Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport Review – Reasons to be Cheerful, Pt. II

Klipsch T5 II: No doubt weakened by a half-dozen Old Fashioneds, I could not resist picking up this (nominally $229) set for $99. (Amazon and alcohol is a dangerous combination, kids). Packaging and accessories are commensurate with the price tag; numerous tip and ear wing selections guarantee good seal and stable fit, although the included foams are oddly tiny.

Build quality is solid, but not premium. Despite the relatively compact, form-fitting earpieces, comfort isn’t as great as expected—you feel the balance of their weight outside the ear.

In contrast to the cool, compact Zippo-style charging case on the non-Sport T5, the waterproof case on the Sport is bulky and a bit of a pain to open, close and charge, although it does look as rugged as promised. Pairing is immediate but the Bluetooth has limited range and struggles through walls.

Call and mic quality are very good, with-class leading clarity. Unlike most of its price peers, there’s no ANC; however passive isolation is pretty good and the transparency mode actually works well. 8 hour battery is better than Sony/Samsung/Apple. Physical control buttons are reliable and control scheme is relatively logical, although I’d prefer mirrored controls on each earpiece.

The Klipsch app lacks some advanced features like control customization, multipoint pairing, etc., and the presets are odd-sounding; however the buds respond very well to the six band EQ.

The Klipsch T5 II present a bright, treble-focused signature across a fairly wide, low-ceilinged stage; instruments are cleanly-separated but imaging and layering are curious, with most of the musicians being placed towards the middle. Notes have leanish, crisp  texture and low-level detail is very good.

Unless unduly boosted in the app, low end is more restrained and tighter than expected; there’s no bleed or bloom into the higher frequencies but it can sound a bit dry. Mids are forward and punchy; male voices have a lot of presence (these are especially good with video and podcasts). Treble is extremely extended by TWS standards and little nuances like handclaps or tambourine jangles are well-captured, although the mid-treble can sound a bit peaky. 

Technicalities are otherwise very good on the T5 II—they’re coherent and highly resolving; transients are speedy and they can play loud without distortion. For all that, they can come off as a bit clinical—their atypical transparency makes bad recordings sound bad, and they lack the unforced naturalness of the warmer, smoother Cambridge Melomania or Sony XM3.  

Compared to my current workout set, the Powerbeats Pro, the Klipsch T5 II are more coherent, isolate much better, have better-controlled bass and even more high-end detail, while the Beats have a more holographic stage and better imaging.

As others have opined, the T5 II occupy something of a middle ground in the TWS universe, which is to say they lack some of the technical bells and whistles of other premium-priced models and (despite Klipsch’s venerable history) don’t have the audiophile headphone cachet of a Sennheiser or a Grado.

That said, these are the best TWS I’ve heard at this type of revealing, etched signature—they’re the Bluetooth equivalent of a Etymotic or Beyerdynamic. That I prefer a beefier, bassier sound shouldn’t discourage you more refined types from grabbing them, especially on deep discount.

Thanks for reading.

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I bought the Klipsch T5 II myself.

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