Sennheiser RS 220 review

Neat wireless solution with great sound quality Tested at £350

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

A very neat wireless solution with great sound quality

Pros

  • +

    Transmitter doubles as charging dock

  • +

    digital and analogue inputs

  • +

    clear sound

Cons

  • -

    Still not a match for wired options

  • -

    occasional slight crackles

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

Listening through headphones can be untidy. Who among us hasn’t had our enjoyment interrupted by a pet, child or significant other getting tangled in the cables strung between system and sofa?

There are plenty of wireless cans out there, of course, but they always seem to involve too much in the way of sonic sacrifice.

Well, Sennheiser certainly thinks it’s solved that particular problem with the RS 220s which, it claims, boast audiophile sound quality thanks to uncompressed 2.4GHz wireless transmission between the transmitter – which has optical, coaxial and analogue inputs and also acts as a neat charging dock – and the headphones.

Sennheiser RS 220: Sound quality
It largely works a treat, with tracks emerging from the firm but comfortable earcups in impressively clear, tonally balanced style. The soundstage is wide, capable of strong stereo focus and separation of different instruments and musical strands, yet everything still hangs together rather well.

Although there’s little of the background hiss you might expect from wireless headphones, we did experience the odd crackle, and it’s fair to say that £350 spent on wired headphones can result in greater excitement.

Still, the RS 220s involve far less sacrifice than the majority of wireless solutions, so if it’s cable-free home listening you’re after they’re absolutely worth an audition.

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What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.


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