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Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport Review

For many users, music during sports is a must, so the market has a number of products specially optimised for this application. These include the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport, which is also ideal for more relaxed outdoor activities.

The Klipsch company has been developing headphones since 2007 and has thus been considered a proven specialist in this field for years. This is once again demonstrated with the latest generation of in-ear headphones, the Klipsch T5 II Series, including the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport. Alongside loudspeaker systems and soundbars, headphones have long been part of the core business of the US company.

What is most exciting is that Klipsch has so far succeeded very well in perfectly combining two essential factors in the highly competitive business field of headphones, namely embodying a very special lifestyle while at the same time focusing on high quality.

They serve a diverse target group, not least because the Klipsch T 5 II Series is very broadly positioned. The Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport is of course – nomen est omen – the sportiest of the True Wireless in-ear headphones from Klipsch.

Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport – free from cables

In the past, Klipsch usually offered in-ear headphones that were specially designed for sports, but the latest Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport is still something special, because for the first time, there are no cables at all.

Even if wireless has long been used as a buzzword for headphones in general, and thus also for in-ear headphones, the solutions from Klipsch, which were specially designed for sports, also relied on a so-called neckband. The in-ear headphones were therefore not completely free of cables, although this had quite practical advantages as well as technical aspects.

A neckband of this kind naturally offered the developers more room to accommodate the corresponding electronics, the antennas for signal transmission via Bluetooth and the battery. For the user, the neckband meant that the headphones did not have to be in the ear all the time, but could simply hang loosely around the neck.

This is an advantage that should not be underestimated, especially when it comes to sports, even for a leisurely walk or a day at the beach.

With the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport, this is completely different, as there are no cables at all, including the aforementioned neckband.

This will please users who are irritated by a neckband and really want full freedom of movement without cables, but it also means that the headphones should be stowed away securely when not in use, even for a short time.

Absolutely secure hold paired with high wearing comfort

Since the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport do not have any “security” in the form of a neckband, it is immensely important that the in-ear headphones hold securely in the ear under all circumstances. Even when the workout is a little more intense.

Even with the “normal” models, the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless, the developers at Klipsch have solved this in a very elegant way.

The headphones have housings that seem comparatively large, but are ultimately designed to fit almost exactly in the ear cup. Only a cylinder with the earmould pieces protrudes into the ear canal itself.

Of course, the scope of delivery includes many such earmoulds in various sizes, whereby it is noticeable that they are all oval. Klipsch states that the user’s auditory canal is not round, but oval, so it is advisable for the best possible fit that the earmoulds are also oval. An elegant approach that has been patented.

Small, Small+, Medium, Medium+, Large and Large+ are the six sizes found in the package, all of which are made of dermatologically compatible silicone. The manufacturer itself calls them Oval Comfort Fit Ear Tips. There should really be the right variant for every user to guarantee the best possible fit.

One plus point should be mentioned in this context: Klipsch marks the different ear tips in different colours, which makes it much easier to fit them in pairs, especially for those sizes that are quite close together.

But that’s not all, the package also includes other utensils that serve to ensure a secure, comfortable fit, namely so-called Snug-fit Ear Wings, also made of silicone. These are available in three different sizes and clamp the earplugs firmly into the user’s ear cup.

Even if this sounds very martial, it is still a very comfortable solution, where, if you choose the right size, nothing presses or pinches, even if you use the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport for quite a long time.

Powerful sound

Klipsch has already proven in the past that it knows how to develop outstanding headphones, and the elegant brother of the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport, the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless, was also able to completely convince us in our extensive test. It is therefore clear that the sporty twin is also in the premium segment, and this much can already be revealed at this point.

The basis for the impeccable sound is provided by Klipsch Dynamic Moving Coil Micro Speakers, which, simply put, use the same principle that is found in an MC pick-up system, but with a reversed mode of operation. Another special feature is the particularly thin diaphragm. It has a diameter of 5 mm, but its wall thickness is only 3 µm. The manufacturer speaks of a high-resolution diaphragm with a powerful drive, whereby the driver – Klipsch also calls this a High Clarity Dynamic Driver – is actually located in the small cylinder that is inserted into the ear canal from the housing. The rest of the housing, for the sake of completeness, is taken up by the electronics and above all the battery.

The manufacturer describes the sound character as very clear with a solid bass foundation, whereby the frequency response, which is specified as 10 Hz to 19 kHz, is ultimately limited by the signal transmission via Bluetooth.

Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport im Test 21

Bluetooth 5.0

Bluetooth 5.0 from the specialist Qualcomm is used for this signal transmission, whereby the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport supports the audio codecs SBC, AAC and aptX in addition to the profiles A2DP 1.3, AVRCP 1.6, HSP 1.2 and HFP 1.7. Unfortunately, aptX HD or LDAC are not available.

Smartphones with Apple iOS therefore use AAC, while smartphones with Google Android and portable audio players can rely on aptX. In both cases, one can speak of “CD quality”.

To guarantee reliable “contact” with the source device at all times, Klipsch relies on particularly sophisticated antennas, which are located on the outside of the housing and which Klipsch itself calls the Signal-boost Antenna and praises as the best in its class.

Hands-free function and voice assistants

Of course, the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport are equipped with integrated microphones, so you can make phone calls on the go at any time, as well as access voice assistants, be it Apple Siri, or Google Assistant.

Klipsch uses four microphones, the so-called cVc 8.0 microphones, which are supposed to provide the best possible voice quality free of noise. Beamforming microphones with Clear Voice Chat are the keyword for marketing.

Endurance runner

If you’re going to be sporty, then do it properly! And when it comes to endurance, the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport is right up there with the best…

The integrated battery “only” has a capacity of 50 mAh, but this is enough for a playing time of up to eight hours. Very few people will do such a long workout, but at least you don’t have to recharge the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport every day. And a relaxed day with music enjoyment for many hours is guaranteed.

Especially since a transport box is also included, which once again functions as a so-called power bank, i.e. it has a battery with 360 mAh, so that a total playing time of up to 24 hours away from the socket is achieved.

Simple handling?

Of course, the developers wanted the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport to be as simple to use as possible. As we found out, this worked to a large extent.

Pairing with the source device is of course no problem at all, as is the daily start-up, because as soon as you take the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport out of the box, they are already paired with the smartphone. In a pinch, it is enough to press and hold the two buttons for four seconds, then the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport are switched on. Pressing for another four seconds switches them off again.

It is a little more difficult to remember the various combinations for the different functions, which can all be called up via a sensor button panel on the outside of the earplugs.

There is not only a distinction between the left and right earbud, but also short or long presses to access different functions such as playback control, answering and ending phone calls, etc., or to control the volume. There are also short double clicks.

Honestly, we had to consult the manual quite often and still only remembered the most important functions…

Only the so-called Transparency Mode is really easy to activate and deactivate, and that’s a good thing. This means that you are not completely shielded from the outside world; the integrated microphones are used for this purpose. The fact is that the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport provide excellent shielding if you choose the right earpieces, you hear almost nothing of the surroundings as soon as the music is playing. This can be really dangerous when playing sports in public areas, but also when you are simply walking.

But back to the operating concept, it should be noted that there are status LEDs directly on the earphones as well as on the transport case. Depending on the operating status, the status LEDs light up red or blue or flash in the corresponding colours.

The function of the status LEDs on the transport case is much clearer, because here three LEDs indicate the charging status. If they flash, first one, then two and then three, the battery is being charged until they all light up constantly. Then the battery is fully charged, which even we understood right away.

Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport im Test 19Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport im Test 20

The very special transport box

By the way, we need to go into more detail about the transport box, because it really is something special.

This is already noticeable when you hold it in your hands for the first time. Not only is it extremely solid and has a special closure that makes it watertight, it also rustles like a tin full of rice.

However, it is actually a special silicate compound, specifically silicon dioxide, the so-called silica gel, which is used here in the familiar powder form. Its task is to absorb moisture. Moisture that comes from the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport when you put them directly into the box after training.

While many people in this country make fun of the fact that there are instructions in the manuals for the US market that you should not put this or that product in the microwave oven, the manual for the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport actually says that you should put parts of the transport box in the microwave oven from time to time in order to regenerate the silica gel. Mind you, not the entire box, but really only the upper insert containing the granules.

And then the transport box offers another feature that we particularly liked. Of course, you can easily charge it with a cable; there is a USB-C port on the inside and the matching cable is included in the delivery.

However, it is much more elegant to use wireless charging via Qi, which the transport box of the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport also supports.

Robustly designed for all weather conditions

But it is not only the transport box that is particularly robust, this should be mentioned explicitly in conclusion. Of course, the headphones themselves are also absolutely robust and resistant to dust and water. The Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport is certified according to IP67.

Of course there is an app

How could it be otherwise, of course there is a matching app available for the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport, the Klipsch Connect App for Apple iOS and Google Android.

This is used to install the latest firmware after purchase and also for future updates.

In addition, there are various options for adjusting the sound, such as an equaliser with various presets, the aforementioned Transparency Mode can be set up with it, and you get another option to see the charging status of the headphones.

And how is the sound?

On the positive side, we were immediately struck by the fact that Klipsch thankfully refrained from adapting the typical sound signature of their in-ear headphones for the model primarily designed for sports.

Many manufacturers tend to give their models for sports a little more punch, especially in the bass range, which is understandable in principle, as many users want this, but is ultimately still the wrong approach.

It is better to have an almost neutral tuning that allows a natural, detailed reproduction over as wide a frequency range as possible, just as the developers at Klipsch have done with the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport.

As described in the app, the user can help out a little with the help of an equaliser if he really wants more bass.

To get to the heart of the sound assessment: the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport also delivers exactly the sound that users of this brand have appreciated for years, and which the manufacturer likes to describe as legendary Klipsch sound.

Getting to the point

With the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport, Klipsch delivers a really fine in-ear headphone that is well equipped for all weather conditions and all adversities, especially for outdoor activities but also in the gym. Even though our sporting activity during testing was ultimately a leisurely tour on the eBike and we used the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport to relax on the seashore, we would like to give them a clear recommendation, everything is just right here: first and foremost the fine sound, the high wearing comfort, the solid construction for unhesitating use in all situations, and also the truly unique transport and charging box. And at some point we also internalised the key combinations…

Manufacturer:Klipsch
Distribution:Audio Tuning Vertriebs GmbH
Price:€ 229,-


HiFiBLOG Award Excellent

Even when exercising, you don’t have to do without the legendary Klipsch sound, because the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport delivers it. An impressive battery life and a high level of wearing comfort ensure that the workout can be longer and that you can jog through hills and valleys for a whole day without any problems. Clever details such as the ingenious transport box also testify to the many years of experience of the developers.


Positive

  • Virtually tiny in size and very light in weight
  • elegant, modern appearance
  • six oval-shaped earmoulds
  • three Snug-fit Ear Wings for perfect fit
  • robust
  • excellent sound
  • unique transport case
  • inductive charging

Negative

  • No aptX HD or LDAC for hi-res audio
  • Quite a few key combinations possible for control

Test environment

  • Apple iPhone 12
  • FiiO M9 High Resolution Lossless Music Player
  • TIDAL HiFi

Conclusion

SOUND
DESIGN
HANDLING
PRICE/PERFORMANCE

The Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport promises the best sound for training or outdoor activities.

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Michael Holzinger

Michael Holzinger, founder and editor-in-chief of HiFi BLOG and sempre-audio.at, has been working for years as a journalist in the fields of IT, photography, telecommunications and consumer electronics.

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