The BRAINWAVZ HM5 are good headphones for audiophiles with a bulky but comfortable design. They're well padded with spacious ear cups, and their balanced sound profile is suitable for most music genres and even movies. Unfortunately, since they're fairly large and cumbersome headphones, they won't be portable or stable enough for outdoor use, and they don't block enough noise for commuting. Their build quality also feels a bit cheap compared to other audiophile headphones in their price range.
Our Verdict
Average for mixed usage. The BRAINWAVZ HM5 are ideal for neutral sound and may be a bit too bulky for commuting or sports. They also don't block a lot of noise, so they aren't ideal to use in loud environments. On the upside, they have a well-balanced sound profile and a comfortable design that makes them a great choice for listening to music. They also have low latency for watching movies since they're wired.
- Good audio reproduction.
- Very comfortable fit.
- Poor noise isolation.
- Bulky design.
- Treble delivery varies significantly across users. Sensitive to positioning.
Good for neutral listening. The BRAINWAVZ HM5 are comfortable headphones you can wear for long listening sessions with a balanced sound profile that caters well to all genres. They have a good amount of bass that doesn't overpower instruments and vocals in the mid-range, and their treble doesn't sound overly sharp. Unfortunately, despite their large ear cups, they're closed-back headphones that can't create a soundstage as spacious as the open-back neutral listening models.
The BRAINWAVZ HM5 are below average for commuting. They're bulky and don't block enough noise for the loud environments involved in commuting. They also have no additional features, like noise cancelling or inline controls, to make commuting easier.
The BRAINWAVZ HM5 are sub-par for sports. These headphones aren't stable enough to wear during your workouts. They also have a bulky design that can hinder your movements during more strenuous physical activity.
Average for office use. The BRAINWAVZ HM5 are comfortable to wear for hours but don't block a lot of noise. They're also a bit leaky at higher volumes but should be fine at regular volume levels.
Average for gaming. The BRAINWAVZ HM5 have a balanced sound profile and a low latency wired connection. They don't have app support for customization options typical for gaming, and they aren't the most breathable headphones. They also don't have a microphone, so you can't really communicate with teammates.
Changelog
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated May 08, 2018: Review published.
- Updated May 06, 2018: Early access published.
Check Price
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The BRAINWAVZ HM5 are comfortable audiophile headphones with a slightly bulkier design than most. They're one of the more comfortable over-ears we've tested, and they deliver a balanced sound profile on par with much pricier headphones. Unfortunately, since they're closed-back headphones, they won't have the soundstage of some of the other critical listening models we've measured, and their oversized design is a bit more cumbersome to use outdoors than some of the competing closed-back models below.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
Test Results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
