TV headphones and hearing amplifiers explained

Last checked November 2026. Offers and rules change: confirm with the provider before you rely on them.

TV headphones let you hear the television at your own volume without turning it up for everyone else. Personal hearing amplifiers make nearby sounds louder. Neither is a hearing aid, and if you are struggling to hear in general, the first step is a hearing check.

Who these products suit

They suit people who mostly hear well enough day to day but find television speech muddy, or who share a room with someone who wants the volume lower. They are also useful alongside hearing aids, and for occasional situations such as hearing one person across a table.

If you often ask people to repeat themselves, struggle on the telephone or find conversation tiring, please do not simply buy an amplifier. Speak to your GP or ask about a hearing test; our hearing aids buying guide explains how to get free NHS hearing aids. If your hearing changes suddenly, or in one ear, contact your GP or NHS 111 promptly.

How they differ from hearing aids

The NHS describes TV amplifiers and personal communicators as "assistive listening devices" that can be used with or without a hearing aid. They are a help, not a treatment.

The main types

For the television

• Wireless TV headphones. A small base plugs into the television and sends sound to headphones by radio signal. The base doubles as the charger. They come as over-ear headphones or as a lightweight "stethoscope" style that hangs under the chin.
• Bluetooth headphones. Many modern televisions connect to ordinary Bluetooth headphones directly. This is cheap, but sound can lag slightly behind the picture on some sets.
• Wireless TV speakers. A portable speaker that sits beside your chair, bringing the sound close without anything on your ears. Many boost speech.
• Soundbars with speech enhancement. A long speaker under the television that makes dialogue clearer for the whole room.
• Neck loops and loop systems. For hearing aid wearers: these send television sound to hearing aids switched to the T (loop) setting. Many modern hearing aids can also receive television sound through a small streamer; ask your audiologist.

Personal amplifiers

• Pocket "personal communicators". A small box with a microphone and headphones. You point the microphone at the speaker. Simple, sturdy and often used in hospitals and care settings.
• Ear-worn amplifiers. These look like hearing aids but simply turn everything up. Quality varies enormously, and cheap ones amplify background noise as much as speech.

What to look for

• The right connection for your television. Look at the back of your set before buying. Most modern televisions have an "optical" (digital audio) socket; older ones have a headphone socket or red and white sockets. Check the product supports yours.
• Others can still hear the television. With an optical connection the television speakers normally stay on, so you each choose your own volume. Plugging into a headphone socket usually mutes the speakers.
• Speech or clarity setting, and a tone control to lift higher pitches.
• Separate left and right volume if one ear is better than the other.
• Comfort and weight, especially with glasses. Stethoscope styles are lighter but sit in the ear.
• Simple controls: a big volume wheel is better than tiny buttons.
• Battery life of an evening or more, and a drop-in charging cradle.
• A volume limit. Very loud sound can damage hearing further. Use the lowest volume at which speech is clear.

Rough price guide

As a rough guide at the time of writing (November 2026): basic wireless TV headphones cost from around £30 to £70; better sets with speech settings around £80 to £200; wireless TV speakers around £60 to £180; pocket personal amplifiers around £25 to £120; and soundbars from around £80 upwards.

Free things to try first

• Subtitles. Every modern television and catch-up service has them; look for a button marked SUB or a speech-bubble symbol.
• The television's sound settings. Many sets have a "clear voice" or "speech" mode in the sound menu.
• Move the furniture. Sitting closer, with soft furnishings in the room, makes speech clearer.

Setup tips a family member can help with

1. Identify the television's audio sockets and connect the base to the optical socket if there is one.
2. In the television's sound menu, set the digital audio output to "PCM" if the headphones stay silent. This is the commonest snag.
3. Set a comfortable volume and tone with the wearer, and mark the settings.
4. Place the charging base beside the usual chair so the headphones go back on charge every time.
5. Show how to switch subtitles on and off with the remote control.

Mistakes to avoid

• Buying an amplifier instead of getting your hearing checked. NHS hearing aids are free and tuned to you.
• Believing adverts for "invisible hearing aids" at very low prices. These are usually basic amplifiers. See online shopping safety.
• Not checking the sockets on your television first.
• Turning the volume up too far. If you need it very loud, that is a sign to see your GP.

Common questions

Can I use TV headphones with hearing aids?

Over-ear headphones often work over small hearing aids, but may whistle. A loop system or a streamer made for your hearing aids is usually better; ask your audiology service.

Will they work with my set-top box or streaming stick?

Yes, if the base is connected to the television itself, because all sound comes through the television.

Can the council or NHS provide listening equipment?

Sometimes. The NHS suggests asking your GP, hearing specialist or the council's social services about assistive listening devices, particularly if you have a diagnosed hearing loss.

What about the telephone?

See our guide to big-button and amplified phones.