The Klipsch T5 II True Wireless ANC are premium in-ears jam-packed with unique features that help them stand out from the pack. They have built-in Bragi Moves, which is a feature that allows you to register commands using head movements. They also have Dirac HD Sound technology, which is advertised to optimize their audio reproduction. Their companion app offers a graphic EQ and presets to adjust their bass-heavy sound to your liking too, and they have an active noise cancelling (ANC) system to help block out background sounds. However, their ANC has sub-par overall performance, and they struggle to block out bass-range noise like bus engines.
Our Verdict
The Klipsch T5 II ANC are alright for neutral sound. Out of the box, they have a bass-heavy sound profile that delivers extra boom to your mixes while sibilants like cymbals are dull. Vocals and lead instruments are reproduced fairly clearly, though. If you're looking for a more neutral sound, their companion app has a graphic EQ and presets that you can use to adjust their sound to suit your tastes.
- Graphic EQ and presets available via companion app.
- Bad passive soundstage.
The Klipsch T5 II ANC are decent for commute and travel. They're fairly small, lightweight, and feel well-built. However, some users may not like their deep in-ear fit. Their ANC also struggles to block out the low rumble of bus or plane engines, and their continuous battery life of under five hours may not be enough for long trips. On the upside, their carrying case holds roughly three additional charges.
- Good build quality with stable, breathable fit.
- ANC struggles to block out bass-range noise.
The Klipsch T5 II ANC are great for sports and fitness. These in-ears have a small and lightweight design, which makes it easy to take them with you on the go. They have a well-built design and are rated IPX4 for water resistance, although we don't currently test for this. Unfortunately, some users may not find their deep in-ear fit very comfortable, and they lack stability fins, meaning they could fall out with more intense movement.
- Good build quality with stable, breathable fit.
- Great controls.
- Bad passive soundstage.
The Klipsch T5 II ANC are okay for office use. They have a well-built design and don't leak very much audio, so it's unlikely that you may disturb others around you when listening to audio at high volumes. While their ANC struggles to cut down bass-range noise, it can help block out ambient chatter. Unfortunately, some users may find their deep in-ear fit to be less than comfortable. Their 4.8-hour continuous battery life also may not be enough to get you through your day without pausing to recharge them.
- ANC can reduce ambient chatter.
- Good build quality with stable, breathable fit.
- Bad passive soundstage.
- No multi-device pairing.
The Klipsch T5 II ANC aren't recommended for wireless gaming. While you can connect them to a Bluetooth-enabled PC, the latency is likely to be too high for gaming. They also aren't compatible with Xbox or PlayStation consoles.
The Klipsch T5 II True Wireless ANC are Bluetooth-only headphones and you can't use them wired.
The Klipsch T5 II ANC are mediocre for phone calls. They have an integrated mic, and it does a mediocre job of recording speech, resulting in your voice sounding thin, muffled, and lacking detail. The mic also struggles to separate speech from moderate ambient noise, so if you're taking a call in a loud environment like a busy street, your voice may be drowned out. Unfortunately, while the earbuds have ANC, they still struggle to block out ambient sound like the rumble of bus engines.
- Good build quality with stable, breathable fit.
- Great controls.
- No multi-device pairing.
- Mediocre noise handling.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Klipsch T5 II True Wireless ANC come in three color variants: 'Gun Metal', 'Silver', and 'Copper'. We tested the Gun Metal variant, and you can see our model's label here. There's also a 'McLaren Edition', which have a racing tire design on their case and feature McLaren's signature black and orange color scheme.
If you come across another variant, please let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Klipsch T5 II ANC are in-ears packed with a few unique features. They have built-in Bragi Moves, which allows you to use head gestures to register commands like answering a call. They also support Dirac HD Sound technology, which is advertised as an audio enhancement feature that optimizes the headphones' sound profile by correcting impulse and magnitude frequency response as well as improving audio staging, clarity, bass response, and speech intelligibility. These in-ears have active noise cancelling (ANC) too. However, it only offers a sub-par performance, and the headphones struggle to block out bass-range noise like the rumble of bus engines.
Check out our recommendations for the best wireless Bluetooth earbuds, the best noise cancelling earbuds and in-ear headphones, and the best noise cancelling headphones.
The Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport are the sports-oriented variant of the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless ANC. The Sport have a more comfortable and stable fit. They're also rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, although we don't currently test for this and can isolate you from more ambient noise passively. However, the ANC are more jam-packed with extra features such as built-in Bragi Moves, which allows you to control the headphones using head movements. They're also better-built and have an ANC system, though it struggles to block out bass-range noise.
The Klipsch T5 II True Wireless ANC are better headphones than the Klipsch T5 True Wireless. While both headphones are fairly comfortable, the II have a more neutral default sound profile, which some users may prefer, a companion app that offers a graphic EQ and presets so that you can adjust their sound to your liking, and ANC, although it offers just an okay overall performance. They also have extra features like built-in Bragi Moves, which allows you to register commands using head movements. However, the T5 have a better battery performance.
The Apple AirPods Pro are better headphones than the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless ANC. The Apple are more comfortable and feel better built. They also have a more neutral default sound profile, which some users may prefer, a significantly better noise isolation performance, and an H1 chip to seamlessly pair them to your Apple devices. However, the Klipsch have unique features like built-in Bragi Moves, which allows you to register commands using head movements. They also have a companion app that offers graphic EQ and presets so you can adjust their sound to your liking.
The Sony WF-1000XM3 Truly Wireless are better in-ears than the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless ANC. The Sony are more comfortable, better built, and have a more neutral default sound profile, which some users may prefer. They also have a better noise isolation performance, have a longer continuous battery life, and support NFC pairing. However, the Klipsch support unique extra features built-in Bragi Moves, which allows you to register commands by making head gestures. They also support Dirac HD sound technology, which is advertised to enhance the headphones' sound profile. However, we don't currently test the performance of either feature.
The Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 True Wireless and the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless ANC have different strengths, and you may prefer either pair. The Bowers & Wilkins are better built, have a more stable fit, and a significantly better noise isolation performance. They also support a wide range of codecs such as aptX-LL and aptX HD, and you can use their carrying case as a wireless transmitter. However, the Klipsch have a more neutral default sound profile, which some users may prefer, as well as a companion app with a graphic EQ and presets so that you can customize their sound to your preferences. They also have a better battery performance and have unique additional features like built-in Bragi Moves, which allows you to register commands using head movements.
The Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 2 and the Klipsch T5 True Wireless ANC have different strengths, and you may prefer either one. While both headphones are comfortable, the Sennheiser are better built and have a more stable in-ear fit. They're also able to isolate you from more background noise. The Klipsch have a more neutral default sound profile, which some users may prefer, and their overall battery performance is better. They also have features like built-in Bragi Moves, which allows you to register commands with head gestures, and they support Dirac HD sound technology, which is advertised to enhance the headphones' sound profile. However, we don't currently test the performance of these features.
We've upgraded our Headphones Test Bench to 2.0! This update brings several key changes to our tests and usages, making it easier than ever to interpret our sound results based on your personal preferences. You'll also find a brand-new interactive graph tool featuring multiple targets (including our own!) for you to explore and compare.
For a full breakdown, check out our changelog, which includes detailed commentary from our test designer explaining the rationale behind our update.
We'd also love to hear your thoughts: your feedback helps us keep improving, so join us in the comments!
Test Results
The Klipsch T5 II ANC look similar to the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport with round casings and a silver manufacturer's logo on each earbud. However, they also have a somewhat bulky design and stick out of your ears a bit. They come in three different colors: 'Gun Metal', 'Copper', and 'Silver'. You can also purchase them in a 'McLaren Edition' variant, which uses a black and orange color scheme.
The Klipsch T5 II ANC have a fairly comfortable fit. They come in six different sizes of silicone ear tips and don't put too much pressure on your ears. However, they have a very deep fit, which some users may not like. Using the controls can also put a bit of pressure on your ears.
The Klipsch T5 II True Wireless ANC have great controls. There are voice prompts when turning them on or off, when pairing, and when using transparency mode. There are also beeps to let you know how many clicks were registered. However, there are a lot of different commands to remember, and the buttons feel mushy and flimsy. That said, these earbuds also have built-in Bragi Moves, which is a feature that allows you to register commands using head movements. While we didn't test this feature out, you can access it via the companion app.
On either bud:
- One-second press: Turns the headphones on.
- One click and one-second press: Turns the headphones off.
- Three-second hold: Puts the headphones in pairing mode.
On the left earbud:
- One click: Cycles between transparency mode on, off, and ANC.
- Two clicks: Raises the volume when there's audio playing.
- Three clicks: Lowers the volume when there's audio playing.
On the right earbud:
- One click: Play or pause audio and answer calls. During calls, this command mutes the mic.
- Two clicks: Fast forward through audio.
- Three clicks: Rewind track through audio.
- One-second hold: Activates voice assistant. During a call, this command ends the call.
You can also use one earbud at a time but the controls are more limited:
- One click: Plays or pauses audio and answers calls. If you're in a call, this command also mutes your mic.
- Two clicks: Activates voice assistant or ends calls.
These headphones have a very breathable fit. They don't really trap heat in or around your ear. You shouldn't sweat more than usual while wearing them, even if you're doing moderate physical activity.
The Klipsch T5 II ANC are outstandingly portable. Their truly wireless design makes them very small, and they can easily fit in most pockets without an issue. Their carrying case should fit into most pockets or bags.
The Klipsch T5 II ANC's carrying case is great. It's a bit heavy as it has a metal casing but is similar in design to the Klipsch T5 True Wireless. There are three LED lights to indicate battery life. The silicone bottom is meant to help the case stand upright as it can only wirelessly charge when oriented in this position.
The Klipsch T5 II ANC have a good build quality. The buds are mostly made of plastic, while the carrying case has a metal casing, making them look sleek and durable. They should survive accidental drops without too much of an issue. The buds are also rated IPX4 for water resistance, although we don't currently test for this. However, the buttons on the earbuds feel a bit flimsy.
The Klipsch T5 II ANC have decent stability. They aren't the most stable, especially as they have a weird in-ear fit and lack stability fins to help keep them in your ears. However, once you get a good seal, they should stay in your ears during more casual listening sessions. If you're looking for more stable Klipsch earbuds, consider the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport instead.
- Klipsch T5 II ANC headphones
- 6x silicone ear tips
- Charging case
- USB-C to USB-C charging cable
- USB-C to USB-A adapter
- Manuals
The Klipsch T5 II ANC have a bass-heavy sound profile that delivers extra boom to your mixes, which should please fans of EDM and hip-hop. If you prefer a different sound, their companion app offers a graphic EQ so that you can adjust their sound to your liking.
Note: Our model's left and right driver are mismatched in the bass range. However, this may be unique to our model.
The Klipsch T5 II ANC have good frequency response consistency. They're prone to inconsistencies in bass delivery, and you may notice deviations if you don't form a good seal. On the upside, their treble delivery is much more consistent.
The bass accuracy is good. It's overemphasized across the range, resulting in extra thump, rumble, and boom in your mixes. However, some users may find they sound very muddy.
The Klipsch T5 II ANC's mid accuracy is great. There's a bit of overemphasis from the bass range that extends into the low-mid, resulting in a slightly cluttered sound. A dip in the mid-mid nudges vocals and lead instruments to the back of the mix. That said, the high-mid is very flat and neutral, so vocals and lead instruments are clear and detailed.
The Klipsch T5 II ANC's treble accuracy is good. The low-treble is slightly overemphasized, brightening vocals and lead instruments. A dip in the mid-treble dulls sibilants like S and T sounds, though.
The peaks and dips performance is good. There's a bit of a discrepancy between the left and right driver in the bass range, so there's a peak in the left driver's low-bass, adding thump and rumble. In contrast, a dip in the right driver's low-bass results in weak thump and rumble. A peak in the high-bass also adds a bit of boom to your mixes. In the mid-mid, a dip nudges vocals and lead instruments to the back of the mix while a couple of peaks in the low-treble brighten their upper harmonics, which could sound a bit harsh. A dip in the mid-treble also dulls sibilants like cymbals.
The Klipsch T5 II ANC's imaging performance is excellent. Their group delay falls below the audibility threshold, resulting in tight bass and transparent treble. While the L/R drivers are well-matched in amplitude, there's some mismatch present in phase and frequency response, which can affect the placement of objects like footsteps in the stereo image. It can also be noticeable when listening to regular audio content. However, these results are only valid for our unit, and your experience may vary.
Note: These headphones also support Dirac HD Sound technology. It's advertised to enhance their frequency response, which can improve their imaging performance. You can see a comparison of the imaging performance when this feature is on and off here.
The Klipsch T5 II ANC's passive soundstage is bad, which is to be expected from in-ear headphones. By design, sound doesn't interact with your outer ear at all, which is one of the key factors in creating a wide passive soundstage. As a result, audio is perceived as coming from inside your head rather than from speakers placed in the room around you.
The Klipsch T5 II ANC support Dirac HD sound technology, which is advertised as an audio enhancement feature that optimizes the headphones' sound profile by correcting impulse and magnitude frequency response. It's also advertised to improve audio staging, clarity, bass fidelity, and speech intelligibility. You can see the difference in performance between Dirac HD Sound on and off here. However, we don't consider this to be a virtual surround feature.
The Klipsch T5 II ANC's weighted harmonic distortion performance is very good. All frequencies fall within good limits at both moderate and high volumes, resulting in clean and pure audio reproduction.
These are the settings used to test the Klipsch T5 II ANC. Our results are only valid when used in this configuration.
The Klipsch T5 II ANC have a disappointing noise isolation performance. Unfortunately, the active noise cancelling (ANC) system doesn't offer a significantly better noise isolation performance than the earbuds' passive isolation capabilities. As a result, they struggle to block out the low rumble of bus and plane engines, which can be annoying if you commute a lot. On the upside, they do a better job of reducing ambient chatter as well as the high-pitched hum of an AC unit.
These headphones have an excellent leakage performance. The leakage is mostly concentrated in the treble range, but it sounds very thin. If you like to listen to your audio at high volumes, it shouldn't be too audible to those around you.
The recording quality of the Klipsch T5 II ANC's integrated microphone is acceptable. Your voice is understandable, but it sounds thin, muffled, and lacking in detail.
The microphone's recording quality is passable. The mic struggles to separate your voice from moderate ambient noise around you. If you're taking a call from a noisy place like a busy street, your voice may get lost.
The Klipsch T5 II ANC have a fair battery performance. They're advertised to last five hours continuously with the ANC on, and we measured just a little less than that. Their carrying case also holds roughly three additional charges if you need it, and you can use one bud while the other one charges. That said, battery life can vary depending on usage, so your real-life experience may vary.
Note: These headphones are equipped with an auto-off timer. However, the manual doesn't specify how long it takes for the headphones to turn off. During our tests, we noticed that they would disconnect and turn off if the headphones hadn't been moved for one to two hours. However, you shouldn't experience this issue as long as you have them in your ears during this time.
The Klipsch Connect app is great. It offers a six-band graphic EQ as well as presets so that you can adjust their sound to your liking, turn on or off transparency mode and ANC, remap controls, and view each bud's battery life. You can also name the earbuds, turn on or off Dirac HD, and update the app's firmware.
The Klipsch T5 II True Wireless ANC also have built-in Bragi Moves, which allows you to control certain aspects of the earbuds with head movements. The app allows you to turn on and off gestures like head nodding three times to accept a call in the 'Interaction' tab.
The Klipsch T5 II ANC have okay Bluetooth connectivity. Unfortunately, they don't support multi-device or NFC pairing. They also have high latency on PC, iOS, and Android devices, which may be a bit annoying if you like to stream video. However, some apps and devices compensate for latency differently, so your real-world experience may vary.
These headphones come with a USB-C to USB-C cable for charging their carrying case, as well as a USB-A adapter. However, you can't use these headphones wired.
The Klipsch T5 II ANC are truly wireless headphones that you can only use with Bluetooth-enabled PCs. They can't connect to PCs in any other way.
The Klipsch T5 II ANC come with a carrying case that holds roughly three additional charges. It only has a USB-C port to charge the case.
The case also supports wireless charging. However, it needs to be placed upright on its silicone base in order to properly work.