We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-22 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want to turn any older TV or wired audio source into a dual-headphone Bluetooth setup, choose SOOMFON 5.3; if you need a pair of true wireless earbuds for music, calls and workouts, choose TPVision Philips TAT1219. These two products share a Bluetooth version number and almost nothing else, which is exactly why people searching them side by side usually need a nudge in one direction.
• SOOMFON 5.3's biggest strength: it's a 3-in-1 Bluetooth transmitter/receiver that sends TV, PC or stereo audio to two Bluetooth headphones at once, with Optical, AUX and RCA inputs, a 1.8-inch LCD status screen and built-in volume buttons.
• SOOMFON 5.3's biggest trade-off: it's a powered desktop accessory (DC/USB-C power), has no microphone, doesn't work with Alexa/Echo devices or hearing aids, and its volume control isn't independent for the two connected devices.
• TPVision Philips TAT1219's biggest strength: it's a self-contained pair of true wireless earbuds with 10 mm dynamic drivers, a dynamic bass tap control, an AI microphone for calls, IPX4 sweat resistance and up to 18 hours total playtime with the case.
• TPVision Philips TAT1219's biggest trade-off: it only works as a personal listening device over a 10 m Bluetooth range, with a 1-year limited warranty and no wired jack.
• Pick SOOMFON 5.3 if you want to share TV audio with a partner or route old gear to wireless headphones.
• Pick TPVision Philips TAT1219 if you want earbuds that go in your pocket and come out for runs, commutes and phone calls.
The SOOMFON 5.3 (model BT17) is not a pair of earbuds. It's a small blue ABS box — roughly 3.31" long, 0.43" wide and 1.3" high, weighing 72 g — that sits near your TV, PC, MP3 player or home stereo and converts wired audio into Bluetooth. You feed it through Optical, 3.5 mm AUX or RCA, and it transmits to Bluetooth headphones, speakers or soundbars. It also handles receiver duty, so the same box can pull Bluetooth audio into a non-Bluetooth speaker system. The headline feature is dual connection: two Bluetooth headsets or speakers can run at once, and after the first pairing they reconnect automatically. For a couple watching late-night TV without waking anyone, that's the whole point of the device.
Who should buy it: anyone with a non-Bluetooth TV, older receiver, PC or MP3 player who wants to use wireless headphones, or two people who want to listen to the same source privately. Who should skip it: musicians and karaoke singers (no microphone), Alexa/Echo Dot and hearing-aid users (explicitly unsupported), anyone with a device that demands a PIN for pairing, and anyone expecting per-headphone volume trimming — the volume control is shared between the two connected devices. One setup note worth remembering: if you connect over optical, set your TV's audio output to PCM.
TPVision Philips TAT1219: Who It's For
The Philips TAT1219 is a conventional true wireless earbud package — black in-ear buds, textured silicone tips, and a pocket-sized charging case measuring about 5.8 cm wide, 3.59 cm long and 2.52 cm tall. Inside each bud is a 10 mm dynamic driver covering 20 Hz–20,000 Hz, with 16 ohm impedance and 97 dB sensitivity, which tells you these are easy to drive from a phone. A tap on the left earbud activates the dynamic bass boost, so you can add low-end weight at lower volumes without reaching for an equalizer. The tuning is clearly aimed at pop, hip-hop, podcasts and gym playlists rather than studio monitoring.
The practical numbers matter here. Battery life is 6 hours per charge with another 12 hours in the case, for 18 hours total — Philips frames that as over 360 songs or a full day out — and a 15-minute top-up buys an extra hour. Charging the case fully takes about 2 hours. Bluetooth 5.3 handles the wireless link with a rated 10 m range, which is normal for earbuds and fine for a phone in your pocket or a laptop on your desk. The AI microphone filters background noise on calls, an area where cheap earbuds usually fall apart. IPX4 means sweat and light rain are survivable, and the ergonomic shape plus grippy silicone tips is designed to stay put when you're moving.
Who should buy it: commuters, gym-goers, runners and anyone who takes a lot of calls and wants bass-forward sound with touch controls and no wires. Who should skip it: people who need to connect two headphones to one TV, anyone who wants a wired option (there's no jack), listeners who prefer a neutral, analytical sound signature, and buyers who want a longer warranty than the 1-year limited manufacturer coverage.
• Best for sharing TV audio with a partner → SOOMFON 5.3. Two headsets connect at once with automatic reconnection.
• Best for movies and gaming on a big screen → SOOMFON 5.3. It's built to sit in the audio chain of a TV or PC, not on your head.
• Best for commuting, running and workouts → TPVision Philips TAT1219. IPX4, silicone tips and an 18-hour case make it a portable pick.
• Best for phone calls → TPVision Philips TAT1219. The AI microphone is designed to cut background noise; the SOOMFON has no mic at all.
• Best for bass-heavy music → TPVision Philips TAT1219. Tap-controlled dynamic bass with 10 mm drivers.
• Best for households with older, non-Bluetooth gear → SOOMFON 5.3. Optical, AUX and RCA inputs cover TVs, stereos and MP3 players.
• Best for people who hate charging → SOOMFON 5.3. It runs from DC power, so there's no battery to babysit.
• Best for a single, self-contained purchase → TPVision Philips TAT1219. Everything you need is in the box; no cables to your TV, no setup mode to learn.
If I had to pick one for myself, it depends entirely on what's missing in your setup — but since you're asking for a call, here it is. In my opinion, the SOOMFON 5.3 is the more useful purchase for the average household, because it solves a problem most people actually have: a good TV or stereo that can't talk to wireless headphones, and a partner who doesn't want to hear your show. I'd buy the TAT1219 instead if my priority were personal listening on the move, where its drivers, mic and water resistance make far more sense. Match the tool to the job and neither one disappoints.
FAQ
The TAT1219 is the only one with a battery — 6 hours per charge plus 12 in the case, 18 hours total, with a 15-minute quick charge adding an hour. The SOOMFON 5.3 plugs into DC power, so it doesn't rely on a battery at all.
Yes, in principle — the SOOMFON transmits Bluetooth audio, and the TAT1219 receives it, so you could pair them for TV listening. Remember to set an optical TV output to PCM and note that volume is shared across both connected devices.
I can't quote prices here, and both are budget-friendly categories rather than premium ones. Check the current price on Amazon for each and compare against what you actually need — a TV audio fix or portable earbuds.
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