Sennheiser RS 275 TV Headphone Bundle Review: Awesome Tech, OK Headphones

Clear, latency-free sound. Input options to fit any TV. Small footprint for the transmitter. All the cables you need. Sturdy headphone stand. Headphones work with Auracast and regular Bluetooth. Auracast will be increasingly useful as more headphones use it.

Included headphones feel kind of plasticky and don’t have noise canceling. Software can be sluggish. No headphone case.

Auracast is among the most intriguing new audio technologies that you've probably never heard of. Using a new, more efficient type of Bluetooth, it promises lag-free, high-quality sound transmission from up to 100 meters for a limitless number of devices. It has a ton of potential: Someday, we may tap into Auracast broadcasts on our phones in places like airports and gyms to get a private listening session from public TVs, like a cross between Wi-Fi and FM radio. For now, compatible devices are sadly scarce.

That's what makes Sennheiser’s new BTA1 TV transmitter so special. This little block is loaded with inputs, designed as a sort of bridge between Auracast and virtually any TV. Where most traditional TV headphone systems use older standards like radio frequencies or a 2.4-GHz signal to send wireless audio to dedicated headsets, the BTA1 opens things up to any Auracast headphones.

The other problem is, most of the best headphones don’t yet support Auracast. So, Sennheiser has bundled its new transmitter with a midrange pair of cans, the HDR 275. After a week of testing, I came away mostly impressed by the transmitter, moderately underwhelmed by the headphones. Bundled or not, this system shows real promise as a versatile TV headphones setup and a tantalizing introduction to the world of Auracast.

Loaded Transmitter

What struck me first about the BTA1, apart from its relatively small size and understated design, is its hearty collection of inputs for any generation of TVs. I can’t tell you how many new soundbars I’ve seen lately that cut options like optical or 3.5-mm (a headphone jack). The BTA1 has it all: HDMI ARC, 3.5-mm/optical input (with included adapter cable), and a USB port that doubles as both a power and audio input with newer TVs. There’s even a USB-C side port for charging your headphones—very slick.

Even if your TV comes from the days of composite or component cables, it should at the very least include a 3.5-mm headphone out, so you’re golden (but also, if that is the case, we should talk about maybe upgrading that bad boy). I was able to plug any device in, switch to the correct input, and boom: Upon powering up the included headphones, I was listening to my TV.

One interesting quirk I noticed right away is how volume control works (or doesn’t) with your TV remote. I tried all the BTA1’s inputs across two TVs, a new Samsung S90F OLED TV and my older LG C1. To my surprise, neither TV allowed me to control the BTA1’s volume level with the TV remote over HDMI ARC like nearly all modern soundbars and powered speakers, forcing me to use my connected headphones’ onboard controls.

The only output that allowed my C1’s TV remote to control volume output was the headphone jack. For the S90F, the remote worked with the USB output. Your experience will likely vary depending on your model, but it’s something to keep in mind if you want a more traditional TV experience. I actually preferred using alternative outputs for the BTA1 rather than HDMI ARC, keeping the latter free (many TVs only have one ARC input) for my regular speakers.

The sound quality was generally good and, as advertised, latency-free. It was particularly fun connecting multiple headphones at once via Auracast. I tried the HDR 275, Sennheiser’s Momentum 4 earbuds, and JBL’s Tour Pro 3 earbuds, allowing for a silent TV dance party in my living room. That said, as a reviewer, I have access to a lot of headphones, and those were among the only options at my disposal that support Auracast.

You may also be wondering just how you connect other headphones to the transmitter via Auracast. As I said earlier, Sennheiser’s HDR 275 connect to the system automatically on power-up, though they can also break free and connect to your phone over regular Bluetooth to take them on the go. Other options have their own methods; JBL’s Tour Pro 3 buds let you connect with their specialized transmitter case, while the Momentum 4 connect over the Sennheiser Smart Plus app.

The app is your primary settings hub for both the transmitter and Sennheiser headphones, so you’ll want to download it straight away. It’s easy to set up, searching for devices with a tap and offering basic settings, including three sound modes for options like speech enhancement, Virtual Surround, and a mix of both. I didn't think any of the modes were an upgrade, instead creating a thinner, more tinny sound signature, so I mainly kept the system in Neutral.

The app can be sluggish, and I sometimes needed to close and reopen it to find devices or control settings. This is a new system, so some of these issues may be smoothed out via firmware updates, but it's something to note if you're a stickler for perfect UI.

Basic Cans

My main critique with the RS 275 bundle is that the included headphones are just OK. While they’re fairly comfy and do offer transparency mode so you can hear your surroundings, it’s not the most effective, and there’s no noise canceling available. That wasn’t an issue for me while listening at home, but at this price, it would have been a nice addition for traveling (as would a carrying case). On the bright side, the package includes a snazzy (and durable) headphones stand, and the headphones offer a mighty 50-hour battery life.

Their sound was pretty thin at first, but then I realized they were somehow set to the dialog-forward Speech mode. Switching to neutral, I was impressed by their full, relatively warm sound signature that still digs up solid details, a Sennheiser calling card. Watching the attack on Tony Stark’s Humvee at the beginning of Iron Man, the 275’s expression of the strafing bullets and clinking metal shell casings helped add some realism and urgency to the scene, while the explosions hit with welcome thunder.

The HDR 275 controls are limited, with no onboard key to engage transparency mode, and the plastic chassis feels a tad cheap. I do appreciate their versatility in offering both Bluetooth and Auracast, something we mostly see in pricier flagships, but if you’ve already got a pair of Auracast headphones, like JBL’s Tour One M3 over-ears or Tour Pro earbuds, Sony's new WF-1000XM6, or Sennheiser's own Momentum 4, I’d consider just buying the BTA1 solo.

The BTA1 is a real star. Bundled or otherwise, it's an impressive addition to the TV headphones lexicon, letting you connect as many open Auracast headphones as you can find so everyone in the household can listen. As Auracast gains steam, the available headphone options will only keep growing. If you watch a lot of TV and have a light sleeper in the house, it could be a perfect solution.