Sennheiser RS 175 RF Wireless Headphone System

April 19, 2022: Dropped rating from 4 star to 1! I bought a pair of what I thought were HDR 175 headphones. Looking at the site today, Amazon labels these as RS 175 RF Wireless Headphones, yet the photos show HDR 175. Why is this a problem? Because the product designation matters when pursuing a warranty or troubleshooting issue. I've purchased what I thought were HDR 175s several times at Amazon, and have loved the headphones. (See former reviews below). Having only the day before yesterday (April 17, 2023) unboxed and plugged in the headphones I purchased in September 2022, I noticed that after two full days of charging that the charging light is still red. I tested the batteries in the headphones, and they seem fully charged. It could be something amok with the status function of the charger, but I won't know until I get a response from a Sennheiser Support provider. Good luck navigating the internet and Sennheiser site for getting ANY information on HDR 175s. SInce Amazon calls these RS 175s, at least I was able to submit a support request once I finally found out where to do that. The Sennheiser Support site is a nightmare to navigate. The only hit I found anywhere regarding this issue was a review for the HDR 175s here at Amazon from a purchaser who had the same problem but reported that it magically solved itself a few days after he/she contacted Sennheiser and they responded. I love the headphones (with the exception of the flimsy padding on the ear and head pads.) and am dismayed that Support is so difficult to get. I wish I'd opened the box in September, so I could have returned the problematic headphones to Amazon. September 8, 2022 update. I still love these headphones. They are comfortable and provide exactly what I need by way of providing audio while watching TV. I prefer this version's method of powering on and off the headphones, vs the HDR 170, where I need to remember to turn the unit on at the base station before ALSO turning on the headphone. One problem with both models is the flimsy material that is used to cover the pads. I realize that replacement pads can be gotten for as little as $15, but that they need to be replaced every year or so, when used often, is ridiculous. The soft film covering the pads begins to disintegrate almost immediately. Can't SOMEONE come up with a better covering? Before ordering yet another pair of replacement pads for both units (HDR 175 and older HDR 170), I'm going to read reviews for later models to see if a better design exists. Still great unit. I dropped a point from my original review because of the need to constantly replace the pads. (by the way, it's not just the ear pads that disintegrate, but also the small rectangular pads that cushion the unit at the top of your head... Original review from 2017: I use these primarily because the family room TV is located in a very near the kitchen - center of activity in the house. My hearing isn't what it used to be and I need to have the option to basically shut out extraneous chatter. With these headphones on, I can watch TV while the family goes about their noisy routine in the kitchen. Later, when the kids are focusing on homework, I can turn the speakers on the TV off and still watch without disturbing them. I also own an older Sennheiser headphone system (the RS 170) as well as an even older Sony MDR RF970R. These are attached to TVs elsewhere in the house. In terms of sound quality in general, both Sennheiser systems clearly outperform the Sony. The Sony system just sounds tinny and can't compete on the bass side of the equation. While the sound quality between the Sennheiser systems is (to my ear) the same, the later system (the 175) fits more snugly and has a better system for turning the system on and for adjusting volume and other settings. The buttons on the 170's are really difficult to find when wearing them and the headphones don't hug your head very well. That's both a plus and a minus. You can wear them longer, but if you tilt your head, the headphones don't really stay put very well. If I cared to part with the cash, I'd have the 175's attached to all three TVs. Highly recommended.