This AuraCast receiver is the home theater upgrade I didn’t know I needed — but it has one big problem

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Sennheiser’s latest release may not be what I expected from the company this year, but it has everything I couldn’t ask for. RS275 TV Headphone Bundle Indoors and outdoors AuraCast opens up a world of capabilities, bringing real-world applications to life in a new package.

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If you live in a shared space, whether it’s a shared room, apartment building, or home where watching your TV might disturb others, the RS275 bundle is an easy way to connect a pair of headphones to your TV. If you’ve invested in a whole-home theater ecosystem from a specific brand, you won’t get the same flexibility with the BTA1 transmitter.

The RS275 bundle includes HDR275 headphones, BTA1 transmitter, power and audio cables, and a headphone stand. Here’s what you should know before buying it.

auracast is the winner

Sennheiser’s HDR275 headphones are solid, but the BTA1 transmitter is the nugget of this bundle. It includes all the wiring needed 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 connects 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 the 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 no issues with audio sync. Then I queued up “Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga” on my TV and there was no noticeable lag. The BTA1’s optical audio connection doesn’t support Dolby Atmos, but you can configure the transmitter to reproduce Sennheiser’s virtual surround sound.

To me, it seemed too digitalized and merely an extension of the soundstage, rather than replicating the movement and object placement expected from Dolby Atmos.

The amazing thing about the BTA1 is that you can connect a series of Auracast-enabled receivers to it. Buying it now will give you access to many more capable devices that will be released in the future. Let’s 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 Auracast receiver speakers in your kitchen, and still play the audio through your TV’s speakers or your connected soundbar. With this technology, consumers who are not interested in a specific company’s home theater options can avoid brand lock-in and create a rear speaker from two Auracast-enabled Bluetooth speakers, even if they are from different manufacturers.

One thing I like 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 find and connect to broadcasts, a feature that Apple doesn’t natively integrate into its smartphones.

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So, I can connect the HDR275 to my iPhone and use the Sennheiser app to connect the headphones to other Auracast broadcasts. However, other Auracast-enabled headphones, such as my Sony WH-1000XM6, are required to connect to the BTA1 using my Google Pixel 9 Pro, which has native Auracast support.

Headphones seem like an afterthought

The HDR 275 introduce a new design to Sennheiser’s HDR lineup, following the design choices of the company’s Accentum over-ear consumer headphones. With this design comes smaller earcups and a tighter clamping force, although the HDR275 have very thick ear pads that would be conducive to hours of 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 the given-band equalizer. The app also lets you manage the headphones’ connection to different Bluetooth devices and the Auracast stream, and you can toggle the transparency level for ambient noise pass-through.

Sennheiser’s HDR 275 isn’t comfortable enough for me to watch an entire movie, let alone an entire season of “90 Day Fiancé” 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 more. a list Other headphones and earbuds to look for instead.

What’s more, those headphones are more wont to perform better outdoors, so you can maximize their features without buying another pair of headphones.

ZDNET’s shopping advice

If you’re looking for a better way to watch TV privately at home than connecting headphones to a TV via an unreliable, low-quality traditional Bluetooth connection, bta1 A solid option. In addition to connecting your TV to an unlimited number of Auracast-enabled headphones, you can get even more flexibility by connecting the BTA1 to an unlimited number of Auracast-enabled Bluetooth speakers that you already own.

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If you’ve worn and enjoyed Sennheiser’s Accentum or Accentum Plus headphones, you get this. hdr 275 Equally enjoyable. If you’re looking for a pair of headphones with a roomy, comfortable fit, skip the HDR275 and find a more comfortable Auracast-enabled pair (if you have a compatible smartphone).

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