About the JVC XP-EXT1
Supersized 3D surround sound, straight to your ears
The JVC XP-EXT1's well-padded wireless headset feels light on the head and fits snugly and securely.
Supersized 3D surround sound, straight to your ears
JVC's XP-EXT1 are the first wireless TV headphones we've seen to offer full Dolby Atmos and DTS:X® sound. That means these over-ear headphones simulate a 7.1.4 home theater speaker setup, with movie effects unfolding from all directions — including above! It's largely thanks to a 3D audio technology called EXOFIELD that you setup and control with a free mobile app for Apple® or Android®.
I had a pre-production sample in my living room for about a week. So at night, I could dive into the action of shows, movies, and sports without waking my three young kids. I've tried several TV headphone setups over the years. These took a little longer to setup and use, but they offered the most realistic home theater recreation I've experienced yet.
How to use this system
The basics are like any other transmitter-based headphone system. There are two main parts: a wireless transmitter and a headset. The transmitter sends an audio signal wirelessly to the included over-the-ear headset. But to connect your gear and get the special sound processing running, there are a few extra steps.
But don't fret — the EXOFIELD THEATER app on your phone walks you through step-by-step. I found the directions easy to follow. The headset played a series of test tones to measure the sound reflections of the room, and also the characteristics of my ears. This is how JVC optimizes the EXOFIELD performance for the individual user.
My impressions — come for the hard-hitting effects, stay for the true-to-life atmosphere
To test out the XP-EXT1's full home theater capabilities, I watched two movies — the war epic 1917 on 4K Blu-ray with a full Dolby Atmos soundtrack and Charlize Theron's action flick The Old Guard streaming in 4K on Netflix with Dolby 5.1 audio mix. The EXOFIELD software can actually upmix 5.1 sound, so that you get the height and three-dimensional spaciousness of Atmos. And it works really well.
I noticed no drop off in sound quality or overall immersion between the two movies. In fact, The Old Guard offered some of the more memorable sonic moments. Like when I could hear a motorcycle "gaining on me" from behind, right before it loudly zipped past me on screen. Or in an ambush scene where our protagonists heard an explosion off in the distance — it somehow landed just right. The "boom" was jarring, but obviously far away.
That's where this system proves its worth. Lesser TV headphone systems can sound aggressive or in-your-face, which can seem more striking at first, but often grows grating. The EXOFIELD presentation is more spread-out, dynamic, and nuanced. With the extra dimension of atmospheric sounds, scenes and places ultimately feel more realistic the more you listen.
Clear, natural-sounding dialogue
This was particularly true when it came to the dialogue. Speech was clear and easy to understand, but never felt over-emphasized or modulated. A conversation between two main characters in the middle of a crowded Moroccan market sounded incredibly authentic. Everything they said was intelligible, even while the hustle and bustle of the streets swarmed around me. And the object-based sound reproduction was so specific that I could hone in on murmurs off to the left, and actually pick out specific voices.
And you don't have to play it extremely loud to get spacious, directional home theater sound. I could keep the volume at safe levels and still appreciate the subtleties.
Several ways to connect
The compact transmitter is roughly the size of a modern Blu-ray player. But on the back there are more connections than I've ever seen on any other TV headphone system. There are three HDMI inputs and an HDMI output There is also a digital optical input and an analog stereo RCA input.
The transmitter features three HDMI inputs and one HDMI output (with eARC) for connecting a TV, console, player, streamer and/or cable/satellite box.
Like a modern A/V receiver, the HDMI connections offer 4K video passthrough with support for Dolby Vision™, so you can get rich sound and picture quality with simple HDMI connections — one from your 4K video source to the transmitter and then one from the transmitter to your TV. The HDMI output also supports eARC (enhanced Audio Return Channel), so it can receive uncompromised audio signals — like Dolby Atmos — from an eARC-equipped TV.
Some HDMI compatibility notes
Make sure you have enought 4K compatible HDMI cables to complete your setup. I had one compatible cable to connect the Blu-ray player to the transmitter, but my other cables were outdated. I needed to order another one to connect the transmitter to my OLED TV.
You may also run into limitations and compatibility issues with eARC. Good news: if your TV is fairly new, there is a solid chance that a simple ARC connection will pass the Dolby Digital Plus format. That format is used by streaming services to deliver an Atmos signal. If you're unsure what formats your TV can pass, check the owner's manual (or run your TV setup by one of our product Advisors.)
Product highlights:
- transmits sound wirelessly from a TV or audio system to the included over-ear headphones
- JVC EXOFIELD technology simulates a surround sound speaker system in a room
- analyzes ear characteristics and measures room sound reflections to optimize performance
- up to 7.1.4-channel sound
- supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X for heightened, three-dimensional soundstage
- four listening modes: Cinema, Music, Game, and Custom
Wireless headphone set:
- over-the-ear, closed-back design helps keep out external noise
- large 40mm dynamic drivers for powerful three-dimensional sound
- clear, realistic dialogue and detailed, directional effects
- built-in microphone for sound measurement and localization
- snug, secure fit with generous, well-placed padding on headband
- large, breathable ear pads designed for long listening/TV-watching sessions
- on-ear volume and listening mode controls
- turns off automatically when not in use
Wireless audio transmitter with digital sound processing and app:
- dual-band wireless transmitter uses 2.4 or 5GHz for strongest signal
- upmix stereo or 5.1 audio into a 3D sound experience
- built-in Dolby decoding, including Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, and Dolby Atmos
- free EXOFIELD Theater app for Apple® and Android™
- uses headset's built-in mic to measure and optimize sound for your room
- choose listening mode or adjust equalization to customize sound
- communicates with transmitter via Bluetooth®
- 10-1/2"W x 1-1/8"H x 6-1/16"D
Connections:
- 3 HDMI inputs, 1 HDMI output
- HDMI connections support 4K video, HDR10, and Dolby Vision™
- ARC (Audio Return Channel) or eARC (enhanced Audio Return Channel) connections
- TVs with eARC allow Dolby Atmos passthrough via Dolby TrueHD or Dolby Digital Plus
- Dolby Atmos passthrough over ARC connections varies by TV model
- optical digital audio input
- will not pass Dolby Atmos
- analog stereo RCA input
General info:
- storage pouch for headphones
- USB cable for charging headset
- cable to connect and sync headset and transmitter for personal sound measurement
- includes AC adapter for power
- headset battery life: up to 12 hours with a full charge
- frequency response: 20-20,000 Hz
- warranty: 1 year
- MFR # XPEXT1
What's in the box:
- XP-EXT1H Over-ear headphone (black)
- XP-EXT1P Processor Unit
- AC adapter with attached 58" DC output cord (DC output: 12V 2A)
- 5' AC cord (C7 unpolarized plug)
- 81" Setup cable (2.5mm sub-mini plugs on each end)
- 42" USB charging cable (Type A USB on one end and Micro-B USB on other end)
- Cloth storage pouch for headphones
- Startup Guide
- Caution sheet
- Warranty sheet
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Customer reviews for JVC XP-EXT1
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More details on the JVC XP-EXT1
Features & specs
General | ||
---|---|---|
Fit Style | Over-the-ear | |
Earcup Type | Closed | |
Earcup Width x Height | 3.334" x 4.142" | |
Noise-canceling | No | |
Bluetooth | No | |
Bluetooth Version | --- | |
Single-earbud Operation | --- | |
Mic For Taking Calls | Yes | |
Voice Assistant Access | ||
Amazon Alexa | No | |
Google Assistant | No | |
Siri | No | |
Connectors | ||
3.5mm | No | |
1/4" | No | |
Lightning | No | |
4.4mm balanced | No | |
XLR4 balanced | No | |
2.5mm | No | |
Other | None | |
Specs | ||
Frequency Response | 20-20k Hz | |
Sensitivity | Not Given | |
Impedance | Not Given | |
Weight | 11.8 ounces | |
Cord Length | N/A | |
Parts Warranty | 1 Year | |
Labor Warranty | 1 Year |
Product Research
Features
Overview: JVC XP-EXT1 Wireless Theater uses EXOFIELD technology to provide an immersive multi-channel theater experience using wireless headphones. The system consists of a pair of over-ear headphones and a separate processor that delivers a realistic multi-channel sound field from your 2-channel and 5.1-channel material. A dedicated smartphone app (for iOS and Android) provides setup and operational control of the Wireless Theater System. In addition to the headphones and processor, the XP-EXT1 comes with a soft storage pouch for the headphones, and the necessary cables to charge, set up, and use the product.
EXOFIELD Technology: EXOFIELD uses out-of-head localization sound field processing technology to produce a listening experience in the headphones with localized sound images as if we're sitting in a room full of optimally placed speakers. Using years of accumulated technologies from JVC/Kenwood, EXOFIELD reproduces the depth and placement of sound images from physical speakers in a room and adapts them to the included over-ear headphones. During setup, the special microphones inside the headphones conduct measurements of various acoustic characteristics of the user to optimize the "out-of-head" sound field reproduction. This measured data and EXOFIELD processing is uploaded to the smartphone app (via Bluetooth) to use each time you listen to music or watch a movie.
Headphones: The special over-ear wireless headphones (XP-EXT1H) are equipped with large-diameter (40mm) neodymium drivers for high-quality audio reproduction. The large, soft ear pads help you enjoy long listening sessions, and seal out unwanted external noise, while keeping the dynamic sound inside the ear cup, so you won't bother others. Onboard controls include power, input selection, and EXOFIELD activation. Volume is controlled on the right ear cup by sliding your finger up or down along the side of the ear cup. The headphones are powered by a 3.7-volt lithium polymer rechargeable battery with a battery life of approximately 12 hours, depending upon usage. The battery charges in approximately 4 hours using the included USB cable and a 5V USB power supply (not included). No battery life data is available. Ear Cup Dimensions: Width 3.334" Height 4.142" Depth 2.154" Weight 11.8 ounces.
Processor: The EXOFIELD processor and transmitter (XP-EXT1P) features out-of-head localization sound field technology to provide a realistic, immersive sound experience with multi-channel audio using the headphones. The three HDMI inputs allow you to connect a Blu-ray player, 4K or satellite set-top box, Game Console, or an HD streaming device simultaneously. The 4K-compatible HDMI eARC output passes along the video signal to your TV. In addition, the processor has both optical digital and analog RCA inputs. The processor can take 2-channel and 5.1-channel audio signals and reproduce surround formats up to 7.1.4-channels, including Dolby Atmos® and DTS-X®, to put you inside the movie or music. The digital sound processor connects to the headphones through a 2.4/5 GHz dual-band digital wireless transmission. The system automatically selects the transmission band with the least amount of interference, so the audio streams smoothly to the headphones in an omnidirectional pattern. The processor offers four selectable sound modes: Cinema, Music, Game, and Custom. Processor Dimensions: Width 10.485", Height 1.237", Depth 6.112", Weight 19.35 ounces.
EXOFIELD THEATER App: The JVC EXOFIELD Wireless Theater System has a companion app for your Apple or Android smartphone. The app helps you measure and store the personal characteristics of up to individual users, and uses that information to create a listening experience in the headphones that mimics the sound coming from a speaker system in the room. There is also an equalizer to let you make adjustments to the sound to suit your personal tastes. The app gives you various remote control functions, letting you select the input, sound mode, volume, and others. The app is compatible with devices running Android 6.0 and up and iOS 11.0 or later.
Setup: The XP-EXT1 EXOFIELD Wireless Theater needs to go through a setup procedure prior to using. After fully charging the headphones and downloading the EXOFIELD THEATER app to your smartphone, the user will need to carry out the personal characteristics measurement in a quiet room. The included 6.75' setup cable plugs into the headphones and the front of the processor during the procedure. With both units powered on, and the processor connected to the smartphone, the procedure is started from the app. After all of the measurements are taken, the user's settings can be stored in the app. Measurements of up to four users can be saved.
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