Bluetooth headphones have become increasingly popular in recent years due to the comfort and simplicity provided by wireless connection. They also offer excellent sound quality when using the aptX, aptX HD and LDAC codecs. They work with a wide variety of compatible sources such as smartphones, tablets or laptops. Televisions also fall within the category of compatible sources as there are now many models that offer wireless Bluetooth connection. As a result, your Bluetooth headphones can be used for listening to music when you are on the go and for watching movies at home on your TV.
The best Bluetooth headphones for televisions
Do you find it difficult to navigate through the plethora of Bluetooth headphones on the market? Here is our selection of the best models to fully enjoy movies and TV series on your television.
The best Bluetooth headphones under €150
- JBL T500 BT (on-ear)
- Focal Listen Wireless (over-ear)
- Jabra Elite 45h (on-ear)
- Marshall Major 3 Bluetooth (on-ear)
- Sony WH-CH710N (over-ear)
The best Bluetooth headphones between €150 and €300
When it comes to Bluetooth headphones, moving up in price often means a longer battery life, more comfort and more features. Active noise cancellation, compatibility with voice assistants and a stronger Bluetooth connection allow for extended use in any situation.
- Sony WH-1000XM3 (over-ear)
- Bose Soundlink II (over-ear)
- Jabra Elite 85h (over-ear)
- Marshall Mid A.N.C. Bluetooth (over-ear)
- Dali IO-4 (over-ear)
The best Bluetooth headphones over €300
The most high-end Bluetooth headphones use high-quality materials: reinforced plastics, aluminum, full-grain leather, etc. This makes them more durable over time and very often offers a greater comfort of use. They are often compatible with Bluetooth HD (aptX) and the LDAC codec to enjoy music in high resolution.
- Sennheiser PXC 550-II Wireless (over-ear)
- Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 (over-ear)
- Dali IO-6 (over-ear)
- Yamaha YH-E700A (over-ear)
- Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX (over-ear)
The solution for TVs without Bluetooth
For televisions that aren’t Bluetooth compatible, Marmitek, a manufacturer of wireless audio transmitters, provides two products: the Marmitek BoomBoom 50 and the Marmitek BoomBoom 55. These are two different wireless Bluetooth audio transmitters that allow the sound from a TV or any audio source to be diffused to a pair of Bluetooth headphones or a wireless Bluetooth speaker.
Marmitek BoomBoom 50
The Marmitek BoomBoom 50 wireless Bluetooth audio transmitter is specifically aimed at televisions. This compact and very easy to set up device is powered using the TV’s USB port and is connected to the TV’s headphone output. Simply activate the pairing mode on your headphones to automatically connect the transmitter. It also works with wireless Bluetooth speakers.
Marmitek BoomBoom 55
The Marmitek BoomBoom 55 wireless Bluetooth audio transmitter works in the same way as the Marmitek BoomBoom 50 model. It is also powered via the USB port and can even be connected directly to the mains (a USB power cable and mains adapter are supplied). It features a wider range of connectors (analog mini-jack and coaxial and optical digital inputs), thus enabling it to be used with both analog and digital sources. Moreover, it can also be simultaneously paired with two sets of wireless Bluetooth headphones. Lastly, the Marmitek BoomBoom 55 is compatible with the aptX codec, which offers improved performance in relation to the standard SBC codec. It offers a level of reproduction quality similar to that of an audio CD when used with compatible Bluetooth headphones and speakers.
Why choose the aptX codec?
Bluetooth transmission with the aptX codec provides a level of reproduction quality relatively similar to that of an audio CD. With an average compression ratio of 4:1, music is of very high quality. Deterioration of FLAC, Apple Lossless and PCM files transferred via this protocol is minimal. MP3 and AAC files with a bitrate under 350 kb/s are transmitted without transcoding or deterioration. The aptX codec is compatible with conventional Bluetooth systems. The aptX HD codec, however, is optimized for the transmission of HD audio files up to 24-bit/48kHz. This codec is backward-compatible with previous aptX codecs.
Wireless RF headphones
Bluetooth technology aside, it is possible to use radio-frequency (RF) wireless audio transmission. Used for both wireless hi-fi headphones and TV headphones, this technology provides better sound quality than Bluetooth as well as a superior range. Listeners can benefit from genuine high fidelity quality and can move up to several dozen metres away from the transmitter without losing the signal, even through walls.
NB: Bluetooth technology sometimes suffers from latency between the emitter and the receiver. This can create a more or less noticeable delay between the image and the sound depending on the headphones and the source used. This isn’t much of a problem when listening to music videos, but it can be with movies and TV series if the delay is significant. In this case, it is recommended to use a pair of Bluetooth headphones that are compatible with aptX Low Latency (aptX LL), either directly with the television if it is aptX LL compatible, or with the Marmitek BoomBoom 55 Bluetooth emitter, which is also compatible with this technology. This way, latency is minimal and cannot be heard.
A good pair of in-ear headphones offer a great listening experience for you and, if designed right, will mean your fellow commuters can’t hear your choice in music. Even if not, you won’t be able to hear them complaining.If you’re less than impressed with the earphones that were bundled with your Headphones fear not – there are plenty of great alternatives that ensure you won’t be suffering in silence.
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