Sony MDR-RF975RK Wireless Headphone System with Noise Reduction System

Other products by Sony

Product Details

• Item Weight: 4 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000095SA8
• Item model number: MDRRF975RK
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 15, 2003

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

This wireless headphone system was designed to connect with your TV or stereo system. The 900 MHz wireless system -- similar technology as the 900 MHz cordless phones -- allows you to move around the room without that pesky cord draping behind. It is easy to connect to TV, VCR, DVD or audio systems with the supplied connecting cord and plug adaptor. This system includes both transmitter and headphones.

The high power radio frequency (RF) transmitter provides excellent sound quality and transmission range, especially when compared to earlier wireless systems. The MDR-RF975RKs have a transmission range of 150 feet. The headband is self-adjusting and sports two, snug-fitting bands. The headphones come with a rechargeable Ni-MH battery. The system sports an automatic headphone battery charge system and will recharge the headphone's Ni-MH battery whenever they are set in the transmitter. You can expect an impressive twenty-five hours of use from a fully charged battery.

The headphones are lightweight and comfortable, delivering quality sound. Sony has installed several technical features in the headphones to ensure a quality listening experience. There are three transmission channels to assist in optimal reception. You can manually choose the best channel on the headphones, or choose the auto-select option and the headphones will scan for the best signal. The thirty millimeter drive units deliver deep bass, low distortion and a wide frequency response range (18 - 22,000 Hz). Neodymium magnets give the headphones maximum energy at a minimal size and weight. The PET diaphragms offer low distortion and resists bending and flexing. The closed, circum-aural design is comfortable and limits external noise. This type of headphone positions the drive units at the optimal distance from the ear canal and creates a sealed resonance chamber for excellent bass sound. To further reduce extraneous sound, Sony has incorporated a noise reduction transmission system. With the mute button you can quickly shut off the music or TV noise.

The transmitter's inputs, along with the supplied connecting cord, make it easy to connect your audio or TV component. There is even a supplied UniMatch plug to ensure compatibility. With this adaptor, you can connect the transmitter to various sound sources. These plugs accommodate both the phone jack found on high fidelity components or the mini-jack found on video components. A single volume control is found on the right earpiece for simple volume adjustments. Finally, there is an automatic power switch on both the headphones and transmitter to help conserve battery and equipment life. (The unit turns back on when the transmitter detects a signal, while the headphones turn on when they sense their placement on your head.) The headphones weigh 12.25 ounces and are a modern silver color.

What's in the Box
Sony MDR-RF975RK headphones, transmitter, connecting cord, UniMatch adaptor, AC adaptor and user's manual.

Product Description

self-adjusting double headband with built-in auto power on/off sensor * around-the-ear earcups * selectable 3-channel transmission * automatic tuning * frequency response 18-22,000 Hz * range up to 150 feet * up to 25 hours use with built-in NiMH rechargeable battery * AC adapter * headset weight: 12.3 oz. * transmitter: 5-3/16"W x 5-5/16"H x 5-15/16"D * warranty: 1 year parts, 90 days labor

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Think twice., March 13, 2004

By	A DC Reader "rehjr" (WASHINGTON, DC USA) - See all my reviews

After receiving the headphones and following the directions to charge 24 hours, they worked fine the first couple times they were used. Then I began noticing that the indicator light on the base showed the power on when they were not in use. Shortly after, the headphones started to die after a few minutes use and would not recharge even when left as long as 2 days undisturbed.

Sony instructed me to send them in for service. After many, many follow-up calls I was told that my headphones could not be repaired and I would be sent a replacement. After many, many more calls Sony informed me that there were no replacements available and none expected within the foreseeable future. Sony offered me a full refund of the purchase price, which I accepted.

After 3 months I am again looking for a set of wireless headphones. The Sennheiser RS-65 set looks good to me. While I applaud Sony for doing the right thing and issuing me a refund, I cannot recommend this Sony product.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars So far so good, February 9, 2004

By	S. Frank "lemmy_999" (knoxville, TN United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have had these about 1 week and so far I am pleased. I live in a subidivion house in the suburbs and the interference is not that bad. In the same room of my 2 level house, they pick up wonderfully and there is no static or interference anywhere (even if I am moving around). This has not been the case with many of the analog 900MHz/2.4GHz phones I have used in the past. They seem to have places with static even 2 feet from the transmitter but not with these headphones. However, the cordless phones do not seem to get worse with greater distance from the transmitter, but these headphones do get a little worse when you leave the room. As I walk through the rest of my house, there will be a few small spots where I will get some static, but almost all of the time is spent with no static at all. Sometimes there is no static, but volume just seems to go down slightly. I am not sure if this is a signal receiving problem or some other problem.

I was not surprised to find out that my 900MHz telephone interferes horribly with these headphones. When I get a call or turn on the telephone, the headphones are unusable. But even with the phone handset turned off, there must be some handshaking between the base because there was a click that would occur about 1 time per second in the headphones. I pulled the battery from the phone handset and it went away. So I either have to stop using that handset, or remember to put it in the metal filing cabinet before I listen to my headphones. My 2 other 2.4GHz phones do not cause any problems. Overall I am happy with these headphones.

Pros:

1) Really good sound
2) Auto on feature (come on when you put them on your head)
3) Better than expected reception.
4) Pretty comfortable, and despite there size, do not feel bulky
5) Very long NiMH battery life (24 hours)
6) I am listening to more music than ever!!

Cons

1) Need to keep 900MHz phones away (this might be a problem in an apartment where you can't control what kind of phone your neighbor uses)
2) Full battery charging takes 24 hours!! Apparently the charger is just a timer that cuts off in 24 hours. If you charge for 24 hours, take them off of the base and put them right back on, it would charge for another 24 hours.
3) You can get to the battery, but I don't think it is really meant to be replaceable. And I am sure it is an expensive battery pack (but I don't think it is meant to be replaceable because they do not tell you the replacement pack, they just tell you how to remove it before disposing of the headphones)
4) Fairly difficult to get back on the base so that they can charge.

I almost bought an infrared (IR) set of headphones because I mainly just needed wireless in my one room. Also, I heard IR headphones have almost no interference in the same room, but of course they do not work at all out of the room. But I have found that I enjoy walking around the house and still having the music playing.

BTW, I bought these headphones because I love music and listen to everything from classical guitar to doom metal and my wife doesn't like anything but pop music. So I think she is happier with my purchase than I am.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Died after 40 days, April 15, 2004

By A Customer

I was very happy with the headphones until one afternoon they stopped working. I played with the controls and modes without luck. I moved them around on my head and they began working again (as if a wire was not making good contact somewhere). The next day they died completely.

I called sony since they were still under the 90 day waranty and after two long phone calls they said that they are eligable for replacement. However, they will be replaced only with a refurbished set that is "similar", but the person on the phone could provide no details on what kind of replacement this would be.

For the price I would expect better service (ie money back, replacement with new unit), and that they would last more than fourty days.