Sennheiser RS 140 Wireless HiFi Headphone with Dynamic Compression System by Sennheiser
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List Price: Category: CE See more digital camera details and other models |
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Digital camera reviews of Sennheiser RS 140 Wireless HiFi Headphone with Dynamic Compression System
Digital camera Review: Amazing for wireless, though not perfect
Summary: 5 Stars
I love these headphones. When I'm in the room with the transmitter, their sound is as good as good wired headphones. That said, they are on the big side (compared to wired headphones, and I do get interference when I walk around our apartment (the old building has a lot of brick and steel).
They also hold a charge as long as I've needed them, and seem to charge quickly. Construction seems solid - I expect they'll hold up over time.
[I've now owned these for two months, btw]
Digital camera Review: At last a decent wireless headset
Summary: 5 Stars
I've never been this satisfied with any headphone. Other reviewers' complaints--interference, terrible reception, headphones falling apart in my hands--pinpoint the frustrations I've had with previous models by Sony, Sennheiser, and Advent.
I've run into none of these problems with RS 140. The sound is clear, and the controls for volume, balance, and tuning couldn't be easier to use.
Digital camera Review: At last... wireless sound worth bragging about
Summary: 5 Stars
Audio choices are obviously very personal, so I hesitate to recommend anything too strongly here. Tastes and tolerances differ so greatly, and wireless audio products really seem to push those differences. Maybe some of my needs and wants will match yours, maybe not, but 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. By the way, my apologies in advance for such a long review, but I really appreciate details when researching audio gear. I thought you might, too.
BACKGROUND
I'm about as picky as they come when sound is the issue. I have a small home recording studio and 30 years of experience as a semi-pro musician (jazz, rock, classical, country). That said, I approach every musical equipment purchase with thorough research and comparison. Since I already have good wired phones (Senn 280s, Audio Technica M50s, and others) in my studio, I wanted some wireless cans mostly for moving around the house and yard while listening to music from my home stereo system, kind of a self-indulgent luxury. 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 buying. Still, I decided I would not accept something else: poor sound quality, in a musical sense. Two of the sub-$200 phones with rather consistently high reviews (in magazines and online) were the Senn 130 and 140 models. So I ordered both models to compare them in the privacy of my home. (I paid about $115 for the RS-130 and $135 for the RS-140; be patient because the prices here fluctuate often.)
TEST EQUIPMENT
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).
FOR MUSIC NOT TV
I've used these cans mostly for listening to music, which usually masks any low-grade background noise. TV use, with its emphasis on dialogue, would be demanding in other ways, so I'd defer to other reviewers for feedback concerning that application.
POINT OF REFERENCE
The entry-level price for a decent set of wired (corded) cans is roughly $100. The price of these wireless Senns, especially the 130s, isn't much more.
LIKES
Musically, both models sound as good as I'd hoped except for their shy response at the extremes (see Test Equipment above). Still, when I've been wearing them while working outside, I sometimes have to stop what I'm doing, raise the volume, and just listen for a while. They sound that good. I wouldn't use them in my studio, but considering the low price and mobility, I'm very satisfied. 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 flatest, truest sound, overall. After a lot of back and forth listening to verify my impressions, I kept the 130s. The 140s would be a perfectly acceptable alternative, though. The differences are minor.
Both models are cushy comfortable, and the features and controls are top-notch. I've never liked surround-sound simulations and the like, so I can't comment on that feature (130s). But I find everything very simple to use, and all works fine. Like easy? Hang these 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, which I don't.)
DISLIKES
No review would be complete without some criticism and warning, so here's mine. Above all, choosing musical equipment involves personal tastes, which vary greatly, so try to listen before buying. Trust your own ears. If you do buy either Senn wireless model, you should expect some hiss and pop and hum at times, usually just when you move around, but almost certainly if you head 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? Beyond that, I wish these cans were as snug-fitting as my Senn 280s, which grip my head tightly. These wireless phones are like light pillows, very comfortable since they sit 'around' the ears (not 'on' the ears), but 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 a nearby loved one.
COMMENT ABOUT INTERFERENCE PROBLEMS
If you're not already totally sick of me, you can check out my reaction to the interference problems that some users report here. (Click on 'Comments' below.)
OVERALL
All in all, both models of these phones admirably meet my picky expectations although being realistic about the limits of low-cost wireless sound was a necessary starting point. Nah, these wireless phones aren't perfect, and they're certainly no match for good wired cans, but I think they offer impressive overall performance for $100 plus change. An enthusiastic '4 and a 1/2 stars' and a lot of brag from me. Well done, Senn. Happy listening, all.
P.S. TO ANYONE WITH HEARING LOSS
If you have reduced hearing, particularly in one ear, you should probably choose the RS-140 model. The addition of the closed back (for isolation), L-R balance control, and compression switch (to equalize the overall volume) could be helpful.
NEED MORE RESEARCH?
Head over to "Consumer Search" online for a master summary of pro and consumer reviews of wireless headphones, including these. (The Senns do very well.)
UPDATE
A quick 2009 update, more than three years of almost daily use later: no surprises, no regrets, and the original batteries are still kicking. I stand by my review fully. I did find one time that the headphones didn't work, but a quick jiggle of the audio input in the base unit brought them back to life. True, as some folks have noted, there is indeed annoying interference at times but usually just when moving around in another room or outdoors. That's only a minor limitation for me but clearly a deal-breaker for some people (although some of them, I suspect, haven't boosted the source volume enough). But the surprisingly good music quality and thoughtful design at this low price point is the real story here for me and my primarily musical needs. If you eventually decide to give the Senns a try, just be sure that you can easily return them if they don't fit your own needs and limits. I typically return about half of the audio equipment I buy, even after thorough research, and have learned the value of a simple return policy. Good luck to you.
DISCLAIMER (SUMMER 2010)
I notice that the price has nearly doubled since I wrote my review, and that would change things for me. If I had this much to spend on wireless cans, I'd likely opt for Senn's new RS-180 model instead.
Digital camera Review: Automatically corrects problems
Summary: 5 Stars
Six stars would be more like it!
These are amazing. There are automatic adjustments to overcome problems previously endemic to wireless headphones.
1) There is no need of constant fiddling with tuning to get spot on the frequency. The base has a 3 band slide switch. The receiver (phones) has a button which auto tunes to several channels for each of the three bands and it automatically sets the frequency absolutely perfectly matched to the transmitter. So, if it is so automatic then why is the button necessary? Because the system might perfectly tune to a nearby device (neighbor's pager or whatever). If that happens, then another touch of the button will step further through the channels to find the next device, until it locks on to your phones. An annoying problem is thus done away with completely.
2) It senses the level of sound coming into the transmitter from your audio source (e.g. stereo receiver or TV) and shows the exact level you need to set the source to. There is a blinking light which indicates when the source level is perfect for best signal/noise ratio. Problems of hissing, overdrive distortion, momentary interference and so forth are greatly reduced! This is the product's best feature. It uses smart sampling by taking a half minute or so to sample the level in order to get a true overall average before the blinking light indicator changes state.
3) A sensor will shut off the transmitter when the source level is turned off (e.g. you switch off the stereo amplifier). But it is very smart about this: it waits a minute to see if the source is really off or just momentarily quiet (such as in between tracks on the CD or silent spots in a TV movie).
4) Charging happens automatically. Just set the phones on the transmitter rack, the red charging light on the transmitter will turn on when charging starts. There is no need to mate contacts, in fact there are no contacts. Apparently it charges with a magnetic field, wireless charging! The light will blink when charging is complete and the mode changes over to trickle charge.
5) There is an automatic compression feature (I don't use it) with an indicator light. This will prevent fading and blasting audio, but you lose dynamic range. It works very well but hi fi enthusiasts usually resist this tempting feature.
There are L/R balance and volume dials and the tuning button on the phones. Also the on/off switch.
The ear reproducers are very high quality in the model 140 compared to other brands and Sennheiser's lesser grade (models 110 and 120).
The 130 is of similar quality but uses 'open air' earpieces. The 140 is closed on the back for better silencing of ambient noise. However Sennheiser was a pioneer of the brighter sounding open air type of headset and many folks (probably most) will prefer them instead. For one thing humidity evaporates better in a hot humid climate. But I prefer the closed type, hence I bought the 140!
The 110's use cheaper reproducers, manual tune, and no automatic level adjustments. But the charging system is identical. And you could buy 4 of them for the price of the 140.
Digital camera Review: Background Noise
Summary: 2 Stars
I bought the RS-140's to watch movies on my computer.The Headphones had reasonable sound quality and the headphones themselves were pretty comfortable (not quite tight enough on the ears for smaller heads).
The glowing problem was a hissing background noise when the headphones are switched on. At first I thought it was The audio source. So I Tried a few different ones. No Change. Then I thought mabe It Was interference. I checked my cordless phone, my computer monitor, and my wireless network, even thought it is on a different band (2.4ghz). Then I tried the 3 different channels on the base unit, and the autotune button on the phones, and nothing cleared it up. I live in a very rural area, and there is no other interference. It's just "normal" operating noise for these RF based headphones.
It's not too noticable with music going, or with loud TV, but if you are watching a movie, with periods of quiet dialogue, it will drive you nuts. You'll be switching back to your wired headphones as fast as you can. I wish I would have payed more attention to the reviews I read about the hissing!!