Trying to watch TV without disturbing anyone else in your household can be tricky. Whether you're trying to avoid waking a sleeping partner or little one or just looking to grab a quiet moment to yourself, you end up worrying more about the volume than enjoying whatever you're watching. We've all been there, and thankfully, there’s a simple solution that music lovers have long embraced: headphones. They are your secret weapon for immersive audio without disturbing the world around you.
Using headphones with your TV is now easier than ever. Most modern smart TVs and gaming consoles are equipped with Bluetooth, allowing for a seamless wireless connection. In addition, most streaming devices support Bluetooth headphone connections as well.
If your device doesn’t support Bluetooth, RF headphones are a reliable alternative. While audiophiles may still prefer the nuanced sound that wired headphones provide, today’s wireless options—which now include awesome earbuds—deliver exceptional quality without the hassle of tangled cords and offer the added benefit of doing household chores or other tasks while still hearing your TV.
Be it catching up on your favorite show, watching the game, or catching a movie, these are some of the best headphones for watching TV in your own audio bubble.
The best wireless headphones for watching TV
Sony WH-1000XM5
- Excellent sound
- Very good comfort
- Ultra-clear call quality
- Excellent noise canceling
- Very good battery life
- Hi-res compatible (wired/wireless)
- Hands-free voice assistant access
- Fold-flat, but don’t fold up
- No Auracast support
- Hinge may break under stress
| Specification: | |
| Weight | 250 grams (8.8 ounces) |
| Type | Closed-back |
| Ambient Sound Modes | ANC, Transparency, voice enhancement, spatial audio with head-tracking |
| Battery life | Up to 30 hours |
| Hi-res Audio Support | Yes |
Sony’s WH-1000XM5 are among the best headphones on the market, so it follows that they are an excellent choice for watching TV. Their superior sound quality out of the box and active noise canceling make them the ideal pair to watch your TV in a louder environment, as the headphones help cancel out ambient noise in the room. As mentioned in our Sony WH-1000XM5 review, the transparency mode is also quite fantastic, with a special mode that enhances voices specifically. This is really useful if you're trying to watch TV on wireless headphones so as not to wake a baby but still need to be able to hear the baby crying. As our reviewer opined, "The WH-1000XM5 are the best noise-canceling headphones you can buy right now."
The responsive controls on the body of the WH-1000XM5, which utilize just two buttons, offer convenient control over the headset. Users can tap the power button to get a readout of the current battery percentage, though this shouldn't come up too often as this headset offers substantial battery life. The controls can also be used to cycle through ANC and transparency modes.
It's important to point out that while the WH-1000XM5s support the LDAC codec for Hi-Res audio over Bluetooth, almost no mainstream television supports LDAC. Furthermore, Bluetooth transmitters for Hi-Res codecs are more likely to support aptX and others, as LDAC is a fairly locked-down codec, usable almost exclusively through Android devices. The lag you experience using these should be mostly imperceptible, though it depends which version of Bluetooth your TV supports.
Best budget wireless headphones for watching TV
1More SonoFlow
- Great sound quality
- Very comfortable for long periods
- Ridiculous battery life
- Solid ANC performance
- Great app support
- Affordable price
- No wear sensors
- Wired mode disables extra features
| Specification: | |
| Weight | 250 grams (approximately 8.8 ounces) |
| Type | Closed-back |
| Ambient Sound Modes | ANC, Transparency, Wind Noise Reduction |
| Battery life | Up to 70 hours |
| Hi-res Audio Support | Yes |
For those looking to watch TV with headphones for long stretches but not looking to break the bank, 1More's SonoFlow fits the bill. These headphones offer a ridiculous 70 hours of battery life, USB-C charging, and active noise cancellation. They seem tailor-made for silently binging a television show or watching the Lord of the Rings: Extended Edition trilogy all the way through. In our hands-on review, we also noted that they are pretty comfortable over long stretches, which is perfect when using them for an hour or more at a time.
We also noted that while it may not be as advanced as its rivals at over double the cost, the "ANC performs admirably at flushing out much of the low-frequency noises you come across." For a budget pair of headphones, our reviewer was also impressed with the sound quality, noting the sound is "consistently good, providing a nice balance that could easily rival headphones costing more." It also supports wired playback for a wider set of use cases.
The SonoFlow is by far the best performing budget headphone for watching TV wirelessly. It offers impressive ANC and transparency modes for its price point, and supports LDAC, though again that isn't very relevant for watching TV.
The best headphones for watching TV through Sonos
Sonos Ace
- Excellent design and comfort
- Intuitive tactile controls
- Very good sound quality
- Top-notch ANC and transparency
- Fun Sonos soundbar integration
- Lacks full Sonos system integration
- No Wi-Fi streaming
- TV Audio Swap needs improvement
| Specification: | |
| Weight | 312 grams (11.4 ounces) |
| Type | Closed-back |
| Ambient Sound Modes | ANC, Transparency, spatial audio with head-tracking |
| Battery life | Up to 30 hours |
| Hi-res Audio Support | Yes, with limitations |
The Sonos Ace headphones represent a remarkable achievement for a company that has never produced a wearable product in its 22-year history. Introduced with an innovative design and backed by Sonos’ renowned expertise in audio technology, these headphones have generated significant excitement in the market.
While the Ace headphones may not completely redefine sound quality — many discerning listeners might still prefer the rich audio signature of Sony’s WH-1000XM5, the exceptional noise-canceling features of Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, or the high-fidelity performance of Sennheiser’s Momentum 4 Wireless — they deliver impressive audio performance that is sure to satisfy most users. The Ace headphones are equipped with adaptive sound technologies that optimize the listening experience based on the environment, ensuring clarity whether you’re in a bustling café or a quiet home office.
They feature a sleek and comfortable design that makes them ideal for extended wear during your TV or movie watching sessions, with soft ear cushions and an adjustable headband. Battery life is another standout attribute; the Ace headphones offer up to 30 hours on a single charge, making them perfect for long listening sessions or travel.
With their blend of stylish aesthetics, commendable audio quality, and thoughtful features tailored for everyday users, Sonos has positioned the Ace as a strong contender in the competitive world of wireless audio, making for an excellent set of headphones to pair with your TV.
Best Hi-Fi wireless earbuds for watching TV
Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 Wireless Earbuds
- Full-body sound
- Relaxing fit
- Good touch controls
- Bluetooth Multipoint
- Retransmission feature
- Pricey
- Lower than average battery life
- Some sound crackling during calls
| Specification: | |
| Weight | Earbuds: 7g (each) Charging case: 46g |
| Type | In-Ear Noise-Cancelling True Wireless Earbuds |
| Ambient Sound Modes | ANC and Transparency modes |
| Battery life | Up to 6.5 hours for earbuds (with ANC on) Additional 13.5 hours from charging case |
| Hi-res Audio Support | Yes |
If you're something of an audiophile and are looking for a Hi-Fi yet wireless solution for watching TV, then the Pi8 just might be the perfect earbuds for you. Bowers & Wilkins needs little introduction, as they have been well established as one of the highest-performing speaker manufacturers in the space since 1966. Their foray into headphones has proved fruitful, and the Pi8 earbuds are an outstanding follow-up to the previous generation.
As our reviewer noted after hands-on testing, the sound quality in these things is incredible: "Thanks to the innovative Carbon Cone drivers and high-quality Bluetooth codec support, they deliver a truly immersive listening experience..." The Pi8 offers a few really neat features that enable higher-fidelity listening.
The coolest of these is the retransmission feature, powered by the case itself. If you hardwire your audio source—in this case, your TV, game console, or receiver—by connecting it directly to the case, the case can then retransmit the audio to the wireless earbuds using AptX Hi-Res codecs. This unlocks higher fidelity than connecting directly to the source via Bluetooth, which would be limited to AAC bitrates. The case itself can also charge wirelessly, something which the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds lack. The Pi8 boasts just about every bell and whistle possible, with the exception of spatial audio.
Best value wireless earbuds for watching TV
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
- Very comfortable
- Excellent sound quality
- Top-notch noise canceling
- Hi-res and lossless audio
- Excellent spatial audio
- No wireless charging
- Outdoor call quality could be better
| Specification: | |
| Weight | 10 grams (0.35 ounces) each bud |
| Type | In-ear earbuds |
| Ambient Sound Modes | ANC, Transparency mode, spatial audio with head-tracking |
| Battery life | Up to six hours; additional 18 hours with case |
| Hi-res Audio Support | Yes |
If you don’t want a clunky over-the-head pair of headphones keeping you immobile, consider getting a pair of the best wireless earbuds. It may sound a bit ridiculous, but the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are truly like a shrunk down version of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. At least in a lot of ways that make them great for TV watching. They’ve got that same Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound package for hi-res, low latency audio with aptX and the cool spatial audio features that make the headphones tick. It’s just now all in earbud form.
Overall, the concept translates quite well, with our Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds review stating that they are quite comfortable to wear, even for extended periods, and stayed in better for the long haul than other popular earbuds like the AirPods Pro. This means less immersion breaking from jamming loose, ear-canal-stretching buds and more time enjoying your programming.
The best Apple wireless earbuds for watching TV
Apple AirPods 4 with ANC
- Surprisingly effective ANC
- Improved fit/comfort
- Solid sound quality
- Excellent voice/call quality
- Best for Apple device users
| Specification: | |
| Weight | 4.3 grams (0.15 ounces) each earbud |
| Type | Open-ear eearbuds |
| Ambient Sound Modes | ANC, Transparency, spatial audio with head-tracking |
| Battery life | Up to 30 hours with charging case |
| Hi-res Audio Support | Yes |
We are including the AirPods 4 with ANC in this list because many users enjoy watching Apple TV. While the AirPods Pro 2 are superior in terms of performance, they are also older and more expensive. This may lead you to reconsider your choice if your primary purpose is to enjoy movies or TV shows.
But what if you're not an Apple user? Can you use these earbuds with an Android device? The answer is yes, you certainly can.
However, the AirPods 4 with ANC, like all AirPods products, lose many of their features when not paired with Apple devices. Most of the advantages, beyond the basic Bluetooth earbud functions, are unavailable. For most Android users, there are likely better options available.
That said, one thing remains clear: there is no better ANC in an open-ear earbud. Therefore, if you are unable to use eartips but still want ANC — whether on an iPhone or an Android device — the AirPods 4 with ANC may be the best choice for you.
Honorable mention: Apple AirPods Max
The Apple AirPods Max is worth a mention thanks to the same advantages when paired with an Apple TV streaming device. Our reviewer said they were "darn-near perfect, with best-in-class noise canceling, the most remarkable transparency mode I’ve ever heard, balanced and detailed sound with plenty of deep and musical bass, and a very premium feel." The spatial audio lends itself to movies and TV, making them a convenient companion to your Apple TV device.
The best RF wireless headphones for watching TV
Sennheiser RS 175 RF
- Custom hearing profiles
- Comfortable fit
- Various presets available
- Price
- Limited portability
- No active noise cancellation or ambient sound modes
| Specification: | |
| Weight | 308 grams (10.8 ounces) |
| Type | Closed-back |
| Ambient Sound Modes | None |
| Battery life | Up to 18 hours |
Radio frequency (RF) headphones are the preferred type of wireless headphones for TV and movies for the more AV inclined due to their ultra low latency. Developed by Sennheiser, a brand known for premium audio equipment in the home theater space, the RS 175 RF provide for very quick, low latency transmissions from a receiver to your headphones. Depending on what you’re watching, you may want to utilize the Bass Boost mode, and you’ll naturally want to utilize the built-in surround sound features.
When worn, the RS 175 RF should feel comfortable, with soft earpads, though we do find them to be a bit on the large side. On the outside, your fingers will find buttons with memorable textures to tap. These toggle the Surround Sound and Bass Boost modes as well as the volume. Ultimately, these headphones provide a super low latency wireless headphone experience for those that really care about minimizing latency as much as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Native support for Hi-Res Bluetooth codecs in mainstream TVs is exceedingly uncommon, with very few models on the market today supporting it. So don't be surprised when your LDAC-compatible headphones don't sound as good as you expected when connected to your TV or streaming device, as formats like LDAC and ALAC are almost exclusively intended for mobile devices within certain ecosystems like Android and Apple.
If your headphones support AptX, then you can buy a third-party Bluetooth transmitter which, when connected directly to your TV or sound system, can transmit AptX HD or AptX Adaptive to compatible headphones. This has the potential to not only increase audio fidelity but lower latency as well.
