The name Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport may not immediately indicate that these are bluetooth in-ear headphones. What the product name does give away is that the ears are specifically suitable for sports. Klipsch has come up with a few handy innovations for this, which you can read more about in this review.
Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport
price € 229, –
Color black and white
Link Bluetooth 5.0
Battery 50 mAh (earpiece), 360 mAh (charging case)
Weight 8 grams (earpiece), 90 grams (charging box)
Features microphone, push button control, IP67
Connection USB-C
Website www.klipsch.com
7 Score 70 
- Pros
- Robust
- Charging box
- Negatives
- No noise canceling
- No wireless charging
For many, Klipsch may not be the best known audio brand. Formula 1 viewers will probably know the American brand name from the McLaren stable, where the brand name is displayed on the team’s headphones.
Sports design
In this case, no professional headphones that block out Formula 1 racing noise, but wireless in-ear headphones, suitable for sports yourself. And that sports can be more than cowardly running around the block in the sun. The Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport is made to get started with a little more fanaticism. The ears are, for example, waterproof (IP67), so that a splash of rain or mud does not kill the ears. Most in-ears, such as AirPods, can be operated with taps on the earpiece to, for example, pause the music or play the next song. The Klipsch earphones have a plate that you press physically, so that you can also control the music when you are wearing gloves outside, for example.
The design is also slightly different from AirPods-like earphones, so that they stay in place better during movement. No stems sticking out of your ear, but an interchangeable rubber tip so you can adjust your ears to size. These rubber tips also have a bracket that secures the in-ears in your ear cup.
Charging box
Not only the ears are suitable for heavier conditions. The charging box is also suitable for tougher conditions. The box is also resistant to a splash of water. To make this possible, you close the charging case with a large hinge and the USB-C port for charging the box is placed on the inside. To charge the charging box, you have to open it first. The port is probably on the inside to protect it from water, sand or dust. Fortunately, the earbuds only connect when you take them out of the box, so they are not connected to your smartphone when you hang the charging box on the charger.
In the box you can immediately see how much battery capacity is still available through built-in LEDs.
Dry granules
The box also has another clever feature: a removable element contains water-absorbing granules. When the ears are damp from rain or sweat, the moisture is absorbed and the chance is less that the ears will be damaged. The element can be clicked out of the charging box and placed briefly in the microwave to dry.
That is certainly a clever idea from Klipsch. Only I cannot emphasize often enough that you absolutely should not put the charging box in the microwave yourself. A battery explodes in the microwave, which can cause serious damage. Fortunately, Klipsch’s manual also warns against this. Nevertheless, you can question the solution of the removable element with granules.
Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport in practice
So much for why the headphones are suitable for heavier sports conditions. It is of course the sound experience that you buy the earphones for. The sound quality is acceptable. All details are sufficiently audible and the sound is reasonably balanced, with a slightly boosted bass sound. Which is not out of place with earphones that are mainly intended for use during sports activities. If desired, you can adjust the sound in the app to your liking via the equalizer.
The Klipsch Sport earphones unfortunately do not have noise reduction. Actually, you should expect that from in-ears in this price range. There is, however, a transparency mode available, a kind of reverse noise reduction. This allows ambient noise to pass through, so that you can, for example, keep an eye on your surroundings in traffic or notice when someone speaks to you. Having a conversation with the transparency mode, that is not possible, however.
The battery life of the earbuds naturally depends on whether you have the transparency mode on or off. After all, this mode uses more energy. Without this mode, the earbuds last between six to seven hours on a battery charge. The battery of the charging box has enough capacity to fully charge the earphones almost four times. Wireless charging is unfortunately not possible.
Alternatives to the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport
What makes the Klipsch stand out among all those different in-ears, such as Galaxy Buds and AirPods, is that they can really take a beating. The charging case is much sturdier than its competitors and you don’t have to worry about a splash of water. The nice thing is that they sit firmly in your ears because of the bracket that you slide behind your ear cup. It makes them more suitable for avid athletes. The push buttons ensure that you can operate the music with your gloves even in cold weather.
Do you use your ears for light activities, traveling or work? Then you might be better off opting for alternatives in the same price range, since you can also opt for better sound quality (for example Bose Sport Earbuds) or noise cancellation (AirPods Pro) in approximately the same price range. But these ears and especially the box are much more vulnerable.
Conclusion: Buy Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport?
Would you like to enjoy music during fanatic sports activities? Then the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport earphones are a good choice. The battery life is long enough for a sports activity and the construction ensures that you can take them with you in all weather conditions without any worries: including the box. If you are less fanatic in terms of activities, you can also opt for better sound quality or noise reduction in this price range.
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