This Bluetooth Auracast receiver made me take my home theater setup much more seriously

Sennheiser RS 275 TV Headphones bundle

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• The RS 275 TV Headphones bundle is available for $300.
• The BTA1 transmitter offers endless Auracast flexibility, provided you have a compatible smartphone.
• The HDR 275 headphones provide an Auracast gateway for iOS users, but their tight fit is a turn-off.

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Sennheiser’s latest release might not be what I expected from the company this year, but it’s everything I didn’t know I needed. The RS 275 TV Headphones bundle opens a world of Auracast capabilities inside and outside of the home, bringing real-world application to life in a fresh package.

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If you live in a shared space, whether that be a shared room, apartment building, or house where your TV-watching could disturb others, the RS 275 bundle is a simple way to connect a pair of headphones to your TV. If you’ve invested in a specific brand’s whole-home theater ecosystem, you won’t find as much flexibility with the BTA1 transmitter. 

The RS 275 bundle includes the HDR 275 headphones, the BTA1 transmitter, power and audio cables, and a headphones stand. Here’s what you should know before you buy it.

Auracast is a winner

Sennheiser’s HDR 275 headphones are solid, but the BTA1 transmitter is the golden nugget of this bundle. It includes all the wiring you need to connect the transmitter to your TV, and your TV powers the BTA1, so you don’t need an additional power source.

Once the BTA1 is connected to your TV’s audio port (I went with Optical), it can automatically detect which source you’re watching. So, if you’re watching Netflix and then turn on your Xbox connected to an HDMI port, the transmitter will automatically send the Xbox’s audio without you having to press any buttons.

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I watched “WWE Unreal” on Netflix and had absolutely no issues with audio sync. I then queued up “Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga” on my TV and had no noticeable lag. An Optical audio connection to the BTA1 doesn’t support Dolby Atmos, but you can configure the transmitter to reproduce Sennheiser’s Virtual Surround Sound. 

To me, it sounded very digitized and simply an expansion of the soundstage, rather than replicating the movement and object placement you expect from Dolby Atmos.

The wondrous thing about the BTA1 is that you can connect an assortment of Auracast-enabled receivers to it. Purchasing it now will give you access to several more enabled devices that will be released in the future. Say you’re in the kitchen and don’t want to wear headphones, but want to hear your TV better. 

You can plug the BTA1 into your TV and stream the TV’s audio to an Auracast receiver speaker in your kitchen, and still play audio through your TV’s speakers or your connected soundbar. With this technology, consumers who aren’t interested in any specific company’s home theater options can avoid brand lock-in and create rear speakers from two Auracast-enabled Bluetooth speakers, even if they’re from different manufacturers.

One thing I loved about Sennheiser’s approach to Auracast is that it’s a feature that can be toggled in the Sennheiser Smart Control Plus app. This way, the app lets me use my iPhone as an Auracast assistant to search for and connect to broadcasts, a feature Apple doesn’t natively integrate into its smartphones. 

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So, I can connect the HDR 275 to my iPhone and use the Sennheiser app to connect the headphones to other Auracast broadcasts. However, connecting other Auracast-enabled headphones, such as my Sony WH-1000XM6, to the BTA1 required using my Google Pixel 9 Pro, which has native Auracast support.

The headphones feel like an afterthought

The HDR 275 sport a redesign for Sennheiser’s HDR lineup, following the design choices of the company’s Accentum over-ear consumer headphones. With this design come smaller earcups and a tighter clamping force, though the HDR 275 have very thick ear pads that would be conducive to hours-long wear, if not for their other fit issues.

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You can adjust the HDR 275’s EQ settings in the app; you can choose from presets, create a preset with guidance, or toggle a give-band equalizer. The app also lets you manage the headphones’ connection to individual Bluetooth devices and Auracast streams, and you can toggle transparency levels for ambient noise pass-through.

Sennheiser’s HDR 275 simply aren’t comfortable enough for me to get through an entire movie, let alone binge-watch a whole season of “90 Day Fiance” in one night. However, with the BTA1 and a compatible smartphone, you can use the Sony WH-1000XM5, WH-100XM6, Google Pixel Buds Pro 2, JBL Tour Pro 3, and a list of other headphones and earbuds to watch instead. 

Even more, those headphones are more attuned to performing better outside of the house, so you can maximize their features without buying another pair of headphones. 

ZDNET’s buying advice

If you’re looking for a better way to privately watch TV at home than connecting headphones to a TV via an unreliable, low-quality traditional Bluetooth connection, the BTA1 is a solid option. Aside from connecting your TV to an unlimited number of Auracast-enabled headphones, you can gain more flexibility by connecting the BTA1 to an unlimited number of Auracast-enabled Bluetooth speakers you may already own.

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If you’ve worn and enjoy the fit of Sennheiser’s Accentum or Accentum Plus headphones, you’ll find the HDR 275 equally enjoyable. If you’re looking for a pair of headphones with a roomy, relaxed fit, skip the HDR 275 and find a more comfortable Auracast-enabled pair (if you have a compatible smartphone).

If you’re locked into an expansive, multi-room home theater relationship with Sonos or Bose, and own the companies’ headphones for private listening, you’ll find much less flexibility with the BTA1 transmitter.