TV sound on the headphones – that’s how it works
The Bluetooth earplugs are also a practical thing on the TV: If only the complications with the connection were not there. We show how to do it.
Headphones are also a proven antidote for difficult-to-understand dialogues.
Foto: Getty Images
If you want to enjoy good TV sound, you have to put in a lot of effort: you need a good soundbar or even a battery of speakers that are distributed in the living room for surround sound. So the question is obvious: Wouldn’t that be much easier, namely with the headphones that we already have? Sure, this method only works if just one person wants to watch TV—or via the audio-sharing feature for two people. On the other hand, it has the undeniable advantage that neither the neighborhood nor the roommates are bothered by the soundscape.
The good news: It is actually a good method that ideally can be implemented with existing headphones without additional investments. Because many smart televisions are equipped with Bluetooth: This allows you to connect wireless headphones – or even a keyboard, which makes setting up and filling in passwords much easier. The bad news is that it’s fiddly to set up. While cable headphones just have to be plugged in, Bluetooth requires what is known as pairing. This process pairs the TV with the headphones, making the latter available as a target for sound output.
Find the Bluetooth menu
This pairing option is hidden in the depths of the TV menu. Where you find them varies not only by manufacturer but also by model. A look at the manual is therefore unavoidable. Once you’ve found the appropriate option on the TV, you’ll also need to put the headphones into pairing mode. The instructions also help here: there is usually a Bluetooth button that is either on the headphones themselves or on the charging box and has to be pressed for a few seconds for a new connection.
Bluetooth headphones can be normally pair with multiple devices. There is an easy way to switch from one device to the next on most models: you do this, for example, by briefly pressing the Bluetooth button. Once your headphones have been paired, you can use them alternately with your smartphone, television or computer by switching. However, it may also be the case that the headphones have to be selected on the television via the sound menu. This makes it more cumbersome to use, but also prevents the headphones from being accidentally activated and the television otherwise remaining silent.
Upgrade Bluetooth
If the TV doesn’t have Bluetooth, wired headphones would be a workaround – albeit an impractical one, since extension cords exist, but they also pose a significant tripping hazard. There are two better alternatives: some TV boxes, such as the Apple TV, have built-in Bluetooth. And there are also external Bluetooth transmitters like the Sennheiser BT T100, which is connected via the jack connection or the optical audio output.
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