Adam Levell

The best headphones for watching TV are the Sennheiser RS 120-W ($129.95 on Amazon on October 15): a simple set with a charging stand that doubles as the transmitter, a Speech mode for clearer dialogue, up to 20 hours per charge and up to 60 m of range. If voices are hard to follow, the under-chin Sennheiser RS 5200 ($299.95) add a speech clarity feature and separate left and right volume. For a newer TV with only an optical output, the Avantree HT5009 Plus ($129.99) plug straight in.

Check the Sennheiser RS 120-W on Amazon →

How we put this together: this guide is based on manufacturers’ official specifications and support documentation (linked below). It is not based on hands-on testing by iTech Level, and it isn’t medical advice: if you’re struggling to hear, a hearing check with an audiologist is worth doing. Prices are list prices at the time of writing. See how we choose products.

Best TV headphones compared

Before you buy: check your TV’s audio output

TV headphones come with a base station that plugs into the TV and sends the sound to the headphones. Look at the back of your TV first:

• Optical (digital audio out): most newer TVs have this, often as the only audio output. The RS 5200, TV Ears Digital and Avantree HT5009 Plus accept it directly.
• 3.5 mm headphone jack or red/white RCA sockets: common on older TVs. Every pick here works with these.
• Only optical, but you want the RS 120-W? You’d need a small optical-to-analog converter, since the RS 120-W come with RCA and 3.5 mm connections only (Sennheiser).

Also check whether the TV keeps playing through its speakers while the headphones are connected. That’s what you want if someone else is watching too; some TVs mute the speakers when the headphone output is used, which you can usually change in the sound settings.

The best headphones for TV in 2026

1. Sennheiser RS 120-W: best overall

The RS 120-W are the straightforward choice. The base station is both the transmitter and the charging stand: you put the headphones on it after watching, and they’re charged next time. Sennheiser rates them at up to 20 hours on their rechargeable batteries, with up to 60 m of range over Bluetooth LE Audio. The base has three sound modes, Speech, Music and Neutral, and the headphones have their own volume dial, up to 100 dB, so you can turn them up without changing the TV’s volume for everyone else. One transmitter can broadcast to many headphones at once if several people want to listen (Sennheiser).

Good to know: they’re light on-ear headphones (215 g) with fabric pads rather than big, sealed over-ears, so they let in some room sound, and they have no optical input.

Check the Sennheiser RS 120-W on Amazon →

2. Sennheiser RS 5200: best for clearer dialogue

The RS 5200 use a stethoscope-style design that hangs under your chin and weighs just 60 g, so nothing presses on your head or hair. They’re built for hearing TV speech: Sennheiser’s speech clarity feature brings voices forward, and you can set the volume separately for each ear, which helps if one ear hears better than the other. The transmitter takes an optical connection, reaches up to 70 m, and up to four receivers can listen at once; the battery lasts up to 12 hours, and three sets of ear tips are included (Sennheiser).

Good to know: at $299.95 they cost the most here, and the ear tips sit in your ears, which not everyone likes. Sennheiser’s cheaper RS 2000 ($229.95) use the same style, but with analog connection only and a shorter 9-hour battery (Sennheiser).

Check the Sennheiser RS 5200 on Amazon →

3. TV Ears 5.0 Digital: loudest, with a voice boost

TV Ears are sold as an assistive listening device for TV. The 2 oz headset rests under the chin, and its Voice Clarifying audio dampens background sound and boosts speech, with up to 120 dB of volume. The transmitter connects by optical, 3.5 mm or RCA, all cables included (TV Ears).

Good to know: they use infrared, so the headset needs a clear line of sight to the transmitter, and TV Ears says a charge typically lasts up to 4 hours, so they go back on the base after an evening’s viewing. The cheaper TV Ears 5.0 Original System costs $129.95 (TV Ears). That much volume is meant for people with hearing loss; start low and turn it up only as far as you need.

Check TV Ears Digital on Amazon →

4. Avantree HT5009 Plus: best for newer TVs and long battery

The HT5009 Plus are regular over-ear headphones sold with a transmitter that takes optical or 3.5 mm input, which suits newer TVs that only have an optical output. Avantree rates them at up to 60 hours per charge, with a charging dock, and a Clear Voice mode improves dialogue. They connect over Bluetooth 5.3 with low-latency aptX codecs to keep the sound in sync with the picture, with a range of up to 10 m (30 ft) (Avantree).

Good to know: the 10 m range is the shortest here, fine in a living room but not for walking to the kitchen.

Check the Avantree HT5009 Plus on Amazon →

Already have headphones? Try these first

• Roku: the free Roku mobile app has private listening, which plays the TV sound through headphones connected to your phone, wired or Bluetooth; up to four phones can listen at once (Roku). Some Roku voice remotes also have a headphone jack (Roku).
• Apple TV 4K: AirPods and Beats connect from Control Center, and two pairs can listen at the same time (Apple).
• Your TV’s own Bluetooth: many smart TVs can pair Bluetooth headphones directly in their sound settings. It’s free to try, but expect some delay between picture and sound with regular Bluetooth headphones, which is why dedicated TV sets use their own transmitters.

These are good for the occasional quiet evening. For someone who uses headphones for TV every day, a dedicated set with a charging base is easier: no pairing, no phone, and nothing to remember.

How to choose TV headphones for an older relative

• Dialogue features: look for a speech or voice mode (all four picks have one) and, for uneven hearing, separate left/right volume (RS 5200).
• Style: under-chin sets (RS 5200, TV Ears) are very light and don’t press on your head or hair; headphones (RS 120-W, Avantree) don’t need anything in the ear.
• Charging: a stand you simply set the headphones on is the easiest routine.
• Volume control on the headphones: lets the listener turn up their side without making the TV louder for everyone else.
• Hearing aids: if they already wear hearing aids, ask the audiologist about the hearing aid maker’s own TV streaming accessory first.

Our verdict

The Sennheiser RS 120-W are the best TV headphones for most people: simple, long-lasting and with a Speech mode, as long as your TV has an analog or headphone output. If following dialogue is the main problem, the under-chin Sennheiser RS 5200 are worth the extra money, and TV Ears Digital go even louder. For a newer TV with only optical audio, the Avantree HT5009 Plus connect directly and last up to 60 hours.

Frequently asked questions

Related guides

• Best headphones for glasses wearers
• Best headphones under $100
• Best noise-cancelling headphones
• Best earbuds for sleeping

For most glasses wearers, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) ($449) are the best headphones: light, with ample padding and top noise cancelling. If you game, Turtle Beach’s Stealth 600 Gen 3 ($80.63 on Amazon on October 15) and Stealth 700 Gen 3 have ProSpecs cushions designed to leave a gap for your glasses arms. And if any over-ear headphones bother you, earbuds avoid the problem completely.

Check the Bose QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) on Amazon →

How we put this together: this guide is based on manufacturers’ specifications and design claims and on published reviews from SoundGuys and others (linked below). It is not based on hands-on testing by iTech Level, and comfort depends on your head, ears and frames. Prices are list prices at the time of writing. See how we choose products.

Best headphones for glasses wearers compared

Why headphones hurt with glasses

Over-ear headphones press their cushions against the side of your head, and your glasses arms sit right under them. Three things decide whether that hurts:

• Clamping force: how hard the headband squeezes. Tight headphones push the arms into your temples and behind your ears.
• Cushion softness and depth: soft, thick padding molds around the arms instead of pressing them in. Thin pads leave less room.
• Weight: heavier headphones need more clamping force to stay put.

Glasses also break the seal around your ears a little, which can weaken noise cancelling and bass. SoundGuys notes this with the Sony WH-1000XM6: “Those with glasses might find that interrupting the seal can lead to somewhat unpredictable results with low-end noise cancelation” (SoundGuys). Thin glasses arms help with both comfort and the seal.

The best headphones for glasses wearers in 2026

1. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen): best overall

Bose’s QuietComfort line is built around comfort, and the second-generation QC Ultra keep that up. SoundGuys calls them “a rather comfortable set of over-ear, ANC headphones, with angled drivers, a sliding band, and ample padding,” and notes that the plastic build makes them “mercifully light in comparison to other models” (SoundGuys). Light weight and soft padding are what you want over glasses arms. Bose rates them at up to 30 hours with noise cancelling, and they add USB-C audio for wired listening (Bose).

Good to know: SoundGuys’ only long-wear complaints were heat buildup and ears touching the inside of the padding. At $449 they’re expensive, but they’re often discounted.

Check the QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) on Amazon →

2. Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3: best for gaming with glasses

Turtle Beach is one of the few brands that designs for glasses on purpose. Its ProSpecs cushions use softer foam where your frames sit to “create a gap” for them, which Turtle Beach says means “dramatically less pressure and more comfortable long sessions” (Turtle Beach). The Stealth 700 Gen 3 ($199.99) add up to 80 hours of battery, Bluetooth 5.2 at the same time as the game connection, and two USB transmitters so you can switch between Xbox and PlayStation or PC with a button (Turtle Beach). See our best Xbox headsets for more.

Check the Stealth 700 Gen 3 on Amazon →

3. Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 3: best value

The Stealth 600 Gen 3 ($109.99) have the same ProSpecs glasses-friendly cushions and the same 80-hour battery rating, with Bluetooth 5.2 for your phone. They work with Xbox, PlayStation, PC, Steam Deck and Bluetooth phones (Turtle Beach). They’re a gaming headset, so there’s no noise cancelling for travel, but at home they’re the most glasses-friendly headphones you can get for around $100.

Check the Stealth 600 Gen 3 on Amazon →

4. LucidSound LS500: cheapest glasses-friendly wireless

PowerA describes the LS500 ($69.99) as “engineered for a pressure-free, secure fit that’s glasses-friendly,” with breathable earcups. They weigh 265 g, last up to 50 hours on the USB dongle or 70 over Bluetooth, and work with PS5, PC and phones (PowerA); the LS500X version adds Xbox. They’re also our budget pick in best gaming headsets.

Check the LucidSound LS500 on Amazon →

5. Apple AirPods Pro 3 (or any good earbuds): skip the problem

If every pair of over-ear headphones gives you a headache, switch to earbuds: nothing touches your glasses arms, and the seal doesn’t depend on your frames. The AirPods Pro 3 ($249) have Apple’s strongest noise cancelling and last up to 8 hours with it on (Apple). On Android, see our best noise-cancelling earbuds. One caution: ear-hook and wrap-around designs, such as many sport and bone-conduction models, rest on top of the ear where glasses arms also sit, so they can crowd your frames.

Check the AirPods Pro 3 on Amazon →

Be careful with: Sony WH-1000XM6

Sony’s XM6 are among the best noise-cancelling headphones overall, but they’re a riskier pick if you wear glasses. SoundGuys made comfort its “biggest gripe,” saying “the pads are relatively thin” and “don’t leave much room between the plastic chassis of the headphones and your skin,” and warned that glasses can make the low-end noise cancelling unpredictable (SoundGuys). Try them on with your glasses before buying, or buy from a store with easy returns.

Tips for wearing headphones with glasses

• Put your glasses on first, then the headphones, so the cushions settle over the arms rather than the arms being pushed under them.
• Adjust the headband so the cushions sit evenly over the arms, not pressing on one spot behind the ear.
• Thin, flat arms are much more comfortable under headphones than thick acetate ones. If you buy new frames, it’s worth considering.
• Try before you buy when you can, and keep the receipt: comfort is personal.

Our verdict

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) are the best headphones for glasses wearers who want noise cancelling for travel and work: light, with ample padding. For gaming, Turtle Beach’s ProSpecs headsets are designed for glasses, with the Stealth 600 Gen 3 the best value and the Stealth 700 Gen 3 the most flexible. On a tight budget, the LucidSound LS500 are glasses-friendly for $70. And if over-ears never feel right, earbuds like the AirPods Pro 3 avoid the problem.

Frequently asked questions

Related guides

• Best noise-cancelling headphones
• Best gaming headsets
• Best headphones under $100
• Best noise-cancelling earbuds