable devices that output less power such as an MP3 player or handheld portable CD player. You've been warned;-)
Why set the signal coming from your unit as high as possible? It significantly reduces the background noise, since the signal being transmitted is strong. You won't need to turn up the volume on your headset as high since the signal being transmitted is strong. Yes, your portable music player will use up power faster, but who cares? Use a power adapter for your device.
If your signal wasn't strong, you would need to increase the headset volume which also increases the level of background hiss. Try it out. I would speculate that a lot of these reviews, which complain of unbearable hissing, are a result of their device's volume level being set low.
Hope this info helps. Enjoy the headphones... They're pretty nice.
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I'm impressed!, January 12, 2005
By Dubbie (Connecticut)
This review is from: Sennheiser RS120 926 MHz Wireless RF Headphones with Charging Cradle (Electronics)
I have this habit of getting up early in the morning well before my wife and was getting tired of having to keep the volume down on the family room TV before she got up. So I was just looking to use these headphones for TV use. However, out of curiosity, I walked up stairs and clear across the other side of our house and outside of some occassional hissing, the signal was still strong. Given my intended use, signal strength, clarity, ease of use and value were the primary critieria and the RS-120 has met or exceeded my expectations for each of these criteria.
Just a few other comments: 1. The comments of how you need to retract the headphones to allow for charging is true, but this really isn't a big deal in my opinion, and is more than compensated for by the ease of the charging mechanism which simply requires you to set the headphones down on the base. 2. The receiver automatically turns on when it receives a signal and turns off after a few minutes if the signal stops. This was a pain when I paused a movie for a while and had to turn the TV off and on again to get the headphones restarted. I'm not sure why simply turning the movie back on didn't do the trick since it resulted in a new signal???? However, the upside of this set up is that you don't always have to remember to turn off the base unit on your own. 3. The headphones have it's own on/off switch. 4. There's a volume and fine tuning adjustment on the headphone that can easily be adjusted without taking them off your head. The set up is very intuitive. 5. Contrary to some other reviews, the pair that I received came with two adapters that allowed for easy connection to a standard headphone outlet or computer.
Bottom line, I did a lot of research before purchasing the RS-120 and I am still very satisfied. Unless you want to spend a lot more money, everyone should feel comfortable with this option.
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Works like a Champ! (See Addendum), April 16, 2006
By Tony Theil (Kauai, Hawaii)
This review is from: Sennheiser RS120 926 MHz Wireless RF Headphones with Charging Cradle (Electronics)
An update as of Jan 2010: (Problem with the attached RCA cable). The cable has turned brittle over the years and has cracked open in several places (especially in the areas that has been folded). At first I thought that it was because I caught it on something, but it's all over the entire cord! With this problem, I reduced my review to 3 stars.
Blows out my Sony MDR-IF240RK which cost more!
I've been very frustrated with the Sony model that I've had for a couple of months due to static noise. I've tried everything from moving the base unit as far away as possible from the TV and other elctronic equipment (using a long Audio extension cord), to putting the darn thing next to me beside the couch. No dice, it only works with the volume turned down very low.
After reading reviews on wireless headsets, I was convinced that ALL OF THEM had massive amounts of static and I was very hesitant to buy another. However, the Sony was driving me crazy! .. and wife insisted that I wear headphones at night while I watch my action DVD flicks and the loud (room shaking) booms that comes with them.
I saw this on Amazon, and after reading all the good reviews .. I decided .. what the heck .. if I didn't like them, I could always return for a refund or excange. Amazon has been very good to me in this manner, and of course that's why I keep coming back to them. LOL, between my wife and I .. we must own a piece of Amazon by now.
To make a long story short, I am pretty amazed by the quality of this unit. The sound is excellent and I can go anywhere in the house, in the garage, outside and the sound is as clear as a bell .. and most of all, no annoying static.
A little clarification: You WILL get static if it's turned on and there's no sound source feeding it. In other words, you must start your DVD player, CD Player, TV or whatever, before turning on the headset!
Why only 4 stars? Same complaint as the other folks who said that the headset was bulky (yup) and they don't fit quite snugly around the head. I guarantee, it's not one for laying on your side because it's not too kind on the neck. Also, I guess I have a pretty small head and I really have to fiddle around to adjust it so that it doesn't fall off.
The ear pieces could be designed a bit better, maybe just by using a thicker and softer concaved material so that it completely surrounds the ears. Perhaps they didn't want to make it even bulkier, but it sure would make it more snug fitting and comfortable. I would be willing to spend an extra $20.00 to have this feature because the unit is that good!
The bottom line is that this is definitely a KEEPER, inspite of the minor irritation of getting the headset on the head just right and the bulkiness.
THIS JUST ADDED: (April 17th) after the initial review.
I was unhappy with the earpiece that came with the unit so I did some modifications. Ahhh, much improved!
I had an old Kloss headset that had some very nice and comfortable earpads, soo.. I removed the pads from the Kloss (they were just lightly glued on to the ear piece plate), and exchanged it with the Sennheiser. The Sennheiser earpieces goes on and off easily. They just twist off and on, and the pads aren't even glued on to the plastic ear plate. There is a thin foam cusion that just lays against the plastic plate and a cloth that works like a fitted sheet that slips over the foam pad and the lip of plastic ear piece.
I took the existing thin foam pad out of the Sennheiser and replaced it with the contoured THICK pad from the Kloss. Then I slipped the cloth back over it twisted the ear pieces back on the headgear and I was off and running. Took maybe 15 min.
The contour and size of the Kloss earpieces are almost exactly identical to that of the Sennhiser so that made the job much easier. The hardest part was removing the (glued on) foam pads off the Kloss earpieces. But with the extra thickness of the new pads, it fits quite snuggly. Cool!
Note: You can probably just buy some thick foam from your local Home Depot and just cut out an extra layer using the earpiece plate of the Sennhiser as your template. Then place the extra foam on top of the other, and slip the cloth cover over both of them. You should have a more comfortable, better fitting headset.
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Excellent Headset!, May 30, 2005
By givpilot (Groton, MA USA) -
This review is from: Sennheiser RS120 926 MHz Wireless RF Headphones with Charging Cradle (Electronics)
I've had a number of wireless headsets and this, by far, is the best. The package contains all the possible connectors you would need, from RCA connectors for line out feeds, to standard and minature headset jacks. The headset itself is solid, adjusts nicely and features controls for power on/off, volume and tuning. I wish the earcups were of the recessed type, but other than that I am very pleased with the design. As to performance, the RS-120 reproduces both speech and music cleanly with reasonable fidelity. They won't compare with top of the line wired headsets (costing several times more), but that's not the design intention. There is no hiss nor whistle and I have not detected any interference with other electronic devices in my home, including a six extension 900mHz phone system. The range is impressive and it works well even a reasonable distance outside my home. Highly recommended -- particularly at this price point.
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Very impressed after adjusting, February 26, 2005
By Chris Shuttlesworth "TV junkie"(Richmond, CA) -
This review is from: Sennheiser RS120 926 MHz Wireless RF Headphones with Charging Cradle (Electronics)
When I first tried these after charging them, I was very disappointed. The base would shut off unless the TV was at a loud enough volume to keep it activated, and that volume was actually louder than what I would normally listen to. Plus, there was a constant hiss like what I get from listening to radio stations on my stereo.
A little investigation turned up a setting on my TV that allowed me to turn off the speakers and get the audio signal going through the audio out lines only, which sent a very strong audio signal to the base, eliminating the cutouts.
At the same time, I also moved the base to the other side of the TV, away from the stereo. Perhaps it was a coincidence and it was really the strengthened audio signal that did it, but it completely eliminated the hiss issue and boosted the signal to where I can hear perfectly clear, strong audio throughout my home.
I'm thrilled to be able to tune out my neighbor's obnoxious loud music. I can also cook or do dishes in the kitchen and still hear what I'm watching without having to crank up the TV to annoying levels.
The headphones are very comfortable and extremely easy to use, and while I'm not an audiophile, the sound quality is amazing -- great clarity and bass. I could not be happier with the quality of these headphones.
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I love them...I'm buying another pair!!!, October 30, 2005
By D. Ticzon (USA) -
This review is from: Sennheiser RS120 926 MHz Wireless RF Headphones with Charging Cradle (Electronics)
After using my first pair for the past 6 months, I have decided to buy another set. I have my current set connected to my computer. The second set will be connected to my surround system so I can watch it with my 56 inch Samsung DLP TV.
Now with two pairs, two people can watch the TV without waking up anyone else in the house.
The range of these headphone are very far. I can go into my garage, and empty out the garbage without missing any of my music as I listen to my music collection on my iTunes.
The base charges the batteries without any problems. I am still using the original batteries, and they still hold a good change so I can watch several movies with doing a rechange in between the movies.
I'm sure you will love this headphone as much as I do. With the price, you can't go wrong.
By Hi Ho
This review is from: Sennheiser RS120 926 MHz Wireless RF Headphones with Charging Cradle (Electronics)
After researching Sony, RCA, and Sennheiser wireless headphones I settled on the Sennheiser RS-120's and I have no regrets. These are excellent headphones. I ended up buying them at GoogGuys. When I asked the associate if I could try them he connected them to a DVD player and they came to life. I walked all the way accross the store filled with electronics and heard no interference what-so-ever. I was nothing short of impressed and bought them right then and there.
Now that I have been using them for several weeks I am still amazed by them. I didn't know wireless headphones could be this good. There is no interference around my house. The 300ft range claim is about right. Maybe a bit conservative. I can mow my rental house lawn accross the street and even go next door and still get a good signal.
Sound quality is excellent. Bass is strong, mids are prominent, and highs are crisp. These phones work great for music, TV, and movies. I couldn't be happier with the sound. There is some spotty static in a couple places upstairs but it is practically inaudible when listening to something.
I don't know how long the batteries last because they have never run out. I have worn them for almost 10 hours straight and they were still going strong. I put them on the charger after each use and they have never shown any signs of a low battery.
That brings me to the charging system. It is simply superb. Unlike most other wireless phone charging systems this one is very simple. Just set the headphones on the metal "tube" that sticks out of the base and it charges. No messing around to get them just right so the contacts will contact (AKA Sony).
Build quality is very good. They are light weight, yet sturdy. The RS-120's are much sturdier than any of the other Sennheiser RS phones. They are very comfortable as well. I was worried that, due to their open air, on the ear design that they would get uncomfortable after wearing them for a few hours. I was proven wrong. They have never become uncomfortable.
I have read some reviews where people complain that the base turns off whenever it wants. It has an auto-off features so that it shuts off if it gets not signal for a few minutes. I see no problem with that and it has never bothered me since I'm usually listening to something when I'm wearing them. :)
I have the base connected to my home theater receiver to which I have a TV, DVD player, and my PC connected. The phones work well with all of those sources. Games, music, movies, TV, everything sounds great and I recommend these phones whole heartedly. You would be hard pressed to find a better deal in this price range.
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Super form, functionality -- and cool, too!, February 5, 2005
By Kevin Woodward (Soquel, CA United States) -
This review is from: Sennheiser RS120 926 MHz Wireless RF Headphones with Charging Cradle (Electronics)
When I first noticed this product on an Amazon best-seller list, my initial response was "what a great idea." My second was "sounds too good to be true." My third, after receiving my order and slipping these headphones on for the first time, was simply "WOW!"
From the elegant, ergonamic design to the superb sound, the Sennheiser RS-120s can't be beat.
The headphones come with three connection adapters, so they'll work with just about any TV, radio, stereo, DVD or game system. The base unit is small, inobtrusive and leaves a small enough footprint that you can find a spot for it just about anywhere.
But the bottom line is they work -- and they work well. I have them set up in my bedroom and connected to my TV so I can unwind late at night without keeping my spouse awake. And on Saturday afternoons I can have the game on with the volume pumped up without a peep of complaint from her or the kids (and even if they did, I'd never hear them anyway :-) Of course, I can walk around and do chores, work at my desk, whatever, without missing a second of the action.
The rechargable batteries are a great idea, too. No need to plug a cord in, simply place the headphones on the base unit metal rack to connect and charge effortlessly.
My personal standard for consumer testing is whether or not I can rip open the package and get the product working without having to reference the instructions or manual. No worries there ... just plug and play ... and so intuitive it can't get any easier.
Form, functionality and unbelievably cool, too. An unbeatable combination.
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Good but not great, August 2, 2005
By James Sweet (Upstate NY) -
This review is from: Sennheiser RS120 926 MHz Wireless RF Headphones with Charging Cradle (Electronics)
This is the first product review I've written on Amazon, but I really felt the need, because I felt somewhat deceived by the huge amount of 5 star reviews for these headphones.
Don't get me wrong, these are decent headphones. I am satisfied with them and I will not be returning them. But there are significant problems, the biggest of which is the ubiquitous hiss. Contrary to many of the other reviews, I found this hiss to be *quite* noticeable. I suppose that is just a fact of life with wireless headphones, but it really is quite annoying, particularly during quiet passages or when stretching the limits of the range.
Speaking of range, it is true as other reviewers said that you can still get a "reasonable" signal at a remarkable distance (it beats my wi-fi network in terms of range). But I find that if I stray more than 15 feet or so from the base, I can notice a gradual reduction in quality, an increase in the volume of the hiss, and occasional whisps of static. I have fiddled with the channel setting and tuning knob quite extensively, and these issues still remain. I am probably a little pickier than the average person, but I do not consider myself an audiophile by any means -- so if *I'm* noticing the quality loss, it's pretty significant.
Now the good news: When you are in the same room as the base and the music is loud enough to drown out the hiss, these headphones sound pretty darn good, at least to my untrained ears. All frequencies are filled out nicely (I did not find it lacking in bass at all) and I don't get that headache-y too-much-treble feeling that I get from extended listening on lousy earbuds.
As other reviewers mentioned, it was a poor choice to put the volume knob and tuning knob right next to each other, but this is very manageable with practice.
In summary, these ain't bad for wireless headphones -- but don't let all those 5-star reviews fool you into thinking you aren't going to pay a significant price for that freedom.
Edit: Since writing the initial review, I figured out what the deal is with these. Whether as a side effect of FM transmission or by design, somewhere along the way this device is causing a pretty aggressive automatic gain control on the signal. A loud signal will cause the headphones to immediately adjust quieter, while they will adjust more gradually to a quiet signal, slowly bringing the level up.
This more or less ruins music that has a lot of dynamics, though *most* modern music will sound more or less okay because of the way it is mastered. The AGC is also the cause of the infamous "hiss" that you hear when your signal is low (it keeps boosting the signal level until you hear noise). I find that keeping the input volume really high diminishes these problems somewhat, but of course then you have to be careful you aren't getting clipping. And it doesn't eliminate the problems altogether.
It's a pity, because the headphones themselves sound great. But the automatic gain control really interferes with certain music, and as a result my review stays at 3 stars.
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Nice headphones... when set up properly., January 12, 2005
By slackerla -
This review is from: Sennheiser RS120 926 MHz Wireless RF Headphones with Charging Cradle (Electronics)
These headphones work great. They're Sennheisers and you usually can't go wrong with this brand.
The headphone reproduces the full range of sounds very clearly and without distortion, if set up properly (I'll get to that).
I've been able to walk around my home without experiencing too much distortion. Within the same room as the transmitter, the sound is really clear and robust. It's great not being tethered to one location or having to deal with accidentally yanking the cord out when moving around.
Also, unlike my other enclosed-type headphones, the design allow for air to circulate freely. So your ears won't become uncomfortable warm during use. These headphones are very comfortable.
As far as specs, you can get a good assessment of the product from reading the Amazon description so I won't go into that.
For portable devices with a headphone jack, you simply have to purchase a "2-RCA (female) to headphone jack (male 3.5mm plug) adapter". Make sure the adapter is a "stereo" adapter versus a "mono" adapter. They look exactly the same, so beware. These adapters are pretty inexpensive.
I was a little concerned about getting wireless headphones because of all the negative reviews I've read regarding sound quality, interference, etc.
Sound quality and hissing can be minimized if you set up properly. Here's a quick "What to do":
Portable Players (i.e. CD, MP3, Walkman, etc):
1) If the device comes with an output other than the headphone jack, use it. This other output (line-out) is usually a jack that delivers a constant, high (i.e. loud) signal. Regardless of your headphone volume level, this jack will output at a constant, strong, loud signal. These line-out jacks are usually found on the back of some CD players.
2) If the device only comes with a headphone jack, set the volume to max or near max. This is the setup I'm using. These headphones were bought primarily to be use at work, so I can listen to my iPod wirelessly.
NOTE!!! If you're connected to a dedicated home amp/receivers/etc... DO NOT crank the volume all the way up or even remotely close to it. (The line out on your home amp/receiver will transmit a strong, clear signal regardless of the volume setting, if you're connected to the receiver/amp's line-out)
The volume should be set high ONLY for smaller, portable devices that output less power such as an MP3 player or handheld portable CD player. You've been warned;-)
Why set the signal coming from your unit as high as possible? It significantly reduces the background noise, since the signal being transmitted is strong. You won't need to turn up the volume on your headset as high since the signal being transmitted is strong. Yes, your portable music player will use up power faster, but who cares? Use a power adapter for your device.
If your signal wasn't strong, you would need to increase the headset volume which also increases the level of background hiss. Try it out. I would speculate that a lot of these reviews, which complain of unbearable hissing, are a result of their device's volume level being set low.
Hope this info helps. Enjoy the headphones... They're pretty nice.
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I'm impressed!, January 12, 2005
By Dubbie (Connecticut)
This review is from: Sennheiser RS120 926 MHz Wireless RF Headphones with Charging Cradle (Electronics)
I have this habit of getting up early in the morning well before my wife and was getting tired of having to keep the volume down on the family room TV before she got up. So I was just looking to use these headphones for TV use. However, out of curiosity, I walked up stairs and clear across the other side of our house and outside of some occassional hissing, the signal was still strong. Given my intended use, signal strength, clarity, ease of use and value were the primary critieria and the RS-120 has met or exceeded my expectations for each of these criteria.
Just a few other comments: 1. The comments of how you need to retract the headphones to allow for charging is true, but this really isn't a big deal in my opinion, and is more than compensated for by the ease of the charging mechanism which simply requires you to set the headphones down on the base. 2. The receiver automatically turns on when it receives a signal and turns off after a few minutes if the signal stops. This was a pain when I paused a movie for a while and had to turn the TV off and on again to get the headphones restarted. I'm not sure why simply turning the movie back on didn't do the trick since it resulted in a new signal???? However, the upside of this set up is that you don't always have to remember to turn off the base unit on your own. 3. The headphones have it's own on/off switch. 4. There's a volume and fine tuning adjustment on the headphone that can easily be adjusted without taking them off your head. The set up is very intuitive. 5. Contrary to some other reviews, the pair that I received came with two adapters that allowed for easy connection to a standard headphone outlet or computer.
Bottom line, I did a lot of research before purchasing the RS-120 and I am still very satisfied. Unless you want to spend a lot more money, everyone should feel comfortable with this option.
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Works like a Champ! (See Addendum), April 16, 2006
By Tony Theil (Kauai, Hawaii)
This review is from: Sennheiser RS120 926 MHz Wireless RF Headphones with Charging Cradle (Electronics)
An update as of Jan 2010: (Problem with the attached RCA cable). The cable has turned brittle over the years and has cracked open in several places (especially in the areas that has been folded). At first I thought that it was because I caught it on something, but it's all over the entire cord! With this problem, I reduced my review to 3 stars.
Blows out my Sony MDR-IF240RK which cost more!
I've been very frustrated with the Sony model that I've had for a couple of months due to static noise. I've tried everything from moving the base unit as far away as possible from the TV and other elctronic equipment (using a long Audio extension cord), to putting the darn thing next to me beside the couch. No dice, it only works with the volume turned down very low.
After reading reviews on wireless headsets, I was convinced that ALL OF THEM had massive amounts of static and I was very hesitant to buy another. However, the Sony was driving me crazy! .. and wife insisted that I wear headphones at night while I watch my action DVD flicks and the loud (room shaking) booms that comes with them.
I saw this on Amazon, and after reading all the good reviews .. I decided .. what the heck .. if I didn't like them, I could always return for a refund or excange. Amazon has been very good to me in this manner, and of course that's why I keep coming back to them. LOL, between my wife and I .. we must own a piece of Amazon by now.
To make a long story short, I am pretty amazed by the quality of this unit. The sound is excellent and I can go anywhere in the house, in the garage, outside and the sound is as clear as a bell .. and most of all, no annoying static.
A little clarification: You WILL get static if it's turned on and there's no sound source feeding it. In other words, you must start your DVD player, CD Player, TV or whatever, before turning on the headset!
Why only 4 stars? Same complaint as the other folks who said that the headset was bulky (yup) and they don't fit quite snugly around the head. I guarantee, it's not one for laying on your side because it's not too kind on the neck. Also, I guess I have a pretty small head and I really have to fiddle around to adjust it so that it doesn't fall off.
The ear pieces could be designed a bit better, maybe just by using a thicker and softer concaved material so that it completely surrounds the ears. Perhaps they didn't want to make it even bulkier, but it sure would make it more snug fitting and comfortable. I would be willing to spend an extra $20.00 to have this feature because the unit is that good!
The bottom line is that this is definitely a KEEPER, inspite of the minor irritation of getting the headset on the head just right and the bulkiness.
THIS JUST ADDED: (April 17th) after the initial review.
I was unhappy with the earpiece that came with the unit so I did some modifications. Ahhh, much improved!
I had an old Kloss headset that had some very nice and comfortable earpads, soo.. I removed the pads from the Kloss (they were just lightly glued on to the ear piece plate), and exchanged it with the Sennheiser. The Sennheiser earpieces goes on and off easily. They just twist off and on, and the pads aren't even glued on to the plastic ear plate. There is a thin foam cusion that just lays against the plastic plate and a cloth that works like a fitted sheet that slips over the foam pad and the lip of plastic ear piece.
I took the existing thin foam pad out of the Sennheiser and replaced it with the contoured THICK pad from the Kloss. Then I slipped the cloth back over it twisted the ear pieces back on the headgear and I was off and running. Took maybe 15 min.
The contour and size of the Kloss earpieces are almost exactly identical to that of the Sennhiser so that made the job much easier. The hardest part was removing the (glued on) foam pads off the Kloss earpieces. But with the extra thickness of the new pads, it fits quite snuggly. Cool!
Note: You can probably just buy some thick foam from your local Home Depot and just cut out an extra layer using the earpiece plate of the Sennhiser as your template. Then place the extra foam on top of the other, and slip the cloth cover over both of them. You should have a more comfortable, better fitting headset.
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Excellent Headset!, May 30, 2005
By givpilot (Groton, MA USA) -
This review is from: Sennheiser RS120 926 MHz Wireless RF Headphones with Charging Cradle (Electronics)
I've had a number of wireless headsets and this, by far, is the best. The package contains all the possible connectors you would need, from RCA connectors for line out feeds, to standard and minature headset jacks. The headset itself is solid, adjusts nicely and features controls for power on/off, volume and tuning. I wish the earcups were of the recessed type, but other than that I am very pleased with the design. As to performance, the RS-120 reproduces both speech and music cleanly with reasonable fidelity. They won't compare with top of the line wired headsets (costing several times more), but that's not the design intention. There is no hiss nor whistle and I have not detected any interference with other electronic devices in my home, including a six extension 900mHz phone system. The range is impressive and it works well even a reasonable distance outside my home. Highly recommended -- particularly at this price point.
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Very impressed after adjusting, February 26, 2005
By Chris Shuttlesworth "TV junkie"(Richmond, CA) -
This review is from: Sennheiser RS120 926 MHz Wireless RF Headphones with Charging Cradle (Electronics)
When I first tried these after charging them, I was very disappointed. The base would shut off unless the TV was at a loud enough volume to keep it activated, and that volume was actually louder than what I would normally listen to. Plus, there was a constant hiss like what I get from listening to radio stations on my stereo.
A little investigation turned up a setting on my TV that allowed me to turn off the speakers and get the audio signal going through the audio out lines only, which sent a very strong audio signal to the base, eliminating the cutouts.
At the same time, I also moved the base to the other side of the TV, away from the stereo. Perhaps it was a coincidence and it was really the strengthened audio signal that did it, but it completely eliminated the hiss issue and boosted the signal to where I can hear perfectly clear, strong audio throughout my home.
I'm thrilled to be able to tune out my neighbor's obnoxious loud music. I can also cook or do dishes in the kitchen and still hear what I'm watching without having to crank up the TV to annoying levels.
The headphones are very comfortable and extremely easy to use, and while I'm not an audiophile, the sound quality is amazing -- great clarity and bass. I could not be happier with the quality of these headphones.
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I love them...I'm buying another pair!!!, October 30, 2005
By D. Ticzon (USA) -
This review is from: Sennheiser RS120 926 MHz Wireless RF Headphones with Charging Cradle (Electronics)
After using my first pair for the past 6 months, I have decided to buy another set. I have my current set connected to my computer. The second set will be connected to my surround system so I can watch it with my 56 inch Samsung DLP TV.
Now with two pairs, two people can watch the TV without waking up anyone else in the house.
The range of these headphone are very far. I can go into my garage, and empty out the garbage without missing any of my music as I listen to my music collection on my iTunes.
The base charges the batteries without any problems. I am still using the original batteries, and they still hold a good change so I can watch several movies with doing a rechange in between the movies.
I'm sure you will love this headphone as much as I do. With the price, you can't go wrong.
