Acoustic Research AW791 Wireless Surround Headphones (Silver)

by Acoustic Research

Product Details

• Item Weight: 5 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005R5CC
• Item model number: AW791
• Batteries: 3 AAA batteries required. (included)
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: February 26, 2002

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Enjoy a theater-like acoustic environment through a pair of AW791 Wireless Surround Sound headphones. AR's Surround Sound Wireless headphones incorporate a Dolby Digital processor and Surround Sound headphone technology to create an acoustic environment that is virtually identical to that of a movie theater or a live musical performance. AR's new, patented 900MHz technology achieves a greater that 70dB signal-to-noise ratio, allowing the headphones to deliver an ultra-quiet performance. This "silence" is essential in conveying the full impact of movie soundtracks - including subtle background effects - that can be presented with the most accurate imaging and realism.

Designed for the ultimate in extended-wear comfort, these headphones feature angled, swiveling ear cups and self-adjusting headband to achieve the best possible fit. Oversized ear pads gently cushion the outer ears for the continuous wearing ease that is essential when watching a long movie.

Product Description

Creates a surround sound environment virtually identical to a movie theater or live music performance. Transmits through walls/floors, up to 300'. Includes transmitter, optical cable, and rechargeable NiMH batteries.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Qualified Good, September 3, 2005

By 

Denna (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Acoustic Research AW791 Wireless Surround Headphones (Silver) (Electronics)

Below is a review of the Acoustic Research AW791 headphones. Overall, the headphones deserve 3.5 stars.


The GOOD

1) Tremendous bass

If you have a home theater system and you use the headphones during quiet hours, you'll be constantly pulling the headphones off to make sure your subwoofer wasn't accidently turned on. The bass goes that low.

2) The audio cables are not fixed to the transmitter

This is particularly useful if you want to use longer or better quality cables. However, given the limitations of using RF transmission, it's doubtful that better quality cables would improve the sound quality.


The NEUTRAL

1) Sound clarity

One of the biggest complaints about RF headphones has to do with static.

However, under certain conditions, this can be the fault of the audio source, not the headphones.

If you're using a receiver or any device that can increase the volume of the audio, you can almost eliminate the static by increasing the volume on the audio source and lowering the volume on the headphones.

This is presuming the audio source doesn't distort the audio signal when you use it to increase the volume.

When you increase the volume on the headphones, you're amplifying both the audio signal and static.

If you're using a line-out connection from the audio source to the transmitter, you're stuck with increasing the volume on the headphones. On my Denon 2803 receiver, the headphones are connected to the Optical OUT jack. Unfortunately, this receiver doesn't let you increase the volume on the Optical OUT jack. As a result, the headphones will always be outputting static during movies with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound.

2) The surround sound feature doesn't seem to make a difference on Dolby Pro-Logic or Digital 5.1 recorded content

I couldn't tell when it was on or off when watching a movie like Chronicles of Riddick.


The BAD

1) Acoustic Research included 550 mAh AAA batteries.

When watching movies recorded in Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, the headphones would drop the audio whenever the audio elevated to a high level. Perhaps the batteries are unable provide enough power for high volumes.

The solution was to replace the included batteries with Energizer 850 mAh AAA batteries. With these batteries, you can really crank up the volume. Also, you can recharge these batteries in minutes rather than waiting several hours. And as result, you don't have to return the headphones to the transmitter stand - unless you want to.

2) No audio level control to increase the volume when the audio source cannot

On my Denon 2803 receiver, the Opt.-4 OUT is not amplified. So if you want to listen to movies recorded in Dolby Digital 5.1, you have to use the volume control on the headphones. However, this type of volume control amplifies everything - audio and static.

Having said all this, I would give the headphones 3.5 stars.

(...)

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Backgroud "Hiss" ruins the experience, November 17, 2002

By 

John Mason (Chantilly, VA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Acoustic Research AW791 Wireless Surround Headphones (Silver) (Electronics)

I have been shopping for wireless headphones to watch t.v.
for awhile and I was very excited to try these out.
After connecting them to the Digitical Optical Output on my
receiver I was ready to be blown away! What a dissapointment.

During the dialog of a movie there was a constant "hiss" in the backgroud and the max. volume is not that high. So, if you want to crank up the volume while watching a music or movie DVD movie you will be disappointed.

The one positive is that when watching a movie, if they are not talking and it is an action scene, the sound is very good.
But, as soon as they began to speak the "hiss" happens again.

Do not buy these, buy Sennheisers HD-65. They don't have the constant "hiss" and the max. volume is much higher.

Trust me, I tried half a dozen wireless models.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Wireless Headphones for Television!, February 1, 2006

By 

jb (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Acoustic Research AW791 Wireless Surround Headphones (Silver) (Electronics)

More than a decade ago, my wife and I shared a tiny house--less than 700 square feet. Since I like to watch TV while I work at home, our marriage was seriously strained until I discovered wireless headphones.

In ten years, I have tried them all--and ARs are without doubt the best quality, the best sound, the most durable and long-lasting. Other headphones invariably died after a few months: they cracked, burned out (one or both sides), or otherwise failed.

The ARs are exceptionally reliable. At 900 MHZ, you can leave the room, go outside, get the mail, even walk halfway down the block--and you still hear the TV. It's great! And the sound is addicting--making it hard to watch regular TV again without them. The sound quality is just so rich. I have even been known to listen to the news while I cut the grass! [One curious item: the 900 MHZ headphones occasionally pick up neighborhood wireless phones. . . In our case, I warned the neighbor to change her channel, but you might say this is an added unadvertised feature.]

I love everything about this product except one irksome shortcoming: the rechargeable batteries recharge by being placed on the set, where you plug the headphones into a special charger. Twice in the past, this charger has shorted out my headphones--requiring replacement. Luckily, the warranty and service are good--and each time I got a brand new pair of headphones.

The lesson? Best to rely on your own set of 3AAA batteries, or recharge externally from the headphones. And always buy the extended warranty. The charger is a nice feature, but it will eventually fry your heapdhones unless you move to DURACELL ULTRAs. [I get about 20 hours on a set of AAAs. Not all batteries seem to work well in these headphones. I have found the DURACELLS are the best.]

Oh--my wife and I made it to our 14th anniversary this year. So the headphones have worked their magic. And now with three kids, the headphones are useful in keeping sounds of war, or politics, or off-colored commercials (or horror movie advertisements) away from the kids. Another added bonus.

By the way, each set of headphones works on the same channel -- so you may get interference if you run more than one set in the same house at the same time, unless you are both listening to the same television. Within the room of the receiver, the interference is minor. But if you walk around the house, you'll find that you pick up other signals.

You can listen to TV or DVD, but depending on your setup, you probably will have to switch the out line from the cable receiver box to the DVD player or other device.