Klipsch T5 II True Wireless ANC McLaren Edition Earphone Review

Klipsch, a brand we know better for making really great speakers, have released their first True Wireless earphones featuring active noise cancellation.

The T5 II True Wireless ANC McLaren Edition are a premium edition release from Klipsch in partnership with the McLaren F1 team and we’ve been putting them through their paces for the last couple of weeks to see how they perform.

McLaren Edition Extras

Premium edition releases will not be for everyone, but if there is someone in your life who is a big F1 fan or indeed is lucky enough to drive a McLaren car, then these earphones will make an ideal gift for them as we come into the holiday season.

On first opening the box you are presented with a booklet that highlights both companies’ technology, their synergies and a little history about the McLaren team.

The charging case for the earphones is finished in carbon fibre on the front and back with a tyre thread type pattern surrounding the case. It’s certainly unique and car enthusiasts will love the finish.

In addition to the visual touches, you also get a really nice wireless charging mat with space to charge both your phone and the charging case for the earphones. The included USB C cable is also braided in a similar black and orange pattern to the case and it all works well together.

Specs

The T5 II True Wireless ANC McLaren Edition comes with a single 5.8mm dynamic driver that looks after the sound. With ANC enabled the batteries will last 5 hours or 7 with it off. The charging case can then add another 15 or 21 hours depending on ANC. It is enough to cover most people for a few days use and the wireless charging mat makes it easy to keep the case topped up. It isn’t stellar battery life but ANC comes at a cost.

The earphones connect using Bluetooth 5.0 and in all of our testing, they connected instantly and had no drops outs at all. It was a rock-solid connection even when I was up walking around the office away from my phone.

The T5 II also offer IPX4 sweat resistance so they will be fine for use during a workout but they can’t be submerged.

There are a total of 6 beam-forming microphones included to assist with noise cancellation and voice clarity on calls.

Klipsch includes a number of different silicone ear tips so you should be able to find a size that fits you. Unfortunately, these are proprietary tips which means replacements are going to have to be bought from Klipsch and any existing tips you have will not work. This is a shame as there are some really good tips available now that provide really secure fits for wireless earphones.

Both earphones have a clickable button built in which allows you to control all the main features. I am a big fan of these tactile buttons on earphones as it prevents the accidental presses on earphones that just have a touch surfaces rather than buttons.

T5 II True Wireless ANC McLaren Edition Features

The wireless earphone market has really exploded and with so many choices available now it’s hard to stand out. Some of the McLaren Edition extras may be enough to do that for Klipsch but they haven’t stopped there.

The T5 II True Wireless ANC earphones are packed full of a host of interesting features. How useful you find some of these features will vary but it is certainly nice to see manufacturers putting some thought into how they can make the wireless earphone experience better for the user.

Active Noise Cancellation

When activated, the T5 II True Wireless ANC McLaren Edition offers up to a -25dB noise reduction in the 20Hz to 1kHz range. What that means in reality is that some lower frequency noises will be filtered out more effectively than higher pitched noises. The earphones use silicon tips which mean they get a good seal and provide passive noise cancellation just from the fit so in combination with ANC it provides a very quiet listening experience.

Like any earphones I have tried with ANC, they are not magic and some noise gets through but places where there is a constant background noise like on public transport or busy offices, if you have returned to one, will see the most impact from the noise cancellation.

In addition to ANC there is also one of the best transparency modes I have used on a set of wireless earphones. Using technology from Bragi, the earphones can swap between ANC active and transparency mode based on whether music is playing or not. I found this incredibly useful in the office as it meant I could pause the music I was listening to and not have to take the earphones out to have a conversation with someone.

Voices come through crystal clear, including your own, which is also excellent when you have to take a call. Your voice is fed back into the earphones so you sound more natural and it is far better than what you usually sound like in your own head with two earphones in.

As outside sounds are being amplified and pass through in transparency mode there is also an in built hearing protection which once it senses loud noises in your environment automatically swaps the earphones back to ANC mode.

Bragi Moves

This is a set of features that is activated by using gestures with your head. If a call comes in you can nod your head in an affirmative action to accept calls or shake your head as if you were indicating no, to cancel the call. You can also skip tracks when listening to music by shaking your head.

Initially, I found it a little unusual to use but it does work. If it is not something you’re interested in it can be turned off via the app.

Dirac HD Sound

Dirac is a digital processing enhancement technology that is said to improve staging, clarity, vocal crispness, and bass fidelity. It is another feature that can be toggled on and off as required from the app.

The use of digital processing to enhance sound is often frowned upon as it usually has some negative impacts on the sound quality. People who listen to high-end audio equipment will argue that the drivers should be able to produce a good enough sound without the need for software enhancements but I think the market that these earphones are aimed at will no doubt find the changes Dirac makes an improvement.

If you are a critical listener this feature won’t be for you but for everyone else, it is worth trying as it does make the sound a little more musical and provides an improved sense of space to the music.

Klipsch Connect App

Thankfully with all the different features, there is a good app available (iOS and Android) to control it all. Once paired with your phone you can head over to the app to:

—  Check for firmware updates

—  Control the 6 band EQ

—  Adjust ANC and Transparency mode settings

—  Adjust head gesture settings

—  Enable/ disable Dirac

Sound

Straight out of the box, the T5 II have a very flat signature. It is a departure from the usual trend with consumer-level earphones pumping the bass up to the max. They are also a reasonably quiet set of earphones so if you like your tunes blasting they probably won’t be for you.

What the flat signature means is that it is much easier to use the built-in equaliser to find a sound signature that matches your taste. It took me some time to make adjustments, which isn’t helped by the app much as you have to make an adjustment and wait for it to implement before you can make another, but in the end, I found something I was really happy with and is up there with some of the best true wireless earphones I have tried.

I touched on Dirac above and in my testing, I preferred this turned on. For me, the pluses outweigh the negatives as it’s implemented here. If you prefer a falter, more reference sound that is available too with Dirac turned off.

While the lack of bass was noticeable at first, it certainly doesn’t mean you can’t add the level you need via the equaliser. While never basshead levels, there is a nice punch to it and it never bleeds into the other frequencies.

Vocals are clear and enjoyable to listen to with the Dirac enhancements creating a more spacious soundstage and pushing the sound a little more outside of your head.

It’s really up to the user how you want to make these earphones sound and as they are not biassed towards any frequency range, you have a blank slate to start out with.

Conclusion

At €439, for sure the T5 II True Wireless ANC McLaren Edition are not a cheap buy but they do include some nice extras such as the wireless charging mat and earphones themselves are packed full of features.

The earphones are enjoyable to listen to, can be configured easily with the EQ and also have one of the best transparency modes I have come across in true wireless earphones.

The T5 II True Wireless ANC McLaren Edition will make an ideal gift for any motorsport lovers in your life and for those who are not, there is also a standard version of the T5 II  available without the McLaren additions and at a cheaper price.

More information here: https://www.klipsch.com/products/t5-ii-true-wireless-anc-mclaren-edition-earphones