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If you live in a shared space, whether that be a shared room, apartment building, or house where your TV-watching could disturb others, the RS 275 bundle is a simple way to connect a pair of headphones to your TV. If you’ve invested in a specific brand’s whole-home theater ecosystem, you won’t find as much flexibility with the BTA1 transmitter.
The RS 275 bundle includes the HDR 275 headphones, the BTA1 transmitter, power and audio cables, and a headphones stand. Here’s what you should know before you buy it.
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Auracast is a winner
Sennheiser’s HDR 275 headphones are solid, but the BTA1 transmitter is the golden nugget of this bundle. It includes all the wiring you need to connect the transmitter to your TV, and your TV powers the BTA1, so you don’t need an additional power source.
Once the BTA1 is connected to your TV’s audio port (I went with Optical), it can automatically detect which source you’re watching. So, if you’re watching Netflix and then turn on your Xbox connected to an HDMI port, the transmitter will automatically send the Xbox’s audio without you having to press any buttons.
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I watched “WWE Unreal” on Netflix and had absolutely no issues with audio sync. I then queued up “Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga” on my TV and had no noticeable lag. An Optical audio connection to the BTA1 doesn’t support Dolby Atmos, but you can configure the transmitter to reproduce Sennheiser’s Virtual Surround Sound.
To me, it sounded very digitized and simply an expansion of the soundstage, rather than replicating the movement and object placement you expect from Dolby Atmos.
The wondrous thing about the BTA1 is that you can connect an assortment of Auracast-enabled receivers to it. Purchasing it now will give you access to several more enabled devices that will be released in the future. Say you’re in the kitchen and don’t want to wear headphones, but want to hear your TV better.
Sennheiser’s HDR 275 simply aren’t comfortable enough for me to get through an entire movie, let alone binge-watch a whole season of “90 Day Fiance” in one night. However, with the BTA1 and a compatible smartphone, you can use the Sony WH-1000XM5, WH-100XM6, Google Pixel Buds Pro 2, JBL Tour Pro 3, and a list of other headphones and earbuds to watch instead.
Even more, those headphones are more attuned to performing better outside of the house, so you can maximize their features without buying another pair of headphones.
ZDNET’s buying advice
If you’re looking for a better way to privately watch TV at home than connecting headphones to a TV via an unreliable, low-quality traditional Bluetooth connection, the BTA1 equally enjoyable. If you’re looking for a pair of headphones with a roomy, relaxed fit, skip the HDR 275 and find a more comfortable Auracast-enabled pair (if you have a compatible smartphone).
If you’re locked into an expansive, multi-room home theater relationship with Sonos or Bose, and own the companies’ headphones for private listening, you’ll find much less flexibility with the BTA1 transmitter.