Sennheiser TV Listener RS 120-W Review
The Sennheiser RS 120-W promises simple TV audio but disappoints with subpar battery life and comfort. For a dedicated TV headset, it misses the mark.
The 30-Second Version
The Sennheiser RS 120-W is a one-trick pony for TV watching, and it's not even great at its one trick. Battery life is poor and comfort scores are low. Unless you're dead-set on this specific form factor, your money is better spent elsewhere.
Overview
The Sennheiser RS 120-W is a dedicated wireless headset for your TV. It's built for one job: to get sound from your screen to your ears without wires, and it does that with a simple plug-and-play setup.
It's not trying to be your gym buddy or your office call headset. This is a single-purpose device for watching TV or listening to music at home, and it leans heavily on Sennheiser's reputation for straightforward, decent audio.
Performance
The sound quality is about average for this type of product, landing in the middle of the pack. It's fine for dialogue and general TV watching, but don't expect the rich, detailed audio Sennheiser is famous for in its higher-end gear. The battery life is a real weak spot, offering just 20 hours where many competitors last days or even weeks on a charge. On the plus side, the 60-meter range is solid, and the digital transmission means you won't hear any static.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong sound (91th percentile) 91th
- Strong connectivity (67th percentile) 67th
Cons
- Below average comfort (3th percentile) 3th
- Below average social proof (10th percentile) 10th
- Below average anc (34th percentile) 34th
Specifications
Full Specifications
Design
| Weight | 0.9 kg / 2.0 lbs |
Audio
| Codecs | LC3 |
Connectivity
| Wireless | Yes |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 |
Earbud Battery
| Battery Life | 20 |
Microphone
| Microphone | Yes |
Value & Pricing
At $130 to $180, it's not cheap for a TV-only headset. You're paying a bit for the Sennheiser name on a product that performs like a budget option in key areas like battery and comfort. If your main goal is to avoid wires for under $100, there are better values. This feels like you're buying the brand more than the performance.
Price History
vs Competition
Stacked against true wireless earbuds like the Sony WF-1000XM5 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra, the RS 120-W loses badly on features, portability, and sound quality. Even compared to other TV headphones, its battery life and comfort are lagging. The Technics EAH-AZ80, while more expensive, is a vastly more capable all-rounder. This Sennheiser only makes sense if you absolutely want an over-ear design dedicated solely to your TV and nothing else.
| Spec | Sennheiser TV Listener RS 120-W | Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Bose QuietComfort Ultra True Wireless | Technics EAH-AZ80 Technics EAH-AZ80 Noise-Canceling True Wireless | Apple AirPods Apple - AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation - | Soundcore Liberty Soundcore by Anker Liberty 5 True Wireless | JBL Tune JBL - Tune Buds 2 True Wireless Noise Cancelling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | - | In-Ear | In-Ear | in-ear | In-Ear | in-ear |
| Driver Type | - | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Wireless | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Active Noise Cancellation | - | true | true | true | true | true |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.4 | 5.3 |
| Battery Life Hours | 20 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 10 |
| Case Battery Hours | - | 18 | 16 | 25 | 24 | 30 |
| Water Resistance | - | IPX4 | IPX4 | Water-Resistant | IP55 | Water-Resistant |
| Multipoint | - | true | true | true | true | true |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Anc | Mic | Build | Sound | Battery | Comfort | Connectivity | Social Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sennheiser TV Listener RS 120-W | 34 | 64 | 36.8 | 90.5 | 44.8 | 2.6 | 67.1 | 10.2 |
| Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds QuietComfort Ultra True Wireless Noise-Canceling Earbuds 2nd Gen Compare | 96.1 | 87.8 | 91.2 | 99.2 | 69.2 | 93.2 | 98.5 | 93 |
| Technics EAH-AZ80 Noise-Canceling True Wireless In-Ear Compare | 82.6 | 99.9 | 91.2 | 98.4 | 69.2 | 93.2 | 98.5 | 93 |
| Apple AirPods Noise-Canceling Compare | 96.1 | 87.8 | 81.4 | 91.9 | 91 | 93.2 | 97.7 | 98.4 |
| Soundcore Liberty by Anker 5 True Wireless Noise-Canceling Compare | 98.7 | 98.9 | 95.9 | 95.3 | 93.3 | 93.2 | 98.5 | 99.6 |
| JBL Tune Tune Buds 2 True Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds 2025 Compare | 96.1 | 95.3 | 81.4 | 93.6 | 90.6 | 93.2 | 95.8 | 93 |
Common Questions
Q: How is the comfort for long TV sessions?
Our data shows comfort is a major weak point, scoring in the bottom 4th percentile. For a product designed for long sessions, that's a real concern.
Q: Can I use these for phone calls or with my computer?
Technically yes, it has a mic and Bluetooth 5.2, but it's not designed for it. For calls or PC use, dedicated headsets or earbuds will perform much better.
Q: Is the sound quality good for movies and music?
The sound quality is about average. It's fine for TV dialogue, but don't expect cinematic bass or detailed highs. The 'Music' mode helps a little, but it's not a strength.
Who Should Skip This
Skip this if you want a versatile headset. If you need something for travel, the gym, work calls, or even serious music listening, this isn't it. Its poor battery and single-use design make it a niche product at a not-so-niche price.
Verdict
Buy this only if you have a very specific need: a simple, over-ear wireless headset for your TV and you don't care about battery life or top-tier comfort. For literally any other use—gaming, travel, phone calls, music on the go—you should look at a pair of modern wireless earbuds or headphones instead.