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.


PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE REVIEWS BELOW   March 6, 2002
 13 out of 18 found this review helpful

I'm sorry but I don't own the AW791 and neither do the people below, so these reviews should be erased because they are not suitable reviews pertaining to the product AW791 developed by Acoustic Research more like products developed by ADVENT. So they have no baring to the actual award-winning product at all. They should be erased.


Qualified Good   September 3, 2005
 12 out of 12 found this review helpful

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.

(...)


Save your money. This is pure junk   December 9, 2004
 10 out of 12 found this review helpful

I bought this headset with anticipation of high quality surround sound wireless. What I got was PFfffttt every few seconds, and a constant desire to change the position of my head (8 feet from the transmitter). Fortunately after a couple of sad attempts at watching movies with these headphones they simply broke for no reason at all... no stress, no kid playing with them... just cheap plastic cracking like a kids toy from burger world. I tossed them in the trash with disgust. Save your money.


EXCELLENT!! GLAD I DIDN'T LISTEN TO NEGATIVES!!!   December 25, 2005
 10 out of 13 found this review helpful

Fist let me say, THANK GOD I didn't listen to any of the negative feedback left for this product! I bought this AR AW791 for my husband and these things are GREAT! I think alot of the negative feedback that was left here is for different item or model number because there isn't a tuning knob as some has talked about. We simply took these out of the box, inserted the batteries, let them charge for a couple hours and then plugged them in. We never had to adjust anything and got crystal clear music instantly. My husband walked all over our apartment (which btw seems to have alot of interferance with our cordless phones) with NO....I repeat NO interferance at all!! He even walked down the side walk and to the back parking lot and not one crackle or hiss. I've worn them a few times now too and not one odd noise our cut out at all.

The head phones are light weight and NOT heavy as some have claimed them to be. One guy said get asprin ready for a neck ache..WHAT!?? PLEASE!! These are the most comfortable headphones I have ever worn and I've worn alot of them! I read where alot of people stated the headphones have broke. I could see this happening if you were not careful with them, but NOT cheap by any means. I love the velvety ear pads and they are large enough they cover your entire ear.

My husband keeps these hooked up to his computer speakers (not the computer itself)This way he can still unplug them easily to listen to his speakers if he wants too without crawling around on the ground unhooking them from the back of the computer. We are thinking of getting another set for me so when we watch movies on tv we can turn up the volume and not worry about disrupting our neighbors.

I love these and most importantly my husband does too and he is very picky about comfort and sound quality! These were a GREAT purchase and please...DO NOT be afraid to get these! I think the negative feedback was left on the wrong product. These are AWESOME!! 5 stars all the way!!!!