Best Bluetooth headphones for TV 2023
Looking to enhance your TV audio while keeping it wireless? Here are the best Bluetooth headphones for TV
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We’re going to find the best Bluetooth headphones for TV today, and it’s not as silly a mission as it sounds.
If you’ve purchased a high-end TV in the last few years, chances are that it’ll have Bluetooth capabilities built-in. This is a pretty recent addition to TVs but it makes sense given the ongoing march to cut cables wherever we can. If you’ve been lucky enough to snag a TV with Bluetooth built-in like the LG C2, you’re probably looking for the best Bluetooth headphones for that TV.
It’s worth noting here that if you don’t have a Bluetooth-enabled TV, you can get adapters for a relatively low cost. If this sounds like you, check out our list of the best Bluetooth adapters for TV for a rundown of the best adapters to give your TV that extra bit of connective capability. Additionally, some of the best soundbars these days can be connected via Bluetooth too, so you can truly begin to cut all the cables.
So, You need the best Bluetooth headphones for TV. Let’s have a look at the best of the best, and go through what you’ll need to consider before making your final purchase. Most of these aspects are relevant regardless of how headphones connect, but we’ll go over them all the same.
How we choose the best Bluetooth headphones for TV use
Much like everything tech-related we like to do our homework before recommending products, so we do research, testing, and comparisons in order to whittle down the almost limitless options to the best we can find. Additionally, we consider not only the absolute best, but the best for those of you on a tight budget, the most feature-packed, and the best in terms of value for money. So regardless of what special preferences or limiting factors apply to you, there’ll be a recommendation that will work.
Why use Bluetooth headphones for TV viewing?
There are a few answers to this question, but they share the same common theme, the Removal of wires. For example, you can get a fantastic soundbar, but that costs a lot of money, whereas a decent pair of Bluetooth headphones will deliver similar levels of audio fidelity, without both the huge cost of a speaker system and the inconvenience of trailing a wire all the way from the TV to the couch.
Additionally, you might want a set of headphones in order to continue enjoying games, TV, or movies late into the night without angering roommates or spouses. Also, given the ubiquity of the Bluetooth communication protocol, the best Bluetooth headphones for TV usage will work with a practically limitless amount of other devices.
What to consider when picking the best Bluetooth headphones for TV usage
OK, so now we know why the average joe might be looking for Bluetooth headphones, now let’s have a look at what they’ll want to consider before clicking the ‘Buy now’ button. As with any other audio solutions, like picking the best gaming headsets and best gaming earbuds, there are a few common aspects that always need to be considered. Let’s have a look at these, in addition to some more specific considerations for TV headphones in particular.
Comfort
This is important for all headphones and earbuds don’t get us wrong, but if you’re looking to use these with a TV specifically, it’s more important as chances are you’ll be wearing them for hours at a time, instead of 20 minutes here and 20 minutes there like earbuds for the commute.
So, regardless of the price point, every set of headphones on this page will have high levels of comfort, ergonomics, and adjustability. What we looking for specifically is the ability to adjust the headband, rotating earcups, and copious amounts of padding. Alternative earpads and breathable materials will be considered a bonus too.
Battery life
Again, considering the likelihood of longer than regular listening sessions, longer battery life is a must here. Luckily enough, Bluetooth is one of the most energy-efficient wireless protocols. You can get up in the hundreds of hours range at a relatively low cost. Unless you’re lucky enough to be rich and retired, you probably won’t be watching TV for hundreds of hours at a time, so we’ll consider 20+ hours of battery life good enough to be included in the list of best Bluetooth headphones for TV use, just remember to plug them in between usage to make sure you avoid the unthinkable horror of being tethered to you TV.
Sound quality
Another no-brainer here, headphones with poor audio reproduction won’t be considered as it all but entirely strips any potential enjoyment from the experience. Presently, there are bandwidth limits over Bluetooth which are far more restrictive than via a cable, but as mentioned earlier, Bluetooth is only getting better and better so you can still find an excellent auditory experience without cables cluttering the couch.
Build quality
Given that some of these headphones can get quite pricy, they can be considered investments instead of purchases. Having the best audio quality doesn’t mean squat if the headphones fall apart within a few months. What we need here is premium construction, high-quality materials, robust fabrics, and/or faux leather.
The best Bluetooth headphones for TV usage
Enough foreplay, let’s have a look at what the best picks are. We’re going to include the best of the best, a budget pick, a gaming pick, and some others as we’re feeling particularly fruity today.
Sony WH-1000XM4 ANC Headphones
Battery Life
Up to 30 hours
Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.0, 3.5mm
Frequency response
20Hz – 20,000Hz
Driver diameter
40mm
- Best ANC in class
- Very comfortable
- Premium materials
- Very expensive
Surprising absolutely no one, we’ve picked the king of Bluetooth headphones first, the Sony WH-1000XM4s. They feature industry-leading active noise cancellation for the all-important concentrated listening sessions and some of the most balanced and dynamic sound staging we’ve heard in a long time.
Additionally, they are designed in a classy, yet understated fashion, with subtle coloring with small additions of shiny material here and there that subtly hint toward the premium nature of the WH-1000XM4 headphones. They also boast around a 30-hour battery life, which passes muster for any reasonable length TV watching session.
In terms of build quality, these are some of the best out there. One of the WePC staff has been using his daily for over 5 years and they are only now starting to show signs of wear and tear. This is far better than the typical lifespan of a set of headphones these days. Comfort-wise these are also a slam dunk with plush cushioning on the leatherette earcaps and headband. This combines with the 354g weight to create a package that can be worn for hours on end without fatigue or irritation. They do get a little stuffy after an hour or two but it’s not too bad.
Anker Soundcore Life Q20 ANC headphones
Battery Life
Up to 40 hours
Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.0, 3.5mm
Frequency response
16Hz – 40,000Hz
Driver diameter
40mm
- Superb value for money
- Lightweight construction
- Unassuming design
- Too much plastic
When it comes to balancing a decent price with copious features, the Anker Soundcore life Q20s are doing it better than anyone else. The specs are almost identical to that of the WH-1000XM4’s but at almost 1/5 of the price. Of course, they are lacking in other areas when compared to the king, but still, for the ~$60 price, you can’t expect a flawless product.
They lose a few points for the uninspired, bordering on boring design and the comfort isn’t quite top tier. But the overall package is more than suitable for long sessions in front of the TV, additionally, they have Active Noise Cancellation too, meaning that they are fully suitable for a noisy commute or tasks like working from home or studying that require enhanced concentration.
As we’ve come to expect from Anker, the build quality is also good, with very few squeaks or rattles, even the folding mechanism feels great, which is a tricky part to get right and is often the main stumbling block for even the most expensive and experienced brands.
Razer Kaira Pro Haptic headset
Frequency response
20 Hz – 20 kHz
Driver diameter
50mm
Connectivity
USB Type-C, Bluetooth
Weight
0.80 lbs / 365 g
Battery life
Up to 20 hours (with lighting/haptics, Up to 50 hours (without lighting/haptics)
Compatibility
PS5/PS4, PC, Devices with Bluetooth audio capacity
- Superb haptic feedback
- Gorgeous visual design
- Great mic
- Chances are the color scheme wont match your TV setup
Of course, you’ll probably be playing games from time to time so we had to include a Bluetooth gaming pick with a dedicated boom mic. We went with the Kaira Pros from Razer for a few reasons you might expect, and one specific reason you probably won’t.
Audio spec-wise these are pretty standard, delivering similar audio reproduction to the other headphones on this list. However, we like it for more than just boring specs. Firstly the PS5-inspired design is just fantastic, with its two-tone minimalist look and smooth silhouette it’s a very good-looking piece of kit and Razer has even been a little subtle with the branding which is rare.
Here’s the kicker that we alluded to earlier, not only are the Razer Kaira Pro’s an excellent headset/set of headphones, but they are also haptic headphones too. In short, the Razer Kaira Pro uses the sub-bass frequency to define the vibrating motors in each earcup, this gives an experience akin to standing near a subwoofer at a gig.
It sounds like it might be annoying, but trust us, it only adds to the listening experience. It affects the battery life a little, but not enough so as to prevent it from gaining a place on this list. We covered them in more detail when we got hands-on with the Razer Kaira Pro for the first time earlier this year, so read that article if you want a little more information.
LG Tone Free FP9 earbuds
Battery Life
Up to 24 hours
Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.2
Frequency response
20Hz – 20,000Hz
Driver diameter
8mm
- Convenient charging case
- UV light
- Superb mids and highs
- Case hinge is a little loose
Not everyone is a fan of over-ear closed-back headphones so we thought we’d include a good pair of Bluetooth earbuds here too. We are particular fans of the LG TONE free FP9s for their diminutive size, relatively low cost, and a full complement of fun and useful features.
In terms of sound quality, you’ll always be losing something when going from headphones to earbuds, but the FP9s manage to retain a good amount of bass, which can be increased via the Flex Action Bass technology. The mids and highs are respectable too, though not-ground breakingly so.
When it comes to convenience, TWS earbuds can’t be beaten and the FP9s are no exception as they feature a high capacity charging case, seamless pairing to any Bluetooth-enabled device, and some surprisingly intuitive touch controls. The controls can be remapped via the companion app to better match your preferences, additionally, this app is where you can mess with the ANC, EQ settings, and activate the aforementioned bass-boost.
Another fun feature is the UV nano charging case. This case is notable because it features a UV light that will disinfect the headphones when they aren’t in use. Some might consider this frivolous and superfluous, but in a world still partially ridden by a pandemic, why not add some extra precautions to your listing experience?
Best Bluetooth headphones for TV: Final word
Given the relative newness of Bluetooth-enabled TVs, we have yet to see headphones designed specifically for use with a TV. In the coming years, we’re sure that every brand will come out with some specific products for this use case, but for now, we’ve given you some picks that won’t disappoint. In the future, these selections might change as products get more specialized and we’ll update this page accordingly to recommend you the best stuff we can. Happy listening.
