Headphones Untangled

Tied in a knot with your ICE system? Get a set of wireless headphones. We test the best

Auto Express Car Reviews

July 2006

If you have children to entertain on long journeys, you’ll probably have some form of multimedia in the back of the car – whether it be a DVD player or video games console.

But many systems come with wired headphones which, apart from being distinctly 20th century, can easily be turned into a dense forest of cables wrapped around your youngster’s arms and legs – to the detriment of both listeners and equipment.

The latest technology can tidy all this up. Infra-red (IR) headphones need no wires, as the sound information is sent along in beams to receivers in the listening device. If you have a DVD player which already has an IR transmitter – check for a red translucent plastic square – all you need are the headsets. If not, you can buy a separate transmitter, which requires only a power and earth connection.

You can input anything with standard stereo phono plugs. If you have more than one media source (music from the CD player, as well as the DVD), use a dual-channel transmitter with dual-channel headphones, so listeners can switch from one to the other.

The transmitter sends IR in straight lines, so positioning is important – a central location is essential, ideally roof-mounted.

Verdict

Alpine’s SHS-N252 is an all-in-one solution to two-channel, back-seat, high-quality listening and, with a price that makes sense, is the clear winner. The C-KO IR-H688-2A would be a decent substitute for those who only need one set, or already have the infra-red transmitter in their player.
For single-channel use, we would be tempted by the clever surround sound produced by the C-KO IR5.1 headphones – but the Blaupunkt IVHS-01 gets the nod thanks to its conventional design and lower price.