So I have a PITA client who is being....well....a PITA. He has some "TV Ears"....actually they are Sennheiser's version. We recently took out the TV lift/cabinet from 12 years ago, and mounted a 55" on an articulating mount. It is a lame Samsung with the one connect box, so no analog output, toslink only.

Electrician is buddies with client, and talks him into getting some Apple AirPods. They work fine. But there is no volume control. And you have to use the Samsung remote to select "Yes" every time you want to use them. This is not an acceptable solution....especially for this client.

My options seem to be limited to a separate BT transmitter with toslink in, and a different set of headphones. Or some other RF headphones with a transmitter with toslink that is a separate unit from the charging apparatus for the headphones.

I found this:

[Link: en-us.sennheiser.com]

Looks like it might work, and can use any wired headphones. But I am not convinced I can mount the transmitter/charging dock vertically, i.e., on the back of the TV. Has anyone used this?

Anyone know of another reliable option? I do not want to use the built-in Bluetooth in the Samsung TV. I need something that is "always on", so maybe I need to stick with an RF solution that is not Bluetooth at all? The above linked product looks like it should work ok, as long as I can mount the charger behind the TV and the battery will "click" into it positively.

the higher end RS series from sennheiser have optical in, also, you could get an optical to analog D/A converter for $20-30 and keep what he has.

My experience with Bluetooth for tv headphones has been huge lip sync problems. It starts off fine, then gradually gets worse and worse.

Headphones with optical in is the best solution

Came here looking for this...

You missed the part where there is no cabinet or shelf to place the charging cradle on. :P

To add more to this story, the client is friends with the electrical contractor. He ran the wiring for this TV addition. I mounted the TV. Electrician took it upon himself to be a buddy and provide a new set of headphones. I got the call when he could not get them to work. I show up and there is a set of Apple AirPods. I got them connected to the TV without a problem. The problem is that there is no way to adjust the volume. None. Also, he has to get out the TV remote which he never uses, to select "Yes" when the AirPods are turned on.

Now, he says if he is not happy with the AirPods, he will go back to using his "TV Ears" and we will just have to get creative on where to place the charging dock/transmitter. His wife will NOT allow it to sit on the mantle where I had it temporarily sitting for the last month. But client says she might be ok if they are just on the floor. WTF? His words, not mine....nor hers. I call B.S. Although when I showed up to make the AirPods work, she had a 25 year old Sony clock/radio sitting on the floor in the entry way with the FM antenna wire adjusted just right to get the reception on her station. I think she moves it around the house as she cleans.

What other wiring is at the tv, and where does it go to? Any chance of using an optical to coax adapter or a D to A converter?

1) I would make it a point to remind him every time you see him = This is what you get when you let someone do a job, that is NOT their job. And inevitably has no clue what they are doing.
And when they continue to do it, continue to raise your price higher & higher to fix what some random person should have never been messing with, to begin with. Eventually they will stop or not call you anymore, either way you will not have to deal with the stupid crap anymore.

2) Sennheiser has the RS-160. It use a small puck for a transmitter that will easily go behind the TV. Just get a 2nd power supply to run it, the 1st power supply chargers the headphones. Then you can set the headphones anywhere you want in the room.
One bad thing, you have to turn the transmitter on each time you use the RF headphones. So mount it where it is easy to reach - like on the edge of the TV back:
[Link: amazon.com]

As mentioned above by Eric, get an optical to analog adapter for the input. Here is a good one for cheap:
[Link: amazon.com]

If he doesn't like any of your ideas tell him to learn how to use CC.

This is way too much like when people give our customers Fire Sticks, or even if I'm asked about a Fire Stick. Like nails on a chalk board.