Sennheiser - RS 175 Wireless Headphones

I previously purchased a pair of open-back RS-180 headphones in 2010 & was extremely happy with them. After the base unit stopped in 2021, I purchased the RS-175 closed-back headphones (since no open-back equivalent model now.) My comments are thus in regards to comparisons & improvements.Closed-back headphones have obviously improved over the past 10 years. But still, I miss that extra surround & depth effect the Open-back RS-180 headphones had. Overall the technology is newer than the RS-180 & it shows in its performance.The single on/off button to cater for both the headphones & transmitter is very good. No longer need to turn the transmitter unit on as well as the headphones.I read a customer review that this model has a shorter transmission range than ... MoreI previously purchased a pair of open-back RS-180 headphones in 2010 & was extremely happy with them. After the base unit stopped in 2021, I purchased the RS-175 closed-back headphones (since no open-back equivalent model now.) My comments are thus in regards to comparisons & improvements.Closed-back headphones have obviously improved over the past 10 years. But still, I miss that extra surround & depth effect the Open-back RS-180 headphones had. Overall the technology is newer than the RS-180 & it shows in its performance.The single on/off button to cater for both the headphones & transmitter is very good. No longer need to turn the transmitter unit on as well as the headphones.I read a customer review that this model has a shorter transmission range than previous models. I’m not so sure about that, but it is definitely more prone to interference than the RS-180. Perhaps 2 or 3 momentary drop-outs every few days, just 5 to 6 metres direct line away from the transmitter. My RS-180 rarely suffered dropouts out on the balcony. Sennheiser has done something to reduce the transmission reliability. So this is a small thumbs down aspect for me.With the RS-175 there is an improvement with the ease of buttons to the respect the On/Off button is located elsewhere & the buttons are larger with no buttons between the high & low volume controls. The surface-fit height of the buttons is still an issue. It’s still difficult to know which button you fumbled your finger onto & even whether or not it’s the volume or f/x buttons. I believe these buttons need something to distinguish them by making the needed button easily & quickly found. Be it an indent or individual mound or shape, the latter a good option.I notice the RS-175 headphones are more difficult to either remove or re-add to the recharge unit on top of the transmitter, appears to be a much tighter fit.The skimpy very small plastic clip that holds the headphone Earpads on has not changed. It really needs to be more rigid. I’d be happy to sacrifice an extra few grams in weight to have a metal clip instead. Twice this plastic clip broke over the lifetime of the RS180 either whilst removing batteries or once was due to dropping the headphones onto carpeted floor whilst not even a full-on impact.On the topic of Earpads, these deteriorate over time & should inevitably be replaced every 3 to 4 years maximum. Once you do, you will realise the headphones sound identical to when it was new; it makes so much of a dramatic difference. But yes, the Earpads are a little expensive. Standard for accessories to cost more; another big revenue maker for companies.My partner purchased a closed-back pair of Sony headphones last year but gave the thumbs up re: sound quality for this model after listening to different sound sources. Her noise-cancelling is a little better than the RS-175. Her pair is bluetooth which is easy to function by a program. But in comparison, Bluetooth has it’s limitations in regards to (more prone to) interference and whether your device supports Bluetooth v.5 or higher.Do Sennheiser ever read customer reviews & take the ideas into consideration for future designs? Looking at the buttons perspective, I’m tending to think very little influence if any. Small weaknesses that should be reconsidered in future designs.Overall I give the RS-175 the thumbs up. Very good quality reproductive sound.

An ear-opening experience for one and all

NOTE: This review was originally posted on another well-known shopping site on the web shortly after my purchase in 2015.I originally started shopping for wireless headphones to find something better than the so-called TV ears that a member of my immediate family who suffers from hearing loss had been using with some success. This inevitably brought me to the fine line of quality wireless headphones available from the German company Sennheiser and I had first thought about purchasing a just recently discontinued RS 170 or RS 180 model without an optical connection – analog only (As of 05/30/2015, the RS 180 was still only $199.99 at Crutchfield online with free shipping and 60-day returns). But then why spend about $200.00 on technology that is essentially 12 to ... MoreNOTE: This review was originally posted on another well-known shopping site on the web shortly after my purchase in 2015.I originally started shopping for wireless headphones to find something better than the so-called TV ears that a member of my immediate family who suffers from hearing loss had been using with some success. This inevitably brought me to the fine line of quality wireless headphones available from the German company Sennheiser and I had first thought about purchasing a just recently discontinued RS 170 or RS 180 model without an optical connection – analog only (As of 05/30/2015, the RS 180 was still only $199.99 at Crutchfield online with free shipping and 60-day returns). But then why spend about $200.00 on technology that is essentially 12 to 14 years old when the absolutely latest thing from Sennheiser (models RS 165, RS 175, RS 185 and RS 195) is available for just a little bit more?Out of this latest line of Sennheiser wireless headphones with a two-year warranty it is this model – the closed-back RS 175 – that I eventually ended up purchasing from Crutchfield online. Pricing was exactly the same as it is here on Best Buy (about $280.00). However, by using my Discover card (5% rebate and 90-day price match guarantee – lowest price seen 2 weeks later was $233.97) I was able to ultimately get my pair of brand new headphones for only $219.97 with free shipping, no sales tax and 60-day returns.I agree with CNET.com and their excellent review of the Sennheiser RS 175 that it is this specific model that gives you the most bang for your buck; it is the most cost-effective model in this product line. There is a big difference in moving from the RS 165 to the RS 175 in that the transmission distance of the RS 165 is only rated at about 90 feet while the RS 175 and other models are still functional at a distance of about 300 feet. The RS 175 also adds a low/high surround sound capability which the RS 165 (bass boost feature only) does not have.The differences in moving to a pricier model beyond the RS 175 are not that significant, in my opinion. Whether the open-back (not as sound isolating) RS 185 with the addition of manual/automatic level control features (MLC/ALC) and a balance control located on the headset is worth an additional $90.00 premium (best current price of about $370.00) above the RS 175 is something that only you can decide.At a cost of about $170.00 more than the RS 175, the top-of-the-line RS 195 closed-back model includes all of the aforementioned features of the RS 185 and adds 7 presets to tailor sound to individual hearing requirements as well as separate “speech” and “music” modes.Initial setup of these RS 175 headphones was extremely simple. The most time-consuming step was waiting for the batteries located in the two headphone ear-cups to complete their initial charging process which takes about 18 hours; subsequent full recharging of the headphones should only take about 8 hours. The operating time with fully charged headphones is claimed to be up to 18 hours until recharging is required. Both analog and optical/digital connection options are available. You can choose to use both connections (say for a TV and a stereo system) and then toggle between the two at your leisure using the sliding switch provided for this purpose on the back of the headphone transmitter.So far I have only opted to connect my television via the included 1.5 m long optical cable (don’t forget to remove both clear protective plastic end caps before using) and the optical input on the headphone transmitter which ensures optimum performance. If the cable is too short for your needs, you can always subsequently purchase a 3 m long cable like I did for about $10.00 (Digital Optical Audio Toslink Cable - 9.8 Feet [3 Meters] ). Note that the appropriate output on the back of your TV or other device may not be labelled as an optical output: Mine is actually called the digital audio output, but it is definitely what is needed to make the proper connection. The unique shape of the optical connector (it really can only fit in one place) will help you figure out just where it needs to go, assuming that you have an appropriate output available and don’t need to make an analog connection. If you do make an optical/digital audio connection to your TV, be sure to go into the appropriate settings menu before first using the headphones to set the optical/digital audio output mode to PCM (pulse-code modulation). Don’t leave it on automatic or some other setting. This is specifically required in the 15-language Sennheiser instruction manual on CD that comes with the headphones!As far as the user experience itself is concerned, these comfortable headphones with the easily adjustable headband are just what I was looking for. The member of my family who is hard of hearing has noticed a day and night difference in his ability to not only hear, but more importantly distinguish and understand speech when using these wonderfully isolating closed-back headphones. There is virtually no sound leakage in or out. He remains happily occupied in his own little world watching TV while now being able to understand essentially everything. This was not the case with the previously mentioned TV ears that cost less than $100.00 when purchased. Other people in the same room can simultaneously watch the TV in the usual manner – without headphones. Everybody’s happy.The quality of the sound that emanates from these headphones when using an optical connection is truly amazing! There is absolutely no hissing or other distracting sound – only that which needs to be heard and nothing more. The bass boost setting is quite useful for music and can be activated on-the fly when needed by using the touch controls located on the outside of the right ear-cup (bass boost, surround sound, volume +/-) near where the on/off button for the headphones is found. The surround sound setting (off, low and high available) does create a more immersive sound experience when activated; I personally prefer the low setting and usually have the headphones set in this manner when I use them. Additional bass boost and surround sound controls, each with a separate indicator light that glows green when activated, are also found on the front of the headphone transmitter upon which the headphones are placed when not in use and for recharging. The transmission distance with these headphones is excellent: I am able to walk anywhere throughout my 1600 square foot ranch home without any signal loss whatsoever; the same holds true when I am in either my front or back yards.I have the headphone transmitter base located near my Roku 4 in the living room and there is absolutely no interference when streaming and simultaneously using the Sennheiser headphones. However, I should note that I have my Roku 4 set to stream at 5.0 GHz on my dual-band AC router. There may or may not be a problem if your WiFi network with connected devices located near the Sennheiser transmitter is set to function in the 2.4 to 2.8 GHz range which is used by the headphones. You’ll just have to try it and see what happens. If necessary, appropriate device relocation - a greater distance of separation - should resolve any difficulties.Overall my hearing-impaired family member and I have been exceedingly pleased with our listening experience when using these Sennheiser RS 175, closed-back, wireless headphones of impressive quality. If you too would like to experience a most enjoyable, crystal-clear earful when partaking of diverse auditory pleasures during your leisure time, I can recommend them most highly and without any reservations whatsoever.

Awesome at this price point!

Received and was pleasantly surprised to see they looked like brand new. I have used Sony products in the past which run around $100 but seen these where at a great price so decided to try them. I use mainly for TV listening so was hoping these would work well for that application. I can say the sound quality of Sennheiser vs my Sony set Sennheiser wins. As for comfort these do feel a bit more heavy or clunker then my Sony but within reason but not light. They were easy to set up as my TV has an 1/8'' audio output so it was just a plug and play pretty much. Came with rechargeable AA's that I charged overnight and appear to hold about 8hr charge well. All in all at the price point I would recommend these to anyone looking for a higher end set that wont brake the bank.

Big disappointment

I was looking to buy RS 175 for a long time- my old Sennheiser RS 105 were getting too old.RS 175 even on a Black Friday sale is about 3 times more expensive then RS 105 was.So, I was expecting something if not excellent but at least very good.RANGE:I was aiming at RF headphones first of all because of range. My old ones reached easily 30-40m, not to mention inside the apartment. What a terrible surprise it was when RS 175 was losing signal when I was in the bedroom ( 2-3m away but behind a wall) or in the bathroom (5-6). I used Jabra Elite 85 ( bluetooth) for comparison and it kept the signal much better. Bluetooth!!! What 100m? Well, "in the line of sight", sure.Most likely it's a switch from 900Mhz in the old models to 2.4Ghz in the new ones. I thought, ... MoreI was looking to buy RS 175 for a long time- my old Sennheiser RS 105 were getting too old.RS 175 even on a Black Friday sale is about 3 times more expensive then RS 105 was.So, I was expecting something if not excellent but at least very good.RANGE:I was aiming at RF headphones first of all because of range. My old ones reached easily 30-40m, not to mention inside the apartment. What a terrible surprise it was when RS 175 was losing signal when I was in the bedroom ( 2-3m away but behind a wall) or in the bathroom (5-6). I used Jabra Elite 85 ( bluetooth) for comparison and it kept the signal much better. Bluetooth!!! What 100m? Well, "in the line of sight", sure.Most likely it's a switch from 900Mhz in the old models to 2.4Ghz in the new ones. I thought, maybe I got a bad unit since there are so many excited reviews so I am still in doubt if I am missing something.SOUND:Sound is good, but not what I expected for the money. What is really impressive it's the bass. Sounds like home theater or the sound you get in the cinema. Again, I was comparing with Jabra Elite 85, which is in the same price category. Treble and mids in RS 175 were sort of dull comparatively to Elite 85, and the speech was better discernible on the latter.SET UP:Very annoying, complex,tiring and unintuitive. Bluetooth headphones or airbuds connected in less than a minute. TV recognized them right away and you just follow instructions on the screen. RS 175....OMG, it took me, like , forever and with the help of my cousin over the phone. This PCM mode, you need to find it. And, yes, you need to guess that you have to press and hold the power button on the transmitter to turn it on.But if the range was as it was supposed to be I wouldn't hold the grudge about setup since you do it just once.All in all, that's a huge disappointment. I was craving to enjoy my new Sennheisers for a long time. What is worse is that in RF "universe" there's not much of a choice. Probably, will try RS 135 with optical-to-3.5mm adapter. Or start looking at Bluetooth ones.

Incredible sound quality, but not the most comfortable to wear.

I have seen way to many people praising this pair of headphones to be the greatest pair of wireless headphones out there, but I simply cannot give it that award. Let me start with the pros.The sound quality is amazing. After using this for a few weeks, I just can't go back to bluetooth. The bass is thumpy, but not as thumpy as the YouTube revewers say it is. Bluetooth simply cannot compare to the likes of these headphones! All thanks to Sennheiser's custom wireless reciever thingy. Along side that, this wireless reciever also provides little delay between my PC, meaning playing games is actually quite good ("quite," being the keyword) for a wireless headest.And now for the cons...The virtual surround sound is a joke. It was clearly a last-minute idea and turned ... MoreI have seen way to many people praising this pair of headphones to be the greatest pair of wireless headphones out there, but I simply cannot give it that award. Let me start with the pros.The sound quality is amazing. After using this for a few weeks, I just can't go back to bluetooth. The bass is thumpy, but not as thumpy as the YouTube revewers say it is. Bluetooth simply cannot compare to the likes of these headphones! All thanks to Sennheiser's custom wireless reciever thingy. Along side that, this wireless reciever also provides little delay between my PC, meaning playing games is actually quite good ("quite," being the keyword) for a wireless headest.And now for the cons...The virtual surround sound is a joke. It was clearly a last-minute idea and turned out horrible. It must be a placebo, I'm certain that it does nothing, other than ruin the sound quality of the video / movie you are watching. If you are going to use these headphones to play games, you will notice how the sounds in front of you blend in with those behind you if that makes sense. As an example, if you hear footsteps somewhere around you, you won't know if they are Infront, or behind you, causing a bit of confusion. Don't turn on virtual surround sound either, that won't help... ironically.Whoever said these headphones were "comfortable" can die in a fire. For reference, my old headphones were the Razer Black shark V2 which had the most AMAZING headband thing. It was microfiber and was soft af. This meant you would never know if the headset was on you or not. It was like cuddling yourself in a warm bed in the winter, you could stay there for hours. Just like those headphones, you could wear them for hours just because they were comfortable. This is the kind of quality I expect from a $300 pair of headphones. And the Black shark was only $170! And the RS-175? No, it doesn't have that kind of quality. Infact, it is quite the opposite. It feels like every hour, someone places another brick onto my head, and after 3 hours of wearing them, and bricks are heavy. And they will give you plenty of headaches. The opposite of a nice, warm blanket in the chilly winter.At this point, I'm unsure whether these headphones are uncomfortable, or if I'm just really weak. Every review of every headset I have ever seen has the same phrase, "they are very comfortable for long hours of use," which you should always take with a grain of salt. Just like this review. This is very subjective.I'm sure it isn't actually that bad, and as I said, I'm just weak. But overall, these headphones are worth using daily. It's okay for gaming, it's not the most comfortable to wear over extended periods of time, but where the real selling point comes from the great sound quality while being wireless.

Sounds like LIVE Music

Been using many brands of headphones on our spa clients for some 20 years.... older Sennheiser, many Bose, Sony, Panasonic & Audia Technica. These all had decent, good sound but most were open ear, plus all required cords... that we tripped over during the massage service. Finally, these RS 175 solved all the issues - no wires, cords, ear-cups big enough to not bother ears.... and THE SOUND... is like being at a LIVE concert... perfection at last. Batteries & charging stand combo keeps them powered for a long time. We use them for hours all day, 6 days a week. Plus truly blocks outside noise. Plus volume & bass can be adjusted on each set by client if they want. LOVE LOVE them.

Superb performance at a reasonable price

For years I had been using the older Sennheiser RS 120 wireless headset which operated in the 926-928 MHz frequency range. The performance was adequate, but the unit suffered from multipath cancellation (signal reduction due to the out of phase combination of multiple reflections). You will notice this when you move your head slightly, and there would be a sudden, and audible, change in signal amplitude or a short burst of background noise.As I had need for an addition system, I decided on the RS 175 as it seemed to have good reviews. I have not been disappointed. The RS 175 operates in the 2.4 GHz band with digital modulation. While 2.4 GHz systems are also subject to multipath propagation deterioration, I noticed none with this system, even with the headset ... MoreFor years I had been using the older Sennheiser RS 120 wireless headset which operated in the 926-928 MHz frequency range. The performance was adequate, but the unit suffered from multipath cancellation (signal reduction due to the out of phase combination of multiple reflections). You will notice this when you move your head slightly, and there would be a sudden, and audible, change in signal amplitude or a short burst of background noise.As I had need for an addition system, I decided on the RS 175 as it seemed to have good reviews. I have not been disappointed. The RS 175 operates in the 2.4 GHz band with digital modulation. While 2.4 GHz systems are also subject to multipath propagation deterioration, I noticed none with this system, even with the headset taken outside onto the patio with the transmitter 40+ feet away. As typical with digital modulation systems, there was a threshold effect -- if the headset got out of range, the signal would abruptly disappear, quieting the audio -- in the past, you would simply be greeted with noise.In addition, I very much like the Bass Boost and Surround Sound options which can be quickly selected at the press of a button on the headset.The one negative for the headset is that you need to really take the headset off in order to figure out which button to press. I find this a rather minor inconvenience as I am not changing audio level, bass boost or surround sound options on the fly.In summary, Sennheiser did a superb job with this unit. The audio quality is excellent (I used an analog input -- an optical interface also exists for even better quality) and the annoying multipath effects so common with many wireless headsets are non-existent.

Wireless Headphones

I originally both a Sony wireless headphone but it turned out not to be compatible with the Samsung TV & Soundbar/surround system I had purchased at the same time. So after the Best Buy Geek Squad completed the home installation I returned the Sony and upgraded to the Sennheiser RS 175 Wireless Headset (Approx Less $300). Very happy I did. The Geek Squad returned to my house to pair the system and showed me how it all worked together, "thanks Geek Squad" The new Sennheiser Headphone works great and holds it's charge for at lease 6 to 8 hours as I used it then my wife and then my sons with no complaints :) The only thing I am not happy with is the volume controls on the right side of the headphone. I think though it is because I am not yet use them and their ... MoreI originally both a Sony wireless headphone but it turned out not to be compatible with the Samsung TV & Soundbar/surround system I had purchased at the same time. So after the Best Buy Geek Squad completed the home installation I returned the Sony and upgraded to the Sennheiser RS 175 Wireless Headset (Approx Less $300). Very happy I did. The Geek Squad returned to my house to pair the system and showed me how it all worked together, "thanks Geek Squad" The new Sennheiser Headphone works great and holds it's charge for at lease 6 to 8 hours as I used it then my wife and then my sons with no complaints :) The only thing I am not happy with is the volume controls on the right side of the headphone. I think though it is because I am not yet use them and their placement. Bottom line though, they work great, look good on the stand and sound wonderful. I would definitely recommend these Headphones...... MJC

Worth the price

My son uses Sennheiser Lavalier's so I trust the brand. Bought these to replace a different brand that wore out and really loving the quality of the Sennheiser. I like that the batteries are replaceable, it was pretty easy to set up, and controls on the headphones are easy to use while wearing. They're a little snug but not uncomfortably so and the noise cancellation is excellent, sounds excellent, and it's a comfortable fit on my ears even when I wear them for several hours. They hold a charge really well. Very happy with my purchase.

overrated headphones

I had bought 2 pairs of these for me and my mother, they are very cheaply made the transmitter is hollow. you can hear the hollowness like clunking sound when turning on the switch or plugging in the optical cable. setup is easy, charging will take 16 hours for the lights on the transmitter to turn green. I found on my pair that they were way to tight around my ears i had to keep taking them off. there was no interference or cut outs at all with the RF signal however i don't like the sounds these headphones produce. the sound sounded flat i compared these to my edifier headphones. edifiers are way better in sound and in dialog, and they have a richer bass to them. sennheiser does not have that good of customer support everyone there has the same name "sennheiser" i ... MoreI had bought 2 pairs of these for me and my mother, they are very cheaply made the transmitter is hollow. you can hear the hollowness like clunking sound when turning on the switch or plugging in the optical cable. setup is easy, charging will take 16 hours for the lights on the transmitter to turn green. I found on my pair that they were way to tight around my ears i had to keep taking them off. there was no interference or cut outs at all with the RF signal however i don't like the sounds these headphones produce. the sound sounded flat i compared these to my edifier headphones. edifiers are way better in sound and in dialog, and they have a richer bass to them. sennheiser does not have that good of customer support everyone there has the same name "sennheiser" i like to know who im talking to when dealing with tech support don't you? anyways there are better products out there to spend your money on.