Onkyo MHP-AV1 wireless headphones
By Marc Perton 
posted October 13th 2005 10:40AM
posted October 13th 2005 10:40AM
We don't know if it means more people are antisocially blasting
their TVs at 4:00AM, or more companies are just declaring that they should consider doing so, but we're definitely
seeing a surge in wireless
headphones for home theater users. The latest is Onkyo, with its MHP-AV1. Available in Japan, the phones support
Dolby, DTS and have a range of about 32 feet.
[Via Akihabara
News]
That's kinda cool. I donno if I'd ever use something like that though.
Kel
I use wireless headphones every night. Allows me to watch and listen to my movies and news without having to listen to my !"£$ neighbors above me. Can't wait until they reduce all of the hiss from them.
Why is it surprising that these are getting to be more popular? If you've ever had to share a living space you'd understand. The TV in my house can be heard from any of the 3 bedrooms even at the lowest audible volume - the joys of ceramic tiling and high ceilings. Using headphones "after hours" is just being polite.
Been using Sony IR (line of sight) headphones for over five years now and have found them to be indispensable. You can actually hear shows you're trying to watch. Pick up fast dialog that is otherwise distorted. Blocks out ambient noise like kids or other people talking. Sound quality while not surround sound is great. Each listener can adjust to their own level of volume so everybody can hear the show.
Kids can't hear bad language.
We wear them in bed as well so that one spouse can get some sleep while the other is catching a show.
Foam ear pads get nasty or broken after a while but Radio Shack has universal replacements that slip on.
Battery life is pretty good with one AA per headphone set but ours don't have the auto off either and the kids leave them on sometimes.
Don't really recommend the RF type that goes through walls and has multiple channels because you don't need to hear something you can't see and 30 feet is more than enough for any TV room I can think of. The multiple channels of RF can also be a pain since you have to find the channel and tune it in.
I got these at a Sony outlet store for about $15 and it's been the best money ever spent. Can't find them anymore there so may have to buy some from ebay next time once these finally break.
Might enjoy a surround sound version if it ever gets cheap enough.
All in all we find it to be the most cost effective and ideal home theater system ever.
I've had my Freesystems XDREAM headphones for over three years now. It is by far the best purchase I've ever made. It uses IR but I'm not too limited by the line-of-sight limitations, and the most important thing: the sound quality is equivalent to that of midrange Sennheisers.
It is powered by two AAA NIMH batteries (it comes with a charging cable) for 18 hours on a single charge.
It was $100 off Ebay, but it was worth every penny. I wonder if the RF technology has improved over the last few years, one of the biggest complaints of headphones like these were that there was too much "hiss" and interference.
I have a pair of Panasonic RF headphones and I actually use them a lot while walking around my house or while I am in another room. I have the cable music channels that I listen to while cleaning the house and I often listen to the news or sports that don't necessarily require constant visual attention.
My Sony IR headphones have been a great boon to me. I'm more productive when listening to music, and I listen to iTunes on my headphones all day long. BUT—just got a new iMac G5, and suddenly my beloved IR headphones barely function. Loud, popping static. I'm wondering if iSight is messing up my phones...
Any thoughts on this would be most welcome.