Review: Roundup: Mobile 'Phones

Are your neighbors screaming at you to turn down Gladiator ... again?! Plug into a pair of wireless home-theater headphones. They let you crank up the Roman blood sport without getting the thumbs-down from anybody.

Roundup: Mobile ‘Phones

Learn How We Rate ##### Wired

Headset recharges in its cradle. Did we mention how wearable these are? Even after a marathon session, we had zero fatigue or swamp-ear. Included optical audio cable enables the best possible sound.

Roundup:

• 1/10A complete failure in every way
• 2/10Sad, really
• 3/10Serious flaws; proceed with caution
• 4/10Downsides outweigh upsides
• 5/10Recommended with reservations
• 6/10Solid with some issues
• 7/10Very good, but not quite great
• 8/10Excellent, with room to kvetch
• 9/10Nearly flawless
• 10/10Metaphysical perfection

1. Pioneer SE-DIR800C

These Pioneer 'phones have Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround effects to make you think there are five speakers inside your head. Not as painful as you might imagine: It really does sound like there are five separate sound sources, and tripping out on that was enough to keep us engaged. These are better suited to movies than music, though: If you stray more than 26 feet from the transmitter — like if you dance into a different room — the normally sharp sound loses its edge.

2. Sony MDR-DS3000

These sleek earmuffs are like a hug for your head — by far the most comfortable pair here. Alas, the DS3000s also have the worst range: Infrared signal requires line of sight and makes it only about 20 feet before degrading. The surround sound was good but no aural nirvana. The fit was so comfortable, though, we didn't mind.

3. Acoustic Research AWD210

At 200 bucks retail, the AWD210s are a serious bargain (and we found 'em for just over $100 on Amazon). Sound quality is nothing to w00t about — great bass, but range is lacking. The leather-covered headband and supple ear pads are comfy, but they don't sit on your head as naturally as the others, making them feel heavy after a while. The poor fit also let outside noise leak in.

WIRED Cheap! Volume and power controls on the left earpiece. Headphones charge with an AC adapter (no batteries required).

TIRED Plastic earphone casing feels flimsy. Some electronic interference; probably a good idea to keep your cell phone in a different room. Random dead zones when you move away from the transmitter.

$199, acoustic-research.com

4. TDK WR700

Road trip? Take the WR700s with you. Their compact size and the choice of 3.5- or 6.3-mm jacks means you can make any audio source wireless. Buy another pair, switch on Multi-User mode, and share sound with a friend. With Kleer transmission technology, they'll beam CD-quality streams. But even with a lossless source, the sound was tinny. And because the ear pads are smallish, noise isolation was only so-so — you shouldn't have to tell roommates to keep it down when you're the one blasting a movie.

WIRED Mini and standard stereo jacks. Volume buttons on right earpiece. Best range in test.

TIRED Transmitter just a box with a plug — a few inches of cord would make it infinitely easier to hook up. BYO batteries — two AAAs for the headphones, two for the dongle.

$249, tdk.com