The Klipsch T5 are unique-looking truly wireless headphones that have a weirdly long stalk that enters your ear canal. They might not be the most comfortable headphones, but they're still a decent option for people looking for wireless headphones with an excited, V-shaped sound profile. The battery life on a single charge is quite impressive for truly wireless headphones, and they come with a very nice charging case.
Note: We had issues with the fit of these headphones on our measurement equipment, which resulted in odd-looking results. In this review, we give our subjective impression of their sound, but a colleague couldn't get them to fit in his ears and thinks the measurements below could be representative for a user who can't find a good fit.
Our Verdict
The Klipsch T5 are just passable for mixed usage. These headphones have a very long stalk design that enters the ear quite deeply, which isn't the most comfortable to wear for long periods. They have an exciting, V-shaped sound profile if you get a good fit, which won't satisfy critical listeners looking for a neutral sound. They're also only rated IPX4, which isn't that great for sports. They can have decent isolation performance with a good fit, and their 8-hour battery life on a single charge is what makes them stand apart.
- Great looking charging case.
- Great single charge battery life for truly wireless headphones.
- Well-built design.
- Sub-par microphone performance.
- Enters the ear canal deeply; even more than typical in-ears.
- No customization options.
- Very high wireless latency.
The Klipsch T5 are sub-par for neutral sound. This score is influenced by the poor results during our testing procedure due to the poor fit. We don't think the Klipsch T5 are that bad-sounding, but they do seem to have a more excited, V-shaped sound that wouldn't be great for neutral listening. Also, if you're prone to getting seal issues with in-ears, these probably won't be any different.
The Klipsch T5 are alright for commuting. If you can get a good seal, you can probably isolate even more noise than what we measured, although they aren't the most comfortable. Their single charge battery life is quite good and will be more than enough for your daily commute, but might be a bit short for long flights. On the upside, they're easily portable and come with a very good case.
The Klipsch T5 are good for sports. Thanks to their portable and breathable design, these headphones can be used for physical activity, although better options are available. They're only rated IPX4 for water resistance, which isn't that great for sports headphones.
The Klipsch T5 are acceptable for the office. They aren't the most comfortable to wear for a full workday, but their battery life should last all day, especially if you charge them during your lunchtime.
The Klipsch T5 are bad for wireless gaming. These Bluetooth headphones have very high latency and won't be a good option for gaming.
You can't use the Klipsch T5 wired.
The Klipsch T5 are sub-par for making phone calls. Their microphone's recording quality is pretty disappointing, and recorded speech is muffled and lacking in detail. The mic also struggles to separate ambient noise and your voice.
Changelog
- Updated Feb 18, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
- Updated Dec 02, 2019: Review published.
- Updated Nov 25, 2019: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Nov 25, 2019: Early access published.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Klipsch T5 are uniquely designed in-ear headphones that enter your ear canal quite deeply, which isn't the most comfortable. On the upside, they have a cool-looking case and offer a lot of battery life, especially on a single charge.
See our recommendations for the best true wireless headphones, the best wireless Bluetooth earbuds, and if you're looking for something cheap, check out our best wireless earbuds under $50.
The Jabra Elite 65t Truly Wireless are better headphones than the Klipsch T5 True Wireless. They have a more traditional in-ear fit and a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer. They can also be connected to two devices simultaneously, which is helpful at the office. The passive noise isolation is also quite impressive. On the other hand, if you want longer battery life on a single charge, then the Klipsch T5 have the upper hand.
The Bose SoundSport Free Truly Wireless are better than the Klipsch T5 True Wireless. The Bose have a more neutral-sounding sound profile, while the Klipsch have an excited, V-shaped sound profile. The Bose are also more comfortable thanks to their earbud-like design, while the Klipsch enter your ear canal very deep. However, the Bose are semi-open, which means their noise isolation is practically nonexistent.
The Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless are better headphones than the Klipsch T5 True Wireless. The Sennheiser are better built and offer a more neutral sound profile than the V-shaped profile of the Klipsch. They also feel more stable in the ear, and their passive noise isolation seems to block more ambient noise. On the other hand, the Klipsch have a great battery life for truly wireless headphones.
The Sony WF-1000XM3 Truly Wireless are better truly wireless headphones than the Klipsch T5 True Wireless. Although we had fit issues with both headphones, the Sonys still perform better, with better sound quality and a noticeably better noise isolation performance thanks to their ANC feature. They also have a dedicated app that allows customization options.
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.
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