The best headphones for TV let you enjoy your favorite shows and movies with immersive sound – without the need for an extravagant home theater setup. Also tremendously useful for when you’re watching late night TV without disturbing others, sharing a living space, or streaming content on your phone or laptop, the right headphones can make all the difference.
Every pair of headphones in this guide has been thoroughly tested by our expert team, ensuring they deliver top-tier audio performance for TV viewing. Our hands-on reviews focus on real-world use, so you can trust these recommendations to provide the best sound quality, comfort, and reliability.
Although specialist TV headphones with optical connections are still available, modern Bluetooth-equipped TVs have made the best wireless headphones and best wireless earbuds a more convenient option. Some models even include features designed to enhance compatibility with certain TV technologies, which we highlight in our picks.
With more people streaming on multiple devices, versatility is key – so we’ve selected headphones that work just as well for commuting, office use, and even workouts as they do for TV viewing. Whether you're catching up on shows, watching movies, or tuning in to live sports, these headphones offer the perfect balance of performance and flexibility.
I've been testing and reporting on cutting-edge audio products since 2012, and have covered the introduction and rise of spatial audio and Dolby Atmos in headphones. I've based this list on the experience of our reviewers when testing these headphones with movies and TV shows – and I personally use the Sonos Ace with my Sonos Arc soundbar in my living room, and the AirPods Pro 2 with my Apple TV 4K in my bedroom, so these reflect my own choices.
September 3, 2026
Added the Apple AirPods Pro 3 to our 'best for Apple TV 4K' category, as well as the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro to our 'best for Samsung TVs' category.
The best headphones for watching TV
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The best headphones for TV overall
When Sonos released its first pair of headphones, the Sonos Ace, we were disappointed they didn't live up to top rivals for playing music. In our review we wrote: "They sound good, but they're surprisingly constrained while also being quite aggressive, and this can take the edge off their rich bass and detail at times." But when it comes to watching TV and movies? That's a totally different matter.
They're perfect for Dolby Atmos movies, delivering powerful, clear, cinematic sound over Bluetooth or connected to a Sonos Arc. The noise cancellation isn't quite best-in-class, but it's still excellent. In our review, we wrote, "Noise cancellation here is seriously effective, suppressing both low and high frequency sounds drastically and leaving the sound as the star."
Sonos has packed high-end features into these headphones, including excellent noise cancellation, aptX and USB-C lossless audio support, and head-tracked spatial audio using a Dolby-designed system. They're designed to work smoothly with Sonos soundbars as well as any Bluetooth source: all you need to do is push a button on the headphones when at home to switch sound from your soundbar to your headphones. Having said that, they'll provide Dolby Atmos support from any Bluetooth device that decodes the format (which includes iPhones and Samsung phones) and outputs it over Bluetooth.
Reviews are mixed on comfort. Some people find the earcups incredibly soft and light to wear, but our reviewer said they pressed on their glasses too much, so they weren't ideal for extended wear. Design-wise, we described them as "simple, elegant and thoughtful" in our review and deserving of their premium price tag.
If you have a Sonos Arc soundbar, you need these headphones. Everyone else should consider them as they perform incredibly well. But if you've got a specific need, do take a look at the other options in this guide first as the Sonos Ace are great but won't be perfect for everyone, and they're very expensive.
Read our full Sonos Ace review
The best spatial audio earbuds for TV
If you want to listen to your TV with a pair of the best true wireless earbuds, we highly recommend the Bose QuietComfort Ultra. When we first reviewed these buds, we were a little let down by their similarity to the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 that came before them. But, like the Sonos Ace above, that's when we mostly considered music and sound. It's hard to beat these buds when it comes to watching movies and TV.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra stand out for their combination of excellent noise cancellation, which we described as "top of the class" and "most effective you'll find in a set of earbuds" in our review. Additionally, Bose's own built-in spatial audio tech, which we couldn't have rated more highly during testing, adds an immersive audio experience. We described this new tech as: "truly device-agnostic, head-turning, belly-laughter-inducing joy where musical strands within tracks present themselves either all around you, or slightly in front of your temples, depending on which Mode you select."
They didn't have multi-point pairing at launch, but it's been added via an update, which is useful for switching between your TV and phone. As long as your TV has Bluetooth, you can expect fantastic and highly immersive spatial audio from any source, making these buds a versatile choice for any TV setup.
The design of these buds is fairly standard and similar to the Bose designs that have come before them. During our testing, we commented that they may feel bulky if you have smaller ears. But to combat this, they come with three silicone tips to choose from for the most snug fit and three silicone bands to fit around the drivers with different-sized fins to keep them in place within your ear. They're a very premium price, but you'll hear why when you use them.
Want premium sound for less? Check out our Bose coupons for the best deals on headphones, speakers, and audio gear.
Read our full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds review
The best cheap headphones for TV
If you're on a budget, you can still get a good listening experience from headphones that will play nicely with TV audio. The Sony WH-CH720N are our top cheap pick as they pack in great audio finesse and smart features for the price.
These cheap Sony headphones deliver a solid audio balance. In our review, we wrote: "Bass is warm but level-headed, mid-range is robust, and individual instruments stand out within it well, and treble has plenty of clarity to make the little details pop." Combine this audio performance with quality ANC, which isn't the best but is good for the price, and you've got headphones that make the sound in movies and TV shows pop, and serve up good dialogue clarity.
It's the same story for features. There's much more here than you'd expect for the price, including support for 360 Reality Audio and Sony's DSEE upscaling of mediocre-quality tracks, which we said in our review probably contributes to the detailed sound these headphones serve up. There's also multipoint pairing, Bluetooth 5.2, a USB-C port for charging, and a 3.5mm jack with a good-length cable in the box.
While they may not exude the premium feel of higher-end headphones, the Sony WH-CH720N boast a standard over-ear design that we found to be both comfortable and lightweight during our testing, weighing in at a mere 192g / 6.8oz. The buttons are also conveniently placed for easy access.
If you can afford to spend more you will find a more premium experience from Sony's other over-ear headphones, like the Sony WH-1000XM4, or the Sonos Ace higher up in this list. But if you really can't stretch your budget, you'll be happy with the good sound, effective noise cancelling and smart features that make them well-suited to TV and movies.
Read our full Sony WH-CH720N review
The best headphones for Samsung TVs
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro are the first Samsung earbuds we've tested that feel like a proper extension of your setup, if it revolves around a Samsung TV, of course. In our review, the Buds 4 Pro consistently delivered excellent sound quality and some of the most effective noise cancellation we’ve experienced in a pair of wireless earbuds, period. Dialogues are crisp, and background distractions fade, making these a natural fit for late-night movie marathons or immersive drama binges.
Where the Buds 4 Pro really pull ahead is in their ecosystem integration. Compared to the Sonos Ace, which stands out for cinematic features like Dolby Atmos and dedicated soundbar handoff, the Buds 4 Pro don’t pack headline surround tricks — but they do offer a smoother, more seamless TV audio experience if you’re already in that Samsung space.
Part of what makes the listening experience so strong is the hardware; each earbud houses both a tweeter and a woofer, each with its own amplifier. This dual-driver design pays off in layered, detailed audio that preserves both cinematic boom and subtle dialogue. The move to Bluetooth 6.1 also means more reliable connections; handy for switching between your TV and phone without signal hiccups, and for keeping audio in sync with fast-paced action.
Battery life simply isn't an issue here, either. We measured a total of 30 hours of playback with the charging case during typical use, enough to get you through a whole week of nightly shows without scrambling for the charger. For long movie nights or extended streaming sessions, that kind of staying power is a genuine plus.
However, there’s a catch: while the Buds 4 Pro sound good with any device, the truly outstanding quality is unlocked only when paired with Samsung phones or TVs. If you’re not already bought into the Samsung family, you’ll still get solid performance, but the wow factor is diminished.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro review
The best headphones for Apple TV 4K
If you want earbuds that feel truly at home with your Apple TV 4K, the AirPods Pro 3 deliver a level of seamlessness that’s hard to beat, perhaps understandably so. Pairing is almost instant, and everything — from switching sources to activating TV-focused features — just works more smoothly than with third-party options. That brand-centric integration alone makes them a clear top choice for anyone already deep in the Apple ecosystem.
It’s not just about ease of connectivity. In our testing, the AirPods Pro 3 impressed us with dynamic head-tracking spatial audio and genuinely excellent active noise cancellation. The combination makes movie nights feel immersive, drawing out atmospheric effects and keeping dialogue clear even in busier environments. Spatial audio in particular gives films a sense of space that none-Apple alternatives just can't replicate on Apple TV 4K.
Apple has also reworked the AirPods Pro 3’s shape for a more secure and comfortable fit, something we noticed and appreciated across our longer sessions. They stayed put even when we moved between rooms, and the lightweight design means you can relax for hours without fatigue.
It's not all ideal, though, as battery life remains a struggle point for Apple's line-up of buds. With noise cancelling enabled, a single charge lasted about 5-6 hours. That’s enough for most movies or a few episodes, sure, but it's hardly class-leading with even much cheaper pairs handily beating the AirPods Pro 3 here.
Against rivals, the AirPods Pro 3 hold their ground with strong ANC and spatial audio, but do unfortunately miss out on some high-end features you’ll find in, say, the Sonos Ace, such as aptX and USB-C lossless audio.
We used the AirPods Pro 3 everywhere from our living room to noisy train rides, and as both a musical companion and a live translation tool, they eased our journey no end. If you're big-time into the Apple space, these are the buds you’ll want for easy, immersive TV and movie listening. If you’re not an Apple TV 4K user, though, you may want to check our other picks for a better platform fit.
Read our full AirPods Pro 3 review
The best headphones for TV gaming
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite, first releasing in late 2025, is currently the ultimate choice when it comes to the best headphones for TV if you've gaming in mind. But don't just take it from me. In his review, TechRadar Gaming's Rob Dwiar named it the "most complete gaming headset money can buy" and "the best gaming headset I have ever tested."
That's a heck of a lot of praise, and you'd hope so given the admittedly dizzying sticker price of $599.99 / £599.99 / AU$1,349. The Arctis Nova Elite certainly isn't cheap, but with sound quality this good and a feature set this packed, it's easy to see why SteelSeries aimed for the stars here. And you should, too.
Right now, the Arctis Nova Elite is simply the final word in immersive gaming audio. Notably, it's the first certified hi-res audio-compatible gaming headset out there, teaming beautifully with Dolby Atmos and PS5's Tempest 3D Audio. Amazing for your favorite RPG soundtrack, game-changing for spatial awareness in online multiplayer matches.
Another reason I've picked the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite as our best gaming choice for TV is its multiplatform connectivity options. The headset comes with an awesome DAC in the box, on which you can customize several audio features as well as adjust platform connectivity. Whether you're on PS5, Xbox, or Switch consoles, there's no worries here.
Battery life is a big win, too. At 60 hours, it's perhaps not reaching the heights of headphones tailor-made for audiophile listening, but it's likely more than enough to see you through a week or two, maybe more. Two hot-swappable batteries are also included, so if one's running low, you can change them around and keep your most immersive gaming sessions going.
Read our full SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite review
How to choose the best headphones for TV
How can I listen to TV with wired headphones?
While the headphones in this guide are wireless, you can watch TV using wired headphones. The easiest way to do this is to plug them directly into your TV's 3.5mm audio input (though you will need a pair of cans with a long cable to do this).
If your TV doesn't have a 3.5mm input, you could buy an RCA-3.5mm adaptor and hook the headphones up to the TV's stereo RCA outputs.
Can I use AirPods with my TV?
Yes, you can using Bluetooth, but it's even easier if you have an Apple TV 4K streaming device. The AirPods 3, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods Max 2 are optimized to work with other Apple devices, and Apple TV models are no exception. They even come with spatial audio support for an immersive, cinematic sound.
How we test the best headphones for TV
Our methodology: These headphones have all been tested by our reviewers using our standard methodology, in which we test them for music quality, we push their battery life, we see how their noise cancellation stands up to domestic or external sounds, and we test their many smart features. You can read more about this in our guide to how we test earbuds at TechRadar.
Videos: Part of our testing of headphones and earbuds involves seeing how they handle videos, including dialogue in movies and TV, because a set of headphones that are well-balanced for music can end up feeling much less clear for movies where bass may overwhelm speech, for example.
Comfort: All headphones and earbuds need to be comfortable, but when testing the best headphones for watching TV, they need to be able to handle long sessions, slouching on the sofa and even watching laying down. This requires a different sort of comfort level to a pair of buds you'd be wearing at the office or to the gym. So we made sure we tested these headphones in all sorts of viewing scenarios.
Immersive support: We also test specific immersive features, like spatial audio, with the specific devices they're intended to work with, if they're limited, or with more general devices if they're not. We also ensured we tested these features with a range of TV shows and movies.
Ecosystem: When testing the best headphones for TV, we had to keep ecosystem in mind. This means how well the headphones integrate with other devices, like a TV, streaming stick, soundbar of phone. Headphones that are made by the same brand or ecosystem as your TV could offer more enhanced features, like low latency modes or seamless pairing, things that improve the listening experience.
Specific TV testing: And yes, we've used our experience with these devices for TV viewing specifically to select this guide – if you look at our guides to the best headphones or best earbuds overall, you'll see they're quite different because we're prioritizing different elements. We're getting specific here, and this list is based on that testing experience.
Previous updates updates to the best headphones for TV
April 28, 2026
Refreshed the introduction. Added the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite headset under a new category: 'best for gaming'.
February 21, 2025
Rewrote the introduction. Added a gallery of images to each entry so readers get a better look at all of our recommendations. Mentioned the Samsung Buds 3 Pro in our Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro entry – making it clear these aren't the latest from the brand, but we still recommend them.
