Wednesday
Jun252008
Rocketfish launches two wireless headphone models
Wednesday, June 25, 2008 at 2:57PM 
More good news. This month, Rocketfish started selling two new wireless headphone models in Best Buy stores nationwide. There are two models, the RF-WHP01 and RF-WHP02. Each model has Avnera's first generation wireless audio system, which at this point is popping up in many other places.Both models are targeted at TV and home AV environments.
Key application usages:
- Watching TV at night without disturbing house-mates (Killer frickin' app)
- Enhancing TV/AV audio for people with diminished hearing
- Listening to music from iPod dock, PC, home stereo while cooking dinner, doing housework, etc.
The RF-WHP01 and RF-WHPo2 are both very similar models, with the primary difference being:
- RF-WHP02 is mainly targeted at TV users, so it offers some hook-up flexibility. Including a boom mic option for older sets that don't have supplementary audio outputs. This is also a quick and dirty way for someone to enjoy music at a higher volume level than others also watching the same TV, without headphones.
- RF-WHP02 has a spatial enhancement feature to enhance stereo sound.
- RF-WHP02 also offers some voice enhancement meant for people with diminished hearing who have difficulty picking out speech when watching TV.
- RF-WHP01 has black trim. The RF-WHP02 has metallic maroon trim.
The RF-WHP01 & RFWHP02 are available now at Best Buy stores. As of the writing of this article, they are not yet available online, though that's only a matter of time.
UPDATE: They are available now online: RF-WHP01 for $79.99 and RF-WHP02 for $99.99.
To get a sense of what a killer deal this is... compare this to Sony's 2.4GHz and the 60-some dB SNR 900 MHz junk that is still hanging around...
So forget IR, forget 900 MHz, forget paying north of $200... pick up a pair of Rocketfish headphones that just work.
tagged AudioMagic, Avnera, Best Buy, RF-WHP01, RF-WHP02, headphones, iPod, rocketfish, sony, wireless in products for home theater
AudioMagic, Avnera, Best Buy, RF-WHP01, RF-WHP02, headphones, iPod, rocketfish, sony, wireless in products for home theater
Reader Comments (56)
It's been a long time coming - I'm glad to see these on the market. This is one of the no-brainer applications for wireless audio. I actually appreciate the boom mic - I demo'd a previous product for some friends of mine and their TV's audio shuts off when you plug in the RCA connectors...
Sound quality on the Rocketfish RF-WHP01 is poor. Volume fades in and out, stereo tracks drop in and out.
Sorry to hear. Sounds defective or you have hooked it up incorrectly. Have you tried using a different audio source to make sure it isn't your source?
The hookup seems straightforward. Without using the Rocketfish the sound quality is adequate through system speakers. I will try them on another system as you suggest.
I retract my unfavorable review of the RF-WHP01. Evidently, the tuner/amplifier used initially is the culprit. The Rocketfish works as advertised on a separate audio device.
Glad to hear. Sorry about your tuner, though. Hope it's still good for other uses.
Ihave the rf-whpo2 headset and it works great but it is
tight on my ears and I can't wear it very long. What would
suggest I do about it. Thanks, Jack
Got a pair and can't get them to work! All I get is a flashing green light on the 'connect'. Called tech support, and they had no clue to anything! Could not tell me why light was flashing, or how to pair the headset to the base.
The instruction manual includes pairing instructions. I think you need to press the pair (or connect) buttons on the headphone for 3 secs, and on the base station for 3 seconds. Make sure both devices have power on when you do this.
Blinking light means generally that you don't have a link established.
Good luck.
i need replacement batteries for these but have mislaid my original pair...can somebody tell me what mAh i should get.
I am using 1600 mAh batteries. They seem to work perfectly fine.
The stock batteries that come with the WHP02 headphones are 2250mAh...if/when mine finally die, I'll probably just go with the highest capacity NiMH batteries available at that time.
WHP02
Can you use two headsets on one docking ststion? Can you use two docking stations on the same audio source?
Nope and Nope. Each headphone is one base to one headphone.
I'm considering buying these, to mainly use throughout my house. Does the signal go through normal walls ok? As in my kitchen is right next to my room, will I be able to listen alright, or to the family room two rooms over?
Ed. Your mileage may vary, but generally these headphones have pretty excellent range. What you describe is a pretty typical usage scenario. Let us know if you have success/problems... it will be good info to share.
Do not buy these headphones if you expect to be able to have them repaired for non-wayyenty damage. Our new pup chewed up the inner headband of the headphones. I contacted Rocketfish to get them repaired and was told to bring them to Best Buy to arrange the repair. When I went to best Buy, I was informed that they could replace them if the problem was covered under warrenty. If not, they have no proceedure to sed them out for repair even though I was willing to pay for the repair.
Cannot get the RF-WHPO1 to have connection with out JVC television. We have digital cable and need to just plug into the TV. Does the batteries have to charge?? I am getting a solid green light, just no sound out of earphones. HELP!!
Anyone looking for a great deal on these check out best buy outlet on ebay. I just got a pair for less than $30 that were returned. From what I've read alot of people are having issues with them being too tight. Maybe an option for those looking for repairs...
Back to the two Headsets, two Docking Stations question. If I put a 'Y' component to connect the two Docking Stations from the one audio source, will the two Headsets then work at the same time??
These sound great. My husband and I like to watch TV late at night but don't want to bother the neighbours. Will I need to buy 2 of these or is there some other way? Will I be able to use 2 at the same time? Thanks
Hi Glenn and Lady,
You can buy two setups and use them side by side. You will need both base stations as these models don't support multiple receiver use on one base station. As Glenn suggested, a Y splitter on the source audio will work just fine. The other option is to use the aux output of one basestation to feed the other basestation input... called daisychaining...
If you notice any interference between the units, I suggest placing the base stations about 2 to 3 feet apart. That should alleviate any stepping each other may do on one another. If you have a normal RF environment, i.e. not a college dorm or dense urban apartment building with tons of geeks in it, you should have plenty of spectrum for two units to operate very robustly.
I have a yahama sound bar and wanted to know if the RF-WHP 02 or RF-WHP 01 will work with this system. And how to hook it up,in the sound bar,or the Direct TV box?
Does your sound-bar give you line out audio? Or are you sending digital audio up to the sound-bar? What specific model is it and I can advise based on looking at the back-panel.
Either way, there is almost no chance that this can't be done. Double negative.
In summary, it will work.
Thanks, My sound bar is Yamaha YSP-3000.