It's in the title ;)
So there are plenty of units our there, but I'm looking for something that I can use with at 3~5 headsets without having 3-5 base transmitters. I guess a base station for charging would be OK.
Bonus if they can be used generically with BT etc.
All else fails I guess I can try a raspberry pi with a usb sound card + some bluetooth headset + some creativity.
PS. Price wise hoping for $<50 per head
Bluetooth is strictly a 1 to 1 protocol. Due to encryption and security, you cannot have multiple bluetooth devices receiving information from the same data source at the same time. For bluetooth multi-casting to work, you may need some very specific hardware, but I don't know of any. A similar question has been asked here
However, they are windows applications that can act as a server, and then use audio cast protocol via Wifi connection
You'll probably need Soundwire app on your phone and the Server app on the computer. People who want to listen in to the audio will need to connect their headphones to their own smartphone and will be able to listen to the same sound source.
SENNHEISR HDR170 is a solution to your requirement . I know for sure that one base station will support atleast 2 headphones not sure if you can add more to single base station. I am using those and they are awesome. Plus they work with WIFI 2.5 GHz channel works seamlessly when you are walking around the rooms with these on.
Updated:
The RS 170 utilises Kleer uncompressed digital wireless audio transmission and can serve up to four pairs of headphones
J
As I mentioned in my other comment, check out RS 165/175/185.
Looks like all the newer models only support 2 headsets. :(
Also price is creeping up well above $100/head.
Yep, that's what I use. Initially bought an ex-demo RS 170 for a good price, then later got an additional RS180 headset only. Have had no issues using both of them at the same time.
There's also an RS 160 and the newer 165/175/185. All have slightly different features but the 180/185 has an open design, so better / more natural sound, but also leakage and no isolation from external noise that you get from closed cans.
I have to say, listening to music on the RS 180 is fantastic. It's been on the market forever, but still sounds better than any high-end bluetooth headphone available today. I can't say the same about the closed-back RS 170 though.
Could you get one of these: Belkin rockstar and
3 -4 of these; Bluetooth Transmitter and then just have each one pair to each headset?
(Guess I should close the loop here. =)
Ended up getting some IR ones from Aliexpress:
4 Headset setup for AU$ 121.67 back in Oct 2018. Still going strong and could easily get more headsets if needed.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32832887326.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32830876844.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32665279043.html
Don't use them personally so can't tell you which headsets are the better design.
(https://www.lifewire.com/connect-bluetooth-headphones-to-tv-…)
Gives you a few points that look like it would achieve what you want