Back in August, Klipsch announced the new T5 II True Wireless. There were many improvements that were made from the original T5, but the T5 II still retains the premium looking ‘Zippo-inspired’ metallic charging case. The new Klipsch T5 II True Wireless earbuds retails for S$299.
As the regular Klipsch T5 II True Wireless is almost the same as the Sport Edition, except charging case features and unboxing contents, some portions of this review will be the same as the Sport Edition review.
Unboxing
Inside the box, you will be greeted by the following items:
- Klipsch T5 II True Wireless
- Charging case
- Ear tips (6 sizes)
- USB-C to USB-C cable
- USB-C to USB-A adapter
- User manual
Tech specs
| Driver | 5.0 mm Dynamic driver |
| Frequency Response | 10 – 19,000 Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours per full charge 24 hours in charging case |
| Weight | Earbuds: 5.3g each Charging case: ~87.4g |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Supported Codecs | aptX, AAC, SBC |
| Water Resistance | IP67 |
Design, build quality and features
The new Klipsch T5 II True Wireless still uses the same brushed metal ‘Zippo-inspired’ charging case that simply exudes class. It’s really a beautiful looking case, has top notch build quality from its full metal exterior.
As for the earbuds, they are completely redesigned. They are now much smaller (Klipsch says 25%) than its predecessor which is meant to improve the fit (I will get into that later). The ‘Klipsch’ branding no longer covers the full surface of the earbuds anymore. The earbuds is mainly made from plastic but the build quality is well done. The T5 II True Wireless now comes with an IP67 water resistance rating so if you ever get caught in the rain there shouldn’t be any issues.
Controls
The T5 II True Wireless employs physical buttons for their controls. I like the buttons – they are tactile and responsive. Pressing the buttons does not cause any discomfort in my ears at all, possibly due to the the use of oval-shaped ear tips as well.
App – Klipsch Connect
There is an accompanying app called the Klipsch Connect to better your experience with the T5 II True Wireless. It lets you update the firmware, set transparency mode strength, and adjust the equaliser. The adjustment of the EQ is not as precise and freeform as what you would get with the Jaybird Vista, but adjusting the 5 columns of frequencies can result in audible changes to sound profile.
Transparency mode
Transparency mode on the T5 II True Wireless allows sounds from the outside environment in. The effect is quite natural and the microphone amplifies most of the environmental sounds like traffic and chatter more so than voices.
Battery life
Battery life is unchanged from its predecessor at 8 hours per full charge with an additional 24 hours from the charging case. This amount of battery life is should be sufficient to last a month’s use. There is no mention of fast charging capabilities. The charging case is charged via USB-C but unfortunately, there is no support for wireless charging.
Fit
The fit of the T5 II True Wireless is really much improved over the original T5 back in 2019. Although the T5 II earbuds are now smaller, they do not give you the snug kind of fit like what you will get with Sudio Fem or Harman Kardon FLY TWS. The ear tips still do most of the heavy lifting and fit as the nozzle have an extended design. The earbuds also do not protrude out of my ears.
This time, Klipsch went the extra mile to make sure that everyone is able to get a perfect fit by supplying 6 different sizes of ear tips. You now have the option of choosing a half size. I found the large ear tip to fit me the best. I am able to achieve a very good seal with the T5 II True Wireless. The oval tip ear tips does a great job at keeping the earbuds secure in my ears, and is comfortable for long hours of listening. The T5 II True Wireless also feels lightweight while wearing them.
Sound quality
The sound quality on the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless is identical to the Sports Edition variant.
Midrange continues to be the focus, and the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless earbuds sounds better than its predecessor. The mids on the T5 II True Wireless seems to be slightly more forward vs its predecessor. Vocals will take the center stage and it sounds clean and full. The level of detail and clarity in the midrange is really good as well.
The first generation T5 had warm subdued treble. In the new T5 II True Wireless, Klipsch seem to have bumped up the treble a little more bringing more sparkle on higher notes. Bass on the T5 II True Wireless is tight, impactful and controlled to not let it creep into the mids. It has enough presence for support but do not expect boomy sub-bass.
Soundstage on the T5 II True Wireless is pretty wide and track separation is also quite good. But I did find the Harman Kardon FLY TWS to be slightly better in track separation. Overall, the T5 II True Wireless has a well-balanced audio signature that is tuned to sound a little warmer for a comfortable audio experience.
Microphone quality
Microphone on the T5 II True Wireless is quite good at picking up my voice. I tested it with a loud TV playing the background, the T5 II picks up both my voice and the TV but my voice was much more prominent and forward in the recording.
Pairing, connectivity, and latency
Klipsch made improvements to the connectivity of the T5 II True Wireless by adding a signal boost antenna. Pairing is super fast and easy to setup. And the connection was strong and I did not experience any dropouts when testing it.
If you want to use just one earbud, you can use either side. The earbud will only be able to play/pause and perform call controls. If you want use both sides again, simply pop the other one in your ear and both sides will connect and sync.
There is no lag or latency when watching videos on YouTube using the app on my iPhone 11.
Conclusion
Klipsch has brought about key improvements to make the T5 II True Wireless a much better set of true wireless earbuds than its predecessor. It has got better fit, improved connectivity, nicer sound quality. At S$299, it would have been nice to see ANC as a feature as well, but as Klipsch has plans to launch a ANC version of the T5 II, they decided to leave it out. Overall, I think the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless is a great product for its sound and the unique brushed metal case. If you had been holding back on buying the first generation T5, the new and improved T5 II will surely be a better purchase.