Headphones

Peoples audio choices tend to be very personal, so I am reluctant to recommend anything too strongly in this review. Our tastes and tolerances are greatly different, and wireless audio products really seem to test those differences. Hopefully some of my needs and wants will match yours, but they may not, so please consider my thoughts here in light of the many personal qualifiers that I add. Those qualifiers may or may not relate well to your own situation.

I’m very fussy where sound quality is the issue. I approach every musical equipment purchase with thorough research and comparison. In this instance I wanted some wireless headphones mostly for moving around the house and yard while listening to music from my lounge room stereo system. I’ve read enough to know that any wireless models using a radio signal (the best type of signal if you’ll be in a different room than the transmitter) will produce some hiss and pop on occasion. I accepted this fact before making my purchase. Still, I decided I would not accept something with poor sound quality, in a musical sense. Two of the headphones with consistently high reviews (in magazines and online) were the Sennheiser rs 130 and the Sennheiser 140 models. So I ordered both models to compare them  at home.

My test equipment consisted of: A 100-watt/channel JVC receiver and JVC CD player–both typical (low-end) home stereo components. To suit my personal tastes for EQ, I boosted some at 16 kHz (to add air to the highs) and at 60 Hz (to add depth to the lows). I’ve used these cans mostly for listening to music, which usually masks any low-grade background noise.

My Sennheiser RS 130 Wireless Surround Sound Headphones Likes: Musically, the two models sound as good as I’d hoped except for sometimes when I’ve been wearing them outside, I have to stop what I’m doing and increase the volume, and just listen for a while as the sound is that good.  As I’d read, the open-back 130s sound (and look) a bit like Senn’s popular 580 audiophile (wired) model–open, smooth, warm, and most of all, pretty well balanced. The closed-back 140s have a similar sound, maybe a bit boxier, overall, as is typical of closed cans. I think that some folks (such as heavy rock n’ rollers, rappers, computer gamers, the hearing impaired, and even office workers) might prefer the 140s for their enhanced isolation, but I found the 130s, which offer the spacious open-back sound that made Senn famous, to provide the flattest, truest sound, overall. After a lot of back and forth listening to verify my thoughts, I kept the 130s. The 140s would be a perfectly acceptable alternative, though. The differences are minor.

The two models are extremely comfortable, and the features and controls are first rate. I find everything very simple to use, and everything works fine. Hang your Senns up and they turn off and charge automatically. Press a button and they tune their reception and then memorize it, also automatically. The reception’s very good, too, after I improved it significantly by moving the transmitter unit to a slightly higher shelf and trying the different freq-channel options. Remember this if you buy. Also remember to boost the source volume plenty so that the phones receive a strong signal. (By the way, I’ve read that you may experience greater interference noise if you live in a congested area. I don’t.)

My Sennheiser RS 130 Wireless Surround Sound Headphones Dislikes: Trust your own ears. If you happen to purchase either of these two Senn wireless models, you should expect some hiss and pop and hum at times, though mainly its just when you moving around (if you wander outside or into another room far from the base unit). (The stated spec of “up to 150 meters” seems laughable.) You may even notice the sound strengthen and weaken on occasion. In this price range, at least, I think you’ll need to accept such reception problems or else stay with wired cans. Period. Wireless freedom is never perfect, is it? Although these wireless phones are comfortable as they sit ‘around’ the ears (not ‘on’ the ears), I’d bet that some folks with smaller heads could find them to be a bit loose when walking around. And finally, another obvious point–bad or good, depending on your situation–is that the 130s (which I prefer in terms of smoother, truer sound) are open-air cans, meaning that you’ll hear your family if in the same room. That’s good for staying in contact but bad if you want to get away from outside noise. The closed 140s are certainly better for blocking out a barking dog or not disturbing somebody nearby.

My Overview: Both these models more than meet my high expectations although being realistic about the limits of low-cost wireless sound was a necessary starting point. No, these wireless phones aren’t perfect, and they’re certainly no match for much more expensive wired cans, but I think they offer impressive overall performance for their price. An enthusiastic ’4 and a 1/2 stars’ and a lot of brag from me. Well done, Senn and  Happy listening to all of you that purchase the Sennheiser RS 130 Wireless Surround Sound Headphones.

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Sennheiser RS 130 Wireless Surround Sound Headphones

If you want to completely lose yourself in your music then the Sennheiser RS 130 Wireless Surround Sound Headphones are definitely for you.

With their ability to turn on or off the SRS surround mode and a pick-up range of up to 150 meters, you are free to move around where you like in the house  while enjoying the audiophile-class sound. Also because the Sennheiser RS 130 headphones completely cover your ears you don’t lose the slightest tone nor do you disturb anybody who is within hearing range.

One of the most common problems that you encounter with wireless devices is that the reception suffers with distance, but this Sennheiser RS 130 fixes this problem with its auto tuning and a self-learning automatic signal level control that provides maximum signal reception.

And still another problem you can come across with remote devices is the need to recharge them frequently. But with these headphones you get an operating time of approximately 22  hours. And they are so lightweight that you won’t feel that they are there.

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Sennheiser RS 130 Wireless Surround Sound Headphones – Features

* Wireless, rechargeable hi-fi headphones with SRS surround sound mode
* Intelligent auto tuning and automatic signal control ensure high-quality reception
* Transmission range of up to 150 meters; 18 Hz to 21 kHz frequency response
* Lightweight, comfortable design; 22 hours average battery life per charge
* Includes Rechargeable  NiMH batteries, charging stand, transmitter, and 1/4-inch plug adapter

Technical Details

* Brand Name: Sennheiser
* Model: RS 130
* Color Name: black
* Headphones Form Factor: Ear-cup
* Headphones Technology: Binaural
* Item Weight: 0.62 pounds

Product Description

You will get to experience total audio immersion and freedom with the RS 130 wireless headphones. With an SRS surround sound mode that can be switched on or off, and a design that completely encloses your ears, the 130s are perfect for just relaxing on the sofa listening to a DVD when the rest of the house is sleeping. Or, maybe you would like to dance to some music from your hi-fi system while doing some ironing. With the RS 130s you can move around freely while enjoying audiophile-class sound wherever you roam.

As we know a lot of wireless headphones suffer from poor reception,but, the RS 130s have the conquered the problem using intelligent auto tuning and a self-learning automatic signal level control that provides maximum signal reception and a range of up to 150 meters. The headphones are lightweight, too, making them very comfortable to wear. The included transmitter and stand makes recharging the headphone batteries easy; simply hang the headphones on the charging cradle and you’re good to go. With an operating time of approximately 22 hours, though, plan on spending most of your time enjoying rich sound and maximum mobility.

Included in the package are:

RS 130 headphones, rechargeable NiMH battery pack, transmitter and recharging stand, AC adapter, user’s manual.

These Customer Reviews May Help as they tell how their experience was in using the Sennheiser RS 130 Wireless Surround Sound Headphones

Review By Drew S from New York

Firstly I live in an extremely busy area in NYC and in my house I have a 3 system wireless computer network, 2 wireless phones, wireless PS2 controllers, wireless Xbox360 controllers, 3 cellular phones and now I have added 2 Sennheiser RS 130 Wireless Surround Sound Headphones. As you can imagine I was worried about interference, popping and static especially after reading some other reviews of the 130′s.

But honestly it was not the case. Amongst all the wireless items in my house I get crystal clear sound with little to no problems. The signal strength on the head phones is phenomenal as I can even take the trash out and not miss a word from my TV shows. The sound quality is just as good as my wired headphones and the head phones all though large are very comfortable and after hours of wearing them I hardly notice they are still on. I have used the headsets for close to two months now and on the very odd occasion that I hear static all I do is hit the scan button and the problem is solved. The only technical issue I have had with the headsets was during the initial setup. When using both headsets at the same time the set in my basement entertainment room was picking up some of the signal from the head set a floor above in my bedroom. This only occurred when I had the head sets on channel 1 and channel 2. To resolve this issue I set the basement set to channel 1 and the bedroom set to channel 3 and I have had no issues since.

My only other issue besides that is just as others stated with the poorly placed volume knob that occasionally gets moved when I shift my pillow in bed. It doesn’t occur enough to put tape over the knob but if it did that would be my solution as it’s a small inconvenience and doesn’t justify not purchasing a great wireless headset. Overall I love the headphones! They are a phenomenal buy and at around half the cost of the Best Buy price you can’t go wrong buying them off Amazon. I never write reviews but Ive been so happy with my two 130 headsets that I felt I needed to share so others could also join the wonderful experience.

Review By C Scott Smith from Dallas

The Sennheiser RS130 headphones really are truly a great product. I placed the base on top of my big screen and have the unit plugged into my headphone out on my receiver. It only took a moment to make the proper adjustments and now I can hear crystal clear audio anywhere in and outside of my house. I haven’t really tried to see just how far they will go, but I know I have a big corner yard and the sound remains very clear to at least the edge of my yard.

My main reason for getting these was not to listen to music though. I am a bit of a night owl and really tired of my wife and children griping at me to turn the TV down at night. AND, I want to watch my movies in surround. The surround option on the phones is just ok. I have never been a big fan of SRS surround, but I am sure there are some people who like it. I use my receiver’s headphone surround option and the headphones sound fantastic. I get a nice large sound stage that really takes you out of your head.

The only downside I have, and the very slight knock on these is that after you listen for a long time the headphones get a little hot around the earpieces. I am referring to the fabric, and not the electronics though. And, the cooler your room is the less noticeable this is. One other slight knock — if your source material is extremely dynamic, like an action DVD, you need to enable the midnight compression modes on your receiver if you are going to listen to it in surround mode. The quick, high dynamic ranges can cause just a little bit of distortion — this is not evident at all though in plain stereo mode.

I also love the open design. As long as I am not listening at full blast I can easily hear my wife or kids call me from the other room, and can conduct conversations without having to take the headphones off. The battery life is also great, I have yet to come close to running the battery down, even with using the RS 130′s all day. Until a manufacturer produces an affordable wireless headphone solution with true Dolby Digital and DTS surround decoding these are the best your going to get — And you will fall in love with these headphones and not want to ever give them up.

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