Sennheiser RS130 Wireless Headphones

Reviews: Multimedia

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Nicholas Hart
Kurtis
Sennheiser
Feb. 14, 2007

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Introduction

When someone says Sennheiser I immediately think high-end headphones. Being more interested in computer games and portable audio than broadcasting, I wasn't aware that their history really centers on microphones. Back in 1947 Sennheiser started producing microphones and ten years later they produced a wireless RF solution for broadcast and stage use.

But am I going to review a microphone? No. Then where am I going with all this? Well, I recently reviewed the Altec Lansing AHP612 wireless headphones and was a little disappointed by the interference. When I heard I would be reviewing a similar setup from Sennheiser, their RS130 Wireless Headphones, I was interested in how they would stack up in this respect. Then while reviewing their history I saw the tidbit above. My point is that Sennheiser has been working RF audio transmission for 50 years now and it gave me great hope that they would have all the kinks worked out.

So do they? And interference or not, do these headphones still perform with the quality we've come to expect from a Sennheiser branded product? Well contractual obligations prevent me from revealing that in the introduction space. But if you keep reading, I'll tell you.

First Impressions

I've gotten rather tired of talking about boxes and since this one won't speak for itself, I'll say that it does its job and leave it at that. No, its not that the box is ugly or anything, but really, it's a box! How much more can I say?

The headphones are what's really important and after pulling them out, my first thought was that they look rather boxy and plain. The only real decoration to speak of is the Sennheiser logo surrounded by a metallic mesh screen. For buttons on the headphones we have an on/off switch, a volume dial and a tuning dial. There are no LEDs to indicate power status or signal.

The ear pads are made of soft foam and are covered in fabric. The headband receives a similar treatment with three such pads, between which are two metal strips that serve as the charging contacts when you rest the headphones on the base station. Rechargeable batteries are included with the headphones, and I was quite happy to see that only two AAA size are required. This certainly helps with the weight of the headphones which should have a direct impact on comfort during long-term listening sessions.

The base for the RS130 headphones is slim and tall with a bent metal rod to hold the headphones. There are actually two rods, separated by a short piece of plastic to keep the two sides from shorting out, as they are the electrodes that charge the headphones when rested upon them.

There is a switch on the base to choose one of three transmission channels to help you find one which works for you and whatever interference problems you might have. There is also the SRS button for switching this feature on or off. And then we have three LEDs to indicate power to the base, charge status and whether SRS is turned on or off. I'll cover this feature later in the review.

A small wall wart type power supply is included to power the base. The audio cable is attached to the base and has a pair of RCA connectors for device connection. A small adapter is provided for connection to a computer or other device with a 3.5mm stereo jack. Then of course we have a manual to cover setup and troubleshooting procedures. Overall the assembly shouldn't confuse anyone, and I should mention that the headphones and base look attractive sitting on my desk.

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Page 1: Introduction & First Impressions
Page 2: Testing
Page 3: Conclusion

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6 User Comments

1 - Posted by Big Pete on June 12, 2007 - 5:55 am

A great review. Comprehensive and packed with real information. I am off to order a pair!

2 - Posted by Kurtis on June 12, 2007 - 11:31 am

Glad you found the review helpful! :)

3 - Posted by Gil on December 17, 2007 - 1:22 pm

I own a sennheiser RS130 and very satisfied with it. I was recomending it to a friend and found this article which confirms my satisfaction. However before submitting this article to friend, i am noticing the the sponsor is Sennheiser. Does it mean that they paid for the evaluation? Thank You for the response

4 - Posted by Kurtis on December 17, 2007 - 3:06 pm

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

As for your question, sponsorship just means they provided the product for us to review - this is how review sites operate; we don't buy all the things we review (though we do sometimes buy things to review them). We never accept money for a review, and even if a company is advertising with us and sponsoring a review, that would never affect our evaluation. As a matter of fact, we don't even handle advertising ourselves, a third party deals with that for us which helps ensure editorial integrity.

5 - Posted by Tim on January 13, 2008 - 2:58 pm

I have a pair of my own and they work great!! I purchased a set for my dad and I can't get them to work!!! I am connecting to a Vizio 50" HD TV through the headphone jack on the back of the TV and also trying to connect to the audio output of a DishNetwork DVR receiver. The battery is fully charged and the on light is coming on. It seems the receiver and the headphones are not syncing with either connection. Can you help??

6 - Posted by andy on June 17, 2008 - 4:02 pm

I came across this review while shopping around online for a wireless headphone for my father. This review is definitely superior to any other one I read. I appreciate the writer's style and the fact that he reviews each step of the process; opening the box, first appearances, setup, etc. Reading this clear and thorough review is the last step of my online search (thank gd....), and I will be purchasing these headphones tonight.
Thank you! Awesome work!

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