Sennheiser RS120

...bass response and like other Sennheiser models has a pretty clear 'top end' (or high frequency response). - I was pleasently supprised when they charge was finnished and I first tuned them in. The sound quality is obviously not as good as a pair of headphones costing 100+ pounds, but then you're getting them for around 60 quid, and they're wireless! - If you are after top quality studio or reference headphones, then the RS120's aren't for you. If ...
...that I've found with other Sennheiser models of headphone is that they don't look very 'cool' on your head....Don't get me wrong, the design in nice but they tend to look quite bulky on one's head....basically they don't hug the shape of your head that well, but then again this is purely cosmetic and it's not like you'll be wearing these out on the street!

Functions / Controls:

On the base unit there is only 1 switch. ... more

---User Home Tests---

What's in the box?:

The RS120's come with the base unit (to transmit and recharge), the headphones themselves, the power adapter for the base unit and the two AAA rechargable batteries, even a headphone adapter. All you need is a headphone socket on your TV, Stereo, Computer, i-pod etc.. and you're ready to roll.

The product's cababilites and purposes:

The RS120 is basically the rechargeable version of the RS110s, and they look better in my opinion than the RS110s too. They are simply wireless headphones that operate using FM radio frequencies (as opposed to Infer Red ). The base unit takes the audio signal from whatever source you plug it into and broadcasts it to the headphones, like a mini radio station.

Infer Red headphones require you to be in the same room and the base unit - that's why these babies are great because you can roam around the house, the garden, I've even got it to work going down to my local shop over the road! The specification claims that the headphones (and thus you) can be 150m away from the base unit. Although I don't have the facilities to accurately measure this, from my experiences I think it would be more like 100m or so - but who will need more?

Still the point is, there is very little loss of sound quality (if any) when moving around the house. From time to time there may be a slight 'volume dip' while moving but the signal appears to travel through walls and ceilings very well indeed!

Setting up:

This is really as simple as plugging it in and resting the headphones on the metal bars. The base unit is designed to store the headphones when not in use, while recharging them. The clever design is that the metal bars that the headset rests on also carry the current to recharge the batteries! - So there's no 'plugging in' to do everytime you want to recharge - you simply put them on their holder and they start to charge.

The only annoying thing was that it recommends (as with a lot of electrical equipment) that you should recharge it for 24 hours+ before first use! - I would highly recommend following these instructions as it affects the rechargeable battery life - Just means you have to sit and look at them for a day before you can play!

Usage:

These headphones would be good for many different circumstances ranging from household use to DJing. I have worked as a live sound engineer in the past, and although I would not recommend these (or any other wireless headphones) for such a task, I think they would be perfectly good in most other situations - I use them when I'm sitting at my desk late at night and can't use my speakers, when I'm in bed and can't change the volume on my computer (playing a DVD or CD) I just use the volume dial on the headset and when I'm down stairs doing the washing up or cooking I listen to internet radio.

Sound Quality:

The sound quality really is very good considering the relatively low price and the mobility. This model has a nice bass response and like other Sennheiser models has a pretty clear 'top end' (or high frequency response). - I was pleasently supprised when they charge was finnished and I first tuned them in. The sound quality is obviously not as good as a pair of headphones costing 100+ pounds, but then you're getting them for around 60 quid, and they're wireless! - If you are after top quality studio or reference headphones, then the RS120's aren't for you. If you're after some good quality open headphones with free roaming capabilities with on/off and volume controls on the headset, then the RS120's are just the ticket.

Comfort:

I have owned many pairs of headphones in the past and I have to say that these are one of the most comfortable headsets I've ever worn (Although I suppose an element of this is personal in that everyone has different shaped heads!) - One thing to point out, that I've found with other Sennheiser models of headphone is that they don't look very 'cool' on your head....Don't get me wrong, the design in nice but they tend to look quite bulky on one's head....basically they don't hug the shape of your head that well, but then again this is purely cosmetic and it's not like you'll be wearing these out on the street!

Functions / Controls:

On the base unit there is only 1 switch. This switch allows you to chose between 3 different frequency bands of broadcast. This function is designed to help overcome any interference that may appear on one frequency band - From my research into wireless technology, I have discovered that TVs, Computer monitors, other wireless networks etc can all impact on transmition quality.

In the manual it will tell you to move the base unit away from the potential source of interference etc... In reality I've found that this is not necessary as I've experienced no interference what so ever - and I have the base unit on a speaker, next to a TV, a Computer monitor and my Wireless Internet system!!! - The point being that my base unit is set up in an electromagnetic swamp and I don't have any problems!

The Headphones themselves have an On/Off switch and Volume and Tune dials. On and Off are fairly self explanatory, as is volume. The Tune dial lets you fine tune the reception of the audio signal coming from the base unit. Although this dial initially scared my into thinking I'd have to constantly re-tune depending on my location those fears evaporated with one operation of the unit.

Rather than accurately sweeping through all the frequencies, meaning you'd have to be bang on with your adjustment, the unit seems to move in 'sweeps' or 'bands' of frequencies, meaning that although the dial has no 'notches', it is more like a selector switch enabling you to chose some alternative tuning options. This all sounds very complicated but it essentially means you turn the dial until you hear the audio then move one up or one down until you find the best signal, It's really straight forward and you'll know which is the right setting and which is wrong. I must emphasise that this is not like a radio tuning dial - you can get the desired sound in a couple of seconds, since setting mine up originally (in a couple of seconds), I've never had to make an adjustment.

Summary:

These are a great pair of headphones: sound quality, comfort, and reception stability - and for 50 quid or so, they're good value. I can't find any other models within 10 pounds +/- that would match up!

I've tried pretty hard to makes the things glitch and they've not copped out! - My biggest gripes when I bought them were a) They are heavier than my last pair and b) I bet the reception is dodgy - - After hours and hours of use, I can honestly say, the weight doesn't bother me at all (I don't even notice it) - and the reception (as in; how it changes while moving around the house) is faultless.

PS: Guys, if you go to the toilet while wearing your headphones, be sure not to look down! - I nearly lost mine the first night I got them! - Lesson learnt.

 

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