Sony MDR-RF995RK Review: Barebones Wireless Headphones for the House

The Sony MDRRF995RK was purchased by us so that our expert reviewer could fully test it and evaluate it. Continue reading to see our complete product review.

Sony MDRRF995RK wireless headphones is an intriguing product from its line of wireless headphones. With its Bluetooth headphones that are bass heavy and the flagship noise cancelling WH1000X, this brand is making waves. The RF995RK is a category you may not have noticed. These headphones are ideal for use at home because they don't connect wirelessly using Bluetooth. Instead, they transmit audio through radio frequencies.

The most common use for these would be hooking them up to your TV at home—because most consumer TVs don't come with Bluetooth functionality out of the box, this is one of the most seamless ways to get wireless audio while watching TV or playing video games. The RF995RK were ours and we spent about a week watching TV and binging Netflix. We have this to say about them.

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Design: A simple, elegant, and unassuming design

The RF995RK's modern look is one of its best attributes. Although there are issues with the build quality that we will address later on, their looks seem modern. Sony chose to use a mostly matte-plastic build for their Bluetooth headphones. They measure approximately 4 inches high and 3 inches wide. The oval-shaped ear cups sit against the headband at an angle, creating a slightly distorted shape. They are just slightly thicker than the headband, so they can be worn flat on your head. The low profile of these headphones supports the modern design we mentioned earlier, and it avoids bulky designs like those found in other spaces.

The charging stand/receiver is a contemporary take on a traditional bulky device. The charging stand/receiver is approximately a foot high, so it's basically a rod of plastic sticking out from the base. Instead of ink marking the logos, they are printed as recessed letters into the headphones. Sony's headphones have no design texture. This makes them appear more simple than headphones that are too flashy or fail to impress.

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Comfort: A little rigid but good for the majority

When you are looking for a headphone at a lower price, one corner is usually cut. This can have a negative impact on comfort. While this is true for the RF995RK to an extent, comfort will depend on many factors, including your priorities and the shape and size of your head and ears. The faux leather covering that covers each earcup is soft and flexible and does not feel cheap or scratchy against the ears was a big hit with us.

The padding itself is almost an inch thick, which offers a good amount of cushion, but the foam seems pretty firm and basic—not quite as forgiving as the memory foam-esque material employed by more premium models. The top two headband cushions are made from the same material. We prefer the dual-pad design of these headphones. It is necessary to support the capacitive charging pins but also provides a pleasant byproduct for increasing the comfort level.

This is the area where comfort begins to suffer. The headband is a bit too narrow and tall for our liking. Although you can alter the length of the headband to your liking, we felt that it lifted too much from our heads, which made it hard for us to get a snug fit. Although the foam pads were adequate, we found that our ears felt too narrow and squared-off in the earcups. These headphones will not be comfortable for people with large ears or ears that extend beyond the top of their heads.

The RF995RK weigh only 9.7 ounces so you can wear them for long hours without getting tired. However, comfort could be better.

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Build Quality and Durability: Nothing special

The RF995RK's build quality is one area that we have mentioned in the previous sections. Although the entire structure is made of matte plastic it feels fragile. We believe that the headphones feel brittle because the entire structure is made from matte plastic. This is in contrast to the steel bracing found in other headphones.

The sliding plate of plastic that covers the battery compartment seems more like something you would find on a child's toy than an expensive piece. The same material is used on the charging stand. However, we find it less offensive. It is stable when you place it on the ground, and it's light once it's picked up. The base and headphones' switches are simple. One thing that saves the build quality of the headphones is the leather-like covering on the foam pads. These headphones feel more expensive than other headphones of this price.

Connectivity and Setup: Basic connectivity.

The Sony RF995RK is difficult to set up and connect. The connection between headphones and receivers is solid and stable. Sony estimates that the range of connection is approximately 150 feet. We couldn't verify this number because we don't have a 150-foot apartment. However, we could not find any room or area in our apartment that the sound was cutting out. The RF995RK was able to withstand thick walls like most RF headphones. The three channel options on the base may be responsible for this.

The connection between the receiver and your source audio is limited. Sony offers only one 3.5mm aux connector that can deliver audio through analog means. This limitation is the most significant drawback of this device. However, many other RF headphones offer the ability to connect via optical or digital audio. You can't fold the aux input into a larger digitally connected system. The 3.5mm aux connector is used for any other source, but it's the most popular.

The controls include volume, channel switching on the base and a Voice Effect switch. Unfortunately, this made the sound less clear. There is also an Auto Tuning control which adjusts the sound according to the input. The extra controls don't offer much flexibility and did not seem to affect the high quality sound that we received right out of box.

Sound Quality - Solid, powerful

Among the things we found most remarkable was the RF995RK’s powerful sound profile. The build quality, fit and finish of these RF995RKs seemed to be in keeping with the mid-level pricing. We were amazed at how amazing they sound when we connected them to our computers and started some movies. Sony claims that the receivers cover 10Hz-22kHz, which is enough to provide coverage for human hearing of 20Hz-20kHz. They also have a sensitive of 100 dB (sensitivity) and 32 ohms in impedance.

The specs are just right and may even be a little more expensive than their price. We were amazed at how powerful they felt and how clear the spectrum was. This is probably due to the 1.57-inch diaphragms—large for the enclosure of each earcup. All of this goes to prove that sound quality is not as simple or straightforward as spec sheets.

The headphones sound great in any app, no matter what Sony did with their enclosure's acoustics. They were tested with daytime talk shows, big, cinematic soundtracks and general Spotify streaming. We also tried some scary horror sessions, which requires a lot of detail.

We give the category a thumbs up, but there is one issue. The fit of headphones felt a bit tight to our ears. This might have been the reason for so much clarity and detail, but it was also a problem with loud voices. This is a very minor gripe, but it comes back to a key consideration—if you have large ears or a large head, you might want to try the RF995RK out in a store before picking them up.

Battery life: Remarkably strong, in line with the advertisement

A pair of wireless RF headphones will last for about the same amount of time as a pair for Bluetooth headphones. This is because they are designed for home use. This is due in part to the fact you will be charging your headphones on a stand when they are not being used. It's a great feature for RF-style headphones and one we would love to see in premium Bluetooth headphones. The RF995RK's charge will last for hours of gaming.

Sony claims that the headphones will last for 20 hours on a single charge. This seems to be accurate based upon our experience. The headphones can take up to 7 hours for the charger stand to charge. Sony chose to include a pair of rechargeable batteries in the package that can be manually inserted into your headphones instead of a standard rechargeable battery. You can swap out triple-A cells if your rechargeables are low, however it slows down the charging process. This isn’t an issue, as long as they are stored on the charging stand, it will always charge them when you’re not using them.

We had to return our first pair of headphones due to the fact that they didn't hold a charge out of their box. A piece of tech such as headphones can be a minor flaw in a solid production line, but it is not uncommon. The replacement pair was sent out quickly and it took no time at all for us to receive them.

Prices: Reasonable especially considering the high quality

The RF995RK's shortcomings can often be overlooked due to its lower price. These headphones are listed on the Sony website at $120. However, we found a $130 set from Amazon for $130 that included basic accessories as well as free shipping. These headphones are about half the normal price. However, the quality of the sound and the stable connection make it well worth the money. Although the build quality is not perfect, it's usually something that you are able to overlook for a product this affordable.

Competitors: There are few real competitors

Sennheiser RS175 These premium RF headphones offer an optical connection option, but they don't sound as good as the RF995RK.

Avantree HTML280: These slightly higher-priced headphones are better built, but have similar comfort and sound quality.

Ansten Wireless Television Headphones: These budget-friendly options aren't as good as the RF995RK but they can be a fantastic choice for those who worry about price.

Specifications

• Name of the Product MDRRF995RK Wireless Radio Frequency (Radio Frequency).
• Sony Product Brand
• MPN 027242850514
• Prices from $119.99
• Weight 9.7 oz.
• Dimensions of the product: 10x8x13in
• Color Black
• Battery life: 20 hours
• Both wired and wireless
• Wireless range: 150 feet
• 1-year warranty

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