This Auracast receiver is the home theater upgrade I didn't know I needed - but there's a big catch

Sennheiser RS 275 TV Headphones bundle

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• The RS 275 TV Headphones bundle is disposable for $300.
• The BTA1 transmitter offers endless Auracast flexibility, provided you person a compatible smartphone.
• The HDR 275 headphones supply an Auracast gateway for iOS users, but their choky acceptable is simply a turn-off.

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Sennheiser's latest merchandise mightiness not beryllium what I expected from the institution this year, but it's everything I didn't cognize I needed. The RS 275 TV Headphones bundle opens a satellite of Auracast capabilities wrong and extracurricular of the home, bringing real-world exertion to beingness successful a caller package.

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If you unrecorded successful a shared space, whether that beryllium a shared room, flat building, oregon location wherever your TV-watching could disturb others, the RS 275 bundle is simply a elemental mode to link a brace of headphones to your TV. If you've invested successful a circumstantial brand's whole-home theatre ecosystem, you won't find arsenic overmuch flexibility with the BTA1 transmitter. 

The RS 275 bundle includes the HDR 275 headphones, the BTA1 transmitter, powerfulness and audio cables, and a headphones stand. Here's what you should cognize earlier you bargain it.

Auracast is simply a winner

Sennheiser's HDR 275 headphones are solid, but the BTA1 transmitter is the aureate nugget of this bundle. It includes each the wiring you request to link the transmitter to your TV, and your TV powers the BTA1, truthful you don't request an further powerfulness source.

Once the BTA1 is connected to your TV's audio larboard (I went with Optical), it tin automatically observe which root you're watching. So, if you're watching Netflix and past crook connected your Xbox connected to an HDMI port, the transmitter volition automatically nonstop the Xbox's audio without you having to property immoderate buttons.

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I watched "WWE Unreal" connected Netflix and had perfectly nary issues with audio sync. I past queued up "Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga" connected my TV and had nary noticeable lag. An Optical audio transportation to the BTA1 doesn't enactment Dolby Atmos, but you tin configure the transmitter to reproduce Sennheiser's Virtual Surround Sound. 

To me, it sounded precise digitized and simply an enlargement of the soundstage, alternatively than replicating the question and entity placement you expect from Dolby Atmos.

The wondrous happening astir the BTA1 is that you tin link an assortment of Auracast-enabled receivers to it. Purchasing it present volition springiness you entree to respective much enabled devices that volition beryllium released successful the future. Say you're successful the room and don't privation to deterioration headphones, but privation to perceive your TV better. 

Jada Jones/ZDNET

You tin plug the BTA1 into your TV and watercourse the TV's audio to an Auracast receiver talker successful your kitchen, and inactive play audio done your TV's speakers oregon your connected soundbar. With this technology, consumers who aren't funny successful immoderate circumstantial company's location theatre options tin debar marque lock-in and make rear speakers from 2 Auracast-enabled Bluetooth speakers, adjacent if they're from antithetic manufacturers.

One happening I loved astir Sennheiser's attack to Auracast is that it's a diagnostic that tin beryllium toggled successful the Sennheiser Smart Control Plus app. This way, the app lets maine usage my iPhone arsenic an Auracast adjunct to hunt for and link to broadcasts, a diagnostic Apple doesn't natively integrate into its smartphones. 

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So, I tin link the HDR 275 to my iPhone and usage the Sennheiser app to link the headphones to different Auracast broadcasts. However, connecting different Auracast-enabled headphones, specified arsenic my Sony WH-1000XM6, to the BTA1 required utilizing my Google Pixel 9 Pro, which has autochthonal Auracast support.

The headphones consciousness similar an afterthought

The HDR 275 athletics a redesign for Sennheiser's HDR lineup, pursuing the plan choices of the company's Accentum over-ear user headphones. With this plan travel smaller earcups and a tighter clamping force, though the HDR 275 person precise heavy receptor pads that would beryllium conducive to hours-long wear, if not for their different acceptable issues.

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You tin set the HDR 275's EQ settings successful the app; you tin take from presets, make a preset with guidance, oregon toggle a give-band equalizer. The app besides lets you negociate the headphones' transportation to idiosyncratic Bluetooth devices and Auracast streams, and you tin toggle transparency levels for ambient sound pass-through.

Jada Jones/ZDNET

Sennheiser's HDR 275 simply aren't comfy capable for maine to get done an full movie, fto unsocial binge-watch a full play of "90 Day Fiance" successful 1 night. However, with the BTA1 and a compatible smartphone, you tin usage the Sony WH-1000XM5, WH-100XM6, Google Pixel Buds Pro 2, JBL Tour Pro 3, and a list of different headphones and earbuds to ticker instead. 

Even more, those headphones are much attuned to performing amended extracurricular of the house, truthful you tin maximize their features without buying different brace of headphones. 

ZDNET's buying advice

If you're looking for a amended mode to privately ticker TV astatine location than connecting headphones to a TV via an unreliable, low-quality accepted Bluetooth connection, the BTA1 is simply a coagulated option. Aside from connecting your TV to an unlimited fig of Auracast-enabled headphones, you tin summation much flexibility by connecting the BTA1 to an unlimited fig of Auracast-enabled Bluetooth speakers you whitethorn already own.

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If you've worn and bask the acceptable of Sennheiser's Accentum oregon Accentum Plus headphones, you'll find the HDR 275 arsenic enjoyable. If you're looking for a brace of headphones with a roomy, relaxed fit, skip the HDR 275 and find a much comfy Auracast-enabled brace (if you person a compatible smartphone).

If you're locked into an expansive, multi-room location theatre narration with Sonos oregon Bose, and ain the companies' headphones for backstage listening, you'll find overmuch little flexibility with the BTA1 transmitter.