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Sennheiser RS 130 Wireless Surround Sound Headphones | 
| Brand: Sennheiser
Category: CE
List Price: $199.95
Buy New: $142.99
as of 3/14/2010 14:21 CDT details
You Save: $56.96 (28%)
New (10) Used (5) from $119.99
Seller: All Pet Depot
Rating:  500 reviews
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Number Of Items: 1
Batteries Included: Yes
Operating System: DOS
CPU Manufacturer: Intel
CPU Speed: 1
CPU Type: AMD Athlon
Processors: 1
System Memory: 128000
Memory Type: DRAM
Hard Drive Size: 1
Graphics RAM: 256
Native Resolution: 640x480
Display Size: 669.2913385826772
Battery: 1 NiMH battery pack
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 8 x 9 x 4
Legal Disclaimer: Warranty does not cover misuse of product.
MPN: RS 130
Model: RS 130
UPC: 615104099258
EAN: 0615104099258
ASIN: B0007QN18U
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Wireless, rechargeable hi-fi headphones with SRS surround sound mode | | • | Intelligent auto tuning and automatic signal control ensure high-quality reception | | • | Transmission range of up to 150 meters; 18 Hz to 21 kHz frequency response | | • | Lightweight, comfortable design; 22 hours average battery life per charge | | • | Includes Rechargable NiMH batteries, charging stand, transmitter, and 1/4-inch plug adapter |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com Product Description
Experience total audio immersion and freedom with the Sennheiser RS 130 wireless headphones. With an SRS surround sound mode that can be switched on or off, and a design that completely encases your ears, the RS 130s are ideal for kicking back on the couch with a DVD when the rest of the house is asleep. Or, maybe you want to dance to the music from your hi-fi system while doing some laundry. With the RS 130s you can move around freely while enjoying audiophile-class sound wherever you roam. While many wireless headphones suffer from poor reception, the RS 130s have the problem licked with intelligent auto tuning and a self-learning automatic signal level control that provides maximum signal reception and a range of up to 150 meters. The headphones are lightweight, too, making them very comfortable to wear. The included transmitter and stand makes recharging the headphone batteries easy; simply hang the headphones on the charging cradle and you're good to go. With an operating time of approximately 22 hours, though, plan on spending most of your time enjoying rich sound and maximum mobility. What's in the Box
RS 130 headphones, rechargeable NiMH battery pack, transmitter and recharging stand, AC adapter, user's manual.
Product Description
Wireless headphones are popular among home-theater devotees who like to indulge in uninhibited late night movies, as well as music lovers who don't want to be tied down to their receivers or computers. Sennheiser is one of Germany's leading headphone manufacturers and a major proponent of wireless technology, so we couldn't wait to try the RS130. The Sennheiser RS130s are very light, just 9.8 ounces, and we found them extremely comfortable over a long evening of watching DVDs. This set of Open-Air headphones comes with a stylish base station/charger that houses a 900MHz wireless transmitter. The newly revised system is fitted with Sennheiser's Intelligent Auto Tuning system, which automatically selects the best of three available base-to-headset channels to ensure the lowest-possible distortion and noise. To charge the headphones' two AAA nickel-metal-hydride batteries, just place the RS130s on the cradle of the transmitter base. Fully charged, the headphones will play for as long as 22 hours with built-in volume control. The base/charger can be mounted on the wall or placed near your components. All of the adapters and necessary cables are included for stereo output. The RS130 also features Sennheiser's SRS Headphone virtual-surround-sound system. SRS is compatible with two-channel audio sources such as CDs and DVDs. SRS opened up the sound a bit so that it was less stuck inside the listener's head, but it also made the sound more echo and reverberant. Some people will like the effect, others won't. We didn't and opted to switch it off.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 500
 At last... wireless sound worth bragging about November 30, 2005
J. hanson (California)
710 out of 717 found this review helpful
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, with 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. 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.
Great Wireless Head Set! July 6, 2006
Drew S. (New York , N.Y.)
62 out of 62 found this review helpful
To begin with I live in a very busy area in NYC and in my home I have a 3 system wireless computer network, 2 wireless phones, wireless PS2 controllers, wireless Xbox360 controllers, 3 cellular phones and now I have added 2 Sennheiser RS 130 headsets. You can imagine I was concerned with interference, popping and static especially after reading some of the reviews of the 130's on this site.
To be very honest it was anything but the case. Amongst all the wireless items in my house I get crystal clear sound with little to no problems. The signal strength on the head phones is phenomenal as I can even take the trash out and not miss a word from my TV shows. The sound quality is just as good as my wired headphones and the head phones all though large are very comfortable and after hours of wearing them I hardly notice there still on.
I have had the headsets for close to two months now and on the very rare occasion that I hear static all I do is hit the scan button and the problem is solved. The only technical issue I had with the headsets was during the initial setup. When using both headsets at the same time the set in my basement entertainment room was picking up some of the signal from the head set a floor above in my bedroom. This only occurred when I had the head sets on channel 1 and channel 2. To resolve this issue I set the basement set to channel 1 and the bedroom set to channel 3 and I have had no issues since.
My only other issue besides that is just as others stated with the poorly placed volume knob that occasionally gets moved when I shift my pillow in bed. It doesn't occur enough to put tape over the knob but if it did that would be my solution as it's a small inconvenience and doesn't justify not purchasing a great wireless headset.
Overall I love the headphones! They are a phenomenal buy and at around half the cost of the Best Buy price you can't go wrong buying them off Amazon. I never write reviews but ive been so happy with my two 130 headsets that I felt I needed to share so others could also join the wonderfull experience.
Excellent for use with TV / Cable August 18, 2006
G. Gelles (Selden, NY)
30 out of 31 found this review helpful
I purchased this item primarily for use when viewing TV and movies. It very effectively blocks outside noise such as the air conditioner which was my main intent, but I also found the quality of the sound was so good that I was able to clearly hear low spoken conversations and subtle background sounds that I would have otherwise missed.
There is a "surround" button, which for me, just seems to add a level of reverberation and does not significantly add to the overall quality, so I leave it turned off. Others may find this a nice feature.
I found the earpiece padding to be fairly comfortable and can easily be worn over eyeglasses without any problem. Having the on/off and volume controls on the earphones is very convenient.
Soon after I received the headphones, I ordered a second set. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that both headphones can work off of one transmitter. This enabled me to hook one transmitter to my cable box and the other one to the DVD player. To me this is important, since the quality of the sound from the TV audio out jacks is not nearly as good as the audio out from the Cable box and DVD player. It therefore, eliminates the need to swap cable connections to achieve the highest quality sound.
Overall I am very pleased with this item and would highly recommend it.
Well Worth the Money!!! March 29, 2005
B. Randall (Burlington , VT)
22 out of 22 found this review helpful
I have had these for a week now and have put them to the test as far as sound quality goes. I listen to many types of music and these sound incredible across all genre! The surrond sound brings guitar and piano alive! I am very impressed. I hooked them into my DVD player and they sounded great as well. I am very picky and bought and returned several pair, but these are keepers!!! They are VERY simple to charge, and operate. The only con in my oppinion is that they are big. They are not heavy or uncomforatable, just big.
Great for the hard of hearing December 12, 2006
R. Davenport (San Jose)
13 out of 13 found this review helpful
I have hearing loss that requires me to wear hearing aids. If I turn up the TV so I can hear everything, my family has to leave the room to avoid hearing loss. Now I can watch TV with my family and everyone can hear fine. These are very comfortable and the charger stand works perfectly. As far as the dynamic range, I can hear both lows and highs clearly with my hearing aids in "music listening" mode. I also do not get feedback in my hearing aids as I did some other headphones.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 500
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