Sennheiser are one of the industry leaders in designing premium audio products that excel in performance and build quality.
They have a huge list of products ranging from earbuds, headphones and even soundbars, but Sennheiser is looking to go further to transform the TV audio market.
Their first venture into elevating the TV audio experience came in the form of the Sennheiser RS 5200 wireless TV headphones.
These headphones were praised for their high-quality sound that allowed for an immersive experience while watching TV.
But there were a few omissions that challenged its price, for instance, the lack of Bluetooth.
A year later Sennheiser is once again looking to target this market, building upon the praise from the RS 5200 with their new product the TV Clear.
Sennheiser’s TV Clear are earbuds that have been designed to provide a truly wireless experience for consumers.
The TV Clear’s design is a far cry from RS 5200, especially in size, making them much more convenient.
They have a sleek design but retain Sennheiser’s signature cubed-shaped shell with a matt back panel decorated with the company's logo.
The back panel is a nice size for touch controls and doesn't come with a glossy finish meaning they won’t be susceptible to scuffs and smudges.
The back panel also comes built with push buttons that allow for extra controls.
The TV Clear comes with three different ear tips, with two of them featuring extra hooks that allow them to fit in more securely. There is also an option to wear them in the traditional method.
Sennheiser’s TV Clear is extremely comfortable and secure, especially during long sessions.
The compact, 6.37g body makes them easy to transport which is great as they can double up as your portable earbuds.
What I do love is how the controls have been designed to include all your needs, even volume control which is usually left out of a lot of earbuds.
Setting up the earbuds is very simple whether you opt to use them on the TV or with a portable device.
Connecting to a TV requires plugging in a transmitter via USB for power and two different audio cables, a Toslink and a 3.5mm jack.
The TV must be set to PCM for the Toslink to work and I found that this method provided far clearer sound with next to no interference or lag.
The 3.5mm was acceptable but I would use the Toslink when given the chance.
After setting up the transmitter it's just a simple process of linking the earbuds via Bluetooth and you’re ready to go.
What’s an added bonus is the TV will always remember the earbuds and will activate them once turned on.
The TV Clear can also double up as your everyday earbuds but they have to be connected via the app.
Sennheiser has really made the TV Clear really easy to set up, so even a tech novice can jump straight in.
But I feel like placing the Bluetooth connectivity in the app just adds an unnecessary step when needing to set up with your phone.
Yes, it's very simple to set up but if the transmitter isn’t plugged in the earbuds should automatically revert to a native Bluetooth mode.
The TV Clear comes built with several sound options that will grant full authority over your listening experience.
Seeing as they have been created specifically for TV and for people who struggle with their hearing, Sennheiser has included a function called Speech Clarity, which aims to enhance the sound quality of dialogue during films and TV shows.
This can be accessed on the app, which has five different settings to elevate the speech.
This is a very clever feature to include as it accentuates the vocals making them much easier to understand.
It does work pretty well and the overall clarity becomes much clearer as you increase the settings.
But I have to say the overall sound quality isn’t amazing and with Sennheiser opting for a 6mm driver over the 7mm TrueResponse, they won’t be replacing your dedicated earbuds.
Another included feature is called Ambient Awareness which is the earbud's transparency mode. This allows outside noise to be filtered in while when using the earbuds.
This feature can be controlled on the app and it works well allowing extra audio to come through the mic on the earbuds.
One of the big bonuses of the earbud is the TV Clear app which has a plethora of features granting extra customisation.
Other than the sound control options Sennheiser has included extra features such as being able to find your earbuds, controlling the voice prompts and even changing the touch controls to fit your needs.
It all works really well through its very welcoming UI, which is very easy to navigate.
Sennheiser has stated the earbuds will last for fifteen hours on a single charge while watching TV using the transmitter.
I wasn’t able to test this in one sitting but using it across multiple TV sessions and not on my phone, it did last for a really long time.
Verdict 3/5
Sennheiser’s TV Clear is a smart idea with the Speech Clarity feature working relatively well.
The versatility and extensive controls via the app are fully welcome and just increase its functionality.
However given the £349 price tag, audiophiles might be slightly disappointed with the average sound quality when using away from your TV.
Although these are specialist earbuds that have been designed for a specific purpose which they have fulfilled but just don’t expect an immersive cinematic experience.
The TV Clear is available now for £349 from Sennheiser
