My taste in movies runs toward the bombastic. If a DVD has
car chases, aliens, gunfire and explosions, count me in. And crank it up. Big,
loud movies call for big, loud audio and that doesn't always play well with the
other members of my household who might be another room reading a book or
watching another program.
We've discovered the key to maintaining a peaceful
coexistence: wireless headphones. When I'm wearing a pair, I get my fill of
raucous action, the house stays quiet, and I can wander into the kitchen for a
snack without getting untethered. I have one set of wireless phones connected
to the primary TV and another attached to the TV in the bedroom. The bedroom set has
proved to be just the ticket when she's ready to sleep and I'm ready for
another episode of "Breaking Bad."
Another reason I like wireless headphones is that after attending
too many loud rock concerts, my ears don’t tune in a movie’s dialog or other
quiet passages, particularly the high frequencies, as well as they used to. One
model that is especially good in that area is IR210T from Able Planet, a
company that makes a full line of headphones designed for people with some
level of hearing loss.
The IR210T have a pair of padded cups that rest comfortably
on your ears. The cups are connected to a headband by a unique swivel that
turns off the power to the headphones when they are removed or laid on a flat surface.
In other words, they automatically power down when they’re not in use and that
extends the life of the two AAA batteries that fit inside one of the cups. A
rechargeable battery would have been a nice addition, but the automatic
shut-off feature is the next best thing.
The stereo sound comes from an infrared transmitter that
connects to the headphone jack of a TV or another audio source. Infrared, by
its nature, delivers lower fidelity that what you would get from a cable
connection. But the Able Planet phones come pretty close. And their Linx Audio
technology, which boosts the higher frequencies to help people with hearing
loss, helps add clarity to speech and music. Even when I turn down the volume,
I can hear and understand all of the voices, even those in the commercials.
The Able Planet IR210T costs about $100 from online sources
such as Adorama.com.
z
Written by Ric Manning
Follow me on Twitter @ricmanning and read my technology columns at My Well Being.
Posts
Nice! I've been looking for something where I won't wake up with the wire twisted around my neck. This looks perfect!!
ReplyDeleteAnother attraction of the PD phones - if you fall asleep and they slip off your head, they automatically shut off.
ReplyDeletemy computer is in the family room, will they still receive from the living room?
ReplyDeleteMy "reading" chair is about 35 feet (11 meters) away.
You should be okay at about 35 feet but I wouldn't count on a clear signal much farther than that.
ReplyDelete