Sennheiser Bows Earbud-Transmitter Set for Boosting TV Dialogue

Sennheiser introduced a transmitter-earbud combo designed to boost volume and dialogue clarity when connected to a television. TV Clear ($399) true wireless earbuds have five speech clarity levels, with up to 20 decibels of high-frequency amplification, to allow users to listen to TV audio without disturbing others, the company emailed Tuesday. Users can set a preferred volume level on the earbuds separately from that of the TV, while others in the room listen at a volume that’s comfortable for them, the company said. An ambient awareness mode allows users to hear ambient noise and conversation in the room. It can be switched off for more privacy. The transmitter’s low latency streaming technology keeps audio and video in sync, Sennheiser said. An app guides users through setup and can be used to customize sound; it also has a “find my earbuds” feature. Battery life is given as 15 hours on a charge when used with the transmitter; the supplied charging case adds 22 hours of battery life. TV Clear links to a TV with the transmitter via an optical or audio output and can also connect to a smartphone, PC or tablet via Bluetooth. The TV’s audio output format has to be set to PCM or stereo, not Dolby, Sennheiser said. One transmitter can be paired with an unlimited number of earbuds.