We really liked Klipsch’s original T5 True Wireless Earphones, so we’re happy to see them return in the form of the $199 T5 II, with upgrades including completely waterproof earpieces. These true wireless earphones also deliver a bass-forward sound signature that may not appeal to audiophiles, but manages to maintain a sense of balance in the mix by also sculpting the highs and not going overboard with the lows. They’re a solid followup to the original, though for $30 more, we prefer the T5 II True Wireless Sport Earphones, which have a more secure in-ear fit and come with a waterproof battery case.
A Modern Retro Design
Klipsch’s aesthetic often blends some form of retro styling with a touch of modern, and the T5 II True Wireless Earphones are no exception to this approach. Available in gunmetal or silver, the physical design of the earpieces has an almost sporty look to it, while the outer control panels are emblazoned with a large, retro Klipsch logo.
The brushed metal charging case also features the Klipsch logo prominently on its Zippo-esque contour, complete with a lid that flips open like the iconic lighter. The entire package looks classy, and would feel understated if the logos weren’t so prominent.
The earpones ship with six pairs of clear oval eartips with helpful color marking to denote size. They provide a secure fit that, unlike many in-ears we test, doesn’t require you to twist the earpieces to create a stronger seal—the Klipsch logo on the outer panel should be more or less horizontal when they are properly placed in your ear.
Various controls are divided sensibly between the two earpieces. A single tap on the left earpiece enables or disables transparency mode, while a single tap on the right controls playback. During playback, a long press on the left lowers volume or on the right raises volume, while a double press on the left navigates backward a track or skips forward on the right. A single tap on the right ear answers a call while a double tap ends it, and a double tap on the left ear mutes the mic when on a call. When no call is in progress, a double tap summons your mobile device’s voice assistant.
The charging cable is generous in length and stylish, with a sporty black fabric exterior. It terminates in USB-C on both sides, so you can charge via USB-C-only computers, but there is also an adapter for connecting the cable to USB-A ports, which is a nice, uncommon addition.
An IP67 waterproof rating is a tremendous upgrade over the previous T5, and far better than most competing models, especially those that aren’t specifically intended for sports/fitness. The previous T5 earphones, like the $250 Apple AirPods Pro, have a modest IPX4 rating, meaning they can withstand light splashes. The IP67 rating here means the earpieces are fully waterproof and can be submerged up to a meter for 30 minutes. Bluetooth signal, of course, doesn’t transmit well underwater, so this doesn’t mean you should wear them in the pool, but you can wash them off under a faucet, wear them in heavy rain, and get them sweaty without any worries. Remember the charging case isn’t waterproof, so be sure to dry the earpieces thoroughly before docking them.
Internally, 5mm dynamic drivers deliver a frequency response of 10Hz to 19kHz. The earphones are compatible with Bluetooth 5.0, and support AAC, AptX, and SBC Bluetooth codecs. There is no app or EQ, however, so what you hear is what you get.
Klipsch estimates battery life to be roughly eight hours, with 24 extra hours in the case, but your results will vary with your volume levels.
Powerful Sound
On tracks with intense sub-bass content, like The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” the T5 II True Wireless Earphones deliver a palpable low-frequency thump that will appeal to bass lovers. At top, unwise listening levels, the bass doesn’t distort, and at more moderate levels, the lows still sound powerful, though well matched by sculpted high-mids and highs.
Bill Callahan’s “Drover,” a track with far less deep bass in the mix, gives us a better sense of the general sound signature. The drums on this track sound full and round—there’s definitely bass boosting in the lows here, but things don’t veer into unnaturally thunderous territory. Callahan’s baritone vocals get an extra dose of low-mid richness, but the sculpting in the high-mids and highs allows for some crispness and definition so things never sound muddy. The acoustic strums and higher-register percussive hits receive enough presence to retain a certain level of brightness, but ultimately, this is a bass-forward sound signature. The most powerful element in the mix is the low frequency thumping of the drums, which isn’t always the case on less bass-boosted in-ears.
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On Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “No Church in the Wild,” the kick drum loop receives enough high-mid presence for its attack to retain its punchiness, but it’s the vinyl hiss and crackle that seem to take more of a step forward in the mix, implying that the high-mids and highs receive some serious sculpting rather than across-the-range boosting. The loop also gets some extra low-frequency thump, while the sub-bass synth hits that punctuate the beat are delivered with serious power, yet the subwoofer-like depth manages not to overpower the balance of the mix. This is a bass-forward sound, but with solid high-frequency clarity to balance things out, so the vocals are bright and crisp, but don’t have much added sibilance.
Orchestral tracks, like the opening scene from John Adams’ The Gospel According to the Other Mary, sound pretty natural through the T5 II True Wireless. The higher-register brass, strings, and vocals retain their bright place in the spotlight, and the bass-forward sound signature feels more natural here, where the sub-bass isn’t dialed up. The result is lower-register instrumentation that takes a step forward in the mix, but only slightly. Especially on jazz and classical recordings, the drivers here offer a full-sounding sound signature with solid balance despite the boosting and sculpting.
The four-beam-forming mic array offers solid intelligibility. Using the Voice Memos app on an iPhone, we could understand every word we recorded cleanly and clearly. There’s a little bit of Bluetooth distortion in the mix, but it’s subtle, and the mics seem to pump up the high-mids and boost the signal, which is ideal for being understood on the other end of the call.
A Close Call
Klipsch’s T5 II True Wireless Earphones are a nice improvement over the original, with an impressive IP67 rating for fully wateproof earpieces. If you want a bass-forward sound signature that still has solid clarity, you won’t be disappointed. In the $200-and-below range, we’re also fans of the $170 JBL True Wireless Flash X (a gym-focused pair with an IPX7 rating) and the $200 Sennheiser CX 400BT (not for the gym, but for those seeking top-notch audio quality). The T5 II True Wireless Earphones are worth considering in a crowded field of solid options, but our preference is for the aforementioned Sport model, which adds a waterproof charging case and a stronger in-ear fit that’s better for working out.
